Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin Commemorated at Üsküdar University on the 100th Anniversary of His Birth!

An international symposium titled “Approaches to Human Health and Mind-Body Integrity in the History of Medicine of Islamic Civilization” was held at Üsküdar University in cooperation with the Kerim Foundation, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin, within the scope of the UNESCO Commemoration Program.

On behalf of the Fuat Sezgin Research Foundation for the History of Science in Islam, Chairman of the Board and Trustee Mecit Çetinkaya, Trustee Members Bilal Erdoğan, and also the symposium's guest of honor Prof. Dr. Şükrettin Güldütuna spoke about Fuat Sezgin Hoca and his work in the opening session of the symposium.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “Islamic civilization has been a source for many civilizations. We will continue to miss innovations unless we synthesize religion and science.”

Bilal Erdoğan: “Fuat Hoca proved to us that one can live by dedicating their life to a blessed cause in this era.”

Cemalnur Sargut: “My teacher Fuat Sezgin possessed two types of knowledge…”

Prof. Dr. Güldütuna: “Our teacher Fuat believed that his work would awaken a new revival and resurgence in the Islamic world”
 

The symposium titled ‘Approaches to Human Health and Mind-Body Integrity in the History of Medicine of Islamic Civilization’, organized by Üsküdar University Faculty of Medicine, Kerim Foundation, and Üsküdar University Institute of Sufi Studies between November 2-3, 2024, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin within the scope of the UNESCO Commemoration Program, concluded at the Ibn-i Sina Auditorium of Üsküdar University NP Health Campus. 

The opening speeches of the event were delivered by Üsküdar University Founding Rector Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Chairman of the Board and Trustee of the Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin Research Foundation for the History of Science in Islam Mecit Çetinkaya, Trustee Member of the ‘Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin Research Foundation for the History of Science in Islam’ Bilal Erdoğan, Üsküdar University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Hikmet Koçak, Üsküdar University Faculty of Medicine Dean Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur, Üsküdar University Rector's Advisor Cemalnur Sargut, and Prof. Dr. Reşat Öngören from the Üsküdar University Institute of Sufi Studies.

Following the opening speeches, the guest of honor of the symposium, the late Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin’s companion for 38 years and personal physician Prof. Dr. Şükrettin Güldütuna, gave a speech titled ‘Memories of Fuat Sezgin Hoca’.

Prof. Dr. Tarhan: “He argues that loving science is a religious justification”

Speaking at the highly attended program, Üsküdar University Founding Rector Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that the services rendered by Fuat Sezgin Hoca were much greater than anticipated. Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, “He revealed a hidden treasure, dispelling many prejudices.” and continued, “He started researching after one of his teachers said ‘religion is an obstacle to progress’. At that time, there was local Islamophobia. Westerners understood Fuat Sezgin Hoca better than those among us. Unfortunately, there is still an Islamophobic viewpoint among us that cannot understand Fuat Sezgin Hoca. That’s why he was not adequately supported. Fuat Hoca uses scientific methodology in his research. He even reveals that in the Islamic world, science was respected for religious reasons. He argues that loving science is a religious justification.” 

Recalling names like Ebubekir Razi and Ibn-i Sina in the history of medicine, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan continued as follows:

“We forget all these things. They were not taught in our student years. I don't think they are taught properly now either. There is an educational approach among us that suggests ‘the West is a superior culture and we are an inferior culture, so we must resemble it’. This leads to a misguided cultural modernization. In other words, instead of modernizing while preserving our cultural identity, a wrong choice was made to modernize by abandoning our identity.”

Prof. Dr. Tarhan: “We will continue to miss innovations unless we synthesize religion and science” 

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan commemorated Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin with mercy, spoke about the museum prepared by Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin, and said, “A beautiful museum was built. Besides observation books, there are models there. There are models of many medical devices related to the entire history of medicine, such as scalpels and cauteries. In other words, we have a history that allows us to walk with our heads held high.”

