Fethullah Gülen’s message to the International symposium “Ijtihad and Qiyas: The richness of Islam”

Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen
Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen


Date posted: May 11, 2014

 

Most respected scholars, intellectuals, and community leaders, who honored this symposium from Turkey and abroad; and distinguished guests and fortunate participants to this auspicious gathering:

I greet you with the greeting of Allah (swt) and offer my heartfelt respect, humbly expecting your favorable reception. Over the years, Yeni Ümit and Hira magazines have undertaken many significant events and contributed invaluably to our culture; once more, they are convening scholars and seekers of knowledge for this symposium, on “Ijtihad and Qiyas,” two important sources of our cultural heritage. I pray that this bountiful gathering will be beneficial for everyone.

As is already well known, all the messengers of Allah (swt) who came throughout human history always walked the same path on basic issues like tawhid, the afterlife, prophethood, worship and justice, whereas on secondary matters, the colors of their teachings, advice, and warnings were necessarily diverse, depending on historical circumstances and humanity’s level of development. In either case, they always pointed to lofty objectives and presented flawless heavenly meals of blessings to their followers.

The Prophet Muhammad, the Pride of Humanity (peace be upon him), on the other hand, is the last Messenger of Allah (swt) to humanity. He arrived to serve a humanity that had come of age; and the Qur’an is His final message and call. This divine messengership came to remind us of those eternal and definite essentials that are universally recognized in all religions. His messengership promised to fulfill all the needs of all times and places and perfected the truth of faith by progressive commandments . Humanity will be guided in the light of this last message by the Seal of the Prophets, the energy to develop and transform will be utilized by this new order, and efforts to attain absolute truth will be pursued under its auspices.

Ijtihad and Qiyas present a significant field of expansion for the potential treasury that transcends time and space as it is found in the Book and the Sunna. We will never run out of solutions and answers as long as these rich sources are available with their doors wide open for those who are able to benefit from them.

Hence, over the centuries, the genius and assiduous imams of tafsir, incomparable mujtahids of jurisprudence, timeless mujaddids of religion, luminous teachers of our spiritual life, scholars of kalam, reason, judgment, and the positive sciences, and thousands of scholars and scientists in hundreds of different disciplines have always embraced the Qur’an and the Sunna as the most illuminating, abundant, pristine, and reliable source of knowledge; they took shelter under their protection, solved problems with their prescriptions, which are both time-transcendent and time-relevant, and strived to fulfill their duty of vicegerency which is at the core of their creation.

Your gathering today is an example of revisiting the essential sources of our cultural heritage with untarnished feelings and with a petition of privation, and it is my sincere hope that it will contribute extensively to our academia and culture. With these feelings, I present my greetings, love, and respect to all participants, and expect them to include me in their prayers.

M. Fethullah Gülen

Source: fgulen.com , May 9, 2014


Related News

Why Gülen movement teachings attractive to followers?

The Gülen Movement arose among pious men and women who wanted a modern interpretation of religion. In the dynamics of the transformation of the movement, the social milieu also played an important role. The movement became a spiritual refuge for those who searched for an interpretation where Islam was in harmony with modernity. The followers of the Gülen Movement do not describe themselves as a political movement.

Turkey further from EU accession than in 2007, Swoboda says

Swoboda said “The main problem is that there are severe accusations from Erdoğan against the Gülen movement over infiltrating the judiciary and the police. He is using this argument to change a lot of personalities in the judiciary and police, trying to restrict the independence of the Constitutional Court and the HSYK. Therefore, we fear for the independence of justice,”

Toward an Islamic Enlightenment: The Gulen Movement (Book Review)

BOOK REVIEW Ten years after co-editing his first book on the Gülen movement, Hakan Yavuz, a leading scholar on Turkish society, brings his academic prowess and careful observations to bear on this dynamic phenomenon in Toward an Islamic Enlightenment: The Gülen Movement.1 This well-timed book not only provides an update on the growth of the […]

‘Fethullah Gulen Might Return to Turkey on This Condition’

Will Fethullah Gulen, who currently resides in the US, return to Turkey? One active figure of the Hizmet movement, Cemal Usak, who serves as the Vice President of the Journalists and Writers Foundation, answered this highly speculated question. Vice President of the Journalists and Writers Foundation (JWF), Cemal Usak, stated that Gulen may return to […]

Secretary Kerry insists Turkey must provide legal, solid evidence against Fethullah Gulen

We’ve never had a formal request for extradition, and we have always said, “give us the evidence, show us the evidence”. We need a solid, legal foundation that meets the standard of extradition in order for our courts to approve such a request.

Turkey’s first private Arabic station starts to broadcast

Hira TV will also feature Samanyolu TV, which has been broadcasting programs in Arabic for almost 20 years. Hira TV CEO Yusuf Acar said the new channel’s target audience is families, adding: “Through cultural and scientific TV programs, we will appeal to all Arab people, including both children and adults. In addition, we will broadcast lectures from Fethullah Gülen, a Turkish-Islamic scholar.”

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

4th International Panel for Sharing Coexistence Experience in Korea

Case of Calgary imam accused of plotting failed coup in Turkey will remain in limbo

An American’s journey into a Hizmet school in Turkey

Alevi, Sunni businessmen will finance joint prayer complex

Yes, Love Is a Verb!

Erdoğan’s image in the West

Eid al-Adha in Rio

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News