The Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) of Türkiye dedicated this week’s nationwide Friday sermon to the theme “Compassion and Love: The Source of Peace in the Family.”

Opening with the Qur’anic supplication, “Our Lord! Make our spouses and children a source of joy for us, and make us leaders of the righteous!” (Al-Furqan, 74), the sermon emphasized that the family is among the greatest blessings granted by Allah Almighty. It described the family as “a haven where the soul finds tranquility, where hearts are entrusted to one another, and where faith, love, and mercy flourish.”

The sermon highlighted that the family is “a strong fortress protecting individuals from sin, a hearth of affection and compassion that nurtures a moral generation and builds a virtuous society.” Quoting the Qur’an — “And among His signs is that He created for you spouses from among yourselves so that you may find tranquility in them, and He placed between you affection and mercy” (Ar-Rum, 21) — the address underlined that the family is a manifestation of divine mercy on earth.

The sermon went on to say: "The family is among the countless blessings that our Almighty Lord has bestowed upon us. It is the sanctuary where the soul finds tranquility, where trust is shared between hearts, and where love becomes a covenant of protection and mercy. The family is the school in which faith takes root, worship comes to life, and the values of goodness, justice, honesty, love, and respect are learned. It is a strong fortress that guards individuals from evil and sin, and a hearth of compassion and affection that nurtures a moral generation, shapes identity and character, and forms a virtuous society. As Allah the Almighty states in the Qur’an: “And among His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquility in them, and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed, in that are signs for a people who reflect.” (Surah Ar-Rum, 30:21). Thus, the family is the earthly manifestation of divine mercy.

Dear Believers!

Every member of the family is indispensable, valuable, and honorable. Parents are the embodiment of sacrifice, serenity, and compassion. Children are the most precious trusts of Allah, the delicate flowers of the family home — gems that must be nurtured for the good of all humanity. Grandmothers and grandfathers are the wise elders who carry the legacy of the past into the future, irreplaceable figures whose hands are to be kissed in reverence.

However, our family homes, built with great effort and hope, face numerous threats in today’s world. Deviant movements and false ideologies seek to destroy the structure of the family. Illegitimate relationships are presented as families under the guise of freedom. Our children, who are the guarantee of our nation’s future and the very foundation of our existence, are portrayed as burdens rather than blessings. Parents and grandparents are left to isolation and neglect in the name of comfort and convenience. Digital media platforms, along with certain films, TV series, advertisements, and programs, expose our family structure to harmful influences that contradict our natural disposition.

Yet, despite all these challenges, we are by no means helpless. The solution to these problems lies in returning to the mercy-filled messages of the Qur’an and to the moral example of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Only by reviving our essence — shaped by divine guidance and prophetic character — can we restore peace and stability to our homes.

Esteemed Muslims!

It is our collective duty to establish our families in accordance with Allah’s commands and the life example of His Messenger (pbuh), to protect them with love and respect, to sustain them through compassion and mercy, and to carry them into the future with goodness and justice. As the Messenger of Allah said: “The most blessed marriage is the one that is easiest to maintain.” Let us therefore strive to make marriage and family life easier, not burdensome. Let us not sacrifice the happiest moments of our children to luxury and extravagance. Let us take to heart the Prophet’s words: “The best among you is the one who is best to his family, and I am the best among you to my family.” Let gentleness and grace prevail in our homes.

Let us regard our children — the light of our eyes — as great blessings and sources of abundance granted by Allah. Let us extend our wings of mercy over our parents and elders, in obedience to the divine command: “We have enjoined upon man kindness to his parents.” And let us never forget that attaining the pleasure of Allah passes through earning the pleasure of one’s parents.

The sermon concluded with the supplication taught to us in the Qur’an:
“Our Lord! Make our spouses and children a source of joy for us, and make us leaders of the righteous!” (ILKHA)