A Muslim would be most forbearing in his cause. A strong faith would evince itself when faced with hardship and in conflict with one's interests

Excerpt from Mr. Adnan Oktar's interview dated March 25, 2010

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PRESENTER: "My dear Sir, along with some of my friends, I engage myself in very auspicious activities for spreading Islam. However some of our friends are very volatile in their activities. What can I do to support their becoming sturdy? What would you recommend? "

ADNAN OKTAR: Yes, that is a very important subject for instance. And this is also related with the subject I have mentioned earlier. Sometimes you see some people for instance they suddenly start to wear collarless shirts or start using a headscarf if she is a young girl for instance. She starts confining herself in her house, never goes out. Reads the Qur'an continuously, reads the Risale-i Nur books. But nevertheless she can give up all these and throw herself to streets all of sudden and start living a completely different life. This is something very frequently seen. However Allah says that "steadfast men and women" will be rewarded with Paradise. A person should be steadfast in his cause. And it has to go like that until the end. People tend to go wrong drastically especially at times of hardship. I mean when things conflict with their own interests. Or else, if you do not collide with their interests, they all behave very well. For instance lets suppose that they go by a mentor, listen to his talks, moreover stay with him, he distributes soup and they eat it with a great reverence. But all on condition that it would not interfere with their interests. I mean when things start to conflict with his own interests all his character and personality would turn upside down. That should be what happened in their case as well, apparently there was a conflict with their interests. Something like that should have happened and everything turns upside down in an instant. Beduizzaman says for this ; "In the End of Times not even 1 in 10, not even 1 in 20 can be trusted". "Not even 1 in 20 can be trusted against this extraordinary state of affairs," against these unusual events, "forbearance, fortitude and deep seeded devotion to Islam" is required he says. A very forebearing, deep seeded devotion to Islam, a spirit and devotion to protecting Islam is necessary. One needs to be strong in the face of such things, and not be shaken by them. If that brother of ours is a sincere and a strong believer- and it seems like he is insha'Allah- sincere and strong people will gather around him. But he needs not to be hasty, he has to be forebearing as well. When I was in the academy, preaching the word, in Fındıklı, I was continuously active until 1983. Only 2-3 people were gathering around me and then they were going. Then another one was coming and he was leaving as well. I mean I continued like that steadily for 3 years and I never gave up and to be exact I was very determined. Of course I was, and there were threats, oppression. There was an environment which was quiet appealing to my ego to say the truth but i never ever yield to my flesh. I never give reign to thoughts about the future. I never thought of getting married and having children, improving financially, engaging in trade or opening up a business, I never gave in to such thoughts. I mean I have retreated from almost all social aspects of life. I gave all my focus to Islam and the spreading of Islam. Of course this might normally seem to be against a person but I have seen it to be very much favorable for me. Allah had made it to be a miracle. For instance Allah gave me the best and most beautiful of all things and I have always lived happy. I mean just like Allah had said for our Prophet (saas); "Did He not find you orphaned", right? In this verse Allah says He gave a good life to him and that He had found our Prophet(saas) to be orphaned and on a wrong path, well let me correct it and not say on a wrong path- but while he was mistaken, Allah had found him and lead him to the right path. Allah says He had lead him to the right path. Allah says: "Did He not find you impoverished and enrich you?" This also happens in the Muslim, who gives an intellectual struggle on the path of Allah, who endevaours on the path of Allah. For instance I was unaware of religion and faith. I mean I was aware but I didn't know well, I didn't know the details. Allah had taught me that. That is to say Allah had made me strong from all aspects and gave me very good means. For instance Allah gave me very good means for preaching the word through the internet and the television. Yesterday for instance I have looked at the internet figures, the number of the viewers had reached about 70 thousands only from the internet broadcasting. That is of course a fabulous figure, that is very nice. Of course, we cannot be content with that figure that is another issue. In short our brothers should not be bothered by such things. I mean it is perfectly natural, for instance our Prophet (saas) was alone on his own facing a big community of idolators. Was he weakened by it? No, he had continued his preaching to the fullest. Then, Allah had increased the number of people around him. Moreover there are some prophets whom had none followers. But still they will be given the same reward, they still are rewarded as the prophets. For instance some prophets had only two followers, for instance a prophet along with one or two followers , he would still be given the same reward. He might as well rule the world and get the same reward. I mean that does not change anything. What is important there is the sincere preaching done. The endeavours for the sake of Allah's approval is important. That is because in the end everyone is facing with the images inside their brains. I mean the one who denies would also be denying the image inside his brain. And Allah is the One creating that denial. I mean if all the things we have been preaching were accepted then it would be easy on us. It would be precious when not accepted. It is more precious to be resisted. If one has to work for it, then it would be worthwhile, then it would be rewarded. Or else if everything you say and preach is accepted and appreciated by everyone,that would have been very easy on your self. And the reward gained would have been less. The reward increases with the resistence. For instance when the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) had come, only 12 disciples followed him. Now he will come and a whole world will follow him. Allah knows the truth, he might be receiving the same reward for both, I mean it would most likely be the same. Look on one instance all the world follows him and on the other one only 12 disciples. But what's important there is the ordeal he had to suffer, the determination and steadiness is what counts. Insha'Allah.

2010-04-19 08:09:56

Excerpts from conversations ⇒