OKTAR BABUNA: "Love and affection towards the People of the Book" as depicted in the Qur'an. I take refuge in Allah from the satan. "Say, 'People of the Book! Come to a proposition which is the same for us and you – that we should worship none but Allah and not associate any partners with Him and not take one another as lords besides Allah.' If they turn away, say, 'Bear witness that we are Muslims'." (Surat al-Imr'an, 64)

ADNAN OKTAR: Now, you can stop after you read each verse. Qur'an explains the point in which Cubbeli goes wrong. Cubbeli says that Bediuzzaman Said Nursi states that a purification, an improvement will occur in the Christian religion, and he says this is wrong. What does Allah say? Allah tells us, to warn them so that a purification and an improvement would occur in Christianity, to invite them to the belief in the Oneness of Allah and to warn them not to adopt other people as their lords. And He tells us to strive to create an alliance around that. Isn’t that right? This means that Bediuzzaman spoke the truth, and Cubbeli, out of his ignorance, spoke wrongly on this point. Next time, before referring to the name of Bediuzzaman, he should wash his mouth thoroughly and only then mention his name. This means he was wrong in what he said.

OKTAR BABUNA: "Today all good things have been made lawful (halal) for you. And the food of those given the Book is also lawful (halal) for you and your food is lawful (halal) for them. So are chaste women from among the muminun and chaste women of those given the Book before you, once you have given them their dowries in marriage, not in fornication or taking them as lovers. But as for anyone who rejects iman, his actions will come to nothing and in the Hereafter (akhira) he will be among the losers." (Surat al-Ma'ida, 5)

ADNAN OKTAR: This means one can marry women from the People of the Book.

ADNAN OKTAR: Of course. It is possible to marry Christian and Jewish women. One can marry, have children with them. That woman becomes his wife, he lives with her all his life, they become each other's confidante, friend. They talk to each other, consequently an intimacy develops. That is to say they don't choke each other, neither do they chop them up as vegetables, right? The Qur'an commands no such thing.

ADNAN OKTAR: On the contrary, the Qur'an commands compassion and respect. Besides, it is stated that one can eat their food, right?

ADNAN OKTAR: Of course. That is because the Jews believe in the Oneness of Allah. There are a great many people among the Christians who believe in the Oneness of Allah. That priest, the one who spoke at that meeting the other day, talked about the Oneness of Allah. He said he believed in the Oneness of Allah. Right?

ADNAN OKTAR: And one self-opinionated man stepped up and said that I was speaking contradictory. He tells the reason for that. He said that I was saying that they all believe in the Oneness of Allah. But they are saying that themselves, they say that they believe in the Oneness of Allah. You hear them say so if there is nothing wrong with your hearing. The Jews as well believe in the Oneness of Allah. And I also say that they believe in the Oneness of Allah.

That is said in this sense; for instance in Turkey there are people who say that they are Muslims and that they believe in the Oneness of Allah. They say that they are Muslims and they state that they believe in the Oneness of Allah. That is okay. But there are also people who do not believe in Allah at all. Now when we refer to the people in Turkey and say that Muslims believe in the Oneness Allah, we refer to the ones believing in the Oneness of Allah, to those who believe in the Oneness of Allah. There may be people who are Muslims but they may also attribute partners to Allah, or one may not believe in Allah. But it still writes Muslim on their ID cards. Isn’t that so? As you see those people have a logical defect on this point. One can say that he is a Christian but he can also believe in the Oneness of Allah. There are a great many Christians who believe in the Oneness of Allah. It is not true that every Christian believe in trinity, that is not the case. We are referring to those Christians who believe in the Oneness of Allah. We have already criticized those who believe in trinity, we told them about that. Belief in trinity is a wrong belief. Because Almighty Allah says – I take refuge in Allah from the satan- "the skies will almost be split asunder". It is a drastic sin and polytheism. There is no trinitarian belief. There is only belief in the Oneness of Allah. However to incriminate all Christians, claiming that they all believe in trinity, would not be a proper and honest behavior. Right? There are many Christians who believe in the Oneness of Allah. They are to be aware of this.

OKTAR BABUNA: "Among the People of the Book there are some who have faith (iman) in Allah and in what has been sent down to you and what was sent down to them, and who are humble before Allah. They do not sell Allah's Signs for a paltry price. Such people will have their reward with their Lord. And Allah is swift at reckoning." (Surat al-Imr'an, 199)

This verse confirms exactly what you said. Alhamdulillah, insha'Allah. It says that "there are some People of the Book who believe in Allah and what has been sent down, believers who display a profound respect for Allah." Just like you said.

