07.05.2025 14:23
In Mardin, a study has been initiated by the governorship and the mufti's office to abolish the tradition of condolence meals for those who have lost their loved ones. Many people with financial difficulties often cover the costs of these condolence meals by taking out loans and borrowing money. A meeting was held by the governorship and the mufti's office regarding this issue.
In the Southeastern Anatolia Region, providing meals to hundreds of people who come to express their condolences at funeral homes for three days puts some bereaved families in a difficult economic situation. Those who are not financially well-off sometimes take out loans from banks or borrow money from relatives to cover the meal expenses, facing not only their grief but also economic problems.
THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE INTERVENED
To prevent the meal offerings at condolence houses, the Mardin Governor's Office and the Provincial Mufti's Office have initiated a study. As part of the efforts, the first meeting was held at the Provincial Mufti's Office. The meeting was attended by Deputy Governor Osman Çelikkol, Provincial Mufti Dr. Enver Türkmen, Artuklu District Governor Muhammed Öztabak, Kızıltepe District Governor Abdullah Şahin, Yeşilli District Governor Mehmet Sadık Kılıç, Derik District Governor Yunus Emre Bayraklı, Mazıdağı District Governor Ömer Tuğrul Kundakçı, five district muftis, and opinion leaders.
"CONDOLENCES SHOULD BE KEPT SHORT"
Speaking here, Deputy Governor Çelikkol emphasized that the extravagant condolence meals disturb the conscience of society, stating, "It is essential to carry out the following activities to prevent the tradition of offering meals to those who come to express condolences. It should be instilled in society that the expectation of meals from those who come to condolences is a behavior that is bad from a natural, moral, and religious perspective in a Muslim community. For the act of providing meals at condolences to become condemned, every individual in society must fulfill their duty. Condolence houses should not turn into social gathering places. Condolences should be kept short and should end with the evening call to prayer," he said.
"CONDOLENCE MEALS HAVE BECOME GANGRENOUS"
Provincial Mufti Türkmen stated that they had started working months ago to eliminate condolence meals and expressed that it is now necessary to act together, saying, "Hutbas will be read and sermons will be given in our mosques to eliminate condolence meals. If a relative of the deceased wants to do a good deed, they should do it for a mosque under construction, a Quran course, or for people in need. The meals provided on the first, second, and especially the third day at condolence houses truly disturb our conscientious people. Hopefully, we will all be a means for this goodness together. Nowadays, condolence meals have really become gangrenous. I hope today will be a beginning. It will be a milestone for our city and districts. I thank everyone who contributed," he said.