Adnan Oktar A9 TV; January 12th, 2016

If one allows his lower self to take control, the lower self will start acting like an animal; it will act primitively like one.

The human body tends to behave like an animal when left to its own devices; it will just want to eat and sleep, it will easily get scared and act selfishly. One should balance out that animalistic side by means of faith. One shouldn't allow oneself to act like an animal.

Forgiveness is a characteristic God appreciates greatly. That is because revenge might give a lowly pleasure to one's soul, but forgiving is hard; I mean it [forgiveness] necessitates will-power and wisdom. That is because in forgiveness one does not achieve satisfaction, but revenge might bring satisfaction. That is why God takes forgiveness as a basis.

Anyone who does not do what he does for God’s sake will inevitably be defeated. The important thing is God’s approval. The way will always be clear for anyone who seeks His approval. This is a secret and unknown force.

In order to be stable and reasonable one should certainly criticize himself. Even if it is once in a while, he should certainly criticize himself and one should do so when he is in the company of others. Only then one could become a stable, reasonable person. That is a miracle of the Qur'an. A solid, tangible miracle.

If one does not criticize himself and sees himself as sufficient and above criticism, he would become insane. A Muslim should certainly criticize himself and have others criticize him. This is necessary for one's sanity or else one's mental health would be disrupted; his judgment and reasoning would be impaired. His foresight and perception would be blocked. Have a look at those around you, you will see. Avoiding criticisms would cause instability and would prevent one to be reasonable.

Fiercely defending one's own desires is a mental illness. One should get a grip on himself in this situation and take refuge in God. He should ask himself, "How did I turn into such an abnormal person?" He should listen to what others have to say in a reasonable manner. A Muslim is open to 'al-amr bi-l-maʿrūf wa-n-nahy ʿani-l-munkar' (enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong). Therefore, he becomes wiser with ease.

How can something be considered right if the opposite of it does not exist? How will we be tried if satan and the lower-self do not exist? How can we recognize what is beautiful, what is right? It is impossible. It is impossible to achieve any higher love, any higher wisdom in this way. Then we would be no different than a child, we would not be able to develop.

It would not be acceptable if love is contaminated with idolatry. For instance, one might say, "I do love my friend a lot, I do love my spouse a lot." And when then asked, "Do you love God?" he says, "I love God as well." That is not acceptable. He should say, "I love my spouse for the good pleasure of God, I love my friend for the good pleasure of God. I love them as the manifestations of God."

Some people talk within the lines "But how are we to find the money?" about helping those who are in need. God would bring plenty in folds. The good deeds that will be attained is important, attaining the good pleasure of God is important. If you attain the good pleasure of God, He would give you riches. If you do not act in a way to attain His good pleasure and are stingy instead, God would take away everything you have and you would lose all your goods and possessions.

People should be taught about loving people for God’s consent. In its absence, people keep looking for someone who is richer or more attractive.

Because people don’t experience loving for God’s sake, their relationships often end up in pain. Happiness comes when one loves for God.

God teaches us that one's wealth or children should not be more worthy than striving in the way of God and paying service for God's approval.

Love is called so when it is felt towards God. Love occurs only when one seeks the highest approval of God. Otherwise, it does not exist. It only becomes technical cooperation.

If love is not based on the consent of God, everything comes to an end when one's interest in another is over. A strong bond and loyalty will not form in people who have been raised within a selfish system.

Many people give in their lower-selves and the pressure of the satan but forget about love. Without love, the body collapses, sanity regresses, foresight and perception would be lost.

It would be best if auspicious acts, charity works are done in secret, with only God knowing.

All my friends strive for God's approval, none of them expect any monetary return.

A person lives only for God, for his religion. Pursuing earthly interests is a very despicable act.

Some people use their knowledge only to show off and sell themselves. They do not think about earning the good will of God. Such people are described in the Qur'an as "donkeys loaded with weighty tomes" All knowledge must be used to earn the good will of God.

A Muslim’s rank in Heaven raises with the intellectual struggle he gives against hypocrites, against satan and his lower-self.

Honesty and sincerity is crucial. Sometimes it costs a lot; it is difficult, but one has to persist in honesty and never give up.

A person who lives selfishly cannot be sincere. Only a person that lives for others can be honest and sincere.

Satan’s whisperings, doubts can come to mind any moment. But believers ignore them by means of their faith. One’s inner self, satan attacks the mind with thousands of doubts, groundless worries, but believers just ignore them.

The Companions of our Prophet (saas) always strove for the sake of God. But the hypocrites always had excuses like ‘our houses are exposed' or ‘we would have come if we knew how’. However, if they were told that they would be given gold, they would have immediately obliged. That is because it would have served their interests. However, one's interests should always be in showing good morality; one should choose faith and reward from God instead of gold. Otherwise one would start to turn into an animal.