ADNAN OKTAR: Yes. It would be a good thing for those who are concerned about this point, to hear these verses, insha'Allah. Continue.

OKTAR BABUNA: "Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and fair admonition, and argue with them in the kindest way. Your Lord knows best who is misguided from His way. And He knows best who are guided." (Surat an-Nahl, 125)

ADNAN OKTAR: Yes. It is said "in the kindest way", right? The Qur’an does not tell us to stuff explosives down a pipe and launch it at people's heads. It doesn't tell us to go and bomb people's houses and burn their family and children, does it? Almighty Allah does not tell us to sabotage anybody's house. What does He say? He tells us to "argue with them in the kindest way" with compassion, with respect, by propitiating them, by trying to convince them with fair admonition. What are we to say? We will call them to the Oneness of Allah. We will ask them to purify their religion, we will ask them to amend themselves. It is fine if they accept , if not, we will say "You have your religion and I have my religion". Ergo, there is nothing in these verses of the Qur’an about causing tumult, bombing here and there, burning and crashing their homes down.

OKTAR BABUNA: "You will find the people most affectionate to those who have faith are those who say, ' We are Christians.' That is because some of them are priests and monks and because they are not arrogant." (Surat al-Ma'ida, 82)

ADNAN OKTAR: Now, the person who came here was a priest, wasn't he?

OKTAR BABUNA: "the people most affectionate to those who have faith "

ADNAN OKTAR: Almighty Allah says they are affectionate toward Muslims, doesn't He?

ADNAN OKTAR: Allah says that Christians are affectionate toward Muslims. But when we say that, some ignorant types demand to know how we can talk with Christians, with priests. They say they are the enemies of Muslims. But what does Almighty Allah say? He says they are affectionate toward you. That means we have seen the pronouncement in the Qur'an and complied with it. We do not act according to the words of the ignorant. Right? We have shown affection, likewise the love and respect they have shown was clearly seen.

OKTAR BABUNA: Yes, they were highly respectful of you. They said very respectful things about you Masha'Allah. That was because they saw love, compassion and the moral values of the Qur'an in you. When he first came here, he said in the live broadcast that you radiated luminosity. He said you were a world leader insha'Allah. He stated that it was how he regarded you in his heart. Later on in his speech he praised the Prophet (saas) and he said things at the press conference which indicated that you were like him in our age and that you bear the same moral values, insha'Allah. Masha'Allah.

ADNAN OKTAR: These ignorant types want to beat those people up with wood, smash them up, burn their family and children and bomb and destroy their churches and synagogues. When asked what they are doing, they would say they are engaged in jihad. But that is not jihad. The act they are doing is a sinful act. It is a sinful act. One that is in violation of the Qur'an. The Qur’an explains the correct action, that is how they should behave. There is no room for misinterpretation here, it is quite explicit. Yes, carry on.

OKTAR BABUNA: "Only argue with the People of the Book in the kindest way – except in the case of those of them who do wrong – saying, 'We believe in what has been sent down to us and what was sent down to you. Our God and your God are One and we submit to Him.'" (Surat Al-'Ankabut, 29:46) Alhamdulillah.

ADNAN OKTAR: All right, and what did we tell them? Masha'Allah. Well, when I said all right, may Allah forgive, it might be misunderstood there. We said we believe in the One Allah. He demands to know how I can say such a thing. My brother, of course we do believe in the One Allah. Jews' God is One, Christians' God is One and Muslims' God is One. Their [Christians'] belief in trinity, is another thing, it is their own sin. They are in polytheism. But there are also great many Christians who believe in the One Allah. There are different sects, aren't there? There are also many in Turkey. Yes, carry on.

OKTAR BABUNA: "There is a community among the People of the Book who are upright. They recite Allah's Signs throughout the night, and they prostrate. They believe in Allah and the Last Day, and enjoin the right and forbid the wrong, and compete in doing good. They are among the righteous. You will not be denied the reward for any good thing you do. Allah knows those who fear [and respect] Allah." (Surah Al ‘Imran, 113-115) Masha'Allah.

ADNAN OKTAR: From "the People of the Book", "throughout the night", how is it said in the verse? Carry on.

