1. First of all tell us, are Adnan Oktar and Harun Yahya two different persons, two different schools of thought? Why two names?
The purpose behind my use of the pen-name Harun Yahya is to express my respect for two holy prophets who strove against irreligion, to remember their names. As you know, the Prophet Harun [Aaron] (pbuh) was the assistant of the Prophet Moses (pbuh). The Prophet Yahya [John] (pbuh) was the assistant of the Prophet Jesus (pbuh). I assumed this pen-name as a prayer to be a feeble helpmate of our Prophet (saas).
2. You have been quite vocal on the subject of Islam and science. Is there really a clash between the two?
It is Allah Who creates religion and science. The idea that science and religion clash is a deception on the part of materialists and Darwinists. It is clear that Allah encourages science in many verses of the Qur'an. Allah commands us in many verses to research, inquire and investigate. For example, in verses 17-20 ofSurat Ghashiyya, "Have they not looked at the camel – how it was created? and at the sky – how it was raised up? and at the mountains – how they were embedded? and at the earth – how it was smoothed out?"
Allah commands all mankind to reflect on and research the things they see around them. One can see similar examples in many other verses.
Science is a means to be used to know the universe created by Allah and to grasp the secrets in His sublime Creation and matchless artistry. It has been revealed, as of the 20th century in particular, that there is a glorious harmony between the knowledge bestowed by science and the Holy Qur'an revealed by Almighty Allah to our Prophet (saas) 14 centuries ago. The information revealed by the Qur'an 14 centuries ago has been corroborated by modern-day technology. Science has completely refuted the theory of evolution, which denies the Creator and maintains that living things came into being by chance, and has proved the existence of Allah with millions of pieces of evidence. By using science and technology as His instruments, Allah has allowed mankind to acquire detailed knowledge of the cell and proteins, to learn about DNA and RNA and to see that these cannot come into being spontaneously. The great majority of people engaged in scientific research are well aware of the existence and greatness of Allah, having seen with their own eyes the flawless structure in all entities in the universe, the order in every part of the universe and the equilibrium between different entities. Allah refers to this in the verse, "… Only those of His servants with knowledge have fear of Allah." (Surah Fatir, 28)
3. How would you prove Darwinism wrong? Please give at least five points to back your claim.
There is no need to enter into a long discussion to disprove the theory of evolution. The impossibility of a single protein coming into being by chance is clear and absolute proof that evolution does not exist. Evolution has no answer to the question, "how did life come into being?" Evolutionists answer this question by saying that the first organism was a cell that emerged from inanimate matter by chance. According to the theory, at a time when the earth consisted of inanimate rocks, soil, gases and so on, a living organism formed by chance through the effects of wind, rain, and lightning. This evolutionary claim, however, is contrary to one of the most fundamental rules of biology: Life comes only from life, which means that inanimate matter cannot generate life. Chance is blind and unconscious and cannot hit the mark in any way whatsoever. Stone, earth and mud cannot combine together to form rational and conscious human beings that love, rejoice, research, make discoveries and found civilizations. They cannot produce even a single cell or a single protein, let alone a human being.
The fossil record is also enough to repudiate the theory of evolution all by itself. When we look at fossil remains dating back hundreds of millions of years we see that living things have never changed at all. To date some 350 million fossils have been discovered. It is quite apparent from comparing their present-day anatomical structures and appearances to those they had millions of years ago that living things have never altered. And this shows that living things never evolved. This is clear and absolute proof. There is no need for any other evidence. Because 350 million fossils mean 350 million pieces of evidence. Fossils clearly prove that living things never went through any transitional stages, that they have remained unchanged for tens of millions of years, in other words that evolution never happened. Darwin himself was aware that fossils refuted his theory. For example, he says, "First, why, if species have descended from other species by fine gradations, do we not everywhere see innumerable transitional forms? Why is not all nature in confusion, instead of the species being, as we see them, well defined?" You don't see any because there are none. They have been digging the earth up for 150 years, but not a single transitional fossil has ever been found. On the other hand, some 350 million fossils have been found, but these all, without exception, prove that evolution never happened. If Darwin and his followers cannot produce a single transitional fossil to show how evolution took place, then what they say is worthless.
