QUESTION: Turkey is today heading toward the leadership of the whole Islamic world. Arab countries are one after the other adopting the Turkish state as a model. What do you think of Ankara’s increasing strength and role in the political arena, and how do you think it will use that strength?
ADNAN OKTAR: Yes, Turkey is rapidly heading toward leadership of the Islamic world. We will soon all see this come about together, insha’Allah. And it is quite normal that this should be so, because Turkey is the foremost country among those with Muslim populations that has the best conception of Islam but that also adopts and applies secularism in the finest way. Turkey is also a guide to Islamic countries against extremism and backwardness and in favor of love and friendship. Islamic countries are all taking Turkey as a model, because they trust our nation’s honesty, justice, altruism, rationality and religious devotion. They all know that Turkey is the only country that can establish a climate of peace and security through love and affection.
Our Prophet (saas) also refers to the Turks in the hadiths, saying several times that the Turks will be leaders. The hadiths in question clearly show that out Prophet (saas) entrusts the Islamic world to the Turks. In one hadith our Prophet (saas) says, “Red banners will appear first” – Turkish flags – “and will then unite with green banners.” In other words, the Turkic republics and Arab countries will unite and establish a Turkish-Islamic Union, insha’Allah, even embracing many non-Muslim countries with love and affection. All the developments going on today confirm these hadiths of our Prophet’s (saas).
Because of its geographical and strategic position, and its historic legacy from the Ottoman Empire, Turkey is the ideal future leader of the Balkans, the Caucasus, the Middle East and Central Asia. It has a wealth of historic experience and a great influence. Turkey is the most influential country in the region, with broad territories hosting ethnic groups from different cultures and ethnic origins. Turkey has recently behaved in such a way to show it is aware of this great responsibility. It knows it has to assume the role of leader of the whole Islamic world as its elder brother, and is taking correct and accurate steps in that direction. But it is also important to state that Turkish leadership is not intended to dominate or rule other countries. On the contrary, it is a conception of leadership based on service and endures hardship. Our ideal is for a powerful collaboration in the economy, defense and science, but a Turkish-Islamic Union in which all states will maintain their own regimes and identities just as they are. In other words, this will be a union of hearts and love. It will benefit not just Muslims, but people of all origins and beliefs, and even irreligious people and atheists, and will treat them all as first-class citizens.
It also needs to be known that a great union under Turkish leadership, Turkish-Islamic Union in other words, is ordained in destiny and will definitely come about. Every detail of the End Times we are living in, everything that happens, is written in destiny. I believe that Turkish-Islamic Union under Turkish leadership will soon be established as a result of intensive efforts by Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) and his helpers so that the moral values of Islam can rule the world and make the world a place of peace.
QUESTION: Turkey has been trying for years to join the EU, but has never managed it. Why do you think that is? Why do some European countries not want to see Turkey among them? This European obstinacy is becoming ludicrous. Greece, on the brink of economic bankruptcy for years, joined the EU with no problem. But they keep Turkey, which could bring stability and growth to Europe, waiting. Why do you think the EU does not want Turkey? What is the role of the religious factor in this?
ADNAN OKTAR: To tell the truth, it is definitely for the best that Turkey has not been able to join the EU. Everything is for the best and is created with wisdom. So this is also definitely all for the best and contains secret wisdom. We are living in a very important time; when Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) and the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) are on Earth and waging an intellectual struggle to bring peace and security to the world. It is obvious that the events taking place when these two blessed individuals are in the world will be created by Allah to contain great wisdom.
There are good aspects to the EU. Their conception of democracy is excellent, for instance. It is important for Turkey to take on board this EU conception of democracy and apply it across the country.
But the EU appears to be heading for collapse, and it seems unlikely to be able to shake off this crisis at any time in the near future. But Turkish-Islamic Union could save Europe from this predicament. When Turkey joins the EU as the leader of the Turkish-Islamic Union, Europeans will then be able to breathe a sigh of relief, and will enjoy security and well-being. In that sense, Turkey does not need the EU, but the EU needs Turkey.
QUESTION: The Western world currently controls all the media. Only the Al-Jazeera News Agency is trying to hold out against the West. Does Turkey have the weight to change this important market that forms public opinion?
