In Order to Do a Favor
A newly established holiday created polemic in Russia. November 4th, which was suggested by religious men and accepted by the public as an official holiday, is called "National Unity Day".
The November 7 Revolution Day celebrated for 80 years has been removed in return.
The characteristic of the November 4 holiday is that you must do a favor on that day. A poll conducted reportedly showed that 75 percent of the people do not know the meaning of any holiday, but become happy simply because it is a holiday. Another negative result that was obtained from the poll is that nobody wants to make any favors for anyone else and that nobody really cares about each other. However, while they debate over doing a favor or not for just one day of the year, we endeavor to do favors and charity during the whole month of Ramadan in our country. We display consolidation. It is obvious that we must preserve this spiritual atmosphere and its values and carry them to the rest of the world. Russia's mufti, Ravil Gainutdin, is in Turkey now. He said that religious freedom, which was not given during the era of Czarism and communism, is given to Muslims today. He stated that for the first time Islam has the same rights as Judaism and Christianity. However, although Gainutdin says, "Mosques are full of Muslims performing teravih prayers, [special for Ramadan prayer following the Isha prayer, sunnah of the Prophet Mohammed]. Everybody competes to invite their Muslim brothers to iftar dinner. Friday prayers are not omitted. Big iftar dinners are organized outside for the first time this year," he also indicates that Islam phobia continues among the people. Carrying an Arabic printed book in your hand causes suspicion. Last Friday after the teravih prayer, a few Russian young men raided the mosque of a young imam with a PhD degree. They reportedly beat the congregation and the imam, who was taken to the hospital. It was reported that currently the imam does not have any sight ability. The attackers shouted "You won't be able to seize Russia with Islam." Why are these people against Islam? I think that the Russian church, state channels and media do not convey positive information about Muslims; on the contrary they form unreal images. For instance, the Iraq War is broadcasted as the war of violent Muslims killing each other.
There is no political dimension. The media makes provoking publications. The state still controls 85 percent of the media. The Orthodox Church does not use its will power, either. There is the mentality that has a historical approach based on just defeating a religion; therefore, the nation invests in the image of an intolerant Muslim. The result: people who do not want to do a favor.
The iftar dinner organized by the Turkish Foundation of Writers and Journalists on Sunday had the theme "Towards global peace". Peace and other values will evidently emerge from Anatolian territory. Especially since students coming from Cambodia, Senegal, Kenya, Bosnia, Russian Federation drew a wonderful picture side by side, hand in hand. The Nigerian student said "These schools will change Africa's misfortune." When a Kyrgyz student said they spoke in Turkish with other students from all over the world and became close friends, I forgot all insults, cruel judgments and rejections I had been subject to for having defended the schools. Looking at the hopeful faces of the youth from different races, I also thought of the things done to Fethullah Gülen who set up Turkey's biggest peace movement and platform. We, Anatolia-the owner of the culture of love, will overcome our misfortune and add more values to the world's values. The children of exploited countries and consumed with wars were speaking Turkish, the language of "peace and love". They were commemorating Yunus Emre: "Let's love and be loved". I watched my phrase "Muslim missionaries," which drew great reaction when I first wrote it, to be used as a familiar taste by other mouths.
The fact that Osman Baydemir appeared on stage with these children and gave messages of unity and peace means the following: The agreement of the differences that could not be achieved by any institution and political party in Turkey has been achieved by Gülen.
Many people in this country, including me as well, were blackened and slandered by the publications similar to those of the Russian media, and no comment was made. The world continues to turn today.
I listened to Mevlana Jalaladdin-i Rumi, who said, "Listen to the voice of your heart/ then you can see roses unfolding and greens growing inside you, and that remedied my loneliness.
ZAMAN
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