Mr. Adnan Oktar’s Live Conversation with Imam Mohammed Azizi (from Paris) and Chief Rabbi Izhak Dayan (Geneva) on A9 TV (January 13th, 2016)

PRESENTER: We hope you're having a great evening, dear viewers. We are starting our program, Live Conversations with Adnan Oktar. We have two valuable guests today. I would like to introduce them first. Rabbi Izhak Dayan, the Chief Rabbi of Geneva, Switzerland. He is also the Representative of the Conference of European Rabbis to the United Nations. Welcome.

ADNAN OKTAR: We are honored to have you here. It is a great pleasure.

PRESENTER: Our other guest is Imam Mohammed Azizi of Paris, France. He has an official position as an imam in the French government. Also, he is actively taking part in political and religious efforts as the Co-Chairman of Muslim – Jewish Friendship Organization in France. Welcome sir.

ADNAN OKTAR: Welcome.

PRESENTER: Our guests attended a significant conference on Culture of Peace and the Importance of Religion in Politics yesterday in the Israeli Parliament. Today, they have come from Israel to visit you.

ADNAN OKTAR: It is an honor for us to have you, a great delight. Will we have an interpreter? Yes. Both our guests have honored us. I am delighted they have come.

Yes. I am seated like this a little higher, but that is a requirement because of the our program. But you have a particularly lofty place in our hearts.  

IZHAK DAYAN: I would like to thank Mr. Adnan Oktar for his philanthropy and  hospitality. He very much deserves to have a higher position.

ADNAN OKTAR:  Astaghfirullah, astaghfirullah.

IZHAK DAYAN:  That is because he reaches much more people in regard to having faith in God. This is why he has the right to be seated on this high platform.

ADNAN OKTAR: Masha’Allah, masha’Allah.

MOHAMMED AZIZI: I also would like to thank Mr. Adnan Oktar very much for the light that shines from him and which has also reached us. And in particular about his courtesy of inviting us here and hospitality.

ADNAN OKTAR: Many thanks for your kindness and respect. I had heard that you are very noble and valuable people, and that is quite evident now. May God grant you goodness, prosperity, light and beauty.

IZHAK DAYAN: This is not the first time that I come across Mr. Adnan Oktar. We had met maybe for two or three times before together with other rabbis and parliamentarians from Israel. His love of people, philanthropic and loving approach gives great hope to us, and he is an exemplary person for us. Also, his way of mentioning the Moshiach has also aroused great admiration in our hearts. He is speaking with profound truths, and we all await peace between all peoples and faiths, and long for this.

ADNAN OKTAR: God gave the glad tidings of Moshiach, the Mahdi, the Messiah, 3,500 years ago. How great that we are in his age, and we are his students, you and us. It is grounds for rejoicing that God has created us in such a beautiful time. God is bringing us closer to delightful days, the days of Moshiach, the Mahdi, by bringing us all together like this. Insha’Allah, we will rebuild the Masjid of the Prophet Solomon (pbuh). We will relive those beautiful and exciting times.

IZHAK DAYAN: I would like to express these words to Mr. Adnan Oktar, the three divine faiths that have faith in One God which are Judaism, Islam and Christianity all complement one another. They all form a unity. I will get into more details later.

MOHAMMED AZIZI: I share the same opinion with the Respectable Chief Rabbi. Islam was revealed following Judaism and Christianity, and is on the path of faith in One God. It regards the articulation in Judaism and Christianity to be God’s manifestation on Earth. The tenets of Judaism and Christianity are also found in the essential Book of Islam. The Qur’an revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is a message of peace and brotherhood in its foundation.

ADNAN OKTAR: Excellent. Masha’Allah.

IZHAK DAYAN: There is a reputed Jewish sage named Maimonides who spent the majority of his lifetime in Morocco. He is thankful to both Islam and Christianity because these two religions have been the means for the spread of faith in One God throughout the world. This is how religion was spread to distant countries where people had pagan beliefs. And Islam was revealed to man to teach them to have faith in one God, and to communicate the existence of One God. That is why Maimonides is grateful to Islam and Christianity because of their communicating the name of God throughout the world.

MOHAMMED AZIZI: I also would like to remind that the Arabic name for Maimonides is Musa Ibn Maymun, and he wrote all his works in literary Arabic.

