What is your perfect idea of happiness? Union with God while you are alive.
What is your greatest fear? Another terrorist attack.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Lack of patience.
What is the trait you most deplore in others? Lack of enthusiasm.
Which living person do you most admire? I have a few: my wife, Nelson Mandela, Fethullah Guled, Muhammad Yunus.
What is your greatest extravagance? Cars and food. I just can't help it.
What is your current state of mind? Realistically hopeful.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Neutrality and moderation. Many people mask their laziness and ineffectiveness through overrating and misunderstanding these virtues. Being moderate and peaceful require action, too.
On what occasion do you lie? Any answer to this question would be a lie.
What do you most dislike about your appearance? Grey hairs.
Which living person do you most despise? I try to despise the sin not the sinner. But if I have to name someone, with no hesitation: Osama Bin Laden. I loathe of him and what he represents.
What is the quality you most like in a man? Humility.
What is the quality you most like in a woman? Confidence.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse? I have been told I start every e-mail or conversation with: "I pray that all is well."
What or who is the greatest love of your life? My children, my wife and my iPhone.
When and where were you happiest? In Burma, when I was helping the orphans.
Which talent would you most like to have? Music and art. I hardly have any talent in either of them.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? My weight.
What do you consider your greatest achievement? Being a father. Believe me it is much harder than many people think.
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be? As a bird. Any flying bird.
Where would you most like to live? Sydney, Paris, Damascus, Istanbul and San Francisco. I am a clergy—I can't give one answer only, so be patient with me.
What is your most treasured possession? My books and my hybrid car.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Going through a week without any sunshine.
What is your favorite occupation? Peace maker.
What is your most marked characteristic? Enthusiasm.
What do you most value in your friends? Being present—not physically, but emotionally and spiritually, as well.
Who are your favorite writers? Said Nursi, Fethullah Gulen and Orhan Pamuk. Don't forget: I am a Turkish delight!
Who is your hero of fiction? Superman and Spiderman.
Which historical figure do you most identify with? Muhammad, Hagar, Rumi, Dr. King, Ghandi, St. Paul, Thecla and many more.
Who are your heroes in real life? My two children. Many saintly figures that I met in the third world, who are tirelessly working to improve the life of other fellow human beings and do not attach any strings to their help.
What are your favorite names? I changed my name to Abdullah when I was 16. It means "Servant of God," and it still is my favorite name. I also like Jacob, Zainab, Aisha, Omer and Ali.
What is it that you most dislike? Insincerity and inauthenticity.
What is your greatest regret? I was only be able to visit 47 countries in the world so far. My plan was to travel to 75 countries by now and visit another 75 other countries before the age of 70.
How would you like to die? On my 159th birthday, after a great dinner with family and friends, on my prayer rug, as I am prostrating to God Almighty.
What is your motto? Let there be peace in the World and let it start with me.
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