Friday Sermon: Mosque and Social Life

Friday sermon (khutbah) of 02 Ekim 2026 — Diyanet, Presidency of Religious Affairs of Türkiye

This text was translated automatically from the Turkish original published by Diyanet. The Turkish text is authoritative; Arabic verses and hadiths are kept in the original.

Dear Muslims!

Mosques are the sign of our brotherhood, the symbol of our independence, the reflection of our faith in life; They are sacred places that unite believers around the same belief and ideal and direct them to the same qibla. Every mosque is a compass of direction, a sign of unity and a center of unity. It is a place of closeness and affection that strengthens our unity and solidarity and brings our hearts together.

Dear Believers!

In Islamic civilization, mosques were not just places for prayer, but were at the very center of life. Our cities developed around mosques; Madrasahs, libraries, bazaars, inns, baths and foundations served humanity around mosques. God Almighty's divine decree, "Believers' men and women are each other's helpers. They enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil. They establish prayer and give alms. They obey Allah and His Messenger…" started from mosques and spread to every aspect of social life. The joy of weddings was shared next to mosques; The sadness of funerals was soothed in mosques; The hope of the strange has sprouted around mosques; Orphans and homeless people were protected in mosques.

My brothers!

We regret to say that today, rapid urbanization, secularization and individualization cause the values ​​represented by mosques to be forgotten. This situation creates distance between people with the same belief, weakens social ties, and causes people to become lonely. However, our mosques are among the most important places that will bring us peace and tranquility and strengthen our brotherhood. As a matter of fact, our Prophet (pbuh) addressed the believers who gathered for prayer in the mosque as follows: "Keep your rows neat, do not stand apart so that your hearts do not separate…"

Dear Believers!

Every year, we celebrate the first week of October as "Mosques and Religious Officials Week". This year, we will celebrate our week with the theme of "Mosque and Social Life" in order to raise awareness and revitalize the historical function of our mosques. We will contribute to further strengthening the connection of our mosques with social life through the programs we will carry out through our muftis and religious officials. Our mosques; We will strive to make it a part of social life where our children will acquire the habit of worship, our young people will form lesson circles, our elders will chat in their courtyards, and in short, we will experience the joy of being together as a family.

Dear Muslims!

We wish mercy and forgiveness to those who have passed away, and health and well-being to those who are alive, from our teachers who have contributed to the spiritual development of our beloved nation from past to present, from the benefactors who have contributed to the construction of our mosques, and from our community.

Source: Diyanet — Friday Sermon (Turkish) · Turkish original on this site.