ADNAN OKTAR:  Verse 214 of Surat al-Baqara reads, I take refuge in Allah from satan, “Or did you suppose that you would enter the Garden without facing the same as those who came before you?”  Those who came before you- one thinks of people like the prophets Yusuf, Ibrahim, Ishaq and Yakup. “Poverty and illness afflicted them and they were shaken to the point that...” They encountered such difficulties that... “The Messenger and those who had faith with him said, “When is Allah’s help coming?’ That means they faced such difficulty. “Be assured that Allah’s help is very near.”

In verse 155 of Surat al-Baqara, Almighty Allah says: “We will test you with a certain amount of fear and hunger and loss of wealth and life and fruits. But give good news to the steadfast.” 155. “You who have faith, shall I direct you to a transaction which will save you from a painful punishment?” But if you do not do this, says Alah, you will suffer pain and tribulation. Allah says he will tell them of a transaction that will spare them pain.  “It is to have faith in Allah and His Messenger and struggle in the Way of Allah with your wealth and your selves”, look, if you strive with your goods and lives on the path of Allah, if you wage jihad, if you struggle, He says. Meaning if you don’t just sit around at home. “That is better for you if you only knew,” (Surat as-Saff, 10-11) “Many a Prophet has been killed, when there were many thousands with him!”, they worked hard. “They did not give up in the face of what assailed them in the Way of Allah, nor did they weaken, nor did they yield. Neither slanders, nor oppression daunts them. Allah loves the steadfast. (Surat Al-Imr’an, 146) “Or did you imagine that you were going to enter the Garden without Allah knowing those among you who had struggled and knowing the steadfast?” There are lots of people who imagine they will go to Paradise. Look, Allah says: “Or did you imagine that you were going to enter the Garden without Allah knowing those among you who had struggled and knowing the steadfast?” Another verse clarifies this,  “Or did you suppose that you would enter the Garden without facing the same as those who came before you?” Paradise is not that easy. Some of our sisters say they cover their heads and find a man to marry. They have a child and immediately make her go through her education. That is how they start on the path to a good career. They then say, “The time has come to marry you off and for you to have children.” In other words, “You have been born, grown up and are now ready to procreate, after which you will die.”  As if this was their duty. And then they marry them off immediately. They do not engage in jihad, jihad does not mean tearing people into shreds, it means striving and making great efforts. These people undertake no hardship on the path of Allah. They flee high and low from Islam. But if you ask them, they will say they are a very devout and very pious family. They say they come from that famous family. They cut their hair very short with rolls of fat round their necks from eating fatty foods. Then they say, “We have raised an excellent daughter. Now if we marry her off that will make us even more devout.” “And we are also striving very hard on the path of Allah, and even went on the Umrah just last year.” They go on the Umrah as if it were a holiday, just to enjoy themselves.” They stay in the finest hotels there. With lots of good things to eat and drink. Then they do a bit of business, followed by a bit of gossip. They rush about here and there by plane. They fly.They go by plane and come back by plane. OK, he has gone on the Umrah and has a beard down to his waist. That is also OK. He does his business. Business is Sunnah, and eating rice is also Sunnah, eating melon is also Sunnah, and he also discharges those duties. And jihad is for others to make. There are such different type of people for them whom they can watch from a goodly distance. Their duty is to make jihad. “We can’t do everything at once,” they say. “How can we do it all at the same time?” “We have been on the Umrah,” they say. “We have performed our Sunnah eaten our rice and melon and grown our beards. You can do the preaching.” “But you are a bit risky, so we are keeping our distance from you. These are risky matters.” “I have a family and children to think about: they say, “I can’t get involved in this kind of thing. I am in any case a devout man.” Then they say they are a devout family and cannot get involved in that kind of thing. “How can we go and preach the word in full public view?” they ask. That used to be the mentality in Syria. For example, young Muslims came and and told the owner of a factory: “We are losing the country, it’s going to go communist. There is talk of a communist coup, you must come and help us.” The man then handed over 1 dollar, put the dollar in the children’s hands. The next week there was a communist revolution and the man who handed over that 1 dollar fled abroad, leaving his factory and everything behind. Everything he had was confiscated. He lost everything. The regime in Syria was a Stalinist one at that time. That was the kind of mentality, a mentality that waited until disaster was knocking at the door. But if you ask, they put on airs, claiming to be very devout and reasonable and to avoid any corruption. “We meet up at home and read the book,” they say. Domestic jihadists, 6 or 7 of them, and the finest tea and pastries are brought in. The woman bakes a cake. And while reading from the book they start to nod off. Some of them lie down and others lose consciousness. Some of them nod off and their glasses fall off in the process. Their false teeth fall out. And these are domestic jihadists and achieve the most glorious results! But if you ask, “We do whatever is needed.” But they say they avoid dangerous people. They have no intention of doing anything risky such as preaching the word or going to schools and handing books out.” “No way” they say, “These are risky activities, we can not get involved in such risky things.” “We are a devout family, I raised my child and will make her marry off. I am already making the greatest jihad. There are sacks of rice, we eat them and thus discharge that Sunnah. And there is miswaq, once he uses it a few times, he has fulfilled everything. There is nothing left, according to his mindset. Due to this mindset, the entire Islamic world of one and a half billion people is in a situation of a slave. Due to this mindset. And not a single person comes out and says, “What is happening?” They do not say if such a mindset is acceptable. All Mighty Allah says clearly in the Qur’an: “We will test you until We know the true fighters among you and those who are steadfast and test what is reported of you.” (Surah Muhammad, 31).   