October 2, 2012

Fethullah Gulen on "Political Islam"

Q: In a time when political Islam has become very popular, what are your thoughts on the relationship between Islam and politics?

Fethullah Gulen: In my opinion, people have either gone too far or not far enough with regards to understanding the relationship between Islam and politics. Some have said that the religion of Islam has no relationship with politics; others have perceived the religion as politics itself, ignoring the varied and rich aspects of religion. In the Holy Qur’an, there are verses concerning administration and politics. The Prophet’s practices also occupy an important place in this regard. For example, the Qur’anic terms “ulu al-amr” (those who rule), “ita’at” (obedience to the rulers), “shura” (consultation), “harb” (war), and “sulh” (peace), are all examples of some Qur’anic references with regard to political and legal decisions. In addition, there are Qur’anic verses related to legal institutions and also some which point to politics and governing.