Excerpt from Mr. Adnan Oktar's interview on A9 TV dated 7 May 2012
ADNAN OKTAR: In the name of Allah, the Beneficient the Merciful, Surat al-Ahzab. Verse 35; “Men and women who are Muslims, men and women who are believers,” Allah sets out the qualities of Muslims. “Men and women who are Muslims, men and women who are believers, men and women who are obedient,” because unbelief is disobedient and troublesome. Whatever you say, it wants to do the opposite. They are very difficult people. “men and women who are truthful,” to Whom? To Allah, the Book, the religion, faith, those they love and the cause. “men and women who are steadfast.” People are unsteadfast. They end friendships in a moment. They end love in a moment. They explode like gunpowder. That is why their loves lasts only a few hours before they end it. But since Muslims are steadfast they maintain their love. They never relinquish it. Their love grows with the years. But unbelief is not like that. It gets tired at one as is not steadfast. It becomes angry and ends things. “men and women who are steadfast, men and women who are humble,.” Someone says, “I fear Allah,” but it is weak and watery. He makes jokes about paradise and hell. What does that mean? He has no respect and fear of Allah. But when asked, he says, “I fear Allah.” That is not real awe. Because he has no respect, he is disrespectful. Respect is a sign of fearing Allah. That is why Allah says, “men and women who are steadfast, men and women who are humble,” a woman who fears Allah is very beautiful. She will be mild, gentle and sweet. The other way, abominations descend, may Allah forbid. A kind of pollution.
“men and women who give alms.” Who spend for Allah’s approval, who can give their money away with ease. “men and women who fast.” Because fasting requires willpower.
“men and women who guard their private parts,” Men and women who do engage in illicit sexual relations. Because if men engage in illicit relations, they themselves become prostitutes. In the same way the face of a woman engaged in illicit relations immediately gives her away, she develops a kind of repulsiveness, an ugliness, doesn’t she? A coldness, an oddness. Well the same thing happens to men who engage in prostitution. A man who engages in illicit relations is also a prostitute. They also develop a coldness and oddness, and a mental oddness. Something odd happens in their behavior. That is why Muslim women have such luminous faces. There is a sweetness in them. One feels a profound love for them, and beauty forms in their faces. They develop a majesty, an attractiveness, a divine attractiveness. But the flesh of people who prostitute themselves is polluted. Frozen and polluted. One can tell, as soon as one looks. Or from their language. But a chaste woman has a light and radiance, a sweetness in her face. That is what the Qur’an is referring to. Look, “men and women who guard their private parts,” who do not enter into unlawful relations.
“men and women who remember Allah much:” some people remember Allah no more than twice a day. Or three. But Allah is always in a Muslim’s mind. He constantly remembers Allah. Remembering Allah does not mean saying, “Allah, Allah” all the time. If you like somewhere and you say, “How well Allah has created it,” that is also remembrance of Allah. Remembering Allah means constantly keeping Him in mind. People may have a wrong idea about remembering. They imagine it means saying the words, “Allah, Allah.” It means keeping Allah in one’s mind, knowing one loves Him and being aware of that. Remembrance means constantly keeping Allah in one’s heart.
“men and women who remember Allah much: Allah has prepared forgiveness for them and an immense reward.”
(Surat al-Ahzab, 35) Allah says He will forgive people even if they make mistakes. And He says He has “prepared an immense reward.” Merit. What is the reward for merit? Allah’s approval. And what is the reward for Allah’s approval? Paradise. But it would be meaningless to be in paradise without Allah’s approval. His approval is why paradise is delightful.