4. You have said in an interview that Darwinism is the root cause of all the terror in the world. Kindly explain for the benefit of our readers.
Darwinism represents the ideological foundation for many ideologies responsible for bloodshed in the world, particularly fascism and communism. As you know, Darwin said that living things' evolutionary development supposedly depended on a struggle for survival in nature, that the strong would win that struggle and that the weak would be eliminated. To put it another way, he said that conflict was essential for progress. All the ideologies of those dictators who ruthlessly slaughtered innocent people, who imagined that problems could be resolved by violence and that conflict was inevitable were all based on Darwinist thinking. Hitler's obsession about the master race, Marx's error that "the history of humanity is the history of class struggles," Mao's regarding human beings supposedly as a kind of animal and inflicting terrible savagery on them, Mussolini's claim that "war alone brings up to its highest tension all human energy," Stalin's ghastly labor campsall emerged under the influence of Darwinism. Dictators who ruthless ordered their countries' troops and police to be killed, who commanded destruction and the infliction of terror, alarm and savagery on people and the killing of the innocent caused the deaths of hundreds of millions of people. Indeed, all those ideologies that have adopted Darwin's theory of evolution as their guide have despised human beings as supposedly just animals, have treated them in a manner befitting animals and have regarded themselves as perfectly justified in oppressing them. It is perverse ideas nourished by Darwinist conditioning that lie behind the continuing acts of terror all over the world today. To put it another way, Darwinism is the food of terror. The more people are fed this poison, the stronger terror becomes. But when that food is cut off, when the lies of Darwinism are scientifically exposed, then terror will come to an end.
5. You have often been quoted about a global conspiracy, or a world system, by freemasons. What is it and what are the main damages it has caused to world society at large?
Freemasonry is an organization dating back to very ancient times and that in fact emerged as a kind of religious sect. However, it gradually came under the influence of a materialist, evolutionist and irreligious mindset and came to play an influential role in the spread of irreligion and materialist in the world as a whole. Indeed, it even ensured that this ideology came to be espoused as official state policy in many countries.
In addition, there are still groups within freemasonry that believe in the One Allah and are opposed to irreligion. I think that in the End Times we are living in, religious masons will become stronger and that the role of freemasonry in the spread of irreligion will completely disappear. In the End Times, freemasonry will come under the supervision of the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) and Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) and will serve in the global dominion of Islamic moral values.
6. What in your view is the possible solution to the Israel-Palestine dispute?
The hadith of our Prophet (saas) describe in great detail how in the End Times, in the run-up to the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh), much Muslim blood will flow, there will be oppression everywhere, there will be corruption, Muslims will be leaderless and fragmented and how there will be strife and uncertainty. He even gave Palestine by name, saying that Arab blood would be spilled. These things are portents of the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh), and Allah is manifesting His name of Jabbar. He is compelling people to unite. Unity is obligatory for Muslims, it is Allah's command, and a sin not to unite. Allah is showing Muslims that the Islamic Union is the only way to salvation. Insha'Allah, this holy nation, the Turkish nation will carry this out and establish a Turkish-Islamic Union. Turkey is now the Palestinians' hope, and that of the Algerians, and of Afghanistan. Turkey is in any case the natural leader now.... Syria wants to unite with Turkey, and Iraq. And if Syria and Iraq want it, so will everyone else. Azerbaijan wants it, and Armenia wants to unite with Turkey. Georgia wants it, so what else needs to be done? It is a union that will also include Lithuania. It will be a union that includes Lithuania, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, East Turkestan and the entire Arabian peninsula and all of them. As far as Libya. A Turkish-Islamic Union will emerge that stretches as far as the coast and interior of Africa. Turkey has prior experience, experience from the Ottoman Empire. And this time round, the errors of the Ottomans will not be repeated. The perfect aspects of the Ottomans will be adopted, but not their errors or deficient aspects, and a perfect union will result. This also means salvation for America and China and Russia. It means salvation for Israel and for the whole world. Anyone wanting more information on this subject can make use of the www.turkishislamicunion.com web site.
