An Analysis of the Tolerance Process

An Analysis of the Tolerance Process

Last Updated on Thursday, 08 February 2007 06:09 by Fethullah Gülen Saturday, 26 February 2005 21:00

When we mean tolerance, dialogue, respect for everyone, to accept everyone with their positions, we are voicing Prophet Mohammed's (peace be upon him) Medina Document and declaring the realities he expressed in the Farewell Sermon.

We fulfill our responsibilities and obligations this way. Those who dealt with these issues were mistaken on this point. They might have walked in a different direction due to internal and external reasons, fair and unfair causes. We do not care about these things; if we are to succeed, we must fulfill our obligations.

I see that some things do not fit into their right places under the name of the religious basis of tolerance and dialogue process that began in the mid-1990s. These are basics being overlooked by both friends and fan circles that willingly support this process, and Muslim circles that claim this process is against the Islamic principles stipulated in the Islamic verses. While the first group highlighted individuals or institutions contributing to a restart of this process, pay attention to the fact that I say "restart," the second group labeled those who spearheaded this process with epithets ranging from "sinful" to "unbeliever," through their comments, tore them apart for being consistent with the verses, as they continued with their allegations.

Tolerance, dialogue, the idea of the accepting everybody with their positions, as our expression and transition in this life, are not things that started with us in Islamic history. Let's analyze only the Medina Document through this understanding and think about the answers of these questions: Does the Pride of Humanity declare to the world what religion an individual has the right to believe in, his/her nationality and race; where to live, travel, invest and whether or not to acquire property? Does the Document at the same time include whether or not these rights are holy and untouchable? Are the same realities reiterated in the Farewell Sermon of Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) with a different rhetoric, explanation style and manner or not? There are about 10 years between the Medina Document and the Farewell Sermon. It means that there was no change in 10 years; on the contrary, there was accumulation and continuation.

These acceptations were not only mentioned in the Medina Document and the Farewell Sermon and were not abandoned as history of literature booklets; but these truths that were voiced out, also became life. As our Prophet (pbuh) experienced all these himself, Four Caliphates and those who lived after them in later periods experienced these as well. Where did Muslims demolish churches and synagogues during their occupation? Where did they violate minority rights? Where did they restrict the freedom of conscience and where did they limit the freedom of thought? Throughout history, minorities who lived under the protection of Muslims realized what Muslims granted them when those rights were taken away from them by other occupation powers. It means this was the essence and sap of our past. Therefore, this is not a process that began with us.

On the other side, as our Prophet and the Four Caliphates practiced, we should accept that in Islamic history these realities were not always implemented with the same sensitivity during the 15th century. They were not implemented because people who could not digest the essence and could not internalize, took sides with those in high positions; worldly thoughts that clashed with Islam were put forward; the love of position, sense of interest, tribal privileges and other negative developments emerged. In accordance with these, the verses became issues of separate interpretations one day and these separate interpretations reflected in practice the other day. Therefore, let me express this in common language, many rude implementations were made in the name of Islam; however, this in deed was not the rudeness of Islam; but the rudeness of the people's attitudes who could not digest Islam.

When you look at the issue from that perspective, it will be understood that while saying tolerance, dialogue, respect for all and accepting anyone with their current positions, we voice our Prophet's (pbuh) Medina Document and speak out the realities he declared in the Farewell Sermon. Hence, we fulfill our obligations and duties. Those who dealt with the issue before us might have been mistaken at this point and walked in a different route through both internal and external reasons and fair or unfair causes. We do not care about them. If we can, we should fulfill our obligations.

Pay attention to the fact that I say obligation and duty. Therefore, do not consider this a virtue. Do not wait for things incumbent upon virtue. You may think, "Doesn't it have any value?" Yes, this process that you lead might have value; however, this value is derived from many people not aware of that thought or not able to do this. I mean, it has value due to scarcity, not due to its individual value. In other words, this is like the example of how the value of goods increases when there is scarcity in the market. These are the reasons why those people who say tolerance and dialogue are called "virtuous" and "righteous" and respected and mentioned as peace heroes.

Let me deal with another issue here: In my opinion, the best thing is not giving this process a name. Let's not call it the tolerance process, dialogue process. The best thing is not giving a name to an issue whose outcome has not been determined and where it will arrive at is still blurred. Let's leave it to time to give it a name or let's give it a name when the appropriate time comes. Who knows, maybe, softer and other observations will occur during the process or these observations may soften everyone more than we expect and then the concepts of tolerance and dialogue may be insufficient to define the current situation. Who knows?

Yes, we can bind this process entirely to our basic sources and say that this process flows out of them. I insist on the issue, because this issue is not about the internal delicacy of an individual and so on. This is not an attitude depending on the consideration, "If I act accordingly, I will also cover the distance for my goal." Therefore, even if the world turns to feathers fifty times and alters a hundred times, we will continue to express the same views; because, our basic sources do not allow us think differently.

If our sources say do it this way, or on the other side, if it is placed on the shoulders of those responsible, we cannot make it personal. No one can do this. It is not an outcome of your compassion and mercy. On the contrary, it is Islam's compassion and mercy.