ADNAN OKTAR: Masha’Allah.

IZHAK DAYAN: I would like to go on with Mr. Adnan Oktar’s permission.

ADNAN OKTAR: Very nice, please go on.

IZHAK DAYAN: This is in regard to the idea on unity of three faiths. There is an important personage in the Jewish world with the name Rav Chaim who lived on the Polish – Russian border. He was asked why there are so many religions. There are subgroups inside the religions; for instance, in Judaism there are the Ashkenazi and Sephardi. In Islam, there are the Sunni and Shia. In Christianity, there are the Protestants and other subgroups. He responded to this question saying, “Before asking this question, just ask the general staff. Why is there need for the land force, an air force and the naval force? Would not only one force be adequate? If there is need for three of these forces, the reason is that any duty that would be difficult for the naval force, would be carried out by the air force. Therefore, nobody can claim that one is more important than the other, they complement one another. And here, the three religions are complementary. For instance, Islam completes the missing parts of Judaism.

ADNAN OKTAR: Of course, the faiths will become more interconnected and brotherly and filled with love under the leadership of Moshiach in the End Times. There will be a great climate of liberty. It will be as if there is literally just one religion in the world. Everyone will believe in One God, and all faiths will be highly respectful of one another. The world will be like paradise under the leadership of Moshiach. We can see that we are entering that era from the occurrences that develop in our world.

For example, in Psalms 133:1 it reads; "How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” We are in that time now, which is mentioned in the Torah. "How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” in Psalms 133:1. 

1. Kings 4:24, again from the Torah; “For he (Prophet Solomon) ruled over all the kingdoms… and had peace on all sides.” We are entering that same period now. Moshiach will once again be influential all over the world, and there will be peace everywhere.

IZHAK DAYAN: I would like to add a few words with Mr. Adnan Oktar’s permission.

ADNAN OKTAR: Astaghfirullah, please go on.

IZHAK DAYAN: In Judaism, one of God’s names is Shalom, and this means peace. Faith in God is possible with peace. That is why we need to carry out the utmost efforts to guide people to faith in God. Once we have faith in God, we will definitely attain peace.

MOHAMMED AZIZI: Absolutely, the words aslama, yuslimu, as-salam all mean peace, and Salam is one of the attributes of God. God has 99 Names, and one of them is As-Salam. Whether the intellectual ones who have come three centuries after the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) or the modern ones in our era, scholars comment that, “There is no justifiable reason as to why people are separated and live in enmity.” On the contrary, our natural tendencies lead us to an interrelated community where people are mutually benevolent and peace and brotherhood prevail. In Surat al-Hujurat, 13 it is stated, “Mankind! We created you from a male and female, and made you into peoples and tribes so that you might come to know each other.” Almighty and Most High God teaches that there is an obligatory common grounds for all, which is humanity. Therefore, we should be humane at all times and hold brotherhood in high esteem. This is the essence of the commentary on the verse I have recited.

ADNAN OKTAR: Masha’Allah.

MOHAMMED AZIZI: Almighty and Most High God informs us in another verse, in Surah Al-I Imran, 64; “Say, ‘People of the Book! Come to a proposition which is the same for us and you – that we should worship none but God.” This verse was revealed in Hijri 629, and is regarded to be one of the most significant calls of our Prophet (pbuh) to unity.

ADNAN OKTAR: Would our guests like tea or coffee?

MOHAMMED AZIZI: I would be the happiest person in the world if I may have a Turkish tea.

IZHAK DAYAN: The respectable Sheikh has a great taste that is why I also kindly ask for some tea. I also would like to add that the Talmud sages asked themselves this question: “Why did God only create one man and woman? All humanity comes from the Prophet Adam and Eve.” And the answer to this question is if there were two ore three men, then one would say the following to the other: “My father is more noble than yours. My blood is more red than yours.” God created only one couple, Adam and Eve, just to make everyone on equal grounds. We have the same mother and father.

ADNAN OKTAR: Excellent. God creates everything with wisdom. Valuable people like you, ones who are wise and elect like yourselves are serving in the key positions in the world. But they have yet not decided to come together in union. I think that they will make that decision very soon, in three to five years, or maybe seven or nine years. In other words, my opinion is that the most reasonable and eminent people in the world will put a halt to the current course the world is taking. The signs in the Torah indicate this and this is how the hadiths denote it as well. Ones who are distinguished with their reason, faith, devotion and a great love of God will make an excellent move. This will happen very soon, in my opinion.

