The certificate ceremony for the Islamic Theology and Culture Program, organized in cooperation with Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of History, Risale-i Nur Research Platform (RİNAP), and Ternopil University of Ukraine, has been held. Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan attended the certificate ceremony of the program, which attracted great interest with the participation of Ukrainian academics and students. During the ceremony, attention was drawn to the cultural similarities between the two countries, emphasizing that spiritual values could bring them together.
Attending the certificate ceremony held in the Central Campus Senate Hall were Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Üsküdar Üniversitesi Risale-i Nur Research Platform (RİNAP) Board Member Prof. Dr. İlham Miraç, Ternopil University Head of History Department Prof. Dr. Ella Bistritska, Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Head of History Department Dr. Lecturer Uygar Aydemir, Üsküdar Üniversitesi Risale-i Nur Research Platform (RİNAP) Vice President Sadık Paksoy, Üsküdar Üniversitesi Risale-i Nur Research Platform (RİNAP) Vice President Selahattin Arslan, Üsküdar Üniversitesi Risale-i Nur Research Platform (RİNAP) Board Member and Head of English Translation and Interpreting Department Dr. Lecturer Nafi Yalçın, and the Ukrainian delegation.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “The peace that has been made for centuries cannot be achieved in this century”
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, drawing attention to the fact that the peace that has been made for centuries cannot be achieved in this century, touched upon the concepts in the Holy Quran. Tarhan said; “In the Holy Quran, the concepts of mercy, love, and affection are essential, while concepts related to fear are exceptions. There is no concept in the Holy Quran that supports violence. The current events do not comply with the recommendations in the Holy Quran at all. Unfortunately, the peace that has been made for centuries cannot be achieved in this century.”
“Read both the Holy Quran and Risale-i Nur yourself and decide”
Tarhan, emphasizing that Risale-i Nur should be taken as a reference in learning Islam, stated; “Bediüzzaman represents the peaceful aspect of Islam and the concept of jihad. There is an expression he brought to the interpretation of the Holy Quran, the expression 'Positive Action'. He recommends approaching human relations, life, and social relations with a positive action method. There is a commentary on the Holy Quran suitable for the understanding of this age. My best advice to you is to read both the Holy Quran and Risale-i Nur yourselves and decide. The first advice of these books is to be at peace with ourselves and to discipline our ego. If you want to know humanity and happiness in both worlds, the formula is in these books. One feature of Risale-i Nur is that it combines religious sciences with natural sciences, approaching with a holistic science. The most important concept it proves is the concept of tawhid (unity of God). There are 4,300 religions in the world, and tawhid belief creates the ideal conception of God among them.”
Prof. Dr. Ella Bistritska: “We can come together with our spiritual values”
Ternopil University Head of History Department Prof. Dr. Ella Bistritska emphasized that global problems can be solved together. Bistritska stated; “We thank Üsküdar Üniversitesi for opening a new platform for us in intercultural dialogue. We can solve global problems together. A single ideology, a single state cannot solve them. We need to approach them all together. The ethical values of Christianity and Islam are the same. Most importantly, we can come together with our spiritual values. By meeting and talking together, we can solve the problems in the world. We need to work on these problems with students because our future will be with these students. Europe and the West have different views on natural sciences and religion; the West separates natural sciences and religion, saying they cannot come together. We want to unite them. This happens in two ways: either you separate them both and there is peace, or you unite them both. Islam wants to unite them both. Europe wants to separate them both.”
Prof. Dr. İlham Miraç: “Scientific information about Islamic Theology and Culture was provided”
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Risale-i Nur Research Platform (RİNAP) Board Member Prof. Dr. İlham Miraç delivered the opening speech of the certificate ceremony. Miraç stated that scientific information about the Islamic religion was provided within the scope of the education and emphasized that the education was accredited. Miraç said; “We extend our gratitude to everyone who contributed to the realization of this program, especially our Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan. I also thank our instructors who gave lectures. The 'Islamic Theology and Culture' course was accredited by the Ministry of Education of Ukraine at Ternopil National Pedagogical University. Course contents, exams, and all necessary materials were approved by the Ukrainian University Senate and the Ukrainian Ministry of Education. Within the scope of the courses, scientific information about the Islamic religion, Islamic Theology and Culture, and human values was provided.”
Dr. Lecturer Uygar Aydemir: “Students want to learn Islam”
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Head of History Department Dr. Lecturer Uygar Aydemir emphasized the importance of developing relations between the two countries. Aydemir said; “We discussed what we need to do to improve our bilateral relations. Our professors invited us to Ukraine. When circumstances permit, we also want to pay our visit. As professors, we realized that students want to learn Islam and ask questions about it. We see that they came here not for a trip, but truly as an academic visit. The students represented their countries very well.”
Sadık Paksoy: “We were very impressed by our students’ interest”
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Risale-i Nur Research Platform (RİNAP) Vice President Sadık Paksoy said; “We were very impressed and happy with the interest of our students. They were academically very well prepared. Each student made a presentation, I truly appreciate them.”
Selahattin Arslan; “Common points will bring us closer to each other”
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Risale-i Nur Research Platform (RİNAP) Vice President Selahattin Arslan said; “It was wonderful to meet you and be with you. Our students’ eagerness to learn and their presentations were excellent. They earned our appreciation. It was important to draw attention to the common points and similarities between Islam and Christianity. These common points will enable us to love each other and grow closer.”
Dr. Lecturer Nafi Yalçın: “Friendships grow stronger when people come together with good intentions”
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Risale-i Nur Research Platform (RİNAP) Board Member and Head of English Translation and Interpreting Department Dr. Lecturer Nafi Yalçın said; “It was a very nice and evocative piece of information that our valuable guests from Ukraine, our historical neighbor with whom we have historical relations, came here and mentioned the Turkish martyrs' cemeteries in Ukraine. We commemorated our martyrs and prayed together. When people come together with good intentions and share their ideas, beauties multiply, friendships grow stronger, and they understand each other better.”
Gift exchange took place at the certificate ceremony…
A gift exchange took place at the certificate ceremony of the “Islamic Theology and Culture Program.” Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan presented all his works translated into English to Ternopil University Head of History Department Prof. Dr. Ella Bistritska. The Ukrainian delegation, in turn, presented a gift to Tarhan. The certificate ceremony concluded after a group photo session.
