INTERNATIONAL MAWLID AL-NABI SYMPOSIUM

The universe gained value through humankind; the word attained meaning through humankind; and only humankind proved worthy of bearing the sacred trust. Almighty Allah created the human being as the most precious entity on earth and entrusted him with the responsibility of establishing faith, worship, and good morality throughout the world. Our Lord positioned humankind in a sublime place in the universe and conveyed through revelation the principles that would preserve the quality of being the noblest of creation. Through prophets, He taught how these principles should be practiced in human life. Our Prophet (SAW), who was sent as a mercy for all creation, became the last messenger who presented this exemplary model to humanity in the most beautiful manner.

In worldly life, the exemplary figure who guides humanity in its journey of self-recognition, discovery, and understanding, and who provides the most accurate answers to its search for meaning, is Prophet Muhammad (SAW), the final messenger of Allah. Almighty Allah reminds us of this truth by stating: “Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example for whoever has hope in Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah often...” (Ahzab, 33/21). Therefore, every individual who says, “I am a Muslim” must make the Qur’an-shaped morality of our Prophet (SAW), his justice embodied in mercy, his governance grounded in merit, and his method and manner that values human beings simply for being human essential to his/her life. He/she must take the words, actions, and attitudes of the Messenger of Allah (SAW)—who represents the purpose of existence and the perfected, practical manifestation of that purpose—as the fundamental aim and focal point at all times and in all places: from family life to social life, from kinship relations to the rights of neighbors, from the workplace to the order of labor, and should strive not only to build individual morality, but also to construct the social conscience.

Modern times allow no room for any model other than their own. Yet, by virtue of his very existence and historical stance, and as the finest example for humanity, our Prophet (SAW) is not only a model for Muslims, but also a herald and warner—a messenger of mercy—for every human being whose heart beats for humanity, whose mind is concerned with the happiness of humankind, and who feels in his heart the pain of every oppressed and wronged person wherever they may be on earth. Particularly in a world where consciences grow duller with each passing day and oppressors act recklessly and without constraint, humanity needs the guidance, understanding, forgiveness, and compassion of the blessed Prophet as vitally as it needs air and water.

Following a workshop convened on 22 May 2025 with a committee of experts in their respective fields, it was determined that the current Hijri year, 1447, marks the 1500th anniversary of the birth of our Prophet (SAW), who was sent as a mercy for all creation. This period, bearing the memory of fifteen centuries, is not merely an occasion to commemorate the past, but a great opportunity to address today’s problems through the experience of an exemplary model that transcends centuries. His life is a form of guidance that offers universal answers, illuminating not only his own era, but also the questions humanity continues to ask in every age. In this meaningful year, it is our duty to recall the guidance of our Prophet (SAW) and to place it at the center of our lives. To know him and to make him known is not merely a matter of affection, but a responsibility, an act of loyalty, and a consciousness of the ummah.

During this meaningful period in which we are commemorating the 1500th anniversary of the honorable birth of our Prophet (SAW) into the world, a wide range of national and international activities, events and programs with broad participation will be organized both in Türkiye and abroad under the auspices of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, upon the approval of our President, His Excellency Recep Tayyip ERDOĞAN. With the theme “The Prophet Muhammad (SAW), a Mercy for All Creation, on the 1500th Anniversary of His Birth,” these activities and events will be carried out across all 81 provinces and 922 districts within Türkiye, as well as geographies abroad where our ummah and nation exist and where people with whom we share the same ethnic roots and religion reside, with the aim of conveying to all humanity the timeless guidance and exemplary character of our Prophet (SAW).

In this distinguished period in which we have the opportunity to gain a thorough understanding of the life of our Beloved Prophet (SAW), it is beyond explanation how important it is to work in cooperation and coordination with all institutions, organizations, and NGOs during the planning and implementation of the activities, events, and programs to be conducted. In this regard, under the auspices of the Presidency, concerted efforts will be undertaken together with ministries; affiliated and related institutions and organizations; foundations, associations, and NGOs; media and press organizations; universities, writers, and academics; our missions abroad; and foreign institutions, organizations, and NGOs, to ensure that the timeless messages of our Prophet (SAW) reach all segments of society, professional groups, and all humanity, especially young people, families, and disadvantaged groups.

Today, liberation from the understanding of the positivist world, which prioritizes matter and sidelines meaning, turns image and visuality into the sole objective, and sacrifices what is eternal for what is transient and truth for falsehood, can only be achieved through the messages of the Messenger of Allah (SAW), which establish balance between the worldly life and the Hereafter. In an age in which threats and attacks against the family structure and youth are increasing, divorces are accelerating, and people are distancing themselves from establishing families and assuming familial responsibility, the solutions that will render the family a home of compassion and sacrifice, and a hearth of harmony and affection, are concealed within the family life of the Messenger of Allah (SAW). The advice that will save young people who have lost their direction under the pressure of worldliness from the dangers of the digital world and false ideologies, and bring them comfort under the shade of the Throne of Almighty Allah, is found in the life-giving calls of the Messenger of Allah (SAW). The principles that will bring joy to the oppressed, heal the wounds of the victimized, caress the heads of orphans, and offer hope to the entire world in the name of peace and humanity are contained in the compassionate and all-embracing call of the Messenger of Allah (SAW).

Within this scope, the theme of the International Mawlid al-Nabi Symposium to be organized in 2026 by the Presidency of Religious Affairs has been designated as “The Prophet Muhammad (SAW), a Mercy for All Creation, on the 1500th Anniversary of His Birth.”