When one reflects on the current state of the world and the condition of Muslims, it is difficult not to encounter many discouraging scenes. Countless people live deprived of faith, while idolatry continues to survive under different names and disguises. Multitudes pursue modern totems and bow before a variety of icons. Some even go so far as to declare, through their words and actions, a kind of war against the Divine Being, speaking disrespectfully about the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), waiting for opportunities to insult the Qur’an, and remaining on the lookout for occasions to do so. This phenomenon has become so widespread that even in countries where Muslims constitute the majority, religion, faith, and the Qur’an can be openly ridiculed and insulted. Even within societies that profess belief in the revealed religions, worldliness and materialism have become remarkably common and normalized.

Although it is often stated that there are approximately two billion Muslims in the world, it is difficult to estimate how many truly believe in Allah as He ought to be believed in, recognize the Messenger (pbuh) as he truly deserves to be known and appreciated, wholeheartedly embrace the essentials of faith, and regard conveying their religion to others as a defining ideal of their lives. Had there been even half a billion people possessing such a quality and depth, the color and character of today’s world would have been transformed for the better. Unfortunately, although Muslims may appear numerous in terms of quantity, they suffer from a serious weakness in terms of quality. Moreover, deep divisions have emerged among people belonging to different religions and cultures, making it increasingly difficult for them to reach one another and share their thoughts and feelings. Faced with such a picture, a person’s spiritual resolve may be shaken; and if he or she cannot find a ray of hope, there is the danger of sinking into the quagmire of despair.

Standing Firm

Bringing about new historical formations, transforming the face of the world, or determining the destiny of humanity are not tasks that belong directly to us. These are matters that God Almighty Himself brings to fruition. What falls to us is to examine ourselves, stand firm where we are, and strive to fulfill the responsibilities entrusted to us. If it has fallen to our lot to be members of the community of Prophet Muhammad, the Pride of Humanity (pbuh), and if God Almighty, as a divine favor, has placed upon our shoulders the duty of serving the noble religion of Islam in this latter age, then our responsibility is to fulfill that trust and prove worthy of these blessings.

A person who realizes that a precious trust, like a saddlebag filled with jewels, has been placed upon their shoulders, who recognizes that they are being called to a life of dedication to the Truth, and who comprehends the magnitude of the responsibility entrusted to them cannot remain passive or move at a leisurely pace. For they have been charged with an exceedingly weighty and precious trust from God. What is expected of God’s servants is to continually examine whether they have proven trustworthy with respect to that trust and whether they are living with a genuine spirit of dedication. If we fail to prove worthy of the trust, God will take it from us and entrust it to those who are more deserving and better qualified.

God Almighty declares in a noble verse:

“Should He will, He can remove you and bring forth a new creation in your place.”[1]

This message, repeated in several other Qur’anic verses[2], constitutes both a serious warning and a solemn admonition for us. Through this declaration, God teaches us the following lesson: ‘Do not regard yourselves as indispensable. Stand firm in your place and preserve your spiritual balance and integrity. The trust of God is so weighty that only those who possess true worthiness can carry it. If you fail to remain faithful to your commitment, God will take this trust from you and place it in the hands of those who are worthy of it.’

Therefore, rather than preoccupying ourselves with what tomorrow may bring or succumbing to disappointment because of adverse circumstances, the real issue upon which we must concentrate with utmost sensitivity is whether we are truly living up to the trust and responsibilities entrusted to us. If God today enables a community to carry out the sacred responsibility once undertaken by figures such as Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani, Abu al-Hasan al-Shadhili, Ahmad al-Badawi, and Ahmad al-Rifa’i[3], this is akin to granting the rank of field marshal to an ordinary soldier and elevating such a person to an exceptionally high station. We have not earned such a position through our own effort or merit; it is a divine favor bestowed upon us by God. Therefore, what falls to us is to strive to prove worthy of that favor. Otherwise, we would be guilty of ingratitude toward a blessing and, consequently, of showing disrespect toward God Himself.

One should never forget that God Almighty opens people’s hearts only to those whose own hearts are open. If He wills to guide people to the right path, He makes those who have experienced guidance in the deepest recesses of their consciences the means for that guidance. If a qualified community emerges—one that faithfully lives up to its entrusted responsibilities—then God Almighty showers it with abundant favors and multiplies His blessings upon it. What falls to such people is to increase their gratitude accordingly. If, however, such abundant divine favors and blessings are not forthcoming, they should not look elsewhere for the cause. Rather, they should say, “Everything has its appointed time. Evidently, we have not demonstrated the necessary merit in this matter, nor have we attained the competence required to carry the trust.” They must then subject themselves to sincere self-examination and strive to remedy their shortcomings.

We should not reduce the issue merely to numbers, nor resort to the easy explanation that Muslims are weak because they are few in number. At the same time, we must not overlook the serious neglect and heedlessness that have contributed to the present condition of the Muslim world. Sadly, ever since we allowed ourselves to fall into negligence, others have taken hold of the values we abandoned, cultivated them, developed them, and eventually reached a position from which they have come to shape the world. Therefore, whatever factors enabled Muslims to flourish and advance until the fourth and fifth Islamic centuries are precisely the factors that we must once again recover and embrace.

