After the conclusion of the month of Ramadan, today marks the first day of the Eid al-Fitr celebration in Kosovo.
Kosovo’s Grand Mufti, Naim Tërnava, addressed Muslim believers, urging them to take care of their families, especially their parents. He also appealed for the cessation of all killings, regardless of the circumstances.
After the Eid prayer, Grand Mufti Tërnava emphasized that this holiday holds profound religious and social significance, as it is a reward from God. Therefore, this moment is rightfully considered a time for reflection, gratitude, and prayer, reminding everyone of the importance of devotion, appreciation, solidarity, and family unity.
He stated that the family is the foundation of life, adding that children are a gift from God and that it is a duty to care for them, just as it is an obligation to care for parents.
“Neglecting parents by their children is considered a grave sin in our faith. After worshiping God, we are commanded to take care of our parents with love and respect. Caring for parents is a righteous path that brings us closer to God’s mercy… It is our obligation to treat parents—both mother and father—with kindness, as Islam does not recognize the concept of ‘Parent 1’ and ‘Parent 2’ of the same gender, nor the concept of a rented mother.
Thus, Islam opposes family models that deviate from traditional structures and Islamic principles of man and woman… Today, almost every day, we see many abandoned parents who are left forgotten by their children and relatives. They are left without care, which severely impacts their lives. Why is this happening? This is a question we must ask ourselves and our society, both in Kosovo and wherever our brothers and sisters live. Violence is not only physical; neglect is also a form of violence against parents,” he stated.
“We Must Restore Peace in Our Families and Within Ourselves”
According to him, peace must be restored in families and within individuals.
“No one has the right to abandon their family or sever ties with their relatives. If the family is healthy, the entire society is healthy because the family is a pillar and the foundation of the social structure due to its spiritual, religious, psychological, and material connections,” he said.
Tërnava also expressed the concern of the Islamic Community of Kosovo and the entire society regarding the recent killings in the country, particularly in the last two weeks, where four citizens lost their lives.
“Regardless of motives and circumstances, in Islam, killing is a forbidden, reprehensible act and one of the greatest sins. The Islamic faith places great importance on human life and its protection. The Quran explicitly forbids taking another person’s life, stating that whoever kills a person unjustly is as if they have killed all of humanity, and whoever saves a life is as if they have saved all of humanity. Therefore, once again, we appeal for the respect of every individual’s life and the cessation of violence against the innocent. We must all stand united for peace, tolerance, and understanding. Disputes should be handled calmly, and solutions should be sought through institutional channels, not through vigilantism,” he said.
