At a time when religion and faith were suffering terrible devastation, when our fundamental values were being destroyed one by one, and when social problems were silently gnawing away at the fabric of society like moths, the efforts of the architects of the heart who set out to repair this destruction gave us hope. While many were using their intellect to undermine good works, Hizmet’s devoted volunteers were striving to replace the negative with the positive. To mend the fractures and cracks in social life, they came together, sought collective wisdom, and endeavored to fulfill their responsibilities. They built bridges of dialogue to secure peace and harmony in the world, sought to meet everyone on the common ground of humanity, and walked resolutely on the path of becoming the new generation heralded by the scholar Bediuzzaman.

These earnest efforts disturbed some dark souls who could not bear the light. Seizing the power in their hands, those people sabotaged many valuable initiatives born of labor and tears. Like marauders descending upon someone else’s harvest, they seized institutions built through countless sacrifices. They inflicted irreparable damage on the resources obtained through the sweat, hardship, and sleepless struggles of Hizmet’s devoted volunteers. They tried to extinguish every torch that had been lit. As a result, they caused great losses and destruction. But we believe that the One Who kindled those torches once can rekindle them a thousand times over. This work does not come to an end simply because some say, “It is over.” What matters is that we stand firm, acknowledge our own shortcomings, and turn to God in earnest prayer while fulfilling our responsibilities. Then God will dispel this murky, smoky atmosphere, open the doors to spacious times from within this troubled period, transform pitch-dark nights into long, radiant days, and turn winters thought to be frozen in ice and snow into springs.

What truly matters is that God is with us. Once He is with us, what sorrow or grief can there be? Once He places us where we should be, what difference does it make where the world places us? But if we lose Him in our hearts, that is when we suffer the true loss. Though God is closer to us than our jugular vein, if we end up distant from Him, it means we have fallen into the grip of a disease more dangerous than cancer that has metastasized. No calamity can be greater than failing to feel Him deeply within us, failing to fill ourselves with ardent love and zeal for Him, and failing to possess the longing for union with God.

Making Use of Present Opportunities

The oppression and persecution targeting Hizmet volunteers led to forced migrations. Thousands of devoted souls spread out to every corner of the world. Since the countries where ties had previously existed did not feel safe, migrations were mostly organized toward Western lands. In fact, in the past there had already been outreach to different parts of the world as representatives of tolerance and dialogue. But never before had there been such a large-scale opening to Western countries as there is today. These countries, for the most part, opened their doors, offered support, and granted the right to reside. In this too lies a Divine direction, for there is wisdom hidden in every act of the Almighty, and God does nothing in vain.

However, the opening of these doors does not mean that there are no doubts or hesitations about you in people’s minds. You are coming from a foggy and smoky environment that clouds judgment and makes comprehension difficult. Moreover, various publications that seek to confuse people about you continue unabated. Therefore, it must not be forgotten that these countries may harbor suspicions toward newcomers. In fact, behind this welcome there may also be an intention to listen to you and get to know you better. Who are you? What are your fundamental ideas? This attention and questioning is not a disadvantage for us, but on the contrary, an important opportunity to express ourselves correctly. What befalls us is to make the best use of this opportunity and to represent our values in the most beautiful way.

At this point, correct representation is of utmost importance. Even if you express your emotions and thoughts in the most beautiful and moving words, like the poet Firdausî, you may not be able to dispel doubts. But if you entrust the matter to representation and to lived example, you will win hearts, gladden the Spirit of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), and please God. Is that not our ultimate purpose?

If we had spent fortunes to make ourselves known to the people of these countries, perhaps we would not have become so visible. Some may have heard of you through ugly labels and slanderous words. Do not dwell on these. Instead of preoccupying yourself with lies and accusations, look ahead and focus on your work. Strive to make the most efficient use of the opportunity now in your hands. Since they have already become aware of you, the task is to convey your message in the right manner. Let everyone sense through your attitude and conduct your humanistic outlook, your love for humanity, and the beat of your heart for humankind. Show that you have not come to quarrel with anyone but to build bridges with all, and that you are people with whom one can walk together.

We must conduct our relationships with others within the orbit of love. Human beings are created to be loved. Humanity is a perfect creation, fashioned by the brush of God’s power, knowledge, and will, and honored with being created in the best of forms. For this reason, the angels accepted them as a sanctuary and bowed down before him. Such an exalted being is man! Our duty, then, is to love and respect everyone simply because they are human. Some, in seeking to impose their intellectual and cultural world on others and assimilate them, may view you in this way as well. We must demonstrate by staying true to our principles that we have no such intention.

Sound Integration

It is unrealistic to expect our message to have the same impact on everyone we encounter. We may liken the message we present to humanity to the merciful rains descending from the heavens. Sometimes it nourishes only a few leaves like a drop of dew, sometimes it falls as a drizzle, sometimes it revives the soil like a downpour, and sometimes it accumulates like snow upon the ground. The fruitfulness of our altruistic service, in one respect, depends on establishing sound integration with the society we enter. We must not fall short in this matter. Our attitudes and behaviors in the places where we live must not be off-putting. When people see us, they should feel that we are one of them, and we should not appear awkward among them. We should not get stuck on matters of detail or turn them into causes of conflict. Through our conduct and demeanor, we should not alarm anyone or draw hostility upon ourselves.

Integration is also important for building bridges of dialogue and fostering trust. If we become a true part of society, people will more readily trust us and say, “These are people with whom we can walk the road.” Depending on how correctly we present ourselves, some may even come to think, “These are sharp minds; we can truly benefit from them.” We will also take what we can and give what we must. And we know that what we take can open a path and create a ground for what we give. Let us not forget—as social historians have pointed out—that, in general, victorious conquering nations have taken more from the defeated than they have given.

We must establish genuine and close contact with the members of the society in which we live so that everyone may come to know one another correctly. If necessary, we can participate in their events, provided they are not contrary to the essence of our faith. For example, we may be present in their sacred spaces, observe their ceremonies and rituals, and stand with them on their special days. Such attitudes warm hearts toward us and demonstrate that we bear no enmity toward anyone.

A Steadfast Stance Against Assimilation

Being closely involved with foreign cultures and establishing ties with people who hold different worldviews may also bring the danger of assimilation. Children and youth, in particular, are especially vulnerable to this influence. They may find everything new more attractive and be easily swayed. For this reason, to protect them from such a danger, we must create nurturing environments, keep their connection to nourishing sources strong, and employ capable and well-equipped mentors in their upbringing to instill a love for our values. We must raise generations who are wholeheartedly devoted to their values and who take pride in them.

Holiday periods present a valuable opportunity for this purpose. In line with our general principles of upbringing, designated spaces can be prepared for boys and girls, and mentors can be assigned to assist them. To make our values an innate dimension of their character, works of faith can be studied together, lessons can be conducted on these subjects, and books can be read. In this way, children’s spiritual immune systems will be strengthened, and they will gain resilience against negative influences. Thus, their alienation and estrangement from their true identity will be prevented.

An American Christian academic who once visited us pleaded earnestly, saying: “Please, for God’s sake, do not dissolve and disappear in this society. Stay as you are; continue your life as you are. Those who came before you dispersed to different places, forgot their values, and assimilated. Do not ever fall into the same mistake. Your contribution to this society depends on your ability to remain yourselves.”

Yes, on the one hand, we will become part of the society in which we live, but on the other hand, we will never cease to remain ourselves. Although these two may appear contradictory, both are vitally important. Our integration into the society in which we live does not prevent us from being passionately attached to our own high values, from feeling them so deeply that even our very bones ache.