I object to having the ideologies and actions of a Muslim scholar and intellectuals, that are dedicated to Islamism and Islamists and who lived in a specific period, and to having the background and subsequent history in a specific political movement, be defined under this framework.

When the microbe of Westernization started to plague the Ottoman Empire, some zealous Muslims opposed this and advocated the idea that we must preserve our own religion and civilization. These are Islamists.

Afterwards, particularly the mistakes of the Committee of Union and Progress started to spread the microbe of nationalism in the Ottoman Empire, and some zealous Muslims also tried to oppose this and highlighted Islam, which is the basis and bond of our unity, fraternity and social structure, while defending a “Union of Islam” and “Ummah (Muslim community) structure.” These too are Islamists.

Throughout history, Muslims who took a Muslim stance against the challenges faced by Islam and Muslims, and carried out an ideological and active jihad (struggle) to ward off dangers were Islamists.

If the concept of devoutness does not contain “the duty to protect and live religion in all aspects of life” then this devoutness is an “incomplete Muslimness.” If this duty exists then the devout person is also Islamist.

Islamists who are genuine in their ideologies and actions never get their claws into rulers, never give up their cause for the sake of worldly interests –which are worthless and moral in reality- nor do they approve of everything that a government –they partially support- does, they call a spade a spade, their (Islamists') mission does not end when governments side with or against Islam, and they always carry out activities (sort of a jihad) to make sure that their cause reaches its goals, and deficiencies are eliminated.

Naturally, the relation of governments with the Islamic cause is different: in secular democracies there are political cadres and organizations which fight against Islam, as well as political cadres which aim to assist Islamization. Islamists may support political cadres –which do not accept the secular-democratic system- which officially accept the system as it is under the scope of the existing conditions, but provide assistance for Islamization. This support is conditional and temporary. Because it is conditional, they fall out with governments which stray away, do not establish headquarters because it is temporary and proceed walking towards their final goal.

Some Islamist cadres may want to take advantage of secular-liberal-democratic systems, when conditions are not available to establish an Islamic order in the first step. There are of course Islamists who are against this. Those who want to take advantage of it establish a party in line with the existing system. As long as these cadres do not forget their true cause, do not give it up, and serve their cause to the best of their abilities, it cannot be said that they “had forsaken the Islamist cause, betrayed it, and Islamism is dead in this respect.” Even if it is said, it is not the case.

Since Islamists are not prophets, it is always possible for them to err in their thoughts, fall into mistakes in their ethics and actions –and this happens-. However at the same time and ground, it is not realistic or fair to say that all Islamists have been polluted in this regard. These pure Islamists warn their brothers and comrades who make mistakes, and do everything they can for their amelioration, but they never cooperate with “Those against the Islamic cause” against them, neither do they cast their vote or support those who are against the cause.

Warnings, criticism and amelioration must be voluntary and in accordance with the philosophy of Islam. For this reason, when there is the potential that this could be exploited, it could be necessary –even imperative- to keep this activity concealed.

As long as Muslims exist in the World, do not call it Islamism; “The Islamic cause and those who embrace this cause” will persist. The cause, on the other hand, is about: “the existence of Islam in all spheres of life, the presentation of Islam as a religion and civilization in the most appropriate manner to the people of the world, the unification of Muslims in some way, and the domination of a just order throughout the world.”