Abdurrahman Kaan, President of the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD), called on the business world for mutual aid and solidarity through the Zimem (Credit) Ledger practice during the Month of Ramadan, with the aim of healing as soon as possible the wounds of our citizens who have suffered both materially and spiritually because of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

In his statement, Kaan noted the following:

The Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak, which was first seen in China's Wuhan province and which shortly afterwards took the whole world under its influence, primarily Europe and America, continues to shake our country deeply. In order to get through this troubled period with the least damage and to heal the wounds that have emerged as soon as possible, our state and our nation are displaying an example of great solidarity and self-sacrifice rarely seen in history.

As businessmen who are devoted to their country and whose only concern is the future of their nation, while we strive on the one hand to ensure that production is not disrupted and that the outbreak does not lead to a large-scale economic crisis, on the other hand we continue to sustain our support for our state and our nation in every field through the aid campaigns and awareness efforts we organize.

Our Almighty Lord, who has introduced Himself to us with the names the Most Gracious and the Most Merciful, who bestows an ease with every hardship and hastens to our aid, and who fills the earth with breezes of mercy through the manifestation of these names, has, praise be to God, brought us once again to the Sultan of the Eleven Months, the Noble Ramadan.

The Coronavirus has unfortunately caused serious economic tremors in our country as well, as it has all over the world. In this process, it is time to share the troubles of our citizens who are experiencing financial difficulties and to take part in their hardship.

Our beloved Nation, with the upbringing, knowledge and experience it has drawn from the pure bosom of Anatolia, has always stood by those in difficulty and has hastened to the aid of people in need without seeking any interest. The Turkish Nation has always taken as its motto the Noble Hadith of the Messenger of God, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), “He who goes to bed full while his neighbour is hungry is not one of us.” and has woven its life in line with this belief.

We have no doubt that our beloved Nation will act today with the same meaning and spirit as it did in the past, and that out of respect for the Month of Ramadan it will meet the needs of our citizens in need with more love and eagerness than ever.

It is our bounden duty to give back to these ancient lands, which taught us to share the blessings bestowed by the Almighty, and to share them with our beloved nation. As MÜSİAD, we have acted with the responsibility of this duty since the day we were founded, and we regard sharing our earnings not as a favour but as a necessity.

As MÜSİAD, we have been carrying on with great enthusiasm, since 2016, the Zimem (Credit) Ledger practice that our ancestors put into effect as if to teach all humanity a lesson. We extend a hand to our brothers and sisters in need through the tradition of the Zimem Ledger, and we make the MÜSİAD Family grow even larger with their good prayers. With this practice, our members take the credit-debt ledger (zimem ledger) from the tradesman and pay the total debt amount of those in need, thus zeroing out and closing the accounts of the debtors. We are greatly pleased to lead the way in keeping this beautiful practice alive and to be an inspiration to the other segments of our society as well.

We know that the more tightly we embrace one another and the more we become a balm for one another's wounds, the faster we will heal and the more strongly we will all rise together. These days are days of unity; they are days of running to help unconditionally and of sharing.

We invite every single member of the MÜSİAD Family, our business people, our friends and everyone who considers it a duty to grieve at the trouble of a brother or sister, to contribute to the Zimem (Credit) Ledger practice. Let us join hands, let us be a remedy for the troubles of our brothers and sisters, let no tear appear in the eye of even one of our brothers or sisters because of destitution.

We are very good and very great “together”.

On this occasion, I wish that the Month of Ramadan, whose path we have been awaiting impatiently and whose beginning is mercy, whose middle is forgiveness and whose end is deliverance from the torment of hell, may pass peacefully and abundantly for all of us. May the Almighty accept the aid we have given and will give, and may He grant us to reach the Ramadan Feast, God willing.