The international conference series “Human, Sufi Thought, and Healing II,” organized by the Institute for Sufi Studies at Üsküdar University, was held from July 23 to 27 with enthusiastic participation from scholars and attendees from around the world.
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: “As a university, we set out with the approach of ‘integrative science.’ Sciences are one: the sciences of matter and the sciences of meaning. Our material eye is of no use without the sun. We also have a spiritual eye, the eye of the soul, and it is the Qur’an that illuminates it.”
Cemalnur Sargut: “Tawḥid means ‘There is nothing but God.’ Only He exists. If you ask, ‘What benefit is there in realizing this truth?’ I would say: today, what wears people down the most is stress. But knowing that God is the One who does and causes all things brings a peace that makes it impossible to grieve over anything.”
Prof. Mahmud Erol Kılıç: “Among the names of God is ‘Ash-Shāfī’ (The Healer), but there is no name meaning ‘the One who causes illness.’ This indicates that illness is not an essential but an incidental condition in the order of existence, and that the original and enduring state is healing. This perspective fundamentally changes how we view illness.”
The “Human, Sufi Thought, and Healing II” conference series, launched with the support of the Kerim Foundation by Üsküdar University’s Institute for Sufi Studies, took place between July 23–27, 2025, at the Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall of Üsküdar University. Focusing on the modern human being’s search for meaning and healing from a Sufi perspective, the five-day conference hosted globally renowned experts in the fields of Sufism, philosophy, and spiritual healing. The program featured 16 sessions, and 113 officially registered participants earned certificates from the summer education program. One day of the conference series was open to the public and free of charge.
A comprehensive journey from East to West, past to future
The first day of the conference began with presentations by esteemed figures in the field such as Prof. Kenan Gürsoy, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Cenan Foundation, and Prof. Yasushi Tonaga from Kyoto University, Japan. Participants had the opportunity to listen firsthand to discussions on key Sufi concepts and their reflections across different geographies.
Throughout the program, participants followed the traces of Sufism across a wide spectrum—from Cemalnur Sargut’s presentation titled “Tawḥid is Spiritual Healing,” to Prof. Carl W. Ernst’s lecture on the most enigmatic work of Hallaj al-Mansur; from Prof. Mahmud Erol Kılıç’s readings on Rumi, to Dr. Youssef Carter’s session on modern and global reflections such as “Sufism in the Black Atlantic.” Additionally, the program featured the following presentations: Prof. Tuba Işık from Humboldt University in Berlin on “The Interaction of Ethics and Health in Classical Islamic Moral Thought”; Üsküdar University Institute for Sufi Studies faculty members: Prof. Emine Yeniterzi on “The Sufi Foundations of Na’t-i Sharifs”; Prof. Reşat Öngören on “Sufism and Healing: Therapeutic Methods of Physician Sufis”; Dr. H. Dilek Güldütuna on “The Role of Annemarie Schimmel’s Annual Letters in Islamic Studies”; Dr. Cangüzel Güner Zülfikar on “The Understanding of Tawḥid in Sāmiha Ayverdi’s Work ‘Mülâkatlar’”;Dr. Omneya Ayad on “The Spirituality of the Prophet Muhammad in the Thought of Ahmed Ibn ‘Ajība”; and Dr. Arzu Eylül Yalçınkaya on “The Sufi Poetics of Tawḥid.”
Prof. Mohammed Rustom from Carleton University took part in the conference series with his talk titled “Al-Ghazālī’s Book of Pride and Conceit,” Dr. Cyrus Ali Zargar from the United States presented “The Transformative Power of Love in the Poetry of Farīd al-Dīn ‘Aṭṭār,” and Dr. Oludamini Ogunnaike delivered a lecture titled “Only and Always: The Prophet Muhammad.”
In the public program of the conference, the opening speeches were delivered by the President of Üsküdar University, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, and Üsküdar University Rector’s Advisor, Cemalnur Sargut.
Prof. Tarhan: “The growing popularity of Sufi education shows that social prejudices are being overcome”
President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that the increasing prevalence of Sufi education is an indication that mental barriers and social prejudices are being broken down. He emphasized that humanity is experiencing great horror and decay, from domestic violence to the tragedies in Gaza, and that rather than questioning the plan of destiny during this time, we should focus on the question “What is our role in all of this?”
