Fethullah Gulen on Political Participation

On Political Participation

Q: Nowadays some say it is imperative to support a political philosophy. What do you say?

Sometimes political participation may be imperative. Every believer should vote and participate in the decision making process regarding the general public as it is a duty of any citizen. A believer would be responsible if she or he does not fulfill this assignment. Not only that, one should also inform their parents and other close relatives about the importance of this matter.

However who should vote for what party is not my business. Throughout my life, I always found it essential to avoid not only publicly commenting on it but even making a slightest bit of an innuendo. I am not saying “Vote for this party, or do not vote for that party!” All I am saying is, “Voting is a duty for every citizen, so everyone should do their job, or otherwise they will be responsible”. That is as much as I participate in politics…

On the matter of supporting a specific party; our interest in the elections start only a week before the election date. People like us can talk among themselves and discuss what party they should vote for and then they go and vote on the Election Day. After that, they don’t discuss it a bit. In the real democratic countries this matter is handled like that. As an example, when a citizen of the US arrives at Turkey, and asked about what party he did support, “Are you a republican or a democrat?” He replies as “I don’t support either!” When asked, “Have you not voted? Who did you vote for?” he says “I voted for Kennedy, but I don’t think about the rest, as my business and interest in elections is just that, nothing more!”

As such, we have very important duties in our own life that we need to focus on. While we are doing our own job, this or that political thought should not interfere with that. This very important duty is related to our spiritual life. We mostly keep ourselves busy with that.

These principles are important for every believer. Because believers have very important duties within the domain of heart and soul; duties like performing the daily prayers regularly, cleansing one’s heart, paying close attention to one’s connection with the Almighty and considering any disconnection in that regard a fatal failure. These are continuous ongoing duties of a believer that should not ever be interrupted. But elections come only every four years. The campaigns last and get intensified within the last week. Then people vote and the fight is over. That’s what smart people do. Others, who are foolish, keep talking about after everything is over, badger others, keep singing the same tune –of disunity, and promote hatred and waste their lives in this fight.

Let’s think about the Messenger (peace be upon him). Before Uhud he recommends to stay in Medina and not go out to Uhud. In response to this, especially the youth say “No lets go out and fight and stop them all!” The results of the consultation come out as the way the young wanted. They all go out to Uhud, but right before the fight, the hypocrites leave the front. At this point anyone in the position of the Messenger could have got mad. Although he never gets mad about that, the Almighty warns the believers in the Holy Quran (3:159) “It was by a mercy from God that (at the time of the setback), you (O Messenger) were lenient with them (your Companions). Had you been harsh and hard-hearted, they would surely have scattered away from about you. Then pardon them, pray for their forgiveness, and take counsel with them in the affairs (of public concern); and when you are resolved (on a course of action), put your trust in God. Surely God loves those who put their trust (in Him).” This is the way taught to the Messenger (peace be upon him). Now we should evaluate our own situation accordingly and try to understand what I am trying to say in my above comments.

This is a partial translation of an excerpt “Siyasete Bakis” from Cizgimizi Hecelerken by Fethullah Gulen.


SOURCE: Who is Fethullah Gulen? http://whoisgulen.com/on-political-particapation/

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HUFFINGTON POST Joshua Walker: Celebrating the Spirit of Ramadan from Turkey to America

 JOSHUA WALKER

Growing up the son of a protestant pastor and valuing the role that my Christian faith plays in my own life, it often comes as a surprise to my friends when I tell them that Ramadan is among one of my favorite religious holidays. While Christmas and Easter are seminal to my faith tradition and represent some of my fondest memories growing up, they are one-day celebrations that in the American modern era sometimes lack the communal feel that the holy month of Ramadan offers in the Muslim world.

My first real experience came during "Ramazan" in Turkey which happened to overlap with the American Thanksgiving tradition during my Fulbright year in Ankara. Living in a Turkish university dormitory, my roommates invited me to join in for my very first iftar, or breaking of the fast. After that first night or seeing how everyone else was fasting and having the tenants explained to me, I decided to join in and experienced my first sahur at 3am the next morning before dawn when I was barely hungry.

Over the course of the month I fasted 18 of the 30 days of Ramadan in Turkey and experienced a holiday like I never had before. Celebrations always involve feasts regardless of the religion or occasion, therefore the dichotomy between fasting during the day and feasting at night was truly exhilarating. Trying to remind oneself of the virtues like charity, compassion, and forgiveness while avoiding vices of selfishness and dishonesty listed in the Quran is best achieved when focused on one's life given the need to keep the mind pre-occupied from the hunger pangs experienced during the first few days of fasting. Unlike the Christian tradition of fasting which tends to allow drinking water, the strict observance of not allowing anything to pass one's lips was particularly difficult for me. However I experienced and learned more about Turkish culture and hospitality that month than any other time in Turkey.

Since leaving Turkey over a decade ago, I've continued to celebrate Ramadan with my Muslim friends through invitations to iftars here in the United States and many other places around the world. I've always been amazed how Muslims in America can fast while everyone around them drinks and eats. This year in particular I've been blessed to be a part of several iftar celebrations that have reminded me once again of the joys of Ramadan. The simple act of sharing a meal and traditions such as meditating on the call to prayer may seem natural to Muslims, but to most Americans like myself it represents rare acts of genuine hospitality where nothing is expected in return.

Even to this day I can remember the final days of "Ramazan Bayram" in Turkey which are official holidays where families visit one another similar to the American tradition of Thanksgiving. The strength of communal and familial bonds I experienced with my Turkish roommates as they took me back to their homes and we shared in feast after feast, made me realize the true value of holy days and months throughout the year that allow us to contemplate the supernatural that can transcend the mundane worries of life all around us.

As the world continues around us and we come to the end of Ramadan, I hope we each can reach back to our own moments of calm reflection and serenity to contemplate the broader connections we share as human beings first and foremost. Whether we are Christian, Jews, Muslims or any other religion, we can celebrate the spirit of Ramadan by sharing fellowship with those around us.
I'm grateful to Turkey and my Turkish friends for first introducing me to Ramadan and to my many Muslim friends for continuing the traditions that I have come to love dearly. Ramadan Kareem!



SOURCE: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joshua-w-walker/celebrating-the-spirit-of_1_b_3691266.html?utm_hp_ref=tw