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Questions and Answers
Below are the articles under the tag Questions and Answers.
Articles
How to Respond to Oppression
01 January 2021 | The Fountain | Issue 139 (Jan - Feb 2021)
Question: Oppression is everywhere and exists in almost every form. How should believers respond to oppression when they have to face it? Oppress...
The Weight of Our Assumptions About Others - 2
01 November 2020 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 138 (Nov - Dec 2020)
Question: While sayings of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, counsel against condemning believers to shame, despising them, and disclosing their...
The Weight of Our Assumptions About Others - 1
01 September 2020 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 137 (Sep - Oct 2020)
Question: While sayings of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, counsel against condemning believers to shame, despising them, and disclosing their...
“Peaceful Settlement is Better”
01 July 2020 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 136 (Jul - Aug 2020)
Question: “Peaceful settlement is better” (Nisa 4:128) reads a Qur’anic verse. What are the messages to be drawn from this verse? Answer: The bas...
The Coronavirus Changed How Ramadan Looks. But It Will Not Change Our Faith In God
01 May 2020 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 135 (May - Jun 2020)
Many yearly rituals of Ramadan will continue even as some change in deference to our social responsibility to respect God’s laws in the universe. ...
I Seek Refuge in You…
01 January 2020 | The Fountain | Issue 133 (Jan - Feb 2020)
Question: Among things Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, sought refuge from were “knowledge, hearts, prayers, and eyes” according to one specifi...
Being Preoccupied with the Truth
01 November 2019 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 132 (Nov - Dec 2019)
Question: “Those who are not preoccupied with elevated goals will be consumed by lowly troubles.” What needs to be understood from this statement? ...
Real Freedom
21 October 2019 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 131 (Sep - Oct 2019)
Question: “There is no greater title and position than servanthood to God. Even if there is, it must be freedom, which is actually another dimensio...
Having Bad Opinion of Others: A Disease to Topple a Person
01 July 2019 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 130 (July - Aug 2019)
Question: Is having bad opinion of others actually self-inflicting? Answer: “When you hear a man say, ‘The people are ruined,’ he himself is the ...
Staying behind for Profound Knowledge
01 May 2019 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 129 (May - Jun 2019)
Question: What are the lessons today’s believers should draw from the following Divine message: “Believers should not go forth to war all together....
Hunt for Divine Manifestation
26 March 2019 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 127 (Jan - Feb 2019)
Divine manifestation (tajalli) is the attainment of inner light as a result of special Divine gifts. This is experienced by travelers on the way of...
Boasting of One’s Rank, Reviling Others’ Genealogies
01 March 2019 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 128 (Mar - Apr 2019)
Question: Among the characteristics of “ignorance” that his followers would not completely abandon, the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, mentio...
The Powerful Elite and the Challenge of Truth
07 January 2019 | The Fountain | Issue 126 (Nov - Dec 2018)
Question: Why are the elite having difficulty in accepting truths? Answer: In every period of history, as well as today, there exists an oligarchi...
Repairing the Stronghold of Faith
16 October 2018 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 125 (Sep - Oct 2018)
Question: Bediuzzaman says that the stronghold of faith has been damaged for years. What needs to be done to restore this stronghold? Answer: Rest...
The Four Most Difficult Virtues
16 September 2018 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 124 (July - Aug 2018)
Question: Why are forgiveness, generosity, chastity, and speaking up for truth said to be the four virtues very difficult to accomplish? The follo...
Our understanding of servanthood to God
08 July 2018 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 123 (May - June 2018)
Question: In his work, Gulistan, Sheikh Sadi states: “Be soil, so that you grow roses; nothing other than soil can grow roses.” What meanings does ...
“If Only…”
25 April 2018 | The Fountain | Issue 122 (March - April 2018)
Question: Is it possible to live a life without regrets? What needs to be done to live a life free from pangs of conscience? Answer: If believers ...
Q&A: How to be effective while “enjoining the good”
01 January 2018 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 121 (January - February 2018)
Question: What points should we consider to avoid doing more harm than good while carrying out the duty of “enjoining the good and forbidding the e...