The sun enlightens the physical eye; the Qur’an enlightens the spiritual eye
Referring to the core philosophy of the integrative science approach adopted at the inception of Üsküdar University, Prof. Tarhan emphasized that sciences are unified, and religion and natural sciences should be seen as two branches of the same tree. He stated that this synthesis is of vital importance for younger generations.
Highlighting the moral decay seen in social life today, Prof. Tarhan continued: “As a university, we set out with the approach of integrative science. Sciences are one: the sciences of matter and the sciences of meaning. When young people fail to make this synthesis and cannot ground Tawḥid in rationality, they drift away. We must offer them scientific credibility alongside religious integrity. The greatest wealth is inner wealth. This is called ‘soft power.’ Yet humanity is fixated on external, material power. Our material eye is useless without the sun. But we also have a spiritual eye, that is, the eye of the soul, which is enlightened by the Qur’an. When we look from the perspective of the Qur’an, everything gains meaning—our existence, calamities, illnesses... The human brain assumes uncertainty if it cannot make logical sense of something. And the greatest cause of stress is uncertainty.”
Illnesses are not your enemies; they are your companions along the way
In his speech, Prof. Tarhan referred to four fundamental existential anxieties defined by Yalom: “The first is the search for meaning in life. When a person cannot give meaning to their life, anxiety arises. Second is the need for connection and loneliness; third is the pursuit of freedom; and the fourth is the need to find an explanation for death. These four dimensions are sources of anxiety that feed existential emptiness. When a person finds meaning in what they do, they not only satisfy this search for meaning but also eliminate uncertainty. This meaning-making process provides not only material but also spiritual healing. Viewing illness as a ‘guest’ transforms its meaning. Illnesses are not your enemies; they are companions walking beside you. They are your teachers. Most people struggle to understand this perspective. Today’s ‘third-wave psychotherapies’ aim for this transformation. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, spiritual therapies, and positive psychotherapies now teach us not to see illnesses and misfortunes as threats, but as opportunities for growth. In this way, people learn to live with illness.”
Healing lies in finding the balance between surrendering to divine will and holding on to worldly causes
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan emphasized that one of modern humanity’s greatest anxieties is the “need for control,” and that true healing comes from finding a balance between surrendering to divine will and embracing worldly means.
Prof. Tarhan said, “The ability to control the future belongs only to God. If you say, ‘I will control everything about the future,’ and overstep your bounds, you will suffer. When you hand over the sense of control to the Creator, when you open your heart to your Lord, you find peace. This is the essence of all Sufi practice: to detach hearts bound to the world and reattach them to God. Everything is from God, but God has also created certain causes. In illness, the doctor and medicine are among those causes. Healing comes from God; we, the doctors and medicines, are merely means. When we truly feel this meaning, we stay within our limits.”
Love is also a feeling that must be properly managed
At the end of his speech, Prof. Tarhan noted that love is also a feeling that must be properly managed. He said the love pyramid should be topped by the love of God; otherwise, one is tested with whatever they love most.He continued, “If something other than God is at the top of your love pyramid, your test begins. Even though Prophet Jacob was a great prophet, his deep love for Joseph caused jealousy among his other sons, and that was the beginning of his trial. That is why whoever we love, we must love them for the sake of God. Spending every moment connected to God—that is the essence of Sufi practice.”
Cemalnur Sargut: “Institutes undertake an invaluable mission by making Islam truly livable”
Üsküdar University Rector’s Advisor, Cemalnur Sargut, began her speech by offering prayers for the martyrs who lost their lives in the forest fires that have devastated Türkiye. She stated that there is wisdom behind every disaster and that the martyrs have reached the highest spiritual rank. Sargut emphasized the importance of Sufi education and recalled a report presented by renowned Islamic scholar Annemarie Schimmel to Harvard University: “In her report, Schimmel stated, ‘Every type of Islamic course is taught at the highest level in Europe, yet true Islam is not known.’ This shows that a version of Islam that is not lived cannot be explained by academic knowledge alone. That’s why the Sufi Studies Institutes founded by Üsküdar University and now also launched at Istanbul Medeniyet University are undertaking an invaluable mission by making Islam more livable and experiential.”