Do you know what a real jihadist is? Someone who devotes his whole life to Allah, who strives for Allah and to spread Islam, and who, with all his might, uses all his material and spiritual means to that end. The Prophet Ibrahim, for instance, was a jihadist. Our Prophet (saas) was a jihadist. What did he do? He dedicated all his life, possessions and property in the true sense of the word. He would rise early in the morning and prepare Muslims, wouldn’t he? And he was busy with jihad and preaching from morning till night. He did not sit at home. Take the Prophet Ibrahim. Everyone respected the idols there and did not say a word against them. But while he was still a child, he went and smashed them all. But he was very clever. He left the giggest one standing. Look, that is the knowledge of Allah. He hung his axe around its neck, and that was highly intelligent. They asked him if he had done it. “I did not do it,” he said, “this big idol did it.” He simply humiliated them. That shows how important it is to embarrass people kindly in the struggle against kuffur. It was important how he kindly emphasized the irrationality and unintelligence and lack of judgment going on there. Indeed, the people thought about that. It is in the Qur’an. “You know and we know that such a thing could not happen,” they said Prophet Ibrahim was right, and they were right. But shortly thereafter they went mad and told the Prophet Ibrahim they would burn him. They intended to martyr him by burning him. As you know, Almighty Allah saved the Prophet Ibrahim. Allah told the flames to be cool toward him. And a great miracle took place. They were unable to burn the Prophet Ibrahim. Allah saved him. That is what jihad is all about. The Prophet Ibrahim also knew how to raise his children, daughters as pious. If he had sat around eating and drinking he could not have smashed or struggled against the idols. So he would not have been cast into the flames. He could have lived in comfort, doing whatever he needed to at the time. But he did not, he displayed a most glorious courage. For this reason, these people who claim to be devout and rational and prepare careers for their children and all that kind of things instead will have to answer for it in the Hereafter. They will know, they cannot say they did not understand. Allah makes this clear. Having a career is one thing, it is a different issue, but it has to be done for Allah’s approval, in the service of Islam. You do it to benefit Islam and Muslims. You are only deceiving yourself if you do it to serve your own lower self, your own interests but say you are serving Islam and the Qur’an. And Allah will repay you accordingly. Allah is the Lord of retribution. One does it for his own interests and then attribute it to the Qur’an. Let us say the family is bored and wants to go travelling. Let’s go on the Hajj, they say. Don’t they? That will make a nice change. And off they noisily go. That is wrong. One must go for Allah’s approval, not because one is bored. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are unbelievably wealthy. They could fill Europe with books if they wanted. They could hand enourmous amounts of books out for free. They could carry out glorious activities that would eradicate Darwinism and materialism. They could set up scientific schools, official libraries are under their control. They could have huge numbers of books published and hand them out for free, off the backs of lorries, in European and Muslim countries. But they don’t. They become members of football clubs; buy and sell football clubs. They buy huge palaces in Europe and become partners in clubs or else buy them outright. They waste their time on these pointless things. But they imagine they are flawlessly taqwa, that there is nothing wrong with their taqwa at all. Muslims are suffering because of that dishonesty … Look, All-Mighty Allah says to our Prophet (saas): “If it had been a case of easy gains and a short journey, they would have followed you, but the distance was too great for them.(Surat at-Tawba, 42) They would have followed if they had known that easy gains would result. They would have followed if they knew the journey was short, that they would not lose too much time. “But the distance was too great for them.” They swear in the name of Allah, saying, “Had we been able to, we would have gone out with you.” And they portray themselves as having taqwa. What do they say, “Had we been able to, we would have gone out with you.” Why are you not able to? Of course you can. Allah says He knows they are lying. Look, “They are destroying their own selves. Allah knows that they are lying’’ says Allah. He speaks of them with hatred. Allah says, He will retaliate for it. Surat at-Tawba, 42. “There are only grounds against those who ask you for permission to stay when they are rich.’’ These people say, “We have our factories, we are very busy, and married with wives and children. So excuse us, but we will be unable to take part.” They prefer to remain with those who stay behind. In other words they sit at home, domestic Muslims. “They prefer to stay behind with those who stay behind.” See the style Allah employs to express the hatred He has for them . “Allah has sealed their hearts.” What does sealing their hearts mean? It means they are destined for Hell. Almighty Allah says that is why they do not know. “Allah knows the obstructers among you and those who say to their brothers, ‘Come to us,’ and who only come to fight a very little’’ Careful, they say, do not go there, preaching is a dangerous environment. “What business is it of yours?” they ask, “Stay at home, read your books and the Qur’an and don’t get involved.” “Allah knows the obstructers among you.” They tell their brothers, “Stay at home with your families and mind your own business.” Except a very few of them, they will not “go out to fight.” Look, they come to fight a very little,” (Surat al-Ahzab, 18) When they see difficulty, they say, “Excuse me” “Yet they had previously made a contract with Allah that they would never turn their backs. Contracts made with Allah will be asked about.” They promise to this and that and to strive on the path of Allah, but when a difficult situation arises they immediately disappear. Look, the verse says;  “Yet they had previously made a contract with Allah that they would never turn their backs. Contracts made with Allah will be asked about.’’ Allah threatens them: “ Do you make the giving of water to the pilgrims and looking after the Masjid al-Haram the same as having faith in Allah and the Last Day and doing jihad in the Way of Allah?’’ For example, someone says he is handing water out, that is his duty, and other people can go off and make jihad. Allah says they are not equal. He says thay are frivolous and He does not accept this. “They are not equal in the sight of Allah. Allah does not love wrongdoing people.’’ Allah does not love those who behave wrongly. Surat at-Tawba, 19.