System Blindness and the Lifespan of a Society
01 November 2017 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 120 (November - December 2017)
Question: It usually is inevitable to lose motivation in good works, which, like other things, may become ordinary and monotonous in time. Is this ...
Sincerity
01 September 2017 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 119 (September - October 2017)
“Always intend to earn God’s good pleasure when performing your deeds, for God accepts deeds that are done purely for Himself.”[1] Question: How c...
Taqwa
01 July 2017 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 118 (July - August 2017)
Question: What does taqwa mean and what needs to be done to achieve it? Taqwa is having the due high regard for God Almighty. And those who adopt ...
Love and Obedience
01 May 2017 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 117 (May - June 2017)
Question: “Love should be learned from Satan and obedience from Adam.” What does this statement, which is originally attributed to Hallaj al-Mansur...
A Spirited and Active Life of Service
01 March 2017 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 116 (March - April 2017)
Question: What are the essentials to remain constantly spirited and active, both in our individual and social lives? Answer: Stagnancy or complace...
To Reach "The Emerald Hills of The Heart"
01 January 2017 | The Fountain | Issue 115 (January-February 2017)
Question: What are the pathways to better experience and benefit from journeying into the horizons of our spirituality, which is also called &ldq...
Consultation and Submission
01 November 2016 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 114 (November - December 2016)
Question: When a consultation committee makes a decision but the decision seems to contradict some of the participants’ minds and opinions, then wh...
Service in the Face of Obstructions
01 September 2016 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 113 (September - October 2016)
Question: People trying to serve humanity through education, dialogue, and charity are usually facing challenges, antagonism, and defamation from o...
“Reading” the Meaning of Events and Human Actions
01 July 2016 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 112 (July - August 2016)
Question: How are the troubles one is facing related with his or her actions? Answer: When a believer experiences some fiascos on the path he walk...
Hubris or Becoming Tyrannical
01 May 2016 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 111 (May - June 2016)
Question: It is sometimes the case that people who are responsible for a certain area or who govern a certain place, after a period of time, begin ...
Wings of Humbleness
01 March 2016 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 110 (March - April 2016)
Question: How is it possible to reach a balance between pursuing high achievements and seek perfection on one hand and to be self-critical and rema...
How can one reach his or her spiritual potential?
01 January 2016 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 109 (January -February 2016)
First, it is important to practice concentrated contemplation, which should be directed both into one’s inner self and to the wider existence of th...
What Needs to Be Overcome for People of Will
01 November 2015 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 108 (November - December 2015)
Question: The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said, "The things I fear most for my community are: large stomachs, excessive sleep, idleness, a...
The Attributes of Virtuous People
01 September 2015 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 107 (September - October 2015)
How can one make virtue his or her nature? To be able to lead a virtuous life, especially one that is extremely careful about moral values and wor...
Islam and Reactionary Movements
01 July 2015 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 106 (July - August 2015)
QUESTION: There are reactionary movements in different parts of the world. These are waged against established systems, and their perpetrators argu...
Realizing Ideals
01 May 2015 | The Fountain | Issue 105 (May - June 2015)
Question: In a society where disorder is rampant and a war of values is taking place, how can balance be established between reality and ideals? Wh...
Defraud and Corruption
01 March 2015 | The Fountain | Issue 104 (March - April 2015)
Defraud is not just the act of usurping financial or material means that aren’t yours. Spiritual defraud exists, and it is also a major sin. B...
Divinely Granted Favors
01 January 2015 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 103 (January - February 2015)
Question: What is meant by the phrase "divinely granted favors"? What are their different dimensions? Divine favors that are granted out of God's ...
The Islamic world and cultural revival
01 November 2014 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 102 (November - December 2014)
Question: The Islamic world has been in a period of stagnation for a long time regarding scientific development and cultural life. What are your th...
Faith, Wisdom, and Power
01 September 2014 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 101 (September - October 2014)
Question: What roles do faith, wisdom, and power play in the survival of a society? Faith, especially in the form of religion, refers to a heavenl...
Return of Grace
01 July 2014 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 100 (July - August 2014)
Question: The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was an epitome of generosity, full of grace for others. Could you further expound on the contrib...
