ADNAN OKTAR:But summer sloth must not affect our Muslim brothers. This idea tends to form in the summer. The summer, the holidays, has now begun, so we can abandon all our struggling, preaching and other activities for the next 3 months. We are already tired, so we need to rest during the summer. Muslims rest as they struggle. They rest as the serve the Qur’an. They rest as they serve Allah. Otherwise a Muslim will be exhausted. Therefore, that is not resting. That is a false belief. Because we never know when death will come. One never knows when sickness will come. Sickness sometimes leads people to the point of death and carries them away from this world. People must reflect on why Allah bestows such abundance and gives beauties, peace and health. They must think on the wisdom behind it. Therefore to be overcome by summer sloth, the logic of the holidays; as Cubbeli [Hodja] says, “We are tired of the congregation and the mosque. We have decided to take a holiday.” There is no question of Muslims doing that. No question of a sincere, rational Muslim doing that. But if Cubbeli says that, he is speaking out of ignorance. How could a sincere-thinking Muslim ever think like that? How can one be tired of the mosque? How can one be tired of the congregation? How can one be tired of remembering Allah? Why don’t you become tired of eating then? It is like breathing. Faith and serving the Qur’an is one of Muslims’ most essential needs. They make a person strong and healthy. A Muslims whose strength and fervor increase becomes fertile and attractive. He earns Allah’s approval, and abundance, ease and goodness are bestowed on him in this world. Otherwise he will become internally cramped and constrained. Look, for instance, Cubbeli says, “We are tired of the community and the mosque. So we have gone on holiday.” But Allah made that holiday hell on him, did He not? All kinds of things have befallen him because of that holiday. What pains and sufferings he has experienced! That means it is the congregation and the mosque that really count. Had he not been tired in the congregation and the mosque, had he drawn enthusiasm and peace and beauty from them, these things would not have happened to him, would they? Look, he has received a Divine slap in the face from Almighty Allah. Therefore, these things do not make people happy. It is serving Allah and the Qur’an that make for happiness.

ALTUĞ BERKER:There is a verse on the subject, as you know: “Hence, whenever you are free from the immediate task, embark upon the next strife..”

ADNAN OKTAR: Of course. Almighty Allah tells our Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) to withdraw from all aspects of life, and then reveals this verse. Look, “whenever you are free from the immediate task, ”, that is when the work is over and done “embark upon the next strife.” Almighty Allah tells our Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace). Muslims must adopt the same approach and behave in the same way insha’Allah. So thinking that, “I go and spend three months by the swimming pool” What does the pool matter? If you do not base your actions on Allah’s approval, if you forget the Qur’an and Islam, how will you explain it to Allah if death comes to you there? Will you say, O Lord, I was on vacation? Where does the Qur’an talk about going on holiday and living far removed from Allah, the Qur’an and Islam? I am not saying a Muslim should not go anywhere. One can travel. But that is to be done for Allah’s approval and one must strive with all one’s being to spread Islam and the Qur’an there. Religious observances never stop anywhere. One must strive with all one’s being. One must seek the great possible amount of approval from Allah. Insha’Allah.