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| Fethullah Gulen studies in his room. |
Fethullah Gulen penned an article for Financial Times. The article is simple and brilliant and it constitutes the proper answer for the Islamophobics.
Muslims pray each day: “O Lord! Keep us
on the straight path.” It is a prayer to help us move away from the
extremes and maintain balance in our lives. We must neither be hostage
to our reactionary instincts, nor must we remain completely silent in
the face of the systematic defamation of our values and beliefs.
This balance has been upset by the violent response to the insults
targeting the legacy of beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
The violent response was wrong and strayed from the straight path.
Muslims should not be indifferent with respect to the attacks on the
Prophet (PBUH). On the contrary, they must show the utmost sensitivity
and caution. Those insulting Islam might be seeking to depict a negative
image of Muslims, and hence justify discrimination, isolation,
persecution or deportation. The deliberate instigation and creation of
turmoil in the Muslim world is not new. Our sacred values were attacked
in the past through cartoons, today it is done through a movie and
cartoons in a French magazine, and tomorrow other means may be used.
Muslims must not be beguiled or enticed but instead must speak out to
prevent those who are more easily provoked from resorting to violence.
When any negative comment is made about the Prophet, however slight
it may be, a Muslim should feel deep sorrow. Yet expressing that sorrow
is a different matter. Irresponsible actions by individuals damage the
image of Islam and destroy the very tradition they are claiming to
defend.
Since the rights of every Muslim, as well as God, the Koran and the
Prophet are at stake in such a circumstance, one cannot act recklessly.
One should scrutinise the possible ramifications of each and every
action, and seek the wisdom of the collective judgment.
The question that we should ask ourselves as Muslims is whether we
have introduced Islam and its Prophet properly to the world. Have we
followed his example in such a way as to instil admiration? We must do
so, not with words, but with our actions.
If suicide bombers are the first things that come to people’s minds,
how could they have a positive opinion of Islam? How is killing innocent
civilians indiscriminately different from the barbarity suffered by
Muslims in history? What is the rationale behind attacking an American
consulate in Libya, killing an ambassador and consulate officers, who
have nothing to do with this wretched movie? If it is Muslims who are
carrying out these attacks, it means that they are entirely unaware of
what Islam is all about and are committing the biggest crime in the name
of Islam.
