The “Gül-i Muhammedî Sohbeti and Na’t Melodies” program was organized by the Uskudar University Institute of Sufi Studies. The program, where profound love and devotion to Prophet Muhammad were expressed with deep meanings, took place in a unique atmosphere. Speaking at the opening of the program, Prof. Dr. Elif Erhan emphasized that na’t-ı şerifs are not merely a literary genre but also a symbol of faith, love, and devotion. Prof. Dr. Emine Yeniterzi stated that na’t-ı şerifs are the embodiment of Prophet love in poetry, highlighting that the Turkish nation has kept its love and respect for Prophet Muhammad alive through literature for centuries. Additionally, a concert of na’t-ı şerifs composed by Artist Elif Ömürlü Uyar and Prof. Dr. V. Emre Ömürlü was performed within the scope of the program.
The program, held at the Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall of Uskudar University Central Campus, was attended by institute members and students, including Uskudar University Institute of Sufi Studies Director Prof. Dr. Elif Erhan, Head of Sufi Culture and Literature Department Prof. Dr. Emine Yeniterzi, Artist Elif Ömürlü Uyar, and Prof. Dr. V. Emre Ömürlü.
The “Gül-i Muhammedî Sohbeti and Na’t Melodies” program, expressing deep love and affection for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), was met with great interest.
The opening speech of the program was delivered by Prof. Dr. Elif Erhan, Director of the Uskudar University Institute of Sufi Studies.
Prof. Dr. Elif Erhan: “Many poets have put their deep love for him into words”
Prof. Dr. Elif Erhan, expressing the place of praising Prophet Muhammad in our tradition, faith, and inner world, said: “It would not be an exaggeration to say that the depth of Prophet Muhammad's love in our world of faith has manifested through na’t-ı şerifs, a literary genre. Writing na’t-ı şerifs, reading them, composing these poems, and adorning our living spaces with these emotions to praise, glorify, and express deep affection for Prophet Muhammad has become a religious duty. Culture, faith, and fine arts have met in the climate of na’t-ı şerif. Today, we will experience a beautiful example of this here. This tradition, extending from thousands of years to the present day, is not only a literary genre but also an expression of social sensitivity, faith, and devotion. Many poets, from Yunus Emre to Fuzûlî, from Şeyh Gâlib to Yaman Dede, have put their deep love for him into words.”
Prof. Dr. Emine Yeniterzi: “Na’t-ı şerifs are the poetic form of Prophet love”
Prof. Dr. Emine Yeniterzi, Head of the Sufi Culture and Literature Department, drew attention to the deep roots of the na’t tradition in Turkish-Islamic culture and the reflections of Prophet Muhammad's love in the soul of our nation.
Prof. Dr. Yeniterzi, who began her speech with the words, “We can say that na’t-ı şerifs are the poetic form of Prophet love,” emphasized that the Turkish nation is one of the rare societies that blends religious and national elements.
“The crescent and star on our flag are the clearest symbols of this integration. When the word ‘hilal’ (crescent) is written with Arabic letters, it contains the same letters as the word ‘Allah’. Therefore, the crescent represents Allah (Cenab-ı Hakk), and the star represents Prophet Muhammad. Calligraphers write the blessed name of Prophet Muhammad in the shape of a five-pointed star. We are a nation that has engraved Allah and His Prophet on its flag,” she said.
Yeniterzi stated that this symbolic integrity in Turkish culture is reflected in every aspect of social life, adding:
“We call our army ‘the Prophet's hearth’ (Peygamber ocağı). Because our army is a glorious army that has been honored with Prophet Muhammad's glad tidings and prayer. Calling our soldiers ‘Mehmetçik’ (Little Mehmet) is also a manifestation of this love. A large portion of men in Turkey bear the names of Prophet Muhammad, such as Muhammed, Mehmet, Ahmet, Mustafa. Among female names, ‘Gül’ (Rose), which is His symbol, is one of the most common names in nearly fifty different forms.”
“Na’t-ı şerifs are a token of the love and devotion felt for Prophet Muhammad for centuries”
Yeniterzi, expressing poets' views on Prophet Muhammad; “In our literature, 'na’t' refers to poems written to praise Prophet Muhammad, describe his superior qualities, and express the love and devotion felt for him. Poems praising people after their death are called elegies or laments. However, no elegy has been written for Prophet Muhammad. Because with the religion he conveyed and his greatest miracle, the Holy Quran, Prophet Muhammad, the beloved of Allah (Cenab-ı Hakk), is always alive in hearts; his connection with life has never been severed.
Writing Na’t-i Şerif is the Zakat of Poetry
The tradition of writing Na’t-i Şerif, which began in Central Asia with Yusuf Has Hâcib’s Kutadgu Bilig, penned in 1069, continued in Anatolia with Mevlânâ, Yunus Emre, and Âşık Paşa, and na’ts continue to be written today. Na’t-ı şerifs are a token of the love and devotion felt for Prophet Muhammad. Every poet has written a na’t to show their affiliation with Prophet Muhammad, to declare themselves part of his community, almost to leave a signature; thus, they have fulfilled the gratitude and zakat of their poetic talent and also sought intercession from Him,” she said.
Na’t-i Şerifs Describe the Superior Qualities of Prophet Muhammad
Yeniterzi emphasized the content of na’t-i şerifs with these words: “Prophet Muhammad is the last prophet; his prophethood is eternal. He is a guide for believers in this world and an intercessor in the afterlife. He was sent as a mercy to all worlds. Through Allah’s (Cenab-ı Hakk) declarations in the Quran, it is stated that his prophethood encompasses the entire universe, and all beings are in need of His mercy and compassion for the blessings of creation, life, and eternal happiness. He is both a prophet and the most supreme representative of servitude, the most perfect servant of Allah. His superior and exemplary morality has been praised by divine word. The secret and meaning of the Quran is Prophet Muhammad. For the essence of the Quran is to bring forth the perfect human being. Prophet Muhammad achieved this with his personality, morality, and life.”
Prof. Dr. Yeniterzi concluded her words by saying: “The source of all loves is Habibullah (the Beloved of Allah). The na’t tradition is the most elegant expression of this love, continuing for centuries, and na’t-i şerifs have been penned to convey the grandeur and glory of the Muhammadan reality (hakikat-i Muhammedî), which is the essence and purpose of existence.”
Concert of Composed Na’t-ı Şerifs
Following the speeches, a concert of na’t-ı şerifs prepared by artist Elif Ömürlü Uyar and Prof. Dr. V. Emre Ömürlü was performed. The concert, which began with Itrî’s Segâh Takbir, Salât-ı Ümmiye, and Na’t-i Mevlânâ, and continued with composed na’t-i şerifs, was met with great interest and appreciation by music lovers.
The program concluded after a group photo session.