OKTAR BABUNA: "among the People of the Book who are upright. They recite Allah's Signs throughout the night, and they prostrate. They believe in Allah and the Last Day, and enjoin the right and forbid the wrong, and compete in doing good." Allah says such people exist.

OKTAR BABUNA: "Those who believe and those who are Jews and the Sabaeans and the Christians, all who believe in Allah and the Last Day and act rightly will feel no fear and will know no sorrow." (Surat al-Maida, 69)

OKTAR BABUNA: Allah does not forbid you from being good to those who have not fought you in the religion or driven you from your homes, or from being just towards them. Allah loves those who are just." (Surat al-Mumtahana, 8) Insha'Allah.

ADNAN OKTAR: All right. You can read them all. What comes after?

OKTAR BABUNA: Hadith regarding love and affection toward the People of the Book and scholars’ interpretations.

OKTAR BABUNA: The Prophet (saas) said: "Someone who unjustly kills a dhimmi (person under protection) cannot get a whiff of Heaven. However, its fragrance is felt from a distance of forty years." (Sahih Bukhari, Jizya, 5)

ADNAN OKTAR: This means that oppressing, bombing or killing a Christian or a Jew is unlawful. This is what our Prophet (saas) says and it is clear in the verse as well. And our Prophet (saas) states this explicitly.

OKTAR BABUNA: "Whoever oppresses a dhimmi or loads a work that is over his strength or takes something away from him by force, I am his foe on the Day of Judgment." (Abu Dawud, Kharaj, 31-33)

ADNAN OKTAR: Look, those who are so keen on terror should read these. Yes, they should read these hadith.

OKTAR BABUNA: "Whoever oppresses a dhimmi and imposes a greater burden on him than he can bear, I am his foe." This hadith is from Abu Yusuf. (Abu Yusuf, Kitabu'l-Harac, Matbaatu's Selefiye, 1397 h. Cairo, p.135)

ADNAN OKTAR: May Allah forgive me, for I said "these", I meant to say these works. Yes.

OKTAR BABUNA: Insha'Allah. "They are called dhimmi because they are under Allah's protection. It is related that the Prophet (saas) said the following on the subject: 'I am claimant of anyone who depresses a dhimmi. The one who I am claimant of (in this world), I am also claimant of on the Day of Judgment.'" (Ajlouni, Kashf al-Khafa' II, 218)

ADNAN OKTAR: Look, our Prophet (saas) doesn't accept even oppression, let alone dropping rockets on people's heads, bombings and making scenes. But there is something else that I have said; I said "I am opposed to terror. I am opposed to individual terror and to state terror." Some people's ears are clogged up with wax, however. It would be a good thing for them to wash them out, their dirty ears, a bit while in bath. Right? Look, I said "I am opposed to state terror", didn't I? Let me tell these boneheads who refuse to understand, I am also opposed to individual terror.

ADNAN OKTAR: This is completely clear and what it covers is explicit. Do carry on.

OKTAR BABUNA: You also said there was nothing justifiable about bloodshed.

ADNAN OKTAR: Of course. I said that for both sides. I have explained that for both sides. I said there is nothing justifiable about bloodshed. They were discussing it and I put an end to the discussion. I said, for both sides, that they cannot bring any justifiable explanation for bloodshed, and they went silent.

OKTAR BABUNA: They stopped talking. Everyone calmed down, relaxed and drew back.

ADNAN OKTAR: Of course. But there are some people whose ears are clogged up with dirt. The ones who only bath once in a fortnight. But if they opened their ears, they would understand what I am saying.

OKTAR BABUNA: The Prophet (saas) says: "Beware! I will be complainant of those who act cruelly and heartlessly to these people (who are bound by agreement) and restrict their rights or who load a work over what they can sustain or take away something out of their will, on the Day of Judgment." (Abu Dawud, Jihad; Islamic State Order, Abu’l-A’la Mawdudi, Hilal publication, 1967, p. 71)

ADNAN OKTAR: Look, Rasulullah (saas) is reminding the pronouncements of Allah, to those thick-headed ones, ones who are inclined to terror and ruthlessness.

ADNAN OKTAR: Yes, to those inclined to oppression. For instance one is a communist, Darwinist, materialist and it writes Muslim in his ID card. And when asked what he wants; he says; "I will cause anarchy and terror, I will throw bombs." We ask the communists what they want, and they say "we will cause anarchy and terror, and throw bombs, as well." We ask the communists of the PKK, those Stalinists, what they want - and they too say they will bomb and destroy. This is the same mentality. They must act in line with the Prophet’s (saas) words, not of their own accord. Not according to what Stalin said, or Ho Chi Minh or Che said. But according to what our Prophet (saas) said and according to the verses of the Qur'an. Do carry on, insha'Allah.

