Vice President Yılmaz: “We believe that we need to take steps together that will lead to hope, liberation, and peace, especially for the oppressed, starting with the Muslims in Gaza.”

Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz stated, “We believe that we must take steps together that will be a means of hope, salvation, and peace for the oppressed, especially for the Muslims of Gaza.”

Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz attended the conference titled “How to Think Islamically? ‘Tefkir and Tefekkür'” held at Gazi University. In his speech, which he began by conveying the greetings of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Yılmaz thanked the Islamic Thought Institute for organizing the event and former President of the Religious Affairs Mehmet Görmez. Stating that the Almighty holds scholars responsible for understanding, explaining, and living the religion, Yılmaz said, “The dominance of the truths of Islam is only possible through your efforts. Overcoming the intellectual crisis in the Islamic world; extinguishing the flames of discord that weaken the Islamic community, such as racism, ethnocentrism, sectarianism, and division, can only be achieved with the efforts of our scholars. The truth that the events we experience teach us is that there will be no mercy without unity. Our Lord declares that ‘Believers are brothers’ without making distinctions of color, language, borders, or ethnicity. There are wisdoms in the Prophet Muhammad’s comparison of believers to interlocking bricks. Therefore, I see every opportunity that increases our connection, brings us together, and strengthens our brotherhood as very important. The more we advance our solidarity, the more effectively we can use our strength,” he said.

Yılmaz expressed, “If we stand as one voice, one heart, and one wrist against the attacks on our faith and sacred values, especially Islamophobia, racism, and xenophobia that we see in various regions of the world, we can achieve the results we desire more quickly.” He also stated, “I want to condemn the provocative actions we have witnessed, especially in countries that label themselves as democratic, against our holy book and our prophet. The justification of these actions directed against our Prophet and our sacred values under the guise of ‘freedom of expression’ is unacceptable in any way. I want to express that we need the intellectual heritage of scholars like Abdurrahman, who combines a commitment to the deep traditions of Islamic thought with the flexibility to respond to the challenges of the modern age.”

Emphasizing that Taha Abdurrahman’s works provide a hopeful perspective for the future of the Islamic world, Yılmaz stated, “His thoughts should be understood and evaluated not only in academic circles but also by broad audiences. Because he shows us the ways to overcome the crises of thought and to establish a more just and moral world. Another important contribution of Abdurrahman is that the Islamic world must regain intellectual independence. The concept of independence is indeed very important. Countries may be legally independent, but true independence is a concept that goes far beyond that. In addition to legal independence, economic, technological, and institutional competencies are crucial for true independence. I want to express that being a society that can produce knowledge and thought is essential for real independence. We must understand that the struggle against colonialism and imperialism is not only on the land but also in minds and hearts. We must discuss and debate the concept we call cultural imperialism,” he said.

“It is very valuable for us that Taha Abdurrahman guides us on how Islamic thought should follow a path between reason and heart.” Yılmaz pointed out the significance of Taha Abdurrahman’s guidance on how Islamic thought should navigate between reason and heart, stating, “Abdurrahman argues that we need to build our own unique system of thought against the intellectual domination of the West. This is a process that will contribute to the intellectual richness of all humanity, including the Islamic world and the West. I believe that the understanding of tefekkür and the perspective of overcoming the intellectual crises it presents through reflection are also extremely important. It is very valuable for us that Islamic thought guides us on how to navigate between reason and heart. The suffering experienced in Muslim geographies shows how much we need thinkers, especially concerning Islamic morality and justice. I want to express how valuable it is that our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has a stance in favor of justice by saying, ‘a more equal and just world is possible,’ especially in light of the events we are experiencing in today’s world. It is our sincere expectation that this leadership finds a response in various regions of our world and transforms international governance toward a more just and democratic direction,” he said.

Yılmaz stated that humanity is currently undergoing a great test, saying, “Until yesterday, this test was being given in Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq. We have been tested in Yemen, Somalia, and Bosnia before. In the current period, we, as the Islamic world, are being subjected to a test in Gaza. We believe that we must take steps together that will be a means of hope, salvation, and peace for the oppressed, especially for the Muslims of Gaza. What is being bombed in Gaza is not only children and women; what is being bombed in Gaza are the ideas, values, and rules and institutions that produce the civilizational values that allow us to organize our lives and live in peace,” he said.

After the program, Vice President Yılmaz presented the 2024 IDE Great Thinker Award to Prof. Dr. Taha Abdurrahman.