Pastoral Care & Support in Difficult Situations

Here for you in difficult times

In an acute crisis: emergency 112 · TelefonSeelsorge 116 123 – details below.

As an Islamic community, we regard supporting people in difficult circumstances as part of our religious and social responsibility.

Allah says in the Qur’an:

“Cooperate with one another in goodness and righteousness.” (Qur’an, Al-Ma’idah 5:2)

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also taught the importance of relieving the hardship of others (Sahih Muslim, no. 2699).

Our pastoral support is primarily rooted in our responsibility towards Muslims and members of our community. At the same time, we firmly believe:

A person in need is first and foremost a human being.

People may therefore approach our Imam or Board regardless of age, gender, nationality, origin or religion. This explicitly includes people of other faiths and people with no religious affiliation.

When you are not doing well

People may seek support because of family problems, loneliness, grief, depression, anxiety, negative thoughts, school or workplace pressures, illness, bereavement, imprisonment or many other difficult situations.

“I am not doing well. I need help.” – there is no shame in saying this.

Seeking professional treatment is not contrary to faith or trust in Allah. The Prophet ﷺ encouraged people to seek treatment when ill (Jamiʿ at-Tirmidhi 2038; Sunan Abi Dawud 3855).

We see a particularly growing need for support among young people due to social media, loneliness, educational and professional pressure, family difficulties and anxiety about the future. Our mosque cannot meet all these needs alone; we see ourselves as one part of a wider support network.

Our Board also considers sufficient access to psychotherapy and psychiatric care to be essential. We view reductions, shortages or additional barriers to medically necessary mental-health treatment with serious concern.

Our limits

We are not doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists or legal advisers.

Our pastoral support therefore does not replace medical, psychiatric, psychological or psychotherapeutic treatment, legal advice or other professional services.

Emergency situations

If there is an immediate danger to life:

• Emergency services: 112
• Medical on-call service: 116117
• Telephone counselling (TelefonSeelsorge): 116 123
• Children and youth helpline: 116111

Anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts, thoughts of self-harm or fear of losing control should seek professional medical or psychiatric assistance immediately and, where possible, should not remain alone.

Prison and legal matters

People who are in prison, facing imprisonment, have recently left prison or have relatives in prison may also approach us. We can provide human and spiritual support.

However, we do not provide legal advice and do not interfere with criminal investigations or court proceedings.

We do not assist anyone in concealing evidence, obstructing investigations, influencing witnesses, evading lawful measures or committing any other unlawful act.

All our activities take place within the legal framework of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Financial difficulties

Our mosque is not a bank or general financial-assistance service. We therefore do not normally provide cash payments or loans.

People facing financial difficulties should first contact the responsible public authorities and professional support services.

In exceptional hardship cases, the competent governing body of the association may decide to pay directly for a specific necessary service. No freely disposable cash payment is made, and there is no entitlement to such assistance.

In the event of a death

We also support families following a death, including matters relating to Islamic funeral arrangements, the funeral prayer and contact with funeral-service providers. More information is on our page “Death & Islamic Funeral Support” (linked below).

Contact

You can reach our Imam and Board in person at the mosque or by email at info@hamidiye-frankfurt.de.