OKTAR BABUNA: "The agreements between our Prophet (saas) and various non-Muslim groups particularly stressed that their lives and goods were guaranteed." (The treaty with the people of Juhayni, Hamidullah, Al-Wasaiq, no. 151)

"We can see first expressions of the guarantee given to Christians by our Prophet (saas) in regard to their places of worship, in the agreement he had made with the people of Najran. The treaty issued by the Prophet (saas) guaranteeing the Christians of Najran their temples, put their places of worship under guarantee by saying the temples of the people of Najran are under the protection of Allah and the responsibility of His Prophet, Muhammad (saas)." (Ibn Sa'd, I, 288, 357-58)

ADNAN OKTAR: So nobody went and bombed synagogues or churches, did they?

ADNAN OKTAR: They are entrusted to trustworthy hands of the Muslims. Insha'Allah. Do carry on.

OKTAR BABUNA: "According to the account in Abu Dawud, the treaty contains the term churches will not be destroyed." (Abu Dawud, Haraj, 29-30)

OKTAR BABUNA: "The guarantee regarding places of worship was repeated in the capitulation document sent by our Prophet (saas) to clerics of Bani Haris b. Kab of Najran." (Ibn Sa'd, I, 266)

"The Jews of Haybar once came to the Prophet (saas) and said that their goods had been taken away by certain Muslims without permission. At this, the Prophet (saas) summoned the Muslims to the mosque and told them it was unlawful to touch the goods of those with whom a treaty had been signed and that what they had done was wrong." (Musnad, IV, 89; Vakıdi, II, 691; Serahsi, Siyer, I, 133, IV, 1530)

ADNAN OKTAR: There is enough information here for those with the requisite intelligence, and there is nothing that can be done with those who do not. Yes, carry on.

OKTAR BABUNA: "In any one of the countries conquered at the time of Hazrat Omar, not even one place of worship was failed to respect. Abu Yusuf writes: 'All places of worship were left as they were before. Neither were they demolished, nor the defeated people were deprived of their properties or belongings.'" (Abu Yusuf, Kitabu'l-Haraj; Islamic State Order, Abu’l-A’la Mawdudi, Hilal Publications, 1967, p. 74)

"Hazrat Ali said, 'Whoever is our dhimmi, his blood is as blessed as ours, his property is as protected from damage as ours.' In another verse it is related that Hazrat Ali said the following: 'The property and life of the ones who accept status of Dhimmi is blessed as ours (the Muslims).'" (Islamic State Order, Abu’l-A’la Mawdudi, 1967, p. 76)

"Our Prophet (saas) enjoyed good relations with all those who did not hinder the call of Islam and who abided by the general rules and he never interfered with the religions of members of any other faith. He had accepted the People of Book as the individuals of the community and had honored some of their invitations. There are accounts of Rasulullah (saas) attending wedding feasts of the People of the Book, carrying their dead bodies, visiting their sick and giving them presents. Indeed, during a visit to him by the Christians of Najran he spread his robe out for them and told them to sit on it. Islam permitted non-Muslim communities to live by their own religions and punished those who sought to hinder this." Masha'Allah.

ADNAN OKTAR: Our Prophet (saas) spread his robe out, didn't he? For the Christians to sit on.

ADNAN OKTAR: He attended their funerals, weddings and feasts. There was no question of burning anyone’s home down. This fascination with terror and destruction is a bad thing taught to some Muslims by Stalin and Lenin. Communists were all over the Arab and Islamic world, and the communists took it over entirely, right as far as Angola. Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Syria and Iraq were all under communist control, and the Darwinist and materialist mindset is a survival from those days. Kill, bomb and maim the People of the Book whenever you see them. If he is a Christian, burn his house down. Then torture him. They have encouraged such explicitly unlawful acts. What does unlawful mean? It is an action that will be punished in Hell.

ADNAN OKTAR: It means an action forbidden by Allah. A Muslim must act according to the Qur’an, according to the hadith and deeds of Rasulullah (saas). Yes, go on.

OKTAR BABUNA: "Furthermore Islam deems it permissible to eat food prepared by the People of the Book, deems what they prepare is lawful and that Muslim men can marry their women. It is also stated that, after marriage a woman may live by her own faith and that no pressure will be brought to bear on her."

