Fethullah Gülen’s message to conference on “Mutual Understanding” in Ethiopia


Date posted: May 20, 2013

Fethullah Gülen’s message to the conference entitled “Establishing&Sustaining the Culture of Coexistence and Mutual Understanding”

Distinguished members of the Ethiopian – Turkish Necaşi School and the African Union,

Dear guests,

Please accept my warmest regards. I sincerely congratulate any effort to promote mutual understanding and the culture of co-existence which we so desperately need the world over today.

Distinguished guests,

The Creator of the Universe, our Lord says: “You will not see any transgression or disorder in whatever the Lord the Compassionate creates. Just look around and try to find a defect, an error? Then, look around again: your eye, in its hopeless endeavor (to find a defect in His creation), will rest in futile exhaustion.” This proper and wondrous balance and order in the universe is possible because no being transgresses the domain of the other but exists in coherence and cohesion with the others in its own place. This cohesion and solidarity is in such a harmony that the day and the night, the seasons, the sun and the earth, the air and water and the soil have to cooperate in a perfect and most delicate balance and measure just for a single fruit of a tree to come into being. Therefore, the price of a single fruit should be the whole universe in unison. The same truth manifests in living organisms, say, a human being that represents a smaller version of the universe. That very cohesion and solidarity is very easy to observe in a human being, too.

Dear friends, this unity, integrity, peace, cohesion and order and the excellent system of living organisms as well as the solidarity and cooperation among them has been possible as every element, organ and component never attempts at transgression the space of the other but lives by respecting the others’ existence and tasks. Allah, our Lord, demands the same order, cohesion, solidarity and cooperation from us, humans, whom He has honored as the most glorious of beings. As such, Allah abhors bloodshed and discord among human beings and encourages peace, order and cohesion as the best of conduct and behavior. The Islam religion which denotes peace, serenity, unity, cohesion and well-being demands that human beings live in mutual understanding, peace, calm and harmony. Therefore, it is obvious that we are in a position to and do need to realize this very unity, cohesion and harmony within our bodies also for the sake of the well-being and welfare of mankind.

Distinguished guests, Today, the world needs mutual understanding, peace, dialogue, solidarity and cooperation more than ever. Globalization which is the natural outcome of the advancing means of travel and communication both urges and provides unprecedented opportunities for improving mutual understanding, dialogue, peace, solidarity and cooperation. However, it is sad that our earth which is supposed to be a cradle of fraternity for people represents an arena of warfare and conflict because of conflicting interests, policies dependent on such interests, polarized ideologies and misunderstood and badly practiced religions. It is particularly sad to see that certain groups develop misconceptions about Islam and abuse it whereas Islam is a religion which does not allow violence, killing of human beings and discord among human beings. Therefore, our first and foremost task is to follow the divine purpose which requires us to meet and know and understand one another as different nations and communities, to come closer and cooperate. This is incumbent on us as individuals, communities, nations and countries so that we can get to know and properly communicate, make this world a land of peace and serenity and ultimately know ourselves better by knowing each other better.

In concluding, I have this unshakable belief in your deep comprehension of and endeavor for this divine purpose and I extend my thanks to the International Ethiopian-Turkish Necaşi School, the Journalists and Writers Foundation and to members of the African Union for this beautiful event. May Allah’s assistance be with you in your work and efforts.

M. Fethullah Gülen

Source: Journalists and Writers Foundation, May 13, 2013

Tags: | | |


Related News

Fethullah Gulen’s interview with The Wall Street Journal

A broad spectrum of Turkish people, including Hizmet participants, supported AKP for democratizing reforms, for ending the military tutelage over politics and for moving Turkey forward in the EU accession process. We have always supported what we believed to be right and in line with democratic principles. But we have also criticized what we saw as wrong and contrary to those principles.

Filling the gap left by Gulen

Erdogan and Gulen shared the goal of creating a “devout generation”. Yet despite their similar outlook on life and objectives, the Gulen movement never merged completely with the AKP. However, Gulen was never willing to subordinate himself to Erdogan, which is why the two men fell out in 2013 and the informal coalition with the Gulen movement collapsed.

Turkey Heads Toward Radical Islamic Dictatorship

Thousands have been arrested. Civil rights are suspended. People are jailed with no way to consult lawyers or present a defense. The coup has become an excuse for Erdoğan to purge state institutions, and even the private sector, of his critics, regardless of their guilt with regard to the insurrection. The Turkish government — and a 100% state-controlled media — has accused the U.S. government of being behind the coup attempt itself and harboring its purported mastermind, Fetullah Gulen.

Senegalese Education Minister: I will send my daughter to Turkish schools

The Senegalese Minister of Education Mbaye Thiam said the schools, which produce champions annually in the nationwide university entrance exams, have had an indisputable success to date across the country.

Fethullah Gulen issued messages of condolence for victims of the ISIS attacks in Iraq and Bangladesh

I condemn in the strongest terms the brutal terrorist attacks that took place in Baghdad, Iraq, and Dhaka, Bangladesh, that claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians, including many children. These attacks are grave crimes against humanity and carve deep wounds in our society’s collective consciousness.

Fethullah Gulen’s Message of Condolences for Senator John McCain

Fethullah Gulen: I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Senator John McCain, a dedicated public servant and a statesman committed to his principles. Senator McCain has consistently spoken out against torture against prisoners of war and has advocated ensuring freedom for all. His moral standing has set an example for future generations.

Latest News

Turkish inmate jailed over alleged Gülen links dies of heart attack in prison

Message of Condemnation and Condolences for Mass Shooting at Bondi Beach, Sydney

Media executive Hidayet Karaca marks 11th year in prison over alleged links to Gülen movement

ECtHR faults Turkey for convictions of 2,420 applicants over Gülen links in follow-up to 2023 judgment

New Book Exposes Erdoğan’s “Civil Death Project” Targeting the Hizmet Movement

European Human Rights Treaty Faces Legal And Political Tests

ECtHR rejects Turkey’s appeal, clearing path for retrials in Gülen-linked cases

Erdoğan’s Civil Death Project’ : The ‘politicide’ spanning more than a decade

Fethullah Gülen’s Vision and the Purpose of Hizmet

In Case You Missed It

Religious leaders, politicians have iftar in Nigerian capital

IFJ representative denied permission to visit journalist Karaca in prison

‘Hizmet is a social movement worldwide, that has a heart, and it’s always from the heart.’

War on Gulen Movement undermines Turkish diplomacy

Gülen condemns Paris shootings, says all forms of terror deplorable

The Gülen Movement: a modern expression of Turkish Islam – Interview with Hakan Yavuz

Bosnia rejects Turkey’s extradition request for journalist over Gülen links

Copyright 2026 Hizmet News