Pointing out that civilizations, like humans, grow, age, and pass away, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said:

“Islamic civilization was born, grew, and in some cases, deteriorated, but it has also been a source for many civilizations and continues its duty in this era. In the 1500s and 1600s, Islamic civilization declined, and we missed the industrial revolution. Let's appreciate and understand the past. If we don't see our mistakes, we cannot correct ourselves. We always look for fault in others; we need to look for it in ourselves too. There is the reality that we missed the civilization, and beyond the natural aging of the Ottoman Empire, we neglected the advancement of thought. It is up to us to revive this. We will continue to miss many innovations unless we synthesize religion and science. Without mental transformation, there can be no social transformation, no scientific discovery. First, mental transformation is needed.”

Bilal Erdoğan: “Fuat Hoca proved to us that one can live by dedicating their life to a blessed cause in this era”

Bilal Erdoğan, a Trustee Member of the ‘Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin Research Foundation for the History of Science in Islam’, who attended and spoke at the event, said, “Our teacher Fuat was an example of dedicating his life to a blessed cause.” Stating that he was lucky enough to know Fuat Sezgin, Bilal Erdoğan continued his speech as follows:

“We should focus on works that will introduce not only his works but also his life and personality. He proved to us that one can live by dedicating their life to a blessed cause in this era. What was his blessed cause? From this point, I want Muslim youth to see what they can achieve. There is no such thing as ‘we are backward because we are Muslims’. In Turkey, when it comes to technological development, we now see that religious people are at the forefront. Humanity is a being that needs to know itself. The system prevents people from taking time to know themselves. When we start complaining about someone, condemning, criticizing, or gossiping, aside from the sin, we prevent ourselves from seeing and trying to correct our own mistakes.”

Bilal Erdoğan also stated that in his last years, the happiest thing for Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin was the young people who listened to him and read his books, and he concluded his speech with the wish to keep his legacy alive in such meetings and to raise intellectual people who will work in his path. 

Cemalnur Sargut: “For body and mental health, two types of glasses, near and far, should be used together.”

Üsküdar University Rector's Advisor Cemalnur Sargut started her opening speech by giving an example from her own life, based on Ken’an Rifâî (Hz.)’s statement ‘there are three types of glasses’. Sargut said, “Unfortunately, I always wore the far-sighted glasses throughout my life. When you wear far-sighted glasses, you are always occupied with the other realm. That is, spiritual comfort, struggling with your ego, working to please Allah… But I neglected this realm. I neglected my health. Now that I am old, I realize how many things I neglected. But I still thanked that I did not use the near-sighted glasses, meaning working only for this world. In fact, if you use both types of glasses together, you feel that both your physical health and your spiritual development within that health remain much more balanced.”

Cemalnur Sargut: “My teacher Fuat Sezgin possessed two types of knowledge…”

Sargut stated that the dictionary definition of a scholar, in terms of its literal meaning, is someone who knows, comprehends, and sees the truth of everything, saying, “When I met him, I humbly believed in my heart that he was a scholar. There are paths from heart to heart, and in that journey, I realized that, because we were meeting for the first time, we work for the same purpose. We work for the same meaning. And he was a special person.

Why a special person? Children, there are three types of scholars. The first is “alîm”, which is one of the attributes of Allah, the one who knows everything most perfectly, who knows His essence, His own essence is only Allah, He is “a‘lem”. 

The second is “âlim”, this is knowing with the knowledge that Allah has bestowed and gifted upon man. Indeed, I found this knowledge that Allah bestowed and gifted upon man in Fuat Hoca. He was working entirely for Islam, and there was something extraordinary. The third is “allâme”. I saw this in Fuat Hoca too. This is knowledge acquired through effort. So, he possessed two types of knowledge. He was a lucky person, bestowed by Allah with something not common in ordinary people, given the command to work, but also taught what to do in his heart, from His own knowledge.”

Prof. Dr. Öngören: "In the history of medicine, we see that in addition to physical treatment, spiritual treatment was also important"

In his opening speech, Prof. Dr. Reşat Öngören from Üsküdar University Institute of Sufi Studies reminded that the symposium was organized jointly by the Faculty of Medicine and the Institute of Sufi Studies, and addressed the relationship between medicine and Sufism. Prof. Dr. Reşat Öngören, pointing out the treatment methods for illnesses by Sufi practitioners through the relationship between Allah, the universe, and humans, continued his speech as follows:

“In the universe, which is a manifestation of Allah’s names and attributes and is referred to as ‘macrocosm’, humans are defined as ‘microcosm’, meaning that the entire universe is considered to be folded within humans. Therefore, there is an overlap, a correspondence, at these two levels of existence. That is why ancient physicians, who focused on the human body and were also interested in natural philosophy, were referred to as both “hekim” (physician) and “hakîm” (sage). In this understanding, various elements from the universe such as plants, stones, sounds, etc., are utilized for the treatment of human ailments.