ADNAN OKTAR: Of course, one can eat food prepared by Christians when they believe in the One Allah. Jews in any case believe in the One Allah. One can also eat their food. And one can marry Jewish or Christian women, insha’Allah.

OKTAR BABUNA: "Najan is a place between Mecca and Yemen. When the representatives of the Najan Christians came to Medina, the Prophet (saas) and his companions had just performed the afternoon prayer. Since the time had also come for them to pray, they entered the mosque and headed straight to the east direction and prepared to pray. The Companion Kiram wanted to prevent them. But Rasulullah (saas) ordered them to be released and permitted to pray there. And they turned toward the East and began praying." (Ibn Hisham)

OKTAR BABUNA: Masha'Allah. "In the same way that Muslims can protect a non-Muslim, they can also seek protection from them. Indeed it is known that the Prophet (saas) sought protection of Mutim bin Adiyy, on his return from Taif, during the first hegira to Abyssinia, Hazrat Abu Bekir from the Ibni-Daghinne and during the first return from Abyssinia Uthman bin Maz entered the protection of the fanatical pagan Velid bin Mughire." 

OKTAR BABUNA: "In the same way that Muslims can protect a non-Muslim, they can also seek protection from them."

OKTAR BABUNA: "Indeed it is known that the Prophet (saas) sought protection of Mutim bin Adiyy, on his return from Taif, during the first hegira to Abyssinia, Hazrat Abu Bekir from the Ibni-Daghinne and during the first return from Abyssinia Uthman bin Maz entered the protection of the fanatical pagan Velid bin Mughire."

 ADNAN OKTAR: Okay. Carry on.

OKTAR BABUNA: "The texts of treaties agreed between our Prophet (saas) and the caliphs who followed him and various Christian, Jewish and other groups have been preserved today. For example; in the agreement which our Holy Prophet (saas) decreed the articles to Ibn Harris ibn Ka’b, who is a Christian, and other Christians: 'The religion, churches, lives, chastity and property of the entire Christians living in the East and the West are under the protection of Allah, His Prophet (saas) and all the believers. None of the people embracing the religion of Christianity will be forced to accept Islam. If one of the Christians suffers murder or injustice, Muslims are obliged to help him,” he narrated the verse: "Only argue with the People of the Book in the kindest way…" (Surat al-Anqabut, 29/46).'" (Ibn Hisham, Abu Muhammed Abdu'l-Malik, v. 218/834; as-Seerat an-Nabaweeyat, Daru't-Turasi'l-Arabiyye, Beirut, 1396/1971, IV/241-242;Hamidullah, Al-Wasaiq, p. 154-155, no. 96-97;Co-existencein Eastern and Western Sources, narrated from various sources, p. 95)

ADNAN OKTAR: Look, those boneheads can learn these points from there.

OKTAR BABUNA: "Article 17 of the Medina City State Treaty: Those of the Jews who join us will be assisted and well-treated. They will suffer no injustice and their enemies will not be helped."

"Article 25: The Jews of the B’nai Awf and believers are a single united Ummah. They will live by their own faith and Muslims by theirs."

"Article 36: There will be mutual aid, counsel and goodness between Muslims and Jews." (Ibn Kathir, es-Sire, II/322; Hamidullah, Al-Wasaiq, p. 44-45; Co-existence in Eastern and Western Sources, p. 285)

"Taberi and Zemahsheri relate in various accounts that there was a Christian living in Mecca who worked as an ironsmith and who knew the Injil and Torah very well and that the Prophet (saas) would meet and talk with him." (Al-Tabari; Co-existence in Eastern and Western Sources)

"Non-Muslims who say they will remain loyal to and obey the state of Islam and who intend to live there are known as dhimmi... Islam guarantees all these various citizens that their lives, bodies, goods, culture and beliefs will all be protected. Only the laws of the land will apply to them and they will enjoy equal rights to those of Muslims in all matters." (Islamic State Order, Abu’l-A’la Mawdudi)

"In his Great Commentary, the famous commentator Fahreddin-i Razi says: 'So long as the religion and faith are held separate, it is unacceptable for a Muslim to take a non-Muslim slightly or be arrogant toward him, and it is stated that, apart from belief and disbelief, people will share other praiseworthy titles.'" (Fahreddin-i Razi, Great Commentary)