Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan participated in the opening speech of the 12th International Bediüzzaman Symposium, held online by the Istanbul Science and Culture Foundation under the title 'Faith in Individual and Social Life'. Dr. Ahmet Subaşı moderated the symposium, which was attended by 124 scholars from 26 countries and 60 universities, and representatives from 19 institutions. Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, emphasizing the importance of the way Islam is presented and the approach to people, stated; “In this era, we cannot explain Islam to the people of this age, to the Western mentality, through methods of domination. We can only do this through methods of persuasion and conviction. Civilized people understand through persuasion and conviction, praise, and kind words, not through pressure, threats, intimidation, or suppression. In this way, we need to find the language they understand and convince the Western world.” Tarhan noted that such extensive politicization of the Islamic world also harms Islam.
“An Islamic state has not yet emerged in the Western world”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, explaining the future of the Islamic world from Bediüzzaman's perspective, stated; “If we consider what the primary ailment in the Islamic world is, we can say it is the inability to live by Islamic ethics. Bediüzzaman's method regarding this is not the 'preaching method' but the 'representation method'. He even insists on and emphasizes this point in the Risale-i Ikhlas. Therefore, he says, 'If we demonstrate true Islam and the truthfulness worthy of Islam, the Western world will flock to Islam.' There is even a conversation between Sheikh Bahit Effendi and Al-Azhar University, which is also mentioned in the Risale-i Nur. The year is the 1910s… Sheikh Bahit Effendi asks Bediüzzaman during a conversation in Hagia Sophia, 'How do you see the future of the Islamic world?' At that, Bediüzzaman gives a very concise, capsule-like answer. He says, 'The Islamic world is pregnant with a European state. And Europe is pregnant with an Islamic state.' The first birth took place. The Republic of Turkey was born. Many states emerged that appreciated the European state in a similar modernism to Europe. But an Islamic state has not yet emerged in the Western world. There are currently labor pains for this, but it has not yet materialized.”
“We cannot explain Islam to the people of this age, to the Western mentality, through methods of domination”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, speaking about how Islam should be explained to the Western world today, said; “Bediüzzaman states that despotism has 3 symptoms. The first is Rey-i Vahid, meaning the concentration of decision-making in a single person, also called autocracy. That is, the final say belonging to one person. All decisions being made by one person. Monarchies are like this anyway. The second, Bediüzzaman says, is the 'disease of domination'… That is, domination led to the widespread prevalence of oppression and tyranny in Islam with the Umayyads. Many divisions, conflicts, and civil wars, such as the emergence of the Shia sect, are also due to the disease of domination. In this era, we cannot explain Islam to the people of this age, to the Western mentality, through methods of domination. We can only do this through methods of persuasion and conviction. Civilized people understand through persuasion and conviction, praise, and kind words, not through pressure, threats, intimidation, or suppression. In this way, we need to find the language they understand and convince the Western world.”
“Islam derives its legitimacy not from politics, but from ethics”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, speaking about the importance of monotheistic faith, said; “Why have Muslims in this era become 'formal Muslims,' 'wardrobe Muslims'? Why aren't Islamic ethics being lived by? You see a person who performs their prayers, yet they infringe upon others' rights. They continue their life by taking advantage of their worker's rights. Or a person who performs their worship, who is careful not to eat during fasting, can easily take bribes. Why has such a type of person emerged? Islam derives its legitimacy not from politics, but from ethics. However, when you view Islam through politics, politics comes to the forefront, and in such cases, faith remains secondary. I believe we better understand the wisdom behind Bediüzzaman's emphasis on faith and his relegation of politics to a secondary or tertiary role in this way. That is, if a person has doubts about faith, for example, a student, where the religious studies teacher says that God created the universe. You look at other sciences, including biology. The teacher there says that the universe formed by chance. In such situations, the student becomes confused. And because they are confused, what does the student do? They make mistakes, and hesitation arises. They feel affection for Islam but do not live by it. Therefore, a student must first transform their faith into a monotheistic faith that can answer all kinds of questions. Faith is fundamental for this reason.”
“The extent of politicization in the Islamic world harms Islam”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, emphasizing that politics should not be in a primary position in Islam, said; “In Islam, there is no sanctification of individuals. The greatest example of this is the era of Hz. Abu Bakr, Hz. Umar, and the Rashidun Caliphs. And Bediüzzaman's concern is to bring this example to the present day. Islamic thought does not derive its legitimacy from politics for this reason. It takes it from the ethics of the Holy Quran. Therefore, the extent of politicization in the Islamic world harms Islam. Bediüzzaman also states that Islamic scholars should minimize politicization and prioritize living by saying, 'I seek refuge in Allah from Satan and from politics...' For this reason, in the Risale-i Ikhlas, he advises his followers to protect their minds. He calls this situation 'Shirk-i Khafi' (hidden polytheism), defining reaching certain goals by lying through hypocrisy and false behaviors as 'hidden polytheism'.”
Reporter: Meryem Türk