Dubai: A comment made by Turkish Interior Minister Efkan Ala during a campaign rally has drawn a sharp backlash on social media.
While campaigning for the Justice and Development Party (AK party), Ala praised his party for their “humility” in their achievements, citing that “even Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) showed signs of pride after his conquest of Makkah”. Ala said that the AK party avoids pride and owes all its accomplishments to God.
Ala’s remarks were also blasted by Associate Professor Ergun Capan, an Islamic theologian. He accused Ala of misinterpreting the verse in question. “Saying that our Prophet was overwhelmed by pride shows that Ala does not know him at all. The Prophet Mohammad [PBUH] entered Makkah after the conquest in a very humble manner. He was so humble that when he lowered his head, it touched the hump of his camel. Many people in Makkah converted to Islam because they were touched by the humility of the Prophet,” Capan said.
With regard to the verse of the Quran, Ala mentioned, which was revealed following the conquest of Makkah, he said it was not a warning for the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), but a lesson for all Muslims to ask for God’s forgiveness and be grateful to God. It is very common for AK Party deputies to attribute divinity to their party and leader. In another controversial move earlier this year, AK Party Düzce deputy Fevai Arslan, while praising Erdogan, said the prime minister is a leader who has all the characteristics of God. One AK party official said touching Erdogan is a kind of prayer, while another said he was ‘the eternal’ president of Turkey. Some have even referred to Erdogan as a ‘second Prophet’.