ADNAN OKTAR: What I want to explain is the following: genuine Muslims won’t avoid to struggle on Allah’s path. If they engage into a candid struggle, Allah will make Islam rule the world. They will see it. But if they fail to do it, Allah will again make it rule the world but their responsibility in the Hereafter will be very grave. Notice that Allah poses an open threat. It would be unbecoming to feign ignorance about it. An understanding of religion in compliance with one’s own mindset would be unacceptable. I take refuge in Allah from satan: “On the day the two armies met”. Notice how much difficulty do the Muslims get into. “What assailed you was by Allah’s permission.” That is to say, the great event they faced was by Allah’s permission. “So that He (Allah) would know the believers” Note that believers are being distinguished at this stage. In an environment of hardship and dismay believers are being distinguished. “And so that He would know the hypocrites”. On the contrary, Allah says, “These are hypocrites.” Those acting otherwise would be hypocrites, says Allah. When “They were told, ‘Come and fight in the Way of Allah or at least help defend us, they said, ‘If we knew how to fight, we would certainly follow you." They say, “We do not know how to fight.” They say, “I stay with my family, kids and eat melon, honey, which is Sunnah. So we also fulfill this Sunnah. Then they eat a meal which is Sunnah, then claim that they fulfill also that Sunnah. They say, “We also have turban, do you have?”; “See you do not have a turban.” They say they also fulfill that Sunnah and say, “You make struggle on the path of Allah and I will do these.” When it is said, “Come and fight in the Way of Allah or at least help defend us.” That is, when they are told to defend Islam and the Qur’an, tell it, communicate the message, struggle against Darwinism and materialism, they say, “If we knew how to fight, we would certainly follow you.” That is they say, “We do not know, you are the one who knows it, what is it got to do with it?” “They were closer to disbelief that day than to faith, saying with their mouths what was not in their hearts. And Allah knows best what they are hiding”says Allah. Allah says that what they keep in their hearts are wicked. Surah Al Imran, 166-167

