Thousands of believers filled Diyarbakır as the Prophet Lovers Foundation organized a grand Mawlid celebration program to honor the 1454th anniversary of the blessed birth of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).

The event, held at the historic Hazrat Süleyman Complex in Sur district, turned into both a spiritual celebration and a powerful reminder of the Prophet’s legacy of resistance, mercy, and revival.

The program began with the heartfelt recitation of the Holy Qur’an by Ömer Akgül. Mawlid and qasidas performed by the Özlem Agency’s team moved the audience to tears, filling the air with an atmosphere of deep reverence and love for the Messenger of Allah. Later in the evening, a torchlight display by youth at the city’s ancient walls drew enthusiastic support from the crowd, who accompanied the spectacle with takbirs and chants.

Delivering the keynote speech, Cengiz Aydın emphasized the greatness of the day and its historical weight. Standing in a city that hosts nearly 500 companions of the Prophet, including 27 martyrs at the site itself, he declared: “The birth of the Messenger of Allah was no ordinary event. The heavens trembled, palaces of tyranny shook, and children once buried alive found hope. For this night, we have chosen the theme: Prophet Muhammad, the Guide of Resistance. He is the Prophet of morality, compassion, mercy, resistance, and revival.”

Aydın reminded the audience that from the first revelation until his final breath, the Prophet never tolerated injustice. Even when his dearest companions were martyred, he stood firm. Citing historical records, he noted that the Prophet engaged in jihad nearly every 45 days during his 23-year mission, ensuring that justice, security, and dignity prevailed for all.

Highlighting the Prophet’s model of steadfastness, Aydın stated: “Bilal learned resistance under torture. Every martyr who sacrifices his life for faith takes him as an example. The Prophet’s companions paid the price of truth, and they never wavered. In his world, women walked freely, children were cherished, and no one bowed to oppression.”

Aydın strongly criticized the silence of Muslim rulers in the face of Zionist aggression against Gaza, contrasting their inaction with the Prophet’s determination to defend even a single companion: “The Prophet sent 3,000 men for one companion. Today, 57 Islamic states cannot even provide a glass of water for Jerusalem. Muslims in Gaza have been resisting for nearly 23 months, burying their children with dignity. Their steadfastness exposes the hypocrisy of those who speak of human rights yet remain silent before genocide.”

Recalling the famous words of Anas ibn Nadr during the Battle of Uhud, Aydın passionately called upon leaders of the Muslim world: “Why live in a world without the Prophet? Rise and run toward paradise. For God’s sake, just stand up! Otherwise, you will have no answer on the Day of Judgment. There is shame in cowardice, but honor in advancing. If a leader of the Islamic lands takes one step for Gaza, he will be freed from the heavy accountability awaiting him.”

Aydın urged Muslims everywhere to act within their capacity—whether through activism, prayer, or even symbolic gestures such as naming their children after resistance commanders.

Underscoring the importance of economic resistance, Aydın reiterated scholars’ fatwas declaring Israeli-related products haram: “Just as pork is forbidden, so too are the products of Zionists and their supporters. Mothers who wish to protect their children from spiritual carrion must boycott these products. This is a fire of complicity we cannot afford to feed our families with.”

The Mawlid concluded with collective prayers for the ummah, particularly for the steadfast Muslims of Gaza, tying the commemoration of the Prophet’s birth to the ongoing struggle for justice, resistance, and liberation in Palestine. (ILKHA),