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Interfaith dialogue is a must today, and the first step in establishing it is forgetting the past, ignoring polemical arguments, and giving precedence to common points, which far outnumber polemical ones.

Fethullah Gulen

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Fethullah Gulen
Age: 83
Born: 1941
Born: April 27
Activist
Author
Philosopher
Preacher
Scientist
Social Activist
Writer
Hospitalet
Muhammed Fethullah Gülen
Forget
Forgetting
Common
Arguments
Past
Points
Polemical
Today
Dialogue
Outnumber
Firsts
Argument
Interfaith
First
Step
Precedence
Must
Ones
Establishing
Giving
Steps
Ignoring

More quotes by Fethullah Gulen

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The purpose of our creation is obvious: to reach our utmost goals of belief, knowledge, and spirituality to reflect on the universe, humanity, and God, and thus prove our value as human beings.
Fethullah Gulen
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Some people may regard my views well and show respect to me, and I hope they have not deceived themselves in doing so. Some people think that I am a leader of a movement.
Fethullah Gulen
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Tolerance is our safest refuge and our fortress against the handicaps that arise from schism, factions, and the difficulties inherent in reaching mutual agreement
Fethullah Gulen
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Lovers cannot imagine any opposition, no matter how small, to the beloved. They cannot endure to see the beloved veiled by something that causes Him to be forgotten. Moreover, lovers regard as futile any speech not about the beloved, and any act not related to Him as ingratitude and disloyalty.
Fethullah Gulen
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Muslims have never been and never can be so base as to expect any solutions to their problems through terror.
Fethullah Gulen
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I am not indifferent to the appreciation of kind people. [The voters were] extremely kind in naming me the world's top public intellectual, a title to which I can never see myself as entitled.
Fethullah Gulen
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Love is one of the most subtle blessings that the All-Merciful One has bestowed upon humanity.
Fethullah Gulen
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I cannot accept concepts such as Gülenism or Gülenist. I was only a writer and an official preacher among people. I can have no direct influence on any person or activity. It is inconceivable that I can exert pressure on anybody.
Fethullah Gulen
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A person is truly a human if he or she learns, and teaches, and inspires others. It is difficult to regard as truly human someone who is ignorant and has no desire to learn.
Fethullah Gulen
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Terrorism is one of the cardinal sins that the Koran threatens with hellfire.
Fethullah Gulen
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The Koran says that humanity has been created to recognize and worship God and, as a dimension of this worship, to improve the world in strict avoidance of corruption and bloodshed. It requires treating all things and beings with deep compassion. This is my philosophy, which obliges me to remain aloof from all worldly titles and ranks.
Fethullah Gulen
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I have repeatedly declared that it is impossible for a true Muslim to be a terrorist, nor can a terrorist be regarded as a true Muslim.
Fethullah Gulen
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Only those who overflow with love will build the happy and enlightened world of the future.
Fethullah Gulen
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Mature people never make difference of opinion a means of conflict.
Fethullah Gulen
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Islam as a religion focuses primarily on the immutable aspects of life and existence, whereas a political system concerns only social aspects of our worldly life.
Fethullah Gulen
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My only role in the opening of the schools has been to suggest and encourage opening them. But it is impossible for there to be a [central authority] controlling the schools. They are in more than 100 countries, and there must be many different companies that have opened and run them.
Fethullah Gulen
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One will never reach distant shores, if he chooses to remain upon the dock, In fear his little ship of dreams may be dashed against the rocks.
Fethullah Gulen
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Politics can be a factor neither in shaping Islam nor directing Muslims' acts and attitudes in Islam's name.
Fethullah Gulen
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Only a few people seem to realize that social harmony and peace with nature, between people, and within the individual only can come about when the material and spiritual realms are reconciled.
Fethullah Gulen