Constructive Criticism
01 May 2014 | The Fountain | Issue 99 (May - June 2014)
Question: When it comes to administrative and political issues, severe criticism is viewed as the major form of engagement. Are there any other mea...
Financial and Physical Ways of Worship
01 March 2014 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 98 (March - April 2014)
Question: What would you say about financial forms of worship? Are there any conditions and guidelines for well-off believers regarding donations a...
Willpower and Being Tested With It
01 January 2014 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 97 (January - February 2014)
Question: What is the willpower and how are we being tested with it?" Willpower is considered as one of the four basic elements of what we call th...
How To Respond To Hostile Attitudes
01 November 2013 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 96 (November - December 2013)
Question: How should we respond to hostile attitudes towards believers? Whatever the conditions may be, a believer should not go out of the frame...
Mechanisms of Soul and Conscience
01 September 2013 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 95 (September - October 2013)
Question: What could be said about comprehending the essential natures of the soul and the conscience, which play a dramatic role in the rise and f...
The Worst of all Tribulations
01 July 2013 | The Fountain | Issue 94 (July - August 2013)
Question: It is reported that the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said, “Those afflicted with the severest trials and tribulations are the Pr...
Historical Recurrences
01 May 2013 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 93 (May - June 2013)
Question: Taking into account the notion that history repeats itself, how should we view recent incidents and events that are taking place in our w...
How To Avoid Claiming Divine Favors Upon One Self
01 March 2013 | The Fountain | Issue 92 (March - April 2013)
Question: There are positive developments around the world in the direction of a revival of ethical and spiritual values. How should believers posi...
The Nature Of The Self
01 January 2013 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 91 (January - February 2013)
The ego1 is basically what we call the essence of human nature with qualities that are prone for goodness and evil. God Almighty has placed both go...
Seeking Forgiveness in the Service of God
01 November 2012 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 90 (November - December 2012)
Question: Why is seeking forgiveness needed even right after a good work in the service of God? It is very likely for us human beings to lapse or...
Modesty and Effacement
01 September 2012 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 89 (September - October 2012)
Question: A person who is busy with philanthropy and good services bears the risk of developing self-pride and fall into some personal expectations...
Action in the Service of God and Community
01 July 2012 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 88 (July - August 2012)
Question: What is the secret of being a person of constant action in the service of God in accordance with the conditions of today? What are the po...
The Means of Detecting Potential Errors and Sins
01 May 2012 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 87 (May - June 2012)
Question: If a person's self recognition of errors or sins is the first step to the path of perfection, how do you advise us to actually detect the...
Our Sole Duty Is to Communicate the Truth
01 March 2012 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 86 (March - April 2012)
Question: Given that God may cause us to act as a means for guidance of people to truth, will we be held responsible because of failure to convey t...
The Prophet Muhammad's Illiteracy
01 January 2012 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 85 (January - February 2012)
Question: Was the Prophet illiterate throughout his life? Or did he-the one for whom veils were lifted with the verse "Read!", and thus who could r...
Two Assurances and Two Fears
01 November 2011 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 84 (November - December 2011)
Question: It is narrated in a Prophetic saying that God said the following: "I will not give my servant two fears or two assurances at the same tim...
Divine Support and Ensuring Its Continuation
01 September 2011 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 83 (September - October 2011)
Question: God Almighty has graced us with a great deal of possibilities to serve humanity. What would you recommend so that this holy grace and ben...
Using Abilities On The Path Of God
01 July 2011 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 82 (July - August 2011)
Question: How can we make use of the abilities God has given us in the service of faith? Do we fulfill our responsibility with financial assistance...
Tying Altruistic Work to Personalities
01 May 2011 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 81 (May - June 2011)
Question: What would you say about tying some altruistic work to certain individuals? The place of some individuals in altruistic work cannot be d...
Reproaching Our Fellow-travelers
01 March 2011 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 80 (March - April 2011)
Question: Different groups or individuals who do good work in their own way are sometimes critical of others for using different methods. What woul...
Vacations
01 January 2011 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 79 (January - February 2011)
Question: How should we make use of our vacations to dispel fatigue and boredom arising from our regular occupations? Even if work done is for th...