MOHAMMED AZIZI: Exactly.

IZHAK DAYAN: Human dignity should be respected; that is something very important. If we act against human dignity that is acting against God’s will because man is created as a manifestation of God.

As complementary to that, in the Talmud there are many signs about the arrival of Messiah and the actions of people. These signs are taking place before our eyes, and we are witnessing to all these happenings and signs. However, people are in a downfall. Just as Mr. Adnan Oktar has emphasized, we need to ask for the coming of Messiah.

ADNAN OKTAR: Very nice, masha’Allah. God is inspiring in the hearts of good people with this information that the Messiah has come through the signs in the Torah and the hadiths, as well as the Qur’an. This is a delightful inspiration. Good people now know that the time has come, and they are beginning to establish this connection with one another in determination. We can see that this will increase and grow still further. We can see the results will be very virtuous.

MOHAMMED AZIZI: That is really true, Respectable Sheikh Adnan Oktar. We are all the children of the Prophet Abraham, and we have to acknowledge our responsibility and carry out the moral legacy of our common ancestor, the Prophet Abraham. If the Prophet Abraham were under this roof, if the Prophet Moses were here tonight, and if the Prophet Jesus were present here tonight, and the Prophet Muhammad were with us tonight, they would all be pleased with our meeting.

ADNAN OKTAR: Masha’Allah. God creates people with such a fine character as yours, who think and reason deeply and are appointed to eminent positions by our Lord’s leave with such virtuous personalities in all places of the world. That really attracts my attention. It is the same in Russia and in Switzerland and in Africa. It is obvious that some powers we see and do not see are in practice. Insha’Allah, we will all witness this goodness altogether. Insha’Allah, may God prolong your lives. I think I will see the joy of this in your faces.

IZHAK DAYAN: According to Judaism, when we see a religious scholar, we pray for blessings and praise our Lord because He has granted fear of God on that person. And today, I am making prayers of blessings for Adnan Oktar in person. I am supplicating to God, and praising our Lord because He has granted His fear on Adnan Oktar and that he is making amazing efforts to draw people closer to religion and faith in God.

ADNAN OKTAR: Thank you. Masha’Allah.    

MOHAMMED AZIZI: Respectable Adnan Oktar, if you would permit, under your control, I would like to relate two hadiths of our Prophet (pbuh). This is in regard to your holiness, the loftiness of your spirit, and the devoutness of your heart and words. Our Prophet says in a hadith, “A person’s righteousness is reflected from two aspects: his heart and way of speaking.” In another hadith, we learn, “Almighty and Glorious God grants His secrets to the most sincere and modest persons.” This is the sincerity in one’s soul and heart. You deserve all these words that I am speaking of.

IZHAK DAYAN: 37:00 I also would like to state in regard to Mr. Adnan Oktar, according to a verse in the Gospel, the wisdom of a person illuminates his face. And when I look into the face of Mr. Adnan Oktar, I would like to emphasize that I see this light with regards to his wise personality.

ADNAN OKTAR: You look in the mirror and see yourself. You look with love and light, and in the same way, I see you with great radiance and light.

IZHAK DAYAN: Mr. Adnan Oktar says this because of his modesty.

ADNAN OKTAR: That is the truth.

The gentleman has caught my eye. You are exactly the same, an enlightened Jew and an enlightened Muslim. The entire world would be pleased to see such intellectuals, and worthy believers in the world. This is how religion will reign across the world.

He appears to be an ideal Muslim, and you are an ideal Jew – full of love, respectful, well mannered and wise.

IZHAK DAYAN: We are in his service right now, and we will be like that at all times. Yes, we are on the side of Mr. Adnan Oktar on every matter that is relevant for human beings and to draw near to God in line with our faith.

ADNAN OKTAR: Thank you. God creates such mutual love. I also have profound love for you. I love the Jews very, very much and I love enlightened Muslims. I also have so much love for enlightened Christians. I profoundly love those who love and fear God. Insha’Allah, our Lord will bring ones who love Him altogether. Great developments will occur in the End Times. We can understand this from these amazing happenings.

