This week’s Friday sermon, prepared by the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) and recited in tens of thousands of mosques across Türkiye, focused on one of the most vital pillars of Muslim society: the family.

The khutbah, titled “Our Prophet and His Family Ethics,” invited the faithful to reflect on the example of Prophet Muhammad (saw) as a husband, father, and head of a household, and urged believers to actively protect and strengthen the family unit in an era of growing moral and social challenges.

Beginning with the hadith, “You will surely be rewarded for every expense you incur for your family in the hope of Allah's pleasure,” the sermon reminded congregants that family life, when lived in line with divine guidance, is not only a source of peace and happiness in this world but also an act of worship that brings reward in the Hereafter.

Family: The Cornerstone of a Healthy Society

Addressing millions of worshippers, the sermon declared that “the guarantee of a peaceful society lies in a sound and strong family.” The family, it said, is the oldest and most enduring institution in human history, serving as a sanctuary where faith, identity, and moral character are cultivated and transmitted to future generations.

Citing the Qur’anic verse, “And one of His signs is that He created for you spouses from among yourselves so that you may find comfort in them. And He has placed between you compassion and mercy,” the khutbah stressed that compassion and mercy should be the guiding principles of family life.

The Prophet’s Gentle Example

The sermon presented the family life of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) as the ideal model for Muslims. “The Messenger of Allah (saw) was extremely gentle and kind toward his family. There was gentleness in all his words and actions. He never hurt the heart of any member of his family, nor spoke harshly to them,” it said.

The khutbah recalled the Prophet’s deep love for his first wife, Khadijah (ra), and his famous words: “I was sustained by her love.” It emphasized that even ordinary acts of care — feeding one’s children, supporting one’s spouse, providing for one’s family — can be transformed into acts of devotion when done with the intention of seeking Allah’s pleasure.

A Warning Against Modern Threats to the Family

The khutbah went beyond historical reflection, directly addressing the challenges faced by modern Muslim families. It warned that when families stray from the moral values laid down in the Qur’an and Sunnah, peace and happiness are lost.

The sermon criticized attempts to undermine traditional family roles, lamenting that “certain forces targeting the family seek to distance women from the sacred role of motherhood, men from the sacred role of fatherhood, and to weaken the roles of both within the family.” It decried the normalization of lifestyles forbidden in Islam, such as cohabitation without marriage, same-sex relations, and moral relativism regarding modesty and sexuality.

Quoting the Qur’an — “Do not go near adultery. It is truly a shameful deed and an evil way” — the khutbah called for resisting cultural trends that portray marriage as a burden, legitimize adultery, or promote nudity and exhibitionism as normal. It also warned against alcohol, gambling, and substance abuse, describing them as destructive forces that corrode individual morality and family stability.

A Global Battle Over Values

Perhaps the most forceful part of the sermon was its framing of today’s family crisis as a global struggle. “Today, the institution of the family is under siege by global lobbies, interest groups, and imperialist powers to a degree unprecedented in history,” the khutbah stated. It accused these forces of seeking to sever new generations from their identity, weaken their moral compass, and create societies vulnerable to exploitation.

In this context, the khutbah asserted that protecting the family is not just a personal choice but a religious, moral, and even civilizational duty. “Establishing, protecting, and strengthening the family is a responsibility for every person of faith, conscience, and reason,” it said.

Practical Guidance for Families

Alongside its warnings, the khutbah offered practical advice for revitalizing family life. It encouraged Muslims to facilitate marriage, help young people wed, and keep family communication alive. It urged parents to spend quality time with their children instead of being absorbed by screens, to meet the emotional needs of spouses and children, and to instill a love of prayer and worship within the household.

Neglecting family responsibilities, the khutbah reminded, is itself a sin — citing the Prophet’s (saw) saying: “Neglecting one’s responsibilities towards one’s family is sufficient as a sin for a person.”

A Prayer for Families

The khutbah concluded with a heartfelt supplication of the Prophet Muhammad (saw):

“O Allah, Lord of all things! Make me and my family among those who are sincerely devoted to You in this world and the Hereafter.”

With this sermon, the Presidency of Religious Affairs called on every Muslim to regard their family as their most important trust and strongest fortress, urging them to safeguard this divine institution from forces seeking to weaken it and to take inspiration from the Prophet’s own example as a loving husband and father. (ILKHA)