Thank Our Ottoman Ancestors

Bismi Llāhi r-Raḥmāni r-Raḥīm

Our Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam says, “He who does not thank people does not thank Allāh ﷻ.”

Therefore, we must thank our ancestors for what they did for the sake of Allāh ﷻ and for the benefit of people. We must thank them for what they’ve done.

This journey took four days, in shā’a Llāh, it will be of barakah and goodness. We went to the Balkans for the first time—some places for the first time, and some we crossed roads before. Masha’Allah, our ancestors conquered that place.

Despite all the fitnah, corruption, and war, Islām stood firm because of their barakah; and it still does, shukr to Allāh ﷻ.

Of course, there is still much fitnah, because the unbeliever has no mercy. Shayṭān doesn’t want them to believe in Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla; shayṭān and his friends. They want to cause fitnah and lead people astray.

Our ancestors conquered those places, built them, and made them beautiful. These places are beautiful, but it’s difficult to control them.

Therefore, the greatest proof of Islām is that they have lived there in peace and tranquility for over 400 years. They all lived together. With their different races and religions, they all lived under the Ottoman justice.

After the Ottomans’ demise, the region suffered much oppression and evil. Yet, shayṭān still deceives people. They don’t respect or give importance to the Ottomans. Those who don’t appreciate them are primarily the children of the Ottomans.

It is shayṭān who teaches them this, who makes fitnah. Shayṭān desires nothing but evil. People see with their eyes, hear, and read. They see everywhere what happened after the Ottomans. Yet, they still denigrate the Ottomans.

Allāh ﷻ will ask them about this. And there is no benefit to those who are ungrateful to them.

May we be among those who are thankful to Allāh ﷻ. We should be grateful for the goodness. If we thank them, we will have thanked Allāh ﷻ. May Allāh ﷻ be pleased with our ancestors a thousand times over. We thank them.

Those places were very difficult places. Controlling there and ruling with such justice would not have been possible without the help of Allah ﷻ, the help of our Prophet ﷺ, the help of the awliyā’ and mashāyikh.

May Allāh ﷻ be pleased with them. May Allāh ﷻ grant them safety. May Allāh ﷻ guide us all, in shā’a Llāh.

Wa min Allah at-Tawfiq.

Al-Fatiha.

• Mawlana Sheikh Muhammad Adil ar-Rabbaniق

25 September 2025/ 3 Rabih Al- Akhir 1447

Fajr Prayer – Akbaba Dergah, Istanbul