INTERNATIONAL MAWLID AL-NABI SYMPOSIUM

Our Almighty Lord has made human the most noble of creatures and the caliph of the earth. He (swt) has given them the mind and will to build the earth and make their Hereafter an eternal paradise. The messengers He sent and the books He revealed showed the straight path guided by truth and reality. Islam has presented this path as a goal for Muslims; the Qur’an has called us to this path, and our Prophet (saw) has guided us on this path. This path is al-sirat al-mustaqim (the straight path). Organizing life in this direction and walking steadily on this path is istiqamah (remaining steadfast on the straight path).

Istiqamah is taking refuge in the safety of Allah through iman. Iman is the supreme value that gives meaning to our lives and the most fundamental discipline that encompasses the whole self and existence. Through iman, people find answers to questions about their own existence, the whole of existence, life, and the meaning of death and the afterlife. Iman integrates the honor of being a human being with the bliss of being a servant. It instills in people a consciousness of living in the world in accordance with the purpose for which they were created; shapes their behavior, and gives direction to their opinions and decisions.

It is possible to be on the right path by turning iman into life, by transforming iman into worship and good morals. The reflection of iman on worship is to be a servant to Allah alone, free from hypocrisy and ostentation, in accordance with the verse from the first surah of the Holy Qur’an that reads as, “You ˹alone˺ we worship and You ˹alone˺ we ask for help. Guide us along the Straight Path, the Path of those You have blessed—not those You are displeased with, or those who are astray.” (Fatiha, 1/5-7). The reflection of iman on morality is to adopt the good morals of our Prophet, who said, “I was sent to perfect good character” (Ibn Hanbal, II, 381.), and to internalize and practice them in our lives. It entails abandoning all kinds of words and behaviors that are not suitable for our nature and that distract us from the purpose of our creation.

Istiqamah is not a measure that people can determine for themselves, nor is it their own truth. It is our Holy Book, the Qur’an, that determines the measure of istiqamah and it is the sunnah of our Prophet who transforms it into a practice in life. As a matter of fact, the Holy Qur’an states: “Indeed, that is My Path—perfectly straight. So follow it and do not follow other ways, for they will lead you away from His Way.” (An’am, 6/153). and “Alif-Lam-Ra. ˹This is˺ a Book which We have revealed to you ˹O Prophet˺ so that you may lead people out of darkness and into light, by the Will of their Lord, to the Path of the Almighty, the Praiseworthy.” (Ibrahim, 14/1). In the expression of the Messenger of Allah (saw), this truth is stated as follows: “The truest of word is the Book of Allah and best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad.” (Nasa‘i, ‘Eidayn, 22). Therefore, it is not possible to speak of an istiqamah without being subject to the Prophet and his sunnah, which are under the control of divine revelation for “Whoever obeys the Messenger has truly obeyed Allah.” (Nisa, 4/80)

Every age in which the teachings of our Prophet (saw), which come to life with the Qur’an, cannot be transmitted, is indeed an age of ignorance. Therefore, today, if we are to talk about iman and istiqamah; if we are to contribute to our children, youth, and society in maintaining the istiqamah that exists in their minds and hearts for a lifetime; and if we are to bring the whole world together with a life of istiqamah, that is, with Islam, we can achieve this with the teachings of our Prophet, which are mercy for all humanity. Today, if we are to help people who are suffering from weakness of faith or even disbelief, we can do so by taking the Prophet’s method of da’wah as an example and equipping ourselves with his unique morality. Today, if we are to extend a saving hand to humanity, which is being pulled into the vortex of a materialistic understanding, we can achieve this with the exemplary life of our Prophet. Today, if we are to be a beacon of hope to humanity, which is disoriented in the grip of worldliness, whose minds are under the occupation of positivist understanding, and who have forgotten spirituality, we can achieve this with the guidance of our Prophet. Because the way to live as a Muslim is to follow Islam, and the route is the istiqamah shown by Islam. We should not forget that if we faithfully adhere to the divine warning in the verse “So be steadfast as you are commanded ˹O Prophet˺, along with those who turn ˹in submission to Allah˺ with you.” (Hud, 11/112), and the call in the hadith “Say I affirm my faith in Allah and then remain steadfast to it.” (Muslim, Iman, 62), we will attain the following glad tidings: “Surely those who say, ‘Our Lord is Allah,’ and then remain steadfast, the angels descend upon them, ˹saying,˺ ‘Do not fear, nor grieve. Rather, rejoice in the good news of Paradise, which you have been promised.’” (Fussilat, 41/30)

In this respect, the topic of this year’s International Mawlid al-Nabi Symposium that is organized by the Presidency of Religious Affairs of Türkiye has been determined as “Our Prophet, Iman, and Istiqamah”.