The Meaning of Wisdom
01 November 2010 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 78 (November - December 2010)
Question: “He grants Wisdom to whomever He wills, and whoever is granted Wisdom, had indeed been granted much good. Yet none except people of disce...
Time Management
01 September 2010 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 77 (September - October 2010)
Question: How should a person spend one day, one week, one month, and one year in order to perform services in the path of God? Management of time...
Method of Contemplation
01 July 2010 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 76 (July - August 2010)
Question: There is a saying of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, to the effect: “One hour of contemplation is better than one year of supere...
Delusion of Immortality
01 May 2010 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 75 (May - June 2010)
Question: How can the delusion of immortality be overcome? The phrase “delusion of immortality” means people think they are eternal and immortal. ...
Measure of Selflessness
01 March 2010 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 74 (March - April 2010)
Question: Do acts of selflessness conflict with reason? What is the measure of agreement we should seek between the two? Selflessness is when one ...
Faults in Belief and Fellowship
01 January 2010 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 73 (January - February 2010)
Question: Feelings of fellowship between people can be damaged because of some unexpected behavior, and thus good will towards one another can easi...
Desire To Retreat
01 November 2009 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 72 (November - December 2009)
This transient material world attracts us greatly with the kind of life it imposes upon us, the many opportunities it presents, and its overwhelmin...
Who are the people the Qur'anic verses 2:18 and 2:171 refer to?
01 September 2009 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 71 (September - October 2009)
Q: Who are the people the Qur’anic verses 2:18 and 2:171 refer to? A: “They are utterly deaf, dumb, and blind; they can no longer recover.” (Al...
Self-Confidence
01 July 2009 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 70 (July - August 2009)
Question: What is the believers' version of the concept of self-confidence or self-esteem? Can we strike a balance between being an ordinary person...
Because of me
01 May 2009 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 69 (May - June 2009)
Question: What are the matters that believers should always keep in mind with regard to the fact that both individual and collective misfortunes an...
How do we distinguish between the desire to emulate and envy?
01 March 2009 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 68 (March - April 2009)
How do we distinguish between the desire to emulate and envy? What are your thoughts regarding the charities and alms given away openly by some l...
Victory of the Spirit
01 January 2009 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 67 (January - February 2009)
Q: What is the meaning of “victory” for a believer, and how is it realized? Human life in this world is a composite of two distinct powers, the sp...
"You alone do we worship..." (Fatiha 1:5)
01 November 2008 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 66 (November - December 2008)
O Lord! I am determined that I will not sacrifice my freedom to anyone but You and I will not fall in humiliation before anyone or anything. I turn...
What does "insaf" mean? What are the signs of possessing it as a virtue?
01 September 2008 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 65 (September - October 2008)
Insaf means accepting and confessing the truth, treating everyone with mercy and justice, observing others’ rights besides one’s own, behaving not ...
We should think well of others
01 July 2008 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 64 (July - August 2008)
People’s way of thinking shapes their behavior. The way they are is parallel to how they think, and is connected to their potential. While a person...
Women Confined and Mistreated
01 May 2008 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 63 (May - June 2008)
Question: Some people claim that in Muslim societies, women are confined to their home and they are oppressed. Is there any truth in this claim? Wh...
Human Rights and Islam
01 March 2008 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 62 (March - April 2008)
Question: What is the Islamic stance on human rights? How does Islam regard the killing of a person? Islam is a universal religion, and the signif...
The Relationship between Our Prayers and Deeds
01 January 2008 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 61 (January - February 2008)
What are the ways of internalizing good ethical conduct and high virtues so as to make them a part of our nature? Virtues such as sincerity (ikhla...
The Month of Ramadan and Discipline
01 October 2007 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 60 (October - December 2007)
Question: What benefits can the month of Ramadan provide for us to become disciplined people? What good habits should we develop during this month?...
Questions and Answers
01 July 2007 | The Fountain | Issue 59 (July - September 2007)
Question: Materialism, upon which Marxism is based, alleges that the idea of God was derived from the ignorance of ancient men and suggested that t...
What is the ideal attitude expected from a believer before divine favors?
01 April 2007 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 58 (April - June 2007)
What is the ideal attitude expected from a believer before divine favors? A believer takes all the divine blessings he or she is honored with as ...
