Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, was a guest on the İftar Vakti program broadcast on TV 5 channel. In the program hosted by Muhammed Emin Özalp, Tarhan made evaluations regarding the month of Ramadan, spiritual values, and the COVID epidemic; “The month of Ramadan offers three different prescriptions to an individual: the ability to delay gratification, resilience training, and the cultivation of gratitude and thankfulness. When the teachings in these prescriptions are followed, one can become a better person,” he said.
“The month of Ramadan is like a mirror”
Tarhan stated that the thought movements developing in the West have made humanity forget its fundamental values, leading to selfishness, narcissism, and egoism; “The month of Ramadan is like a mirror. Modernity has revealed the narcissistic structure within humans. By creation, humans are prone to seeing themselves at the center of the world. Existentialist modern philosophy created three movements: Atheistic Humanism, Deistic Humanism, Nihilistic Humanism. The nihilistic humanism that emerged in the 20th century left no values. It claimed that the essential thing was to chase pleasure. In Germany, 'freedom' is accepted as a global ideology. In Europe, incest and pedophilia are presented as freedom. Global ideology and capital support these policies because the concept of family will be harmed, and as a result, the population will decrease. Individualism has turned into selfishness. Individuals have deified themselves. The most important problem in the world is the problem of selfishness. Egoism has led to narcissism and, consequently, loneliness. Due to the increase in suicides caused by loneliness, many countries have established Ministries of Loneliness. The West forgot to be a mirror to itself; it gave birth to individualism and selfishness,” he said.
“Our ethics teachers are TV and smartphone majesties”
Tarhan stated that with the loss of old traditional values, a religious deterioration occurred; “In Islam, 'wardrobe Islam' has emerged. There are those who violate the rights of others by hiding behind religious values. There are no old guides anymore; there used to be a dervish lodge in every neighborhood. These people became ethics teachers and guided people. Now, we take whatever is on the screen as ethics. Ethics teachers have become TV majesties, smartphone majesties,” he said.
“The virtue-lessness virus has taken over the world”
Tarhan stated that the month of Ramadan offers individuals and families an opportunity to unknowingly renew themselves, and families who spend time together will emerge from this month having gained something. Tarhan; “The month of Ramadan is a period of opportunity for the family to refresh itself. In America, there are 'Family Refreshment Programs' one day a week to prevent family crisis. Families gather in a hotel, adults and children are given training with modules, and an opportunity to spend time together is offered. The month of Ramadan provides this unknowingly and brings the entire family together. It becomes a break that allows one to step out of the 11-month routine and renew meaning and strategy in one month. COVID disrupted our bodily functions but enabled us to spend time as a family. In this process, if the family has common goals and ideals, they emerge having gained. However, if there are ego wars, the competitive environment between men and women continues. All this shows that income levels are increasing in the world, but happiness is decreasing. Researchers are investigating the possibility of a depression-causing virus due to the increase in depression cases. This is the virus of virtue-lessness,” he stated.
“The month of Ramadan offers three prescriptions to an individual”
Tarhan stated that the month of Ramadan offers three different prescriptions to humans, and if the teachings in these prescriptions are followed, one can become a better person. Tarhan; “The first of the individual prescriptions offered by Ramadan is the ability to delay gratification. According to Freud, the human ideal is hedonistic satisfaction. This has become a global ideology. Humans are hasty and impatient. Running within virtue is not pleasing to the human ego. If a person can do this despite their ego, they become virtuous. Ramadan creates a beautiful environment to discipline these feelings. You cannot eat what is on the table before the adhan is called. We need to return to the Prophetic style practiced by the Messenger of Allah. We are currently experiencing the Meccan period. The atmosphere of Ramadan makes it easier for people to control their impulsive desires. The second prescription offered by Ramadan is resilience training. Exercises in patience and endurance are performed. Before Islam, there was no time-focused way of life. Islam divides the day into five with prayer, teaching time planning. The third education Ramadan provides to people is the training of gratitude and thankfulness. It is necessary to teach children the feeling of thanking; if not taught in childhood, a person becomes ungrateful,” he concluded.