Eid and Rich Muslims

Discussions revolving around the Deniz Feneri (Lighthouse) case in Germany gave Muslims who consider themselves pious an opportunity to be self-critical. Even though some media organizations and opposition parties try to use this case as a political tool to pick apart the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), this opportunity for introspection is important. In other words, we need to question our Muslim-ness.

If more and more Muslims talk about Judgment Day but think this day relates only to other people, and if more and more Muslims criticize other people but forget about their own defects, it will bring calamity to the world.

The Muslim world is currently in a wretched state. What’s worse is that some Muslims and Muslim countries that have attained unbelievable wealth in a world which suffers from hunger, misery and a lack of education are indifferent to the situation around them. The luxury, ostentation, overzealous consumption and wastefulness in oil-rich Arab countries are no different than in countries governed by wild capitalism. The finest hotels are being constructed here. Wealthy Arabs buy soccer clubs in the UK and make the payment -- in millions -- in cash. The manners and attitudes of the wealthy Muslims in other Muslim countries are no different. On the other hand, millions of Muslims are living in unbearable conditions. In Africa, hundreds of thousands of Muslims lose their sight because they cannot afford cataract operations. Muslims who suffer from diseases due to a lack of potable water need wells that can be drilled for several thousands of dollars. Millions of children need economic aid just to gain access to education and proper nutrition. What’s worse is that these sorrows are experienced just several kilometers away from the mansions of wealthy Muslims in the same country. These Muslims sleep comfortably while their neighbors are hungry and miserable; they pass by their poor brothers every day but fail to see them.

Muslims are responsible for extending a helping hand not only to their own sisters and brothers, but also other poor people around the world in order to fight corruption. This is because Muslims are followers of a religion that commands them to prevent tyranny wherever it is found and to share the troubles of humanity. In the broadest sense of the word, a Muslim is a man who is responsible for the entire world. It is necessity that a Muslim feel the burden of this responsibility on his/her shoulders.

We, the majority of Muslims, are alienated from these feelings. Most of us are Muslim for our own sake. This indifference to our own sisters and brothers in religion as well as the rest of humanity adds to the disgruntlement of the masses and serves as a source of corruption and revolt. It turns rulers into tyrants victimizing the people. Rulers who do not want to be deprived of their power grow more and more authoritarian. Despotism takes root and popular demands for democracy are thwarted. Western countries abuse Muslim countries by advocating democratic values on one hand and implicitly condoning tyrant rulers in Muslim countries on the other.

This plot can only be eliminated by Turkey.

This is because Turkey has started a revival movement on its own. We have started to be ourselves once again. Not the wealthy upper class but the middle-class artisans, businessmen, public servants and laborers of this nation have lent their support to a solidarity and assistance movement. If there are Turkish schools in 110 countries around the world, it is thanks to this movement launched by our nation. Businessmen in other regions take supplies with their own hands to eastern and southeastern regions and knock on every door in order to re-establish the bridges of brotherhood. This is thanks to this nation.

We now once again have wealthy Muslims in the Eastern style, and dedicated souls who have attained the wisdom of altruism.

This revival will soon give rise to Eids (festivals) of unbelievable beauty. Longing for those Eids, I would like to wish a happy Eid al-Fitr to all my readers.