We frequently take pride in the achievements of the early Muslims. We proudly recount how a small group of people, following the advent of Islam, brought about transformative changes whose impact extended across the world. We read with admiration how they held firm in the face of the superpowers of their age and carried their values to the farthest corners of the earth. Yet what truly matters is understanding the underlying reasons for those remarkable achievements. The real challenge is to attain the same moral and spiritual caliber they possessed, to demonstrate a similar level of commitment and excellence in our own age, and to rearticulate the values we hold through the language, thought, and intellectual framework of the modern era so that they may once again contribute to the betterment of humanity.

The Path of Reasoned Persuasion and Dialogue

Bediuzzaman Said Nursi stated that the material sword has now been sheathed and that hearts and minds can be won only through reasoned persuasion and conviction rather than force. In doing so, he clearly identified the nature of the struggle that must be undertaken in our age.[4] Accordingly, by seeking avenues of dialogue with different societies, we strive, on the one hand, to share our perspectives and values with them and, on the other hand, to ensure that the material sword remains sheathed. Indeed, we have personally witnessed how the dialogue efforts undertaken thus far have found a significant response within the collective conscience. Humanity has grown weary of bloodshed and tears. Before humanity had even recovered from the suffering of the First World War, the Second World War erupted, claiming the lives of millions more. The only way to prevent similar tragedies from recurring and to avert future wars and conflicts is to build bridges of dialogue and havens of peace.

If believing people, as heroes of love, open their hearts to everyone and embrace all of humanity with their expansive consciences, many others will join this symphony of love. The efforts undertaken by those who represent human values will receive the support of the collective conscience. In this way, humanity can be prevented from being dragged into another dark and destructive adventure.

If we expect humanity from others, we must first demonstrate it ourselves in practice. No one wishes to show affection toward those who resort to brute force and perpetrate acts of brutality. Those who desire love and respect from others must first embody these qualities themselves. Only in this way can mutual interaction and a constructive synergy emerge among different societies. Only in this way can people unite around shared human values.

Unfortunately, in our time there are many people, both among Muslims and among followers of other religions and cultures, who place their emotions and passions ahead of reason and sound judgment. Such individuals take pleasure in destruction and build their plans and projects upon the ruin of others. When these impulsive, unrestrained, and irresponsible people gain power, they drag humanity into new adventures whose consequences cannot be foreseen. They imagine that the world can be brought into order through brute force. Yet history repeatedly demonstrates that the arrogance, excesses, and recklessness of power have brought immense suffering upon humanity in every age.

The idea of bringing people into line through force, intimidating opponents, and imposing order upon the world by coercion has no place in our understanding. We believe that the problems of the world can be resolved through universal values such as love, tolerance, and reconciliation.[5] We believe that this world is vast and abundant enough for everyone. Indeed, we do not even entertain the thought of resorting to brute force, not even in our dreams.

It should also not be forgotten that, at the stage humanity has reached today, resorting to brute force would harm not only the adversaries of those who employ it, but all of humanity, including those who wield such force themselves. If I possessed a magical power, I would prevent those who seek to shape the world through coercion and violence, stop them from committing acts of evil, and remove nuclear weapons from their control. Humanity can no longer endure another disastrous adventure.

Therefore, we have no choice but to continue our path with love, compassion, and gentleness. Certainly, if an aggressor stands at our gates and our country’s security, territorial integrity, honor, dignity, and fundamental values come under threat, then the necessary measures of defense must be taken. However, that is an entirely different matter. Such decisions do not belong to individuals or private groups. They fall within the authority and responsibility of the state and its legitimate institutions.

Throughout the years, there have been those who spoke against dialogue[6] and who advanced all manner of accusations and slanders. Some claimed that we were serving the interests of others, while others alleged that we were harming Islam. Yet there is absolutely no reason for a Muslim to fear, avoid, or feel anxious about dialogue. Those who are troubled by dialogue among different cultures are, in reality, people who lack confidence in the values they themselves profess.

The efforts devoted to dialogue have produced remarkably positive results. They have reached sincere hearts and built lasting and genuine bridges of friendship. For this reason, the accusations and attacks directed against such efforts hold little significance for us. People may say whatever they wish. God knows what has taken place, the Prophet (pbuh) knows, and the people with whom we have engaged know as well. Therefore, without giving undue attention to hostile remarks or acts of disrespect, we must continue to walk the path we believe to be right with calmness, perseverance, and steadfast resolve.

[1] Surah Fatir, 35:16.

[2] See also al-Nisa (4:133); al-An’am (6:133); al-Tawbah (9:39); Ibrahim (14:19); Muhammad (47:38).

[3] These figures were prominent Muslim scholars, spiritual masters, and renewers who exercised significant religious and moral influence in their respective times and regions within mainstream Islam.

[4] Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, Tarihçe-i Hayat (The History of His Life), p. 64 (“His Early Life”).

[5] Tolerance (hoşgörü) is used here in a broader sense than mere forbearance or passive acceptance. It denotes a gracious and empathetic openness toward others, encompassing understanding, goodwill, respect, generosity of spirit, and a willingness to engage constructively across differences.

[6] The term “dialogue” here refers broadly to constructive engagement and relationship-building across religious, cultural, and social differences, including interfaith and intercultural initiatives aimed at fostering mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence.