Diyanet President Erbaş: There should be no university without a mosque

Erbaş, speaking at the "From Knowledge to Consciousness under the Guidance of Islam" conference held at the Selçuk University Sultan Alparslan Cultural Center, stated that universities are places where universal knowledge is produced.

Expressing that the Arabic equivalent of the word university is "camia," Erbaş said, "Camia means a place that brings together units that produce knowledge. A mosque (cami) is the same. We performed Friday prayers at the university mosque. How well mosque (cami) and community (camia) suit each other. There should be no community (camia) without a mosque (cami). If there is a community without a mosque, they should build their mosque as soon as possible. I am saying this for all universities in Turkey. Both come from the same root. Believers gather in a mosque, while those who run on the path of knowledge and wisdom gather in a community (camia)." he said.

Erbaş continued his remarks by giving examples from the history of prophets:

"Half of the population of the state established by our Prophet in Medina was Jewish. There were many Jews who were not Muslim. The Constitution of Medina, which he made among them, is the oldest treaty in history. Our professors in international relations departments should explain and tell this to their students. It is the oldest international treaty in history, the Constitution of Medina. It has fifty-two articles. As long as the conditions are met, both sides will live in peace with each other, conduct their trade, politics, and neighborly relations."

"GOOD MORALS ARE THE ORNAMENT OF A YOUNG PERSON"

Giving advice to students, Erbaş noted the following:

"We must build our faith upon authentic knowledge. Our Prophet advises us to follow the middle path. Neither extremism nor superstitions. We must follow the middle path. Warn your friends who lean toward extremes. Extremes are always harmful. There is a chapter on moderation in the hadith books. It was not put there for nothing. We must read from correct sources and continuously, we must improve ourselves. Good morals are the ornament of a young person. Our Prophet says, 'I was sent to perfect good morals.' Our Lord also describes our Prophet by saying, 'And indeed, you are of a great moral character.' Let there be decency, courtesy, and elegance even in your smallest actions. Let us never forget the hadith of our Prophet: 'None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.'"

"DEATH IS NOT EXTINCTION"

Stating that people cannot choose their race, color, or the geography they live in, Erbaş said, "We choose our faith and our morals ourselves. We are developing them, and we have to develop them. Therefore, the only criterion of value in the sight of Allah is piety (taqwa). Piety is doing what our Lord commands us to do and not doing what He forbids. Strive with all your means and knowledge to carry the beauties you live into life. This is our purpose of creation. In Surah Al-Mulk, it is stated: 'Who created death and life to test you as to which of you is best in deed.' Just as Allah created us in the womb and we were born into the world, He also creates death in the world, and we are born into the afterlife. A believer should think this way. A person who is born into the afterlife is a believer. Death is not extinction." he said.