7. Do you see the issue being settled in your lifetime?
This will definitely happen, of course, insha'Allah. This is the destiny ordained by Allah, and Muslims will attain happiness and well-being. Not only Muslims, but everyone will attain a climate of brotherhood, love and friendship, the like of which has never been seen before. There will be huge progress in science, art and technology and a glorious civilization will emerge. Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will cause an enormous softening in even the stoniest of hearts, a spirit of peace and brotherhood will reign everywhere in the world and people will attain peace, justice and security. By Allah's leave, Jerusalem will be under Islamic administration, but there will be a climate in which Jews and Christians can live at perfect ease and worship as they choose. Every day will be a festival in Palestinian lands, and everyone will be wealthy, safe and joyful.
8. Based on your studies, observation and claims, exactly how far off are the End Times?
We are now living in the End Times in all regards. We can see this from two perspectives. First, our Prophet (saas) has described the End Times to Muslims in hundreds of hadiths. He has given an astonishingly detailed description of the events that will take place, the physical appearance of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh), the kind of struggle he will wage and the climate that the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) will return to. All the portents listed by Rasulullah (saas) have taken place one after the other as of Hijri 1400. Just like our Prophet (saas) foretold, the waters of the Euphrates have been stopped, the Iran-Iraq War broke out, bloody attack occurred at the Kaaba, there have been lunar and solar eclipses at 15-day intervals during the month of Ramadan, Afghanistan has been invaded, all of Iraq has been occupied, Halley's comet has come by, a fire was seen from the East when the oil wells were set on fire during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, a corruption of darkness and smoke was seen when the Twin Towers in America were attacked on September 11, the rulers of Sham and Egypt were killed, Azerbaijan was invaded, the comet Lulin, which had two tails and flew in the opposite direction to all other comets, was seen and hundreds of other portents have all come about. These things are all proof we are in the age of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh).
Second, there is a calendar, a timing, regarding the life span of the world provided by our Prophet (saas). Absolutely reliable hadiths, hadiths in the works of such great scholars as as-Suyuti and Ibn Hanbal, say that the life span of the world is 7,000 years. There are 8 hadiths on that subject. Our Prophet (saas) says that 5,600 of those years have already passed. Great Islamic scholars such as as-Suyuti and Ahmad ibn Hanbal who issued statements in the light of the hadiths of our Prophet (saas) have said that the life span of the Community of Islam will not much exceed the 1500s according to the Hijri calendar, in other words, that it will end before Hijri 1600. A simple calculation on the basis of these important statements shows that of those 7,000 years of the life of this world, there remains just 100 years corresponding to the period between 1400 and 1500, Hijri style. Bediüzzaman Said Nursi also indicated in the light of the hadiths that the Day of Reckoning would come around Hijri 1545. Therefore, the return to Earth of the Prophet Jesus (pbuh), the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh), Islamic Union and the global dominion of Islam, all promised by Allah, will all come about in that century.
9. You have said in your interviews Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) has already come. Which country is he in? And how would you prove your claim?
According to the hadiths of our Prophet (saas) and statements by great Sunni scholars, he is currently in Istanbul. Indeed, our Prophet (saas) stated very clearly that Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) would emerge from Istanbul and work in Istanbul. One of the hadiths on the subject reads:
"HAZRAT MAHDI (pbuh) WILL NEVER LEAVE RUM, THE TURKS [because Turkey used to be known as region of Rum.]" (Narrated from Ish'afu'r-Ragibin by Tilsimlar, Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, p. 212)
Turkey used to be known as the Land of the Rum, as you know. Another:
Narrated by ibn Amr, who said: "… The Messenger of Allah (saas) said, 'Six things will happen to this community: … The sixth is the conquest of medina.' I asked, 'O Messenger of Allah, which medina?' He said, 'Constantinople [Istanbul].'"
[This is the spiritual conquest of Istanbul by Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh).] (Al-Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah li-ashrat al-sa'ah, p. 204; Ahmad Diya ad-Din al-Kamushkhanawi, Ramuz al-Ahadith 1/296)
We are also told that Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will also have the Sacred Relics with him. Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) may appear together with such relics as the standard, sword and shirt of our Prophet (saas) and, as we know, those relics are in Topkapı Museum in Istanbul.
