Critique, But Not Me! | Come On, Now

Criticize, but not me!

There is a saying written by Alija Izetbegović during his years in prison:

“Ben olsam, Müslüman Doğu’daki tüm mekteplere ‘eleştirel düşünme’ dersleri koyardım. Batı’nın aksine Doğu bu acımasız mektepten geçmemiştir ve birçok zaafının kaynağı budur.”^【1】 

We feel the truth of this sentence in every fiber of our being.

We see this reality not only in others but also within ourselves… Criticism only becomes acceptable when it is directed at someone else. The very things we observe in others—our team, our party, our country, and so on—are actually…

Especially those who refuse to question their own thoughts are a separate matter. They have no tolerance for words like “but,” “however,” or “what if”; even asking questions feels like an act requiring approval.

This is precisely the model Alija described… Now imagine gaining power—oh my Lord!

What Is Our Responsibility?

Let us know. I said it already: I recognize in myself the truth of this intolerance toward criticism. The most concise expression of knowing oneself is: “Do not be proud, O king, for there is a greater Lord than you.”

We are beings who change when circumstances shift. In the Qur’an, there is a verse repeated several times in similar contexts that deeply moves me:

Alemlerin Rabbi mealen şöyle buyuruyor: “Denizde bir tehlikeyle yüzyüze geldiğinizde Allah’tan başka bütün yardıma çağırdıklarınız kaybolup gider. O sizi kurtarıp karaya çıkardığında ise yüz çevirirsiniz. İnsan oğlu çok nankördür!”^【2】 The primary reason humans become ungrateful is their failure to recognize their limits. In times of hardship, people become aware of their own weakness, but as soon as relief arrives, the outcome is clear…

Regarding criticism, intolerance toward it in human beings usually stems from the illusion of “I know best.” What a profound negligence this is! Even the slightest criticism leads us into the very condition described by Ihsan Fazlıoğlu as “becoming Pharaoh.”

The truth is this: We believe in Allah alone, without question or hesitation. We do not deify ourselves—God forbid—nor do we deify anyone else.

We are fully aware of the magnitude of this claim. Is this not precisely the truth the Prophets constantly reminded humanity of?

Do not bow to idols, leaders, money, or the world. Our ego tries to lure us with promises of “insurance, salary, spouse, children, car, house, vacation…” How strange that humanity, which shouts for freedom, chases after such finite things. In the end, we have a certain standard—does it befit us to sink below it? Not only the world, but even our own families would ask: What have you become?

Even if our feet stumble thousands of times, our cornerstone, our horizon, our Red Apple, our life’s code, our purpose of existence must always and under all conditions remain this: We believe in Allah alone, without question or hesitation.

Peace be upon those who internalize this.