IZHAK DAYAN: If you will not be disturbed, I would like to speak a few more words.

ADNAN OKTAR: Astaghfirullah, we are much honored and delighted.

IZHAK DAYAN: We, Sheikh Imam Mohammad Azizi and I were both born in the same country, in Morocco.

ADNAN OKTAR: Masha’Allah.

IZHAK DAYAN: I am a Jew, and I was born in an Arab and an Islamic country. Definitely, now I am speaking as a Jew but we have very nice neighborly relations. In Morocco, I was never attacked or physically assaulted. Also, we can give this example to the Middle East and Near East. Because the Middle East is shalom between Muslims and Jews. I am talking about Morocco, where I was born. But I would also like to talk about Turkey. And I am talking as Jew once again. As you know there are two high peaks and cemeteries in Istanbul. One in Kuzguncuk and the other in Ortakoy. And there lies various chief rabbis in these cemeteries. These rabbis were the ones who worked on Jewish law. When I study their works, I feel the impression as if I was born in this country. There were both Ashkenazi and Sephardi, and I would like to thank Turkey. If today, the Jewish world may access and profit these works, that is by means of the rights and opportunities that the Turks have provided for the minorities. And I address the entire Turkish nation, please allow me to be a spokesperson for the entire Jewish world: Teşekkür, teşekkür, teşekkür.

ADNAN OKTAR: Masha’Allah, masha’Allah.

MOHAMMED AZIZI: Yes, the words of the Rabbi are very significant. In addition to that, at the time of the Ottomans, I'm not totally sure, but in 1827,  dhimmitude was abolished. There was a poll tax paid by the Jews, and in that year this was removed as a privilege to the Jews. This happened at the time of the Ottomans, and on this land. And this is really very important. Many Muslims are not aware of this, but this is very important for Turkey, as this took place for the first time at the time of the Ottomans.   

IZHAK DAYAN: On this opportunity, I also desire the relations between Turkey and Israel to improve. Because, President Tayyip Erdogan stated that improving the relations between Israel and Turkey will be beneficial for all the other countries in the region. I hope insha’Allah this will be realized.

ADNAN OKTAR: Yes, this was something I have been talking about for a long time. God has heeded our prayers. The government has begun adopting a very positive and logical approach toward Israel. In my opinion it was also like that before, but I think it became obstructed somehow. It is now going in a really good direction. Love for and protection of Jewish people is a tradition for us as we see in Ottoman times, too. We took them out of Spain and brought them here, as you know. We protected and watched over our Jewish brothers here, and settled them in the best places. Looking after the Jews is an Ottoman tradition. The fact is that President Tayyip Erdogan is also descended from the Ottomans, and he also stands up for the Jews as part of that tradition. It may be that he is receiving pressure from the bigots. But, he will not bow to pressure from fanatics. Relations with Israel will become really good, you will see this happen. Israel is a regional power; Turkey is also a regional power. When they are allies, the result will be peace and prosperity.

IZHAK DAYAN: We are so much in gratitude to Turkey. As I have said before, we are grateful for the good conduct of Turks on the Jewish minorities that Jews were given the means for writing and developing the Jewish law here, and they were embraced in this country after being expelled from Spain. And I also want to emphasize that the Sultan at that time had stated, “The King and Queen of Spain Isabella made a grave mistake by sending us the Jews because they sent the elite of their society to us.” 

ADNAN OKTAR: Engineers, doctors, artists; yes, loving the Jews is part of our tradition. Most of the doctors in the Ottoman palace were Jewish. Most counselors were Jews. They served in key posts. They are the jewels in Turkey’s crown. We regard it as a cause for honor and grace for our Jewish brothers to live here in peace, as a matter of joy. We see that the government adopts and follows such a policy here.

MOHAMMED AZIZI: When speaking of constitutional law, two countries come to mind in terms of the light of democracy. These are Israel and Turkey, and the good relations between the two countries will be playing a major role in the dissemination of democracy’s light. I believe this will take place as it is required.