Questions and Answers
01 January 2007 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 57 (January - March 2007)
We know that Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, possessed contrasting merits like courage and compassion. Could you please tell us ...
What does Islam say about killing an innocent person?
01 October 2006 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 56 (October - December 2006)
God Almighty declares that killing an innocent person unjustly is like killing all of mankind and saving a person’s life is like saving all of mank...
What is the Islamic view on the Messiah and the anticipation the Mahdi near the end of time?
01 July 2006 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 55 (July - September 2006)
Messiah is a name or attribute of Jesus, peace be upon him. Messiah means “blessed” in Hebrew, thus this name might have been used for him in admir...
As God already gives His blessings and peace to the Prophet Muhammad...
01 April 2006 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 54 (April - June 2006)
As God already gives His blessings and peace to the Prophet Muhammad, what is the wisdom in our invoking God’s blessings and peace upon him? Does h...
What should be the understanding of Mujaddin our time?
01 January 2006 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 53 (January - March 2006)
Q: What should be the understanding of “Mujaddid” in our time? Does it refer to a single individual only, or does it rather signify a collective pe...
What are the greatest dangers and pitfalls that a believer faces, and what precautions can be taken?
01 October 2005 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 52 (October - December 2005)
Humanity is being tested in this world. Life itself, from the beginning until the end, is full of tests that are different in shape and level of di...
Three Groups Opposing Dialogue: How are those who are hostile to dialogue activities today relevant to and Kharijites, Karmatis, Anarchists?
01 July 2005 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 51 (July - September 2005)
Karmatism is a heretical esoteric sect founded by Hamdan ibn Karmat in the ninth century AD. Hamdan took advantage of the poverty of people and was...
How should we establish balance with respect to the spiritual and worldly dimensions of our life?
01 April 2005 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 50 (April - June 2005)
Balance holds a very significant place in every phase of life. Balanced action is necessary over the spectrum which covers the essentials of belief...
What are Information Sources in Religon?
01 January 2005 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 49 (January - March 2005)
Much has been said on the issue of information sources. Some of the people who have commented on this issue have sometimes been restricted by their...
Is There an Islamic Code of Conduct Concerning Way of Dressing
01 October 2004 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 48 (October - December 2004)
There are no formal rules in Islam concerned with the way one wears one’s hair, the style of clothing or anything else related to external appearan...
What is Sufism?
01 July 2004 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 47 (July - September 2004)
Q: What is Sufism? A: Sufism is a path followed by Sufis (adherents of Islamic mysticism) to reach the Truth-God. While the term Sufism usually ex...
What is the purpose of death?
01 April 2004 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 46 (April - June 2004)
Although we are confined in this impermanent material world, every one of us has an inborn feeling and yearning for eternity. Our desire for the et...
How should we react to the evil thoughts and desires?
01 January 2004 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 45 (January - March 2004)
Q: How should we react to the evil thoughts and desires whispered by Satan? A: Involuntary evil thoughts, fancies, or associations of ideas usuall...
What would you say about the equality of men and women?
01 October 2003 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 44 (October - December 2003)
Q: In recent years a lot of things have been said concerning the equality of men and women. What can we say about the subject from an Islamic point...
Why are there differences between Muslims?
01 July 2003 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 43 (July - September 2003)
Q: You say that Islam is a religion of unity, but we see differences - sometimes major differences - even among the Companions. Why is this so? A:...
How does the Qur'an regard "knowledge"?
01 April 2003 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 42 (April - June 2003)
Q:What are the differences between the Islamic and the modern scientific points of view on knowledge (ilm)? How does the Qur'an regard knowledge? ...
What does the Qur'an say about science?
01 January 2003 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 41 (January - March 2003)
Q: What does the Qur'an say about science? A: The Qur'an was revealed to make us aware of the Creator, affirm that He is known through His creatio...
Why does God tell Muslims to fast?
01 October 2002 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 40 (October - December 2002)
Q: Why does God tell Muslims to fast? A: The sparrow hawk's swooping contributes to the sparrow's alertness and evolving skills of escape. Althoug...
Why did Prophet Muhammad practice polygamy?
