Peace be upon you, my brothers; the year of trial passes over the believer and the disbeliever, the righteous and the wicked. However, for the believer, it is a purification and an elevation of degrees, and for the disbeliever and the sinner, it is an immediate punishment and a warning, perhaps they will return.
And the most afflicted are the prophets, then the best of people, then the best of people. People are tested according to their level of faith. The companions were tested with the plague, and they were the best of people after the prophets, and a large number of the companions and their descendants died in it, but they only received it with patience and good conduct.
For those Muslims who have passed away—whether in Turkey or Syria—they have the reward of the martyr; as our Prophet ﷺ said:
"The martyrs are five: the one who dies of the plague, the one who dies of an internal disease, the one who drowns, the one who is crushed (under a falling building), and the one who dies in the cause of Allah."
Those who have died have returned to their Lord, but our duty, we the living, is to think well of Allah the Most High and know that He does not decree anything without wisdom. He, the Most High, says:
"Verily, the patient will be rewarded without measure."
We must help our people as much as we can. The Prophet ﷺ said:
"A Muslim is a brother of a Muslim. He does not oppress him, nor does he abandon him, nor does he hand him over (to the enemy)."
Allah brings out from us, through this trial, the servitude of aiding our brothers. It is the duty of everyone who can provide any kind of help and support to rush to aid their brothers with what they can. "Allah is with the servant as long as the servant is with his brother."
We must remember that this is a warning for us; the trial reaps whom it reaps, and warns those who remain. Allah the Most High says:
"So We seized them with the punishment and the distress, perhaps they would humble themselves."
We must beware of being among those whom Allah said about them:
"But when Our punishment came to them, why did they not humble themselves? Rather, their hearts became hardened, and Satan made attractive to them what they were doing."
We must humble ourselves to Allah the Most High, seek refuge in Him, and repent from our shortcomings. You look at these buildings collapsing; imagine, did any of their inhabitants think this would happen to them? No, by Allah, none of us is far from trial.
Finally, we ask Allah the Most High to have mercy on the Muslim martyrs, to alleviate the suffering of the injured, to mend their broken bones, to heal their sick, to shelter the displaced, to make for them from Himself a protector, a helper, a companion, and a source of patience.
Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.