“-Do you not see those who were told: ‘Hold back from fighting but establish prayer and pay alms? Then when fighting is prescribed for them, a group of them fear people as Allah should be feared, or even more than that. - Also right now, they fear from people as if they fear from Allah. All-Mighty Allah says, “They fear people as Allah should be feared and even more than that.” Allah says, they fear from people more than Allah and we witness this in many a people. "They say, ‘Our Lord, why have you prescribed fighting for us? If only You would give us just a little more time!’ That is to say, they say, “What if we did not do this. Let us not get involved with these acts.” They say, “If only you gave us just a little more time”, Allah forbid. “Say, ‘The enjoyment of the world is very brief.” There is just a little enjoyment in this world. There is very few material gains we can take from this world but “The Hereafter is better for those who have fear of Allah” because the Hereafter is endless, because it is very perfect. All-Mighty Allah says, “You will not be wronged by so much as the smallest speck.” (Surat an-Nisa, 77).

“And a group of them said, ‘People of Yathrib, Your position is untenable so return!’” They say, “Look, you have been destroyed. Everyone comes over you, everyone attacks you.” “There is slander, insult, you are put into prison. So give up this struggle! Saying, “So return!’ some of them asked the Prophet to excuse them, saying, ‘Our houses are exposed”, they want the Prophet to excuse them. They say, “Let me return to my family, to my mom and dad.” Alternatively they say, “I am married, I have kids to take care of. So let me not get into this fight and don’t let me get involved in such struggle.” Allah says, “The fact was however, they were not exposed; it was merely that they wanted to run away.” Look how All-Mighty Allah humiliates him. Do you know what this means? Employing a style of contempt, Allah says that it is Hell. That is what Allah means by it. (Surat al-Ahzab, 13)

 “Those Arabs who remained behind will say to you, ‘Our wealth and families kept us occupied. They say, “We have daughters, I will marry them off. They say, “We make commerce. We have possessions, there are commercial papers to pay, we need to deal with them.” We are currently doing business, we raise children, we need to help them make career.” Notice that, "Our wealth and families kept us occupied, so ask forgiveness for us”. They ask them to repent to Allah on their behalf and ask Allah to forgive them, claiming they have no time. That is to say, there should absolutely be something for them; they want repentance and forgiveness. That is, they consider it to be an insignificant act. They say with their tongues what is not in their hearts.               Say: ‘Who can control Allah for you in any way whether He wants harm for you or wants benefit for you?- Allah says that they say what is not in their hearts.” Say: “Who can control Allah for you in any way whether He wants harm for you or wants benefit for you?’Allah is aware of what you do.”