ADNAN OKTAR: Yes, Israel and Turkey have two well-known features. Israel plays a vital role in religious belief flourishing in the Middle East. The Middle East was ignorant of religious devotion; it was always socialist and communist. Palestine and Egypt and the majority were in the hands of the socialists. They welcomed Israel’s religious devotion with appreciation, and all the Muslim countries in the region turned to religious belief. Israel was exemplary on that in a very nice way. Turkey is one of the countries of the Middle East that lives by Islam in the best and cleanest and highest quality way while still being closely democratic. There are other countries, of course, but when we look at Turkey in the region, it is immaculate in terms of moderation, democracy and living by Islam, and in reflecting all these together. The two countries are ideal from that perspective, of religious devotion.

IZHAK DAYAN: A country that respects human dignity is a nation that will become successful. Turkey, which has opened its doors to Jewish people, has already been successful, and will be successful. I have no doubts on this. Every Saturday, the day that Jews do not work, is when we spend the great majority of time in the synagogue. There is a prayer written by the Turkish rabbis. This prayer was written for the accomplishment of the Ottoman Empire. Always, we have been loyal to this nation who has been so much hospitable to us, and hosted us. In the same way, this has occurred in Morocco and these countries are exemplary for us, the Jews. We can never betray these countries. 

ADNAN OKTAR: Masha’Allah, because you act in compliance with the principles of the Torah. You are the children of the Prophet Moses. He was very loving, compassionate and loyal. You are as devoted as the Prophet Abraham. That is normal. Masha’Allah.

IZHAK DAYAN: This is our common point, Muslims and Jews.

Adnan Oktar: Of course. We are the children of the Prophet Abraham. He was our head and we are his children.

God’s promise to Abraham will come true. Belief in the One God will enfold the world. There is no time left, and the Reckoning is at hand. God also promises in the Qur’an and in the Torah. He promises beauties, blessings, and a very prosper future to the children of Abraham. That will happen.

MOHAMMED AZIZI: And only one community.

ADNAN OKTAR: Yes.

IZHAK DAYAN: This name, Abraham, Abram,  means the father of many nations.

ADNAN OKTAR: Yes, the Prophet Abraham was a perfect and exemplary human being with his hospitality, beauty, superior morality and his bringing the true religion. The Prophet Abraham is a perfect prophet, a perfect human being, and a perfect example.

IZHAK DAYAN: I would like to give a similar opinion with Mr. Adnan Oktar. In the Torah, there are five books of Moses. These five books incorporate all the commandments of God. In the first part, Genesis, there are almost no commandments. Actually, this is like a history book mentioning Abraham, his son Isaac and grandson Jacob. We know that the Torah is a Book of Law. Then what is the reason for giving information about the lives of Abraham, Isaac or Jacob? That is to teach that anyone who does not act with good morality cannot have any connection to God. It is mentioned how Abraham acts with hospitality including Sodom and Gomorrah, he strove for the goodness of all. When God desired to devastate Sodom and Gomorrah, he made efforts and prayed for their salvation. And most important, to carry out the commandments of God, one has to act humanely. That is related with one’s culture of life.

MOHAMMED AZIZI: And with this purpose the seven of these Ten Commandments are again a part of the covenant between the Prophet Noah and God. This is mentioned in a verse in a Surah, the muwahhid, the ones who have faith in God should not murder or commit adultery. And some of these commandments were enforced as law.

ADNAN OKTAR: Masha’Allah. Shall we make a hash tag for love? What can it be? We could say, “Love Speaks Goodness.” This is something special that we do in our program. Every day, we make a hash tag on love in Twitter. And, we also speak words of love every day. We are always at the top of the Twitter trend lists on the Internet this way. Masha’Allah, people see this all over Turkey. Let us say, “Love Speaks Goodness.”

MOHAMMED AZIZI: Words of goodness.

ADNAN OKTAR: It has been an honor and a source of joy.

IZHAK DAYAN: Thanks for sparing your time and welcoming us as a guest.

ADNAN OKTAR: It is a great honor, a great privilege.

IZHAK DAYAN: This honor belongs to us.

ADNAN OKTAR: Masha’Allah. It eases the heart to be together with people who love God, people like you. Thank you so much. It has been an honor for us; you have brought your light. Yes now, let us close this part of the program.

PRESENTER: We thank Chief Rabbi Izhak Dayan and Imam Muhammed Azizi who were with us in our program today.