Hira Magazine – Turkish in the Language of the Qur'an

Hira has been bringing together Turkey and the Arab world for six years. Actually, it would be correct to describe it as a platform, rather than a magazine. However, it is not very popular in Turkey, where only 3,000 copies out of the 40,000 printed are sold.

The remaining 37,000 are distributed to intellectuals in the Arab world via subscriptions. The Arab world has been able to connect with Turkey through Hira magazine for the last five years. With a number of workshops in Arab countries, more than 25 symposia and other similar events, Hira magazine has attracted the attendance and participation of more than 2,500 Arab scholars and intellectuals. We spoke with the editor-in-chief of the magazine, Nevzat Savaş, who spends most of his time in the Arab world, before his departure for a meeting. Hira was launched in October 2005; however, it is fair to say that the foundations of the magazine were laid out well before this date. The magazine’s real story began in 2000, when the Darun Nil publishing house was founded to print Fethullah Gülen’s works in Arabic. In the same year, the publisher participated in a book fair in Egypt, where its stand attracted a great deal of attention. Savaş remembers, “In Egypt, people asked whether we were Muslims -- their perception of Turkey was just inaccurate.” READ MORE AT http://www.todayszaman.com/news-246994-hira-magazine-changes-perception-of-turkey-in-arab-world.html

MORE ABOUT HIRA  MAGAZINE VIEWS:
http://www.fethullahgulen.org/conference-papers/contributions-of-the-gulen-movement/2528-hira-magazine-turkish-in-the-language-of-the-quran.html

"Establishing a Culture of Coexistence and Mutual Understanding"

Despite widespread globalization in every aspect of life, we witness that local traditions, cultures, religions, and national values – all preserve their existence and maintain their respective qualities and nuances. The dilemma of globalization is that while many seek to value these differences, these differences are also manipulated as catalysts for violence, bloodshed, and social trauma around the world. These contradictory phenomena are undeniable and frame the central challenge of coexistence in an increasingly globalized and fragile world.
Today, we face many questions and challenges as to how we can coexist in peace with contemporary neighbors—neighbors who are now greater in number than before yet less familiar with our culture and beliefs. How can we transform our encounters with one another into enriching experiences, rather than as hateful gatherings? Is sincere understanding of the “other” ever possible? Can “dialogue” bring satisfaction or has it simply become a formality to bear? What sorts of methods can be implemented to achieve tangible results out of theoretical discussions and good wishes uttered all over? How will our generations respond to the rise of global dynamics vis-à-vis local identities and cultural riches? And how can education and cultural activities play a role in this response?

Considering the risks and challenges that accompany these questions, it is crucial to delve into the thought and actions of Fethullah Gülen, who has pioneered a global educational and cultural initiative—frequently referred to as Hizmet (serving humanity)—in the 21st century on a scale and nature not frequently encountered around the world. The conference titled “Establishing a Culture of Coexistence and Mutual Understanding” aims to explore Gülen’s ideas with the goal of contributing to a sense of understanding and respect between cultures and to work towards global peace. Nigeria sets an interesting stage for this conference not only because of its cultural and religious diversification, but also because volunteers, inspired by Fethullah Gülen’s ideas, have established quite a number of schools in this country during the past fifteen years. The conference will feature distinguished scholars and intellectuals from around the world.

Fethullah Gülen calls for ‘bridges of peace' in Eid al-Fitr remarks

Sezai Kalaycı
Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, currently residing in the US, has issued a call for peace and dialogue, warning that failure to address enmities through dialogue could lead to a large-scale devastation for humanity.

Gülen, speaking at a breakfast with members of the Turkish community visiting him on the first day of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr on Tuesday, said some people nurture hostilities towards other people because these people happen to be Christian, or Jewish or Muslim and underlined that such approaches will never bring peace or friendship to the humanity.

He said occasions such as Eid al-Fitr when hearts are filled with warmth should be used as an opportunity to improve dialogue, warning that the humanity would otherwise have to pay dearly. “At a time when … nuclear bombs are used against humanity ... if [dialogue] is not established at a world scale, if those who endeavor for peace in the Muslim world and the world in general do not address this problem, half of the humanity may die,” Gülen said.

He reminded the atomic bombs dropped on Japan at the end of the First World War and said there was the risk that cluster bombs used only recently against Palestinians could well be used somewhere else, against other people. “Unfortunately there are places where oppression still goes on,” he said.

“Bridges of peace should be built,” said Gülen, adding that occasions such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha could be used for such a purpose. “We need to show that we have no prejudice against anyone. We ought to respect all,” he said, emphasizing that this is an obligation under Islam and that this is what humanity needs.

The revered scholar also called on believers to constantly renew themselves. “Appreciating [the holy month of] Ramadan and the Eid al-Fitr depends to a certain extent on one's faith. And faith depends on whether or not one constantly renews himself or herself. If a person can renew himself or herself in regard to his or her faith and thoughts, then they can feel the freshness in everything.”

Published on Today's Zaman, 30 August 2011, Tuesday

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