President of Religious Affairs Erbaş Meets Turkish Pilgrims in Mecca
The head of Turkey’s Religious Affairs Directorate, Ali Erbaş, recently met with Turkish pilgrims from various countries in Mecca. The presidency announced that Erbaş had discussions with pilgrims from countries such as Germany, France, Belgium, Austria, Netherlands, USA and Canada during his visit.
During his meeting with the pilgrims, Erbaş emphasized the importance of preserving human dignity and beauty through prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, charity, kindness, and solidarity. He quoted a verse stating, “We will preserve our creation in the most beautiful way with prayer, fasting, alms, pilgrimage, charity, kindness, giving, cooperation, solidarity, patience, love and loyalty.”
Erbaş also touched upon the historical significance of Jerusalem, a city that was once a land of peace thanks to Muslims. He explained how Muslims ensured harmony among people of different faiths for over 450 years until the city fell under British control in the 1900s. He condemned the oppression faced by Palestine at the hands of the occupation state and called for Muslim unity to combat such injustices.
Furthermore, Erbaş highlighted Islamic teachings that prohibit harming innocents, children, women, temples, greenery, trees, and animals during wars. He referred to this principle as the “civilization of mercy,” emphasizing the importance of compassion and humanity even in times of conflict.
Overall, Erbaş’s messages centered around the values of peace, unity, and compassion that uphold the true essence of Islam. His interactions with Turkish pilgrims in Mecca served as a reminder of the importance of practicing faith with a sense of responsibility towards the well-being of all humanity.