However, as it occurs in any kind of issue, some differences might occur at times in the process as a result of the conjuncture. For instance, despite our small scale demands and efforts in the opposite direction, if a country declares war on our state due to the conditions, then, we will again act according to our religious determinations and discipline based on the law of war. In other words, we have to act. This in deed is the obligation of that period; however, we should not forget that war is an event not decided by individuals or institutions, but by the state(s).

Another significant issue is that you and people other than you name those who play a role in the process in order to clarify a reality or give their rights, and so should not exaggerate. While calling those who lead the above-mentioned process "mind masters, thought workers of the future, peace heroes," it should not be exaggerated.

Yes, if you like, let us turn back and reiterate; the rules of that process have been determined and they have reached that level, going step by step for about 10 years. This is not something new, but progress. This is not constructing something from zero point, but revealing things, which were about to be declared "extinct" despite their existence, and became alien to us due to their inactiveness as reemerging waters in useless holes. We say: "Human beings are not animals. They are neither animals that speak nor animals that feel. They are neither animals that walk nor animals that move. They are human beings. They are creatures that speak, hear, feel, walk, move, conscious about anything, judge with their minds, compare today with the future, prepare themselves for the future, have very large and boundless horizons and even their horizons surpass the earth and reach the eternal, wander around places where physics and chemisty rules are inactive, reach as far as God, the names of God, qualifications related to God. Therefore, our behaviors should be on a different line and should include different criteria. Our relations with human beings should be based on being human."

Then, hasn't there been anyone who expressed all these before you did? Of course, there were; however, they were not widespread as today. These thoughts had been put forward on the ideal side, remained among book pages and did not find larger implementation areas. I am not sure; perhaps, because of that reason, some people from near and far friendly circles, those who did not understand this and insisted on not understanding, surfaced. Perhaps, since they did not lead the process, there have been people making negative criticisms due to envy and jealousy and there still are. They considered this process as "becoming unbelievers. "

However, in spite of everything, whatever the title or name that is given by us or whether it takes it on its own within our approach or consequently through the path we are treading, half the distance has been covered there. The engine worked and the vehicle moved. It is not possible to turn back. According to the conditions and the conjuncture, some of the coordinates might only be altered; however, we should be patient and wait here. There is even a waiting process in order to move the machines working with electricity and electronic systems. Requiring a waiting process here is also very natural here.

We said, "Half of the distance has been covered"; however, we do not claim that from now on it might not be reversed, destroyed or diminished. First of all, we found ourselves in such a preparation through God's favor. Although we have been late, we found the ground for better understanding of the situation and evaluating the opportunities through God's favor. Our hope again in the direction of continuing this process is also through God's favor. If a unilateral interruption does not occur from our party, this work will go on; however, if there is betrayal from our party and our relations with God is interrupted, He might change his attitude as well. In other words, if we do not become his real slaves, He might withdraw all the free favors He has given us so far. Let us pray that we do not leave the path of purity, so that He does not take back the favors He has bestowed upon us ; because, the world really needs such an understanding and consideration.

Our God is enough for us

I talked about two circles at the beginning. Two of those were from the friendly circles. There are enemies as well. I do not want to call them enemies; because, a circle that does not recognize God, the Prophet and that is close to any kind of concept included in the spiritual and holy concept, even has a place in this process as it happened in the relations of our Prophet Mohamed (pbuh) with the unbelievers; however, they give themselves a name due to the attitude they have taken towards this process and say: "We are the enemy! No to any kind of goodness and philanthropy coming from you!" This is mostly an obstinate and a paranoid circle that neither thinks about the nation nor the state nor humanity beyond their personal interests.

Yes, we do not have the power of sanctions against those people; however, we believe in God. We have "Hasbünallâhu ve ni'me'l-vekîl. Ni'me'l-Mevlâ ve ni'me'n-Nasîr"[(Allah is sufficient for us and most excellent is the Protector.)]. We have such a treasure like "Lâ havle velâ kuvvete illâ billâh" [(There is no power and strength except with Allah, The Grand, The Great.)]; it is a full and never ending treasure that also increases as much as it is used. Do not be afraid. If God is with you, nobody can harm you. As the Brain Constructor of the Century frequently emphasizes: "My brothers, do not worry! We are under God's favor."  "A sparrow hit an eagle. It is not a lie, but a truth, I even saw the dust," says Yunus.

Such a day will come and the eagle will trundle, the sparrow will smile; because it is God who makes the small do big things. Do not fall into affliction. Affliction is a hurdle to any kind of maturity. It is a quagmire. As Akif expressed it, if you fall you drown. Nestle your purpose; because, the path you will cover is very long. There are deep waters to cross. Let's repeat Yunus' lines: "This road is very far, It has many posts, It has no passage, 

There are deep waters."

However, there are many people who crossed these waters without drowning, ensuring the other valley as their settlement, removing their personal concerns and also securing positions. Why shouldn't you become one of those?