In Labunista, a beautiful tradition is nurtured through generations. Before marriage, young people are often addressed with a short yet very meaningful prayer: "Allah muabet!"

Just two words, but within them lies the wisdom of our ancestors, their life experience, and the wish for a happy and harmonious life.

Interestingly, the word "muabet" derives from the Arabic word mahabba (محبة), which means love, affection, and attachment. Through the Turkish language, where muhabbet means both love and pleasant conversation, this word became part of our daily life.

And here lies its greatest beauty. For us, muabet is conversation, but at its roots it carries the meaning of love.

The great Turkish poet and thinker Yunus Emre wrote many centuries ago:

"Gelin tanış olalım, işi kolay kılalım, sevelim sevilelim."

"Let’s get to know each other, make life easier, love and be loved."

Isn’t that the essence of a happy life?

Marriage is not just the union of two hearts. It is the joining of two families, two family histories, different habits and traditions. From that community, new generations will be born tomorrow, who will inherit the values their parents build today.

Our elders knew well that life is not made up only of good days. There will be disagreements, worries, and difficulties. But where there is muabet, there is understanding. Where there is understanding, there is respect. And where there is respect, love is more easily preserved.

But should this beautiful prayer be meant only for young people entering marriage?

Don’t we also need muabet among neighbors, friends, relatives, and all inhabitants of Labunista?

Let there be muabet among neighbors so that small misunderstandings do not become big divides. Let there be conversation between young and old, so that the experience of some meets the ideas of others. Let there be understanding among families, so new friendships are built rather than old hostilities.

Let us greet each other, visit, help when someone is in difficulty, and sincerely rejoice when someone is doing well. Let us not allow pride, stubbornness, or one wrongly spoken word to distance us from the people with whom we share the same village.

Because a village is not made only of houses, streets, and buildings, but of people and the relationships between them.

We can build the most beautiful homes, the widest streets, and the tallest buildings, but the true beauty of Labunista will be how close we are, how much we respect each other, and how ready we are to lend a helping hand.

We don’t always have to think alike to respect each other. We don’t always have to agree to remain friends. Sometimes it’s enough to sit down, have a coffee, listen to each other, and try to understand.

Muabet is a bridge between two hearts, a connection between two families, but also the foundation of a complex and healthy community.

Perhaps our ancestors left no great books about love, friendship, and unity, but they left us something equally valuable – wisdom gathered in just two words.

Therefore, let muabet not fade in our homes, our streets, our neighborhoods, and among our people. Let new friendships be created, old ones renewed, and generations grow up who know how to talk, respect, and help one another.

🤲 Allah muabet! Among spouses, among families, among neighbors, among friends, and among all inhabitants of Labunista.

Because where there is muabet, there is understanding. Where there is understanding, there is unity. And where there is unity, there is a future.