Honorable Muslims!
Next Sunday evening marks the twenty-seventh night of the month of Rajab. For centuries, on this night, we have commemorated the Isrā and Mi‘rāj of our beloved Prophet (s.a.s), rejoicing in the glad tidings that our Almighty Lord has bestowed upon His servants. Let us take this opportunity in today’s sermon to once again reflect on the importance of prayer, the gift of Mi‘rāj, which gives meaning to our lives and brings peace to our hearts.
Dear Believers!
Prayer (salāh) is one of the five fundamental pillars of Islam. It begins with takbir and ends with salām, during which our mind, heart, tongue, and entire being turn towards our Lord in an unparalleled act of worship. It is our duty of servitude that eliminates differences among believers, making them equal in the presence of Allah like the teeth of a comb, bringing them together shoulder to shoulder.
Esteemed Muslims!
The five daily prayers are not acts of worship to be rushed, postponed, squeezed into a schedule, completed hastily, or left to the last moment. Indeed, there is no true Islam without prayer. A Muslim prays, and prayer shapes a person’s character. The most precious moments in a person's life are those spent in prayer. A life without prayer is a life wasted. Therefore, unless one has a valid religious excuse, a Muslim cannot abandon their prayer, nor can they delay it with the thought of "I will make it up later." Instead, a Muslim should organize their daily affairs according to prayer times. As the Prophet (s.a.s) emphasized the significance of this matter by stating:
"الصَّلَاةُ عِمَادُ الدّ۪ينِ" ("Prayer is the pillar of religion.")¹
Honorable Believers!
At the beginning of my sermon, I recited a verse in which our Almighty Lord states:
*"Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer with diligence. Surely, prayer restrains from indecency and wrongdoing..."*²
Yes, the purpose of our life is servitude, and the aim of our servitude is to be a good Muslim. For this reason, our prayers should prevent us from engaging in forbidden acts. It should keep our tongue away from lies, our hearts away from hatred, and our hands away from wrongdoing. It should purify us from all kinds of sins. If, despite praying, we still fall into the trap of wrongdoing, then we must re-evaluate our hearts, our means of livelihood, and our lives in light of the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Dear Muslims!
On one occasion, the Prophet (s.a.s) said:
"Kalk ya Bilâl! Bizi namaza çağır! Namazla bizi ferahlat!" ("Rise, O Bilal! Call us to prayer! Give us comfort through prayer!")³
With these words, he reminded his ummah that the burdens of life can only be alleviated through prayer. Therefore, let us not see prayer as a burden but as a blessing that brings tranquility to our souls, which are exhausted by daily struggles. Let us perform our prayers on time, without delay or neglect, observing their Sunnah and proper etiquette with devotion. Let us be exemplary believers whom prayer refines. Let us kindly remind our brothers and sisters who continue making mistakes despite praying. Let us strive to perform our five daily prayers in congregation at the mosque. If we are unable to do so, let us pray in congregation with our families at home. As our Almighty Lord commands:
"وأمر أهلك بالصلاة واصطبر عليها" ("Command your family to establish prayer and be steadfast in maintaining it.")⁴
Let us encourage our children and youth to pray with kind words, a smiling face, and patience. Let us not deprive ourselves and our families of the blessings of such a sublime act of worship as prayer.
Today, I want to call upon all my brothers and sisters who have been neglecting their prayers: Come, let us take advantage of these blessed days, resolve to perform our five daily prayers, which purify us from sins and increase our value in the sight of Allah. Let us never forget the glad tidings given by our beloved Prophet (s.a.s):
"Kim, Allah’ın bir emri olduğunu kabul ederek; rükûlarına, secdelerine, vakitlerine ve abdestlerine özen göstererek beş vakit namazı kılmaya devam ederse cennete girer." ("Whoever, believing that it is a command from Allah, observes the bowing, prostration, timing, and ablution of the five daily prayers, will enter paradise.")⁵
Let us remember that wealth without prayer is devoid of blessings, and a home without worship is devoid of happiness.
As I conclude my sermon, I pray for Allah’s mercy upon our brothers and sisters who lost their lives in the fire in Bolu. May our Lord grant patience and strength to their grieving families and bestow a speedy recovery upon the injured. May Allah, the Almighty, protect our homeland and our nation from all disasters, calamities, and misfortunes.
¹ Bayhaqi, Shu‘ab al-Iman, 3, 39.
² Al-Ankabut, 29:45.
³ Abu Dawud, Adab, 78.
⁴ Ta-Ha, 20:132.
⁵ Ibn Hanbal, IV, 266.
Presidency of Religious Affairs – Directorate of Religious Services