ADNAN OKTAR: The truth of the matter is that most of the world press is under the control of atheist freemasons. Since they hold various major media organizations in their hands, they have established a false global control. For example, it is those same circles that are imposing the theory of evolution that has inflicted destruction, pain and suffering on the world, even though they know there is no scientific evidence for it. Stories favoring evolution are carried all over the world, and they are trying to prop the theory up even though they know it is totally invalid. But these stratagems have all been exposed now. By means of me and my colleagues’ activities, they have been unable to find the courage to spread any more reports intended to deceive people.
QUESTION: The most important issue on the agenda today is Syria. Everyone saw the situation in Syria many years ago but nobody was brave enough to state it. This is now the turning point. The worst problem is that the UN has been unable to resolve political and ethnic problems in the world. Do you think we need a new organization, mechanism or body to resolve ethnic issues and international and domestic problems?
Do you think that the countries on the UN Security Council are using their vetoes for commercial or political ends? Vetoes are no longer being used to provide security for people and ensure their right to life. This makes UN Security Council decisions nonsensical. What do you think?
ADNAN OKTAR: Our Prophet (saas) foretold the latest events in the Arab world and Syria 1,400 years beforehand, citing these as signs of the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh). Our Prophet (saas) reveals in the hadiths that cruel despots will first rule for many years in Arab countries, and that these will then be overthrown. Our Prophet (saas) even reveals locations. "Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will not appear until as village known as Haresta in the land of Syria is destroyed.” A report came out just the other day. Haresta in Syria, as you know, often appears in reports as the scene of intense fighting. Hundreds of other such hadiths have all come true, word for word. People who examine the hadiths can see for themselves how the portents of the way of the Mahdi have been coming true one after the other over the last 30 years. You can see the signs of the way of the Mahdi in question on www.hazretimehdi.com/signs/signs_index.html.
Sad to say, the events of the Arab Spring will not come to an end until the Muslims of the world unite and Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) appears. All these sufferings will continue until Muslims unite under a spiritual leader, Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) and until Turkish-Islamic Union is established, because it is a sin for Muslims to be fragmented and disunited. Islamic Union is the greatest religious obligation of the age. It is incompatible with the Qur’an to expect salvation without complying with that obligation.
The UN is not as strong as people imagine. The one and only solution to this is Islamic Union. Everyone knows there will be no such problems when we have Islamic Union. All problems will be comprehensively resolved. Muslims must therefore advocate Turkish-Islamic Union with passion and fervor. Every Muslim who does not advocate Islamic Union has a spiritual responsibility for these bloody events. Muslims protecting and watching out for one another is the same obligation as establishing Turkish-Islamic Union, an obligation that must be fulfilled at once.
QUESTION: Is it not strange that the countries with the right of veto on the UN Security Council are also the world’s major suppliers of arms?
ADNAN OKTAR: Some countries earn vast revenues from provoking conflict and thus trading in arms. The way the arms trade is not regulated both provokes conflicts and leads to endless cruelty, killing and slaughter. But there is one thing they forget; the moral values of Islam will soon reign across the whole world. With beauty, love, peace and brotherhood. We are living in the age of the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) and Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh). We will soon see the Golden Age, awaited for many centuries. Plenty, abundance, goodness and beauty will enfold the world. All arms will disappear and be destroyed. Bloodshed will end. The armaments industry will cease to exist. Peace and security will come to the world. Everyone will embrace everyone else as friends and brothers. Peace will spread across the world. People will smile for the first time. “How lovely Islam and being a Muslim are,” they will say.
QUESTION: Africa is one of the hottest regions of the world. The UN headquarters is in the other side of the world, in America. Do you not think a change of location would make the decision-making process and protecting people’s lives more efficient? Has not the time come for the UN to move to Africa?
ADNAN OKTAR: As I have already said, the UN has a minimal impact, not like people imagine. Not much will change if it relocates to Africa. It is Islamic moral values, Turkish-Islamic Union, not the UN, that will bring peace, security and wealth to the world. Under Turkish-Islamic Union, countries will benefit from one another’s experience and the spheres of investment set up will become new sources of revenue for all countries’ economies. One country’s different geographic and economic conditions will turn into wealth for another, and plenty and abundance will increase to an extraordinary extent. North African countries, the Caucasus and the countries of Central Asia all possess rich resources. The majority of Islamic countries have valuable mineral resources. Just for these to be united and for a moral conception that fears Allah and has a good conscience to settle into people’s hearts will bring about a glorious wealth, of a kind that has never been seen before. What we want is for African cities to be like London or Paris, at least. There will be no more problems of want and poverty in a world in which Islamic moral values prevail. Insha’Allah, we will soon see that what I am saying is true. When we come to this time known as the Golden Age you will see a great plenty and abundance in goods and products. There will be a hitherto unknown wealth, and the years of high costs of living, difficulties in making ends meet, hunger, poverty and want will come to an end. Nobody will be needy any more. People will be given many times more than what they ask for, and what is given will not even be counted. All kinds of psychological and material means will be used for people’s comfort, peace and happiness, and there will be not the slightest difficulty, poverty or hunger.