Furthermore, in the history of medicine of Islamic civilization, it is observed that from early periods, alongside physical treatment (tibb-ı cesedânî), the treatment of the soul (tibb-ı rûhânî) was also emphasized. Physicians who spoke of spiritual medicine state that excessive attachment to worldly blessings such as wealth, position, and fame leads to extreme sadness and depression when these are not obtained or when what is possessed is lost. On the other hand, feelings of hatred, anger, envy, and jealousy towards those who possess these cannot be controlled. This leads to the emergence of problems in their spiritual worlds and, in today’s terms, “psychosomatic” ailments.

Therefore, it should be stated that Sufi education performs important functions as ‘preventive medicine’ to prevent such ailments. Because Sufi education primarily aims to free the human soul from excessive dependence on the world and ultimately to ensure its complete freedom.”

Mecit Çetinkaya: “We provide scholarships to students studying the history of medicine”

Speaking at the opening, Mecit Çetinkaya, Chairman of the Board and Trustee of the ‘Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin Research Foundation for the History of Science in Islam’, thanked those who organized and attended the symposium. Providing information about the ‘Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin Research Foundation for the History of Science in Islam’, Mecit Çetinkaya said, “We established such a foundation through the efforts of our teacher Fuat, and we brought his library to Turkey within the foundation. Unfortunately, we have still not been able to acquire some of his works, especially his handwritten notes. The process regarding this issue continues. We provide scholarships to students studying the history of medicine, enabling them to study at university for free.” 

Prof. Dr. Koçak: “Fuat Sezgin liberated all scientists living in the Islamic geography from an inferiority complex” 

Üsküdar University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Hikmet Koçak stated in his speech, “My teacher Fuat was a person who fully deserved the saying ‘the value of a person is proportional to their endeavor’. The works he produced throughout his life have given a sense of confidence to all scientists living not only in Turkey but also in the Islamic geography today, liberating them from an inferiority complex.”

Prof. Dr. Hikmet Koçak, also mentioning his memories with Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin, concluded his words by saying, “Hopefully, by taking my teacher Fuat as an example and benefiting from his works, you will also achieve great things.”

Prof. Dr. Sur: “Competence is not enough; aptitude is needed”

Üsküdar University Faculty of Medicine Dean Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur expressed his excitement in his speech, saying, “We are talking about a scholar like Fuat Sezgin. There is Islamic civilization and the history of medicine, which forms a very important part of it. The fact that Üsküdar University hosts such distinguished guests on its 10th anniversary adds to the excitement.”

Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur stated that they included the course ‘Humanities in Medicine’ in the curriculum during the establishment phase of Üsküdar University Faculty of Medicine, and added:

“This is a very important course. Initially, it wasn't well understood, but we didn't face any objections. There is only one book published in Turkish on this subject. We also published it among Üsküdar University Faculty of Medicine publications. We are continuing our efforts to create a new one. The Humanities in Medicine course includes spirituality, positive sciences, and art. The question of whether medicine is a science or an art was discussed, and a statement was published: ‘Medicine is an art form that uses science the most.’ Ultimately, the matter comes down to skill. Competence is not enough; aptitude is needed. This forms the part bestowed by Allah. When I saw that some physician friends who meticulously knew the books were not very successful in clinical practice, I say, ‘Allah has not bestowed aptitude upon them.’ That is, the acquired part is not sufficient.”

