“Come out of the circle of time
And into the circle of love.”
Rumi
My community leadership is formed throughout my adult life among the people I grew up with. As a person inspired by Fethullah Gulen and the Hizmet (meaning, in Turkish, “service”) Movement, I feel that I am making a difference by trying to alleviate one of the “social ills of the world” emphasized by Gulen, disunity, through interfaith dialogue and intercultural understanding activities.
In Gulen`s teachings, “gaining the approval of God” without expecting anything in return from people is a central tenet. In Islamic literature, this is known as the concept of “Ikhlas” or the pure love for God and sincerity. In Gulen`s understanding of Islam even reaching heaven is not a motivating factor and the acquisition of worldly gains does not exist. Being brought up with these teachings in my adult life, expressing religion is not only defined by the five pillars of Islam but also by service to the community and the humanity.
I have come across people who questioned my faith for the volunteer efforts I tried to serve others from other religions or those with no religious affiliations. I often responded to them with two quotes from Gulen. The first one is “accept everyone for who they are“, which underlines the importance of listening and understanding each other more than imposing and ordering our point of view.
The other one is “have a chair for everyone in your heart“, which makes us more embracing of each other to become compassionate people. Some of these critical concepts are hard to put in a strictly religious context for some people since these are also universal and human values. I have constantly reminded these people that we always need to have our doors open to everyone, who may be either neighbors or strangers. Because in Rumi`s understanding, there is only room for “friends” and “potential friends” in one`s heart.
Speaking of new friends, the Center for Faith, Identity, and Globalization is looking forward to accepting applications for the #Research #Associate position for the Fall until August 19, 2022. Join us for an experience that will be a helpful asset to your career prospects while you prepare a semi-academic publication on spirituality, interfaith engagement, religious freedom, religious nationalism, conflict resolution, and globalization.
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