QUESTION: Iranian mercenaries are fighting for Assad, while Moscow and Beijing defend Assad’s rights at the UN. Why do you think a dictator who is slaughtering his own people has so many allies and protectors?
ADNAN OKTAR: There is a communist secret state in charge in Syria, Ba'athist thinking. This is a system of communist and Stalinist thinking that hates the people and despises them and regards them as less than human; that is what is in charge. These people detest Muslims. They do all in their power to oppress and persecute Muslims and inflict suffering on them. Some people who are unaware of this aspect way unknowingly support them, but by doing that they are in fact supporting bloodthirsty, ruthless, sadistic and psychopathic people. They may be doing this out of self-interest. But the only system in which can truly help them is Turkish-Islamic Union. Turkish-Islamic Union is the only system that will bring true peace, happiness and enlightenment to Syria, Iran, Russia, China, Israel, Armenia, Europe and everywhere in the world. A system that favors everyone. That is why every clear-thinking person, Muslim or not, must genuinely desire Turkish-Islamic Union because Turkish-Islamic Union is the only system that can save everyone and the whole world.
QUESTION: The tensions between Sunnis and Shiites that have been on the rise in recent times are no longer limited to the Islamic world, but have become a serious problem for the whole world. What steps is Turkey thinking of taking for the resolution of this problem? How ready are the sides, Sunnis and Shiites, to compromise and listen to one another?
ADNAN OKTAR: The problem can only be resolved with the appearance of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) and the establishment of Turkish-Islamic Union. No other measure can bring with it a solution. Disagreements and enmity based on sectarian differences among Muslims are in direct contravention of the Qur’an and the moral virtues commanded by Islam. Wahhabis, Shiism, Sunnism – these are all brother sects. One important thing that Muslims must not forget is that all those who say, "La ilaha illaAllah Muhammadan Rasulullah (‘There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His last Messenger’)" are brothers. The Islamic world has no spiritual leader today, for which reason rivers of Muslim blood are being spilled. It is clear that at such a time, what is needed is brotherhood, union and unity with no room for conflicts, divisions or enmities. Alawites, Sunnis, Shiites, Wahhabis and Jaferis must all embrace one another as Muslim brothers, without distinction, and live together in a climate of love and peace. It is a sin to encourage rancor among Muslims and to set brother against brother. It is a sin for Muslims who share the same Allah, Book and Prophet to be at one another’s throats. Those who do this are committing a terrible sin. Shiites, Jaferis, Wahhabis ... all Muslims are brothers, no matter what their schools. A Wahhabi Muslim must strive to ensure that his Sunni brother is happy and at ease. Shiites must be able to live in peace under a Sunni administration. If they cannot, then that is a sign that there is something missing from the moral values of the Qur’an and the Sunnah of our Prophet (saas) in that society. Because under Islamic moral values, someone charged with the administration is there in order to serve for Allah’s approval and has a responsibility to ensure that all people, no matter what their sect, religion or race, is treated as a first-class citizen.
QUESTION: How do you look at the banning of books by certain Turkish Islamic scholars in Russia? For example, when the Christian government in Russia wanted to ban the Mahabharata there was an immediate reaction to prevent it. Will Turkey take any steps to lift the ban on books by its own Islamic scholars?
ADNAN OKTAR: We love the Russians. They are a pure and immaculate nation. We want Russia to be strong and for every state and nation to live at ease. That is what the moral values of the Qur’an command. My books are all freely on sale in Russia. The Russian state openly supports the sale of my books; they have told me that officially. “We are delighted at the sale of your books. We are pleased by the spread of your ideas,” they said. In my opinion, these bans stem from ignorance and misinterpretation on the part of certain people. The followers of the Risale-i-Nur, for instance, are immaculate Muslims – they advocate moderation, love and democracy, and they respect the state. The Russian state may not be properly acquainted with them. All our Muslim brothers in Russia must express their love for Russia and the Russian nation in a better fashion. They must emphasize that they want Russia to be strong, and that this would make them happy. I do not think there will be a problem so long as they emphasize this properly, insha’Allah.