The emotion that wears down modern people the most is stress
Cemalnur Sargut noted that the emotion which most wears down people today is stress, which is fueled by anxiety about the future, fear of loss, resentment, and hatred. She stated that the belief in Tawḥid (Divine Unity) offers a fundamental solution to this problem.
"Tawḥid means ‘There is nothing but God.’ Only He exists. If you ask, ‘What benefit is there in realizing this truth?’ I would say: today, what wears people down the most is stress. But knowing that God is the One who does, who causes action, brings a peace that keeps you from grieving over anything," said Cemalnur Sargut. She continued, “My mother used to say, ‘My daughter, if you compare the love I have for you to God’s love for you, it is like a drop compared to an ocean.’ So, if my mother, who loves me like a drop, protects me this much, how could my Lord, who loves me like an ocean, not protect me? How could everything done not be a blessing for me?”
Gratitude increases with age
Stating that gratitude increases with age because one better understands their own helplessness, Sargut said, “As long as we live, we must keep learning and teaching at every moment. The only thing that keeps a person energized and youthful is learning and spreading that knowledge. Illness comes and goes. And if it doesn't go, it carries us to the afterlife. But either way, it is salvation.”
Prof. Mahmud Erol Kılıç gave a conference talk
In this session, Prof. Mahmud Erol Kılıç, Director General of IRCICA and faculty member at Üsküdar University’s Institute for Sufi Studies, delivered a lecture at the “Human, Sufi Thought, and Healing II” Conference. He described the strengthening of academic-level Sufi studies in Türkiye as both “praiseworthy” and “worthy of appreciation,” while drawing attention to a paradox within this development. Prof. Kılıç said: “While we have progressed so far in the academic field, it has now been exactly a century since the closure of Sufi lodges by the law enacted on November 30, 1925. The democratic legitimacy of this law in terms of religious, conscience, and freedom of expression must be reconsidered on its 100th anniversary.”
The illness itself is the remedy
Focusing his talk on the main theme of the conference, healing, Prof. Kılıç noted that Sufism—especially the school of Ibn ‘Arabī—seeks to understand matters by first tracing them back to their metaphysical origins. He stated: “Among the names of God is ‘Ash-Shāfī’ (The Healer), yet there is no name meaning ‘the one who causes illness.’ This shows that illness is not essential, but incidental in the order of existence; the original and permanent state is health.” Prof. Kılıç emphasized that this perspective fundamentally transforms how we view illness. Recalling Ibn ‘Arabī’s words, “All creation is afflicted; absolute healing is with God,” Prof. Kılıç added: “In this sense, illness is itself a kind of healing. As Niyazî-i Mısrî said, ‘I was seeking a cure for my pain, but the pain itself turned out to be the cure.’ Illness breaks a person’s unyielding pride, purifies the ego that insists on ‘I,’ and creates a special bond between the patient and the Lord. Illness is an opportunity for the created to recognize their own limitations and to witness the absolute power of God.”
We cannot ignore spiritual healing
Drawing attention to changes in the medical world, Prof. Kılıç stated that materialist philosophy in Türkiye initially spread through medical faculties, but today the rigid positivism of the West has begun to soften. “In the West, concepts like holistic medicine and spiritual medicine are no longer dismissed; they are even being tested in laboratories. In countries like Germany, we see that even those without a medical degree can open healing centers. We cannot deny the genuine just because there are charlatans,” said Prof. Kılıç. He explained that spiritual healing practices—like the Prophet placing his hand on a patient and praying—are today studied under terms like ‘bioenergy’ within scientific frameworks.
He expressed hope that resistance from certain medical circles in Türkiye would also diminish over time, and that the holistic understanding of medicine would become increasingly widespread. He concluded his speech with the prayer: “May God grant us all healing.”
Two panels were held as part of the public conference program, chaired by Prof. Emine Yeniterzi and Prof. Reşat Öngören, with participation from researchers who graduated from Üsküdar University’s Sufi Studies master’s and doctoral programs.
The public portion of the event concluded with a concert by Elif Ömürlü Uyar, V. Emre Ömürlü, and Neyzen Ahmed Şahin.
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)