Diyanet targets friendships between men and women! 'Dating is a sin, marriage is the antidote'

The General Directorate of Religious Services of the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) targeted the lifestyle of society in the Friday Sermon to be read today. Declaring dating a 'major sin', the Friday Sermon argued that friendships between men and women lead to adultery.

Stating that adultery is "a clear indecency that causes homes to break apart, darkens the hopes of young people, and destroys their dreams," the sermon included the following expressions: "Adultery is an ugly behavior that shakes the moral values of society to its roots and paves the way for the spread of many material and spiritual diseases." 

The sermon stated, "Whether in real life, in the virtual world, or in written and visual media, all words, attitudes, and behaviors that lead a person to adultery are forbidden (haram)." 

'DATING IS A MAJOR SIN'

The sermon, which included the view that it is also forbidden for a man and a woman who are not religiously prohibited from marrying to be alone together or to live together under the name of being roommates, contained the following statements:

"This major sin can never be shown as innocent with concepts such as 'dating, living together, friendship, flings, or cheating.' Trying to legitimize adultery with words like 'romantic relationship, forbidden love, youthful whim, or a mature partnership' is opening the door to the path that leads to the forbidden. What is boasted about as 'womanizing' is, in essence, adultery; it is eyeing a person's honor, it is forbidden. Moreover, homosexuality, which is being tried to be imposed on the whole world in the name of freedom and which led the people of Lot (peace be upon him) to destruction, is a perversion cursed by Allah; it is forbidden, it is a major sin." 

DERIVED 'ADULTERY' FROM FRIENDSHIPS BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN 

Obscene advertisements that disregard Islamic and human values, and immoral theater, cinema, and TV series produced under the name of art, are trying to show adultery as legitimate. Chat and marriage sites that have become widespread on digital platforms and exploit the institution of marriage are distancing young people from marriage and dragging them into adultery. Friendships between men and women that start with thoughts like friendship and confiding in each other are dragging people into the quagmire of adultery.

In short, as the eye keeps looking at the forbidden, the ear keeps listening to sin, and the tongue keeps talking about evil, one gets used to adultery, and subsequently, committing this ugly act becomes commonplace. Dear Believers, preparing the ground for the spread of evil is as much a major sin and a heavy burden as committing it. It is never acceptable for adultery, which tramples human dignity, and the paths leading to it to be material for tabloid programs. Keeping an ugly incident or a twisted relationship that is rarely seen on the agenda for weeks in some daytime programs, movies, and series for the sake of ratings is a great irresponsibility that disregards the religious and moral values of society. Those who commit adultery, which harms family unity, and those who carry the evil they do to screens or share it on social media are partners in the same sin. Dear Muslims, the antidote to adultery is marriage. A legitimate marriage is a strong shield and a secure fortress where a person can take refuge from all evils."