01 July 2002 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 39 (July - September 2002)
Q: In this time of sexual permissiveness and sexual scandals within certain religious and social circles, some people are claiming that polygamy is...
What are your ideas about women's rights?
01 April 2002 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 38 (April - June 2002)
Q: What are your ideas about women's rights? A: This is a very comprehensive subject. From one perspective it's open to debate. It's very difficul...
What does the Qur'an say about Jihad and how did the Prophet implement it?
01 January 2002 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 37 (January - March 2002)
Q: In light of recent events, the media is constantly talking about jihad. However, sometimes they do not define this term. Can you please tell us ...
Questions and Answers
01 October 2001 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 36 (October - December 2001)
Question: Will religion, supposedly developed by “primitive” people to explain the unknown, eventually become unnecessary? Answer: Those who answe...
Why is atheism so widespread?
01 July 2001 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 35 (July - September 2001)
Q: Why is atheism so widespread? A: Atheism means denying God's existence, rejecting His commandments, avoiding religious reflection and seriousne...
Question and Answer
01 April 2001 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 34 (April - June 2001)
Question: How should we, especially those of us who are young, interact with the world? Answer: Today's social environment is overrun with temptat...
What is the spirit, and how does it affect us?
01 January 2001 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 33 (January - March 2001)
Q: What is the spirit, and how does it affect us? A: There are many worlds, among them those of plants, animals, people, and jinn. Our visible, ma...
Why should I believe in the Resurrection and the Afterlife?
01 October 2000 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 32 (October - December 2000)
Q: Why should I believe in the Resurrection and the Afterlife? A: After belief in God, this is the main way to secure a peaceful social order. If...
Why do we need to worship God?
01 July 2000 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 31 (July - September 2000)
Question: What is the point of worship, and why does it have to be done in a certain way? Answer: Consider our position in this universe. We are n...
What does guidance mean, and how can one guide someone else?
01 April 2000 | Hikmet Isik | Issue 30 (April - June 2000)
Q: What does guidance mean, and how can one guide someone else? A: Guidance is a light that God kindles in those people who use their free will in...
Questions And Answers
01 January 2000 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 29 (January - March 2000)
Question: God has bestowed upon some people material wealth and comfort, status and prestige, and upon others poverty, misery, and affliction. Does...
How can we avoid sins, and how can we show sincere repentance?
01 October 1999 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 28 (October - December 1999)
It is very important for our spiritual and emotional life to pay special attention to repentance, the greatest shelter against sins, in the followi...
Questions And Answers
01 July 1999 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 27 (July - September 1999)
Question The Prophet says that at the sixth week of the embryo's development in the mother's womb, God sends an angel who writes whether the pers...
Destiny and Man's Free Will
01 January 1999 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 25 (January - March 1999)
The arguments for the existence of man’s free will Before passing on the arguments for the existence of man’s free will, we should point out: Mos...
Divine Decree and Destiny From Different Viewpoints
01 October 1998 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 24 (October - December 1998)
Divine Decree and Destiny in relation to Divine Knowledge As was pointed out earlier (in previous issues), God is beyond all comparison and whatev...
What Is The Meaning of Divine Decree and Destiny and Why is Belief in Destiny Included in the Essentials of Faith?
01 July 1998 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 23 (July - September 1998)
The original Arabic word translated as 'destiny' is 'Qadar', meaning, in its derivations, determination, giving a certain measure and shape, dividi...
Satan and the whispering of Satan (Involuntary thoughts occurring to man)
01 April 1998 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 22 (April - June 1998)
What Satan is and why he was created? Satan was, like the jinn with whom he mostly kept company, was also created from ‘fire’. Before he was put t...
Questions for Today
01 January 1998 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 21 (January - March 1998)
Contact with Jinn and the Reality of Sorcery or Magic Some people have an innate ability to go into trance and make contact with beings from the i...
What kind of beings are jinn and can they appear in different forms in the visible, material world?
01 October 1997 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 20 (October - December 1997)
The nature of jinn Jinn are conscious beings charged with Divine obligations. The word jinn literally means something hidden or veiled from sight...
Questions for Today
01 July 1997 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 19 (July - September 1997)
What is death and what does the spirit do after death? Man has an inborn feeling for eternity. Confined within this transient, material world, he ...
