The Koran says that humanity has been created to recognize and worship God and, as a dimension of this worship, to improve the world in strict avoidance of corruption and bloodshed. It requires treating all things and beings with deep compassion. This is my philosophy, which obliges me to remain aloof from all worldly titles and ranks.

Terrorism is one of the cardinal sins that the Koran threatens with hellfire.

Tolerance, a term which we sometimes use in place of the words respect, mercy, generosity, or forbearance, is the most essential element of moral systems; it is a very important source of spiritual discipline and a celestial virtue of perfected people.

Mature people never make difference of opinion a means of conflict.

Interfaith dialogue is a must today, and the first step in establishing it is forgetting the past, ignoring polemical arguments, and giving precedence to common points, which far outnumber polemical ones.

Muslims have never been and never can be so base as to expect any solutions to their problems through terror.

A small minority in Turkey even accuses me of having political ambitions, when in fact I have been struggling with various illnesses for many years.