10. You also said the Prophet Issa (Jesus) will come in about 20 years. What makes you so sure?
The Holy Qur'an contains explicit information regarding the return to earth of the Prophet Jesus (pbuh). It is an absolute fact that the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) never dies, that he rose in the Presence of Allah and will return to earth. Our prophet (saas) also provides detailed information in the hadiths to the effect that the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) will return to earth. As I said just before, we have now come to the end of the life of the world. In his statements based on the hadiths, Bediüzzaman also says that a grave degeneration will begin as of Hijri 1506. Sheikh Nazım al-Qubrusi also says we have come to the end of the life of this world, and that the time has now come. All the events we are awaiting will take place in the next 70 years. One of these holy events will be our seeing the Prophet Jesus (pbuh). As is clear from the hadiths, statements by Islamic scholars and from developments in the social sphere, the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) is now on earth and secretly active in world politics. By Allah's leave, all mankind will see the radiant visage of the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) in the next 10-20 years. People wanting more detailed information on the subject can visit the www.jesuswillreturn.com web site and access evidence proving that the return of the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) is absolutely definite.
11. What do you mean by Great Turkish Union? Please explain the concept in detail?
The Turkish-Islamic Union I refer to is not one based on any racial superiority. Our Prophet (saas) says there is no superiority of Arabs over Persians or Persians over Arabs. Allah also tells us that "superiority lies in takwa [fear of Allah, righteousness] alone." Allah will destroy anyone who sets out with the idea of racial superiority. What I refer to is a union under Turkish leadership. Turkey has the means to assume such a leadership and unify the whole Islamic world, with its historical experience and existing social and political conditions, and it has a duty to use those means.
Under the Turkish-Islamic Union, all states will maintain their existing structures, independence and political regimes. But they will be allies in the economy, trade, defense, security, science and technology. Turkey will be the leader of that union, but what it asks is to serve and suffer hardships as leader. It asks to serve the Islamic world.
The Turkish-Islamic Union will be one that ensures peace and security for people of all faiths and all nations, not just for the Islamic world. With the foundation of this union, love, brotherhood, friendship plenty and abundance will come to the whole world. The captivity of the Islamic world will come to an end and not even the hair on a Muslim's head will come to any harm. Terror will definitely come to an end, cultural conflicts will entirely disappear and all economic and social problems will be resolved. With the establishment of union, not a drop of blood will be spilled on earth and there will be peace, justice, beauty and security everywhere on earth. Everyone will be free to live by his own beliefs and nobody will be persecuted because of his beliefs. In other words, the Turkish-Islamic Union will be a union of love and hearts, not a bureaucratic and oppressive one.
12. Can this world be a place to live in peace? How and when?
Of course the world can be a place of peace. What is more, that is also close at hand, insha'Allah. That is Allah's promise to us. In verse 55 of Surat an-Nur, Allah promises that He will cause the moral values of Islam to rule the world and make it a place of security, so long as no equals are ascribed to Him and so long as people do good works. Our Prophet (saas) also reveals in detail in the hadiths that the world will become a delightful place in which peace, brotherhood and love dominate in the End Times in which we are living. May Allah grant us all long lives and may we all witness these things together, insha'Allah. May the hearts of all my Muslim brothers and sisters be happy and rejoice. Within 10 or 20 years Islamic moral values will rule the whole world. By Allah's leave, that cannot be prevented. The words of the Prophet (saas) have one by one come true, and are continuing to do so. Around 150 hadiths have come true. Our beloved Prophet (saas) is the Mukhbir-i sadiq, he who always tells the truth. He acted in the light of revelation. It is through Allah's revelation that he spoke all his words. And they have all come true. You will see that there will be great union and unity in Islam. Islam will for the first time rule the world with such majesty. I am here. Tell my brothers to cut this interview out and keep it. Insha'Allah, in the next 10-20 years we will all see that what I have said is true. Splendid time awaits, days of great joy and fervor, insha'Allah. May the hearts of all my Muslim brothers and sisters be happy and may they rejoice at living in this time.