Arguments for The Existence and Unity of God
01 April 1997 | Bediuzzaman Said Nursi | Issue 18 (April - June 1997)
First argument Every thing, every being in existence displays God’s Unity as a most manifest truth. For example, of the innumerable arguments for ...
Questions for Today
01 April 1997 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 18 (April - June 1997)
WHAT CAN WE SAY ABOUT THE TRUTH OF DREAMS? While you are in sleep, with your eyes closed, your ear deaf, your tongue mute and your arms and legs m...
Is there any truth in supranormal phenomena such as spiritualism and telepathy?
01 January 1997 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 17 (January - March 1997)
The spirit does not belong to this visible world. It issues from the world of unconditioned existence where Divine commands are carried out instant...
How Can We Argue For The Existence Of The Spirit And Can We Know of It ?
01 October 1996 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 16 (October - December 1996)
The spirit and its Identity 1. Although sciences are not yet ready to accept it, there are, besides the subdivisions in a world - like the worlds ...
What Are The Characteristics of Angels, Jinn and Satans or Devils ?
01 July 1996 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 15 (July - September 1996)
The characteristics of angels As was explained before, angels are created from light. The ‘Arabic word’ for angel is ‘malak’. According to the roo...
How Can We Argue, In General Terms, For The Existence Of Invisible Beings?
01 April 1996 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 14 (April - June 1996)
Since man’s sensory powers are limited, it is not wise to deny outright the existence of realms beyond our senses. Also, we know very little with r...
Questions for Today
01 January 1996 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 13 (January - March 1996)
How can we answer those who attribute the origin of existence to nature or the laws of nature or to matter or to chance or necessity? False argume...
What are the arguments for the existence of God?
01 October 1995 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 12 (October - December 1995)
The existence of God is too evident to need any arguments. Some saintly scholars have even stated that God Himself is more manifest than any other ...
What is the meaning of 'mannerliness' in the terminology of sufism?
01 July 1995 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 11 (July - September 1995)
Its meaning covers being sensible and reasonable, well- behaved, well-mannered, treating people kindly. Mannerliness is used in the terminology of ...
Questions For Today
04 January 1995 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 10 (April - June 1995)
The Qur'an was revealed in stages over a period of 23 years, and not as a complete book in one single act of revelation. There is wisdom and a numb...
Questions For Today
01 January 1995 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 9 (January - March 1995)
Were the times of death of those who die in a disaster destined to be simultaneous? The appointed time of death is the end of the predetermined li...
Questions For Today
10 January 1994 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 8 (October - December 1994)
Animals live on plants, and human beings on both animals and plants. It seems that life in the universe depends on death, why? Death is the founda...
Questions for Today
07 January 1994 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 7 (July - September 1994)
Is the Qur’an, as some people say, the work of the Prophet Muhammad? If not, how can it be proved that it is not? Much has been said and written i...
How is that Islam, a religon inspired by Allah for the good of humanity, allows slavery?
01 January 1994 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 5 (January - March 1994)
There are historical, social and psychological dimensions to this question, which we must work through patiently, if we are to arrive at a satisfac...
What will become in the Hereafter of those who were born and live non-Islamic countries?
10 January 1993 | M.f. Sahin | Issue 4 (October - December 1993)
Those who put this question imply: ‘Since we believe in God and His Prophet, we will go to paradise. But those who were born and live in non-Islami...
Questions for Today - Prophethood
07 January 1993 | M. A. Sahin | Issue 3 (July - September 1993)
What is it? What does it mean for people? Did all the prophets appear in the Arabian Peninsula? Were there any people among whom a prophet was n...
The reasons behind the several marriages of the Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace
04 January 1993 | M. F. Sahin | Issue 2 (April - June 1993)
Some critics of Islam, either because they are not aware of the facts about the marriages of the Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace, or because th...
God, His Essence And Attributes
01 January 1993 | M. F. Sahin | Issue 1 (January - March 1993)
God is absolutely other than His creation. The Creator cannot by any means be the same kind of being as that which He created. Although this is sel...
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Published bimonthly and distributed throughout the world, The Fountain covers themes on life, belief, knowledge, and universe.
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