The Concepts Used in the Hizmet Movement

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====== Positive Action ======

  * “Our duty is to **act positively**. It is not a negative action. It is to perform the service of [[faith|faith]] solely according to Divine pleasure, without interfering with the Divine duty. In the positive service of [[faith|faith]], we are responsible for patience and gratitude in the face of every difficulty.”((Bediüzzaman Said Nursî, //Emirdağ Lâhikası//, İstanbul: Şahdamar Yayınları, 2010, p. 224.))

  * “Internal **action, in a positive way,** is to act with [[sincerity|purity of intention]] against spiritual destruction. External striving is different from internal striving. Now, millions of true students have been given to me by God Almighty. With all our strength, we will only **act positively** to preserve order internally. In this time, there is a great contrast between internal and external spiritual striving.”((Ibid., p. 225.))

  * “My brothers and sisters of the Hereafter; please, do not attack the mistakes of some misguided individuals by saying, ‘the lesser of the two evils.’ Always **act positively**. Negative action is not our duty.”((Ibid., p. 228.))

  * “We should always **act positively**. That is, we should act out of love for our own way, and not allow enmity towards or criticisms of other true ways to interfere in the fulfillment of our duties or to play a part in our thoughts and actions.”((Bediüzzaman Said Nursi, //The Gleams//, New Jersey: Tughra Books, 2013, p. 212.))

  * “A Tradition says: ‘Difference among my community is a mercy.’((Al-Munawi, Faydh al-Qadir, 1:210.)) Difference requires partisanship that, although a social disease, does relieve the oppressed masses from an oppressive elite that, if united, tends toward tyranny. If there are [political] parties, the oppressed may protect themselves by joining one. Also, do you agree that different opinions and ideas allow the truth to shine forth?
  * Answer: In such a context, difference is positive, meaning that it allows each side to promote and propagate its own argument, to improve and reform a competing view instead of destroying it. The Prophet rejects a negative difference, for it seeks to destroy another side because of partisan bias and hostility. Those who are at each other’s throats cannot **act positively** (toward each other).” ((Bediüzzaman Said Nursi, //The Letters//, New Jersey: The Light, 2014, p. 47.))

  * “**Positive action** is when a person lives with the love of their profession, believing that ‘My path and method of service are good,’ and never harbors enmity towards others in their heart.”((M. Fethullah Gülen, //Kendi İklimimiz (Prizma-5)//, İstanbul: Nil Yayınları, 2007, p. 218.))

  * “**Positive action** is not about imposing, resisting, or openly opposing, but rather working for the cause of the perspicuous religion of Islam without disturbing the other party; it means striving for the cause of [[faith|faith]] without making the world unlivable and without engaging in a struggle in the name of [[justice|justice]]. On the contrary, a movement that disturbs and provokes everyone and leads to unrest and revolt would trouble many.”((M. Fethullah Gülen, //Fasıldan Fasıla-3//, İstanbul: Nil Yayınları, 2011, p. 89.))

  * “... believers should consider the impact of language and speech and should always use the constructive and positive aspect of language, aligning themselves with healing and reconciliation rather than destructive, negative, and divisive aspects. In other words, they should first embrace **positive action** as a fundamental discipline and then strive to act accordingly.”((M. Fethullah Gülen, //Ümit Burcu (Kırık Testi-4)//, İstanbul: Nil Yayınları, 2011, p. 56.))

  * “Everyone displays their behavior in line with their character. Therefore, it is our duty to continue to act according to our character. Our path is the path of deepening faith and **positive action**.”((Ibid., p. 170.))

  * “... to avoid negative outcomes and complications, we should prioritize **positive action**, hold firmly to our values, focus on them, be their advocates, and, at the same time, use the language of the heart to express those values in the most beautiful way possible.”((M. Fethullah Gülen, //Yaşatma İdeali (Kırık Testi-11)//, İstanbul: Nil Yayınları, 2012, p. 93.))

  * “... on the path we tread, we should not be swayed by condemnations, always stand steadfast in our place, affirming that ‘This world is a world of endurance, not of resentment,’ and pursue **positive action** at all times, focusing solely on the tasks we will accomplish ourselves.”((M. Fethullah Gülen, //Buhranlı Günler ve Ümit Atlasımız (Kırık Testi-14)//, İstanbul: Nil Yayınları, 2015, p. 24.))

===== Other Languages =====

  * [[https://tr.hizmetpedia.org/doku.php?id=muspet_hareket|Türkçe]]

===== Footnotes =====