The sermon prepared by the Presidency of Religious Affairs, which was read in mosques across Turkey on Friday, June 28, contained striking statements regarding the acquisition of unfair profit through public property. With allegations of corruption and bribery recently on the public agenda, this move by Diyanet also sparked debate on social media.
"IT IS FILLING ONE'S STOMACH WITH A COAL OF FIRE"
In the sermon, it was stated that embezzling public property and resources or using them for purposes other than their intended use is equivalent to "filling one's stomach with a coal of fire." A reference was made to the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh): "Let no one take even a span of land that is not rightfully theirs! If they do, Allah will wrap seven layers of earth around their neck on the Day of Judgment."
ABUSE OF OFFICE IS A HEAVY BURDEN
The sermon, which noted that failing to fulfill public duties, disrupting work, or using public resources for personal gain is a heavy burden, pointed out that those who abuse their authority violate the rights of the people.
"WAGES RECEIVED WITHOUT EARNING THEM ARE HARAM"
The sermon further emphasized that any payment requested by public officials outside of their assigned duties is a "betrayal of trust." Public employees were warned with the hadith: "If we appoint someone to a task and pay them for the work they do, anything they take beyond this wage is a betrayal of trust."
The sermon was read in the shadow of discussions regarding corruption allegations against the arrested Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and certain bureaucrats, and this timing by Diyanet drew attention.
News Source: 12punto