For instance, they may be cancer, die of a traffic accident or stomach bleeding. They may die of a cerebral hemorrhage or a sudden heart attack. They have nothing to do. In this case Allah says, “Say: ‘Who can control Allah for you in any way in such a case whether He wants harm for you or wants benefit for you?- Who can control Allah for you?” No “Allah is aware of what you do. " (Surat al-Fath, 11)

Those who were left behind were glad to stay behind the Messenger of Allah.” For instance he remains at home with his wife, crossing his legs. Then they eat rice, saying it is Sunnah and, now and then, he uses miswaq. He feels glad to remain behind the Messenger. We are on the very right path, we are a devout family, they say. Insha’Allah. That is, we are a conservative family. “They did not want to struggle with their wealth and themselves in the Way of Allah” For instance, handing out books, making TV shows, expending money and sell one’s possessions for this end. “They did not want to struggle with... themselves -” That is, they find it unpleasant to struggle on Allah’s path, taking the risk of death, remaining sleepless night and day, and to get exhausted. They say, “What is the need for all that? You take care of your own business.” Right? “You get married and take care of your children.” “You earn your living, and meanwhile fulfill your prayers and fast, but what is it got to do with it?” It is said; “They said, ‘Do not go out to fight in the heat. They say, “The weather is hot, the weather is enormously hot”, “Go and remain in your cool home, right? Drink your ice slush, it is also Sunnah. “Is it time to go out in this hot weather?” Allah says, “Say: ‘‘The Fire of Hell is much hotter-.” Do you know what this means? Allah says He will put them into Hell. Also in the Surat at-Tabwa 81, Allah says, “If they only understood.”

“Among you there are people who hang back-”. They say, “Let’s stop for a while. What is the point in being in so much hurry. We can tell them gradually.” Notice the phrase, “There are those who hang back.” Allah states this to be a guilt. “And if you encounter a setback” For instance, if you are put into a mental institution, or rather than that, for instance, into a prison, or if you are arrested, or if you are beaten, insulted or all the media puts pressure upon you, then they say “Allah has blessed me in that” - “I was not there with them”. They say, Allah has protected us in that we were not with them. If we were with them, we would be put into prison, insulted, and oppressed by some section of the society. “But if you meet with favor from Allah they say” For instance, Islam’s dominance over the world, right? Such an amazing event. “As if there were no friendship between you and them” As if nothing has happened, as if he is not the one who have said all these. “Oh! If only I had been with them so that I too might have won a great victory." (Surat an-Nisa, 72-73)

“Yet you see those with sickness in their hearts struggling among themselves to them, saying, ‘We fear the time may turn against us with its disasters.” Notice that there is mention of "the time." Now we are in the End Times, the disasters of the End Times. That is to say, being arrested, beaten, insulted, martyred. Right? Confiscation of one’s possessions, everything is possible because when a person is arrested, he needs to sell all his possessions. He can no longer earn money so he expends them. “We fear the time may turn against us with its disasters". He says, "What if such happenings also befall us. What if we also get in such trouble, our childen can no longer go to school. Right? What if something befalls our family.What if they can not complete their careers. What if they can no longer eat rice. Right? What if they cannot find the material to caress their beards. Notice that they say, " We fear the time may turn against us with its disasters-". I take refuge in Allah from satan, “You see those...struggling among themselves, saying-”. They also make an effort together. “But it may well be that Allah will bring about victory or some other contingency from Him.”. That is, the dominance of Islam, the appearance of Hazrat Mahdi (as). “Then they will deeply regret their secret thoughts.”

This will appear in the End Times, at the time of Hazrat Mahdi (as). That is, such people who hang back. Those who try to delay the dominance of Islam over the world, the establishment of the Turkish-Islamic Union. Those who try to postpone it for 300-500 years or those who say, Hazrat Mahdi (as) has come and gone. Even if he says, we see in the verses of the Qur’an that those who do not utter a single word about the dominance of Islam will regret enormously. They will not be able to make its explanation to Allah. If All-Might Allah asks why did you not want the dominance of Islam, they would not be able to explain it. That is because, this is a phrase, and most of the people are even not able to say it. What would you lose? Say that you want the dominance of Islam to the world in no time. This month, this week, this year. What would you lose? He cannot say it. He simply does not say. He will either say, “It was in the past” or “After centuries later.”