They advocate a spiritual form of socialism,[4] believing that the teachings of the Qur'an and Muhammad are not only compatible with, but actively promote the leftist principles of equality and distributism, drawing inspiration from the early Medina welfare state.

They openly challenged right-wing Muslims to read the Quran and, as they put it, "try to disprove the fact that it is leftist".

[8][9] İhsan Eliaçık, the group's leader, believes that it is mandatory per Quranic verse 4:136 for all Muslims to donate everything they do not use.

He says, while they agree with the fundamental teachings of socialism, they criticize the practical implementations, such as the political experiences of the Soviet Union.

We consider every group established with the goal of anti-capitalism as our natural ally, regardless of their religious belief or disbelief, race, language, skin color, or ideology.The manifesto cites the Quran as the only source.

[6][7] In 2012, a spokesperson for the organization said in an interview that Turkey "must apologize" about the fate that was reserved for the Armenians, the Kurds and the Alevis.