The 19th Anatolia Meetings, organized by the Anatolia Federation between August 13 and 17, 2025, under the theme “Smoking Fireplace, the Future of the Family,” began with an opening seminar by Prof. Dr. Mehmet Görmez.
In his opening remarks, Mehmet Görmez referred to the scope of the family in the Quran, saying, "The verses of the Quran concerning women, family, and spouses are extremely comprehensive. These verses reveal a legal understanding of depth and fairness unseen in any legal system. In the Quran, we pray, 'Our Lord, make us leaders of the righteous.' This reminds us that if the family does not protect us, we cannot protect the family either."
“WE MUST LOOK TO THE FUTURE, TO THE FUTURE. BECAUSE THOSE WHO LOSE THIS LIGHT CANNOT SEE AHEAD AND LOSE THEIR FUTURE.”
Mehmet Görmez said, “So, will humanity protect the family, or will the family protect humanity? Let us not forget that all of humanity began with a family; and that was in the place we call paradise. The family is an effort to turn the home we live in into paradise. Because the family is an institution created by Allah.”
“THE FAMILY IS OUR EXISTENCE BETWEEN MOTHER AND UMMAH.”
Emphasizing that the family is not just an institution where children are born, Mehmet Görmez said, "The real issue is how we will build the spirit of the family. Today, we must talk about rebuilding the spirit of the family. All moral systems agree on the importance and existence of the family. The family is our existence between mother and community.”
“FAMILY AND CIVILIZATION EXIST TOGETHER, THEY FALL TOGETHER.”
Referring to the fact that family and civilization are each other's reason for existence, Mehmet Görmez said, “Family and civilization exist together, and they fall together. The Turkish word ”aile“ and the Arabic words ”al“ and ”ehil“ are different. The Quran does not directly say ”family“; it encompasses broader relationships with the concepts of ‘al’ and ”ehil." Islam views the family from a much more universal perspective than all other religions.“ Görmez also stated that, according to the Quran, the family is a law of existence: ”The first is the biological law of existence, which applies to animals and all living beings. The second is the law of our moral existence; it is ingrained in our nature. The family is also a law of mercy, a law of chastity and modesty; it is an institution that protects the law of all humanity."
“THE ISLAMIC UMMAH CAN UNITE AGAINST ALL EVIL FORCES IN THE WORLD AND ACT AS ONE FAMILY.”
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Görmez, who stated that Darwin changed the definition of human creation, said, "Humanism emerged for a human-centered world order; when that was not enough, posthumanism came to the fore. With Darwin, the definition of human creation was changed, and the characteristic of humans being the center of the world was shaken. Nevertheless, I believe that the Islamic ummah can unite against all the evil forces of the world and act as one family.”
Following the speech, a plaque was presented to Prof. Dr. Mehmet Görmez by Gazi Kılıçparlar, a member of the Anatolia Federation Board of Directors. Additionally, Şükriye Kahya, President of the North Macedonia Alaca Association, presented a gift to Prof. Dr. Mehmet Görmez in commemoration of his 40th anniversary.