Prof. Dr. Güldütuna: “Our teacher Fuat believed that his work would awaken a new revival and resurgence in the Islamic world”

The guest of honor of the symposium, Prof. Dr. Şükrettin Güldütuna, who was Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin’s companion for 38 years and personal physician from Frankfurt Goethe University Faculty of Medicine, delivered his speech titled ‘Memories of Fuat Sezgin Hoca’. Thanking those who contributed to the organization of the program, Prof. Dr. Şükrettin Güldütuna emphasized that Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin made a significant contribution to the history of the Arab-Islamic Cultural World with his 17-volume work, and said:

“This work placed our teacher Fuat where he deserved to be in world history. He believed that this great work would awaken a new revival and resurgence in the Islamic world. The purpose of all his work was, in fact, this. To achieve this goal, merely an intellect with analytical thinking ability was not enough. Above all, there was a need for inner strength based on faith in Allah and reliance on Him. This spiritual strength gave him the necessary energy to work every day, including holidays, until the end of his life at the institute he founded in Frankfurt. When evaluating the works and contributions of Fuat Sezgin Hoca, one must understand and see the spirituality and life philosophy that underlie them.”

Prof. Dr. Şükrettin Güldütuna also shared important memories based on his 38-year acquaintance with Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin.

The Symposium lasted 2 days

The two-day symposium, broadcast live on ÜÜTV and Üsküdar University YouTube channel, held its first-day panel chaired by Prof. Dr. İlhan İlkılıç, Head of the Department of Medical History and Ethics at İstanbul University, Faculty of Medicine. In this panel, cardiologist Dr. Zahide Özkan, who completed her doctorate with Fuat Sezgin Hoca, orientalist and historian of science Prof. Dr. Detlew Quintern, one of Fuat Sezgin Hoca's colleagues, and Prof. Dr. Hülya Küçük from Necmettin Erbakan University Faculty of Theology, an expert on Sufism and medicine, delivered their presentations. Dr. Özkan, with her work titled “Psychosomatic Medicine and its Place Today in Abu Zayd al-Balkhi’s Work ‘Masalih al-Abdan wa’l-Anfus’,” focused on al-Balkhi’s views on how humans should be approached in diagnosis and treatment, as one of the founders of the fields of psychology and psychiatry. Prof. Dr. Quintern from Turkish-German University, in his speech discussing the works of Jābir ibn Hayyān and al-Rāzī, stated that “healing is a universal heritage” that is the subject of many sciences and concerns all humanity. Prof. Dr. Küçük, who also contributed as a Thesis Advisor in doctoral studies conducted at Üsküdar University Institute of Sufi Studies, gave a speech titled “Sûri (Physiological) and Rūhānī Health Preservation Recommendations from Sufi Physicians.”

On the second day of the program, the first panel was chaired by Prof. Dr. İhsan Karaman, a faculty member at İstanbul Health and Technology University Faculty of Medicine, a urologist, and also holding a doctorate in Medical History and Ethics. In the panel, Dr. Sema İskit, a pediatric surgeon and a student of the Institute of Sufi Studies, Islamic Civilization Thought, History, and Literature Doctoral Program, Dr. Öğr. Üyesi (Lecturer) Yosun Mater from Gebze Technical University Molecular Biology and Genetics Department, and Dr. Hüdayar Işık, a family medicine specialist, presented their ongoing doctoral research. 
The final panel of the symposium was chaired by Prof. Dr. Mevlüt Sait Keleş, a faculty member at Üsküdar University Faculty of Medicine.

The symposium concluded with speeches by Dr. Öğr. Üyesi (Lecturer) H. Dilek Güldütuna, a specialist physician from the Institute of Sufi Studies, and Prof. Dr. Nil Sarı, one of the veteran professors in the field of Medical History and Ethics from the retired faculty members of İstanbul University Faculty of Medicine. Dr. Öğr. Üyesi H. Dilek Güldütuna, while discussing doctoral studies on Sufi medical works examined for mind-body integrity at the Institute, spoke about the ‘Islamic Medicine’ Series among the publications of the Frankfurt Institute for the History of Arabic-Islamic Science, prepared by Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin. Prof. Dr. Sarı's speech titled “Expectations from Physicians in the Context of a Holistic Approach to Human Body and Mental Health in Ottoman Medical History” was met with great interest from the audience. Prof. Dr. Sarı made evaluations based on her studies examining the relationship between medicine and humans and its institutions in tradition, and spoke about the intricacies of the profession and the importance of a holistic approach.