Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that remembering Allah gives peace to the heart, saying, “We actually need to be online with Allah in this world. Just as we connect everywhere with phone and online internet. Whoever opens their heart to Allah will be online. Whoever has their heart sealed lives with the program of hatred within them. Connecting to Allah gives 10 times more peace than what we provide with therapies.” he said.
Mystic-Author Cemâlnur Sargut, on the other hand, drew attention to the fact that everything has a visible part and a reality part in the program. Sargut stated that the teacher is the one who plugs you into Allah’s 'socket'.
On the occasion of Hz. Mevlâna's 750th Anniversary of Reunion, within the scope of Şeb-i Arûs Week, an interview titled “Vuslat” (Reunion), prepared in cooperation with Üsküdar Üniversitesi Institute of Sufi Studies and Kerim Foundation, was held at Üsküdar Üniversitesi Main Campus Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall.
The program, which was also broadcast live on ÜÜ TV and Youtube, was moderated by Prof. Dr. Emine Yeniterzi, one of the Deputy Directors of the Institute of Sufi Studies. Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan and Rector's Advisor Cemâlnur Sargut participated as speakers in the interview.
Prof. Dr. Emine Yeniterzi said, “We are not commemorating Mevlana's death anniversary; we are celebrating Mevlana's reunion with the Truth (God).” Prof. Dr. Yeniterzi,
“In his famous ruba'i, Mevlâna says;
there is a soul in an instant, seek that soul.
There is a jewel in the mountain of the body, seek the mine of that jewel.
Oh wandering Sufi, if you have the strength, seek,
But not outside, seek what you seek within yourself… He emphasized the questions, "Worldly life is a quest, some will call it death, some will call it reunion, but this is a quest; what is human capacity in this journey, where should we draw our strength from, and how should we overcome difficulties?"
Rector's Advisor, mystic writer Cemâlnur Sargut, in her speech, referred to the joy of feeling Allah within oneself at every moment, and the love of Allah, stating that death is not something to fear but the most beautiful thing in the world.
We think about death, we don't think about reunion…
“We live egoistically. We think about death, we don't think about reunion.” said Sargut, emphasizing the importance of “the love of Allah and the love of the Prophet.”
Sargut also explained that meeting and reuniting with Allah alone is important, and that there are still those who worship the world and materialism even at 80 years old. For a person who remembers Allah with love, only Allah exists, she stated. Sargut used the expressions, “The goal is the realm of eternity, the world is a temporary stop…”
Sargut also stated that the straight path (Sirat al-Mustaqim) opens onto the path of the Prophet, that the Mathnawi is a way of life, and that Sufism teaches people to worship Allah.
Emphasizing that everything has a visible part and a reality part, Sargut stated that the teacher is the one who plugs you into Allah's 'socket'.
The Surah that best conceptualizes Allah is Surah Al-Ikhlas
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that if a person forms a correct conception of Allah, they will see that there is nothing but Allah. Referring to the attributes of Allah, he said, “The Surah that best conceptualizes Allah is Surah Al-Ikhlas. He is One, He has no spouse, no like, and is in need of nothing.”
Tarhan, also pointing out the saying “We are not living in the world, we are passing through the world,” explained that the world is a school and the exam will end one day, but no one has a guarantee of passing this exam.
Tarhan drew attention to the fact that, unlike other living beings, humans are given free will, and a soul (nafs), meaning the ability to challenge Allah, saying, “There has never been a century in human history where worldliness and egoism were so widespread. In such a century, not many people can understand Mevlana's reunion.”
There is only one unchanging truth, the truth of death…
Tarhan, stating that a life that has sanctified the world is being taught, noted that in this age, it is necessary to provide an explanation for death, and thinking people are seeking meaning that explains death.
Tarhan expressed the following:
“There is only one unchanging truth, the truth of death… Then this life demands something else from us. When there is death, there is no meaning for this world to be beautiful. Everything passes, goes away. Even if this world were yours, it would go away. You will lose everything.
A smart person is one who thinks long-term…
A smart person is one who thinks long-term. The true long-term thinking is to think about what comes after death. A person who does not think about what comes after death means they cannot use their intellect.”
Death should be remembered to control the evil tempters within people
Tarhan also stated that Mevlana united intellect with heart, and that Mevlana said, “I read the Holy Quran from beginning to end, I saw nothing but good manners.”
Tarhan also said that every moment of life should be lived as if it were the last day, stating, “It is important to be able to take the lesson of thinking every moment as the last day of life and living in this way.”
Tarhan explained that death should be remembered to control the evil tempters within people, and that as death is remembered, accountability emerges.
Reminding that the word 'Yawm ad-Din' in Surah Al-Fatiha means the Day of Judgment, Tarhan said that Mevlana emphasized reunion (with God) so as not to forget death.
In Surah Al-Alaq, 'Read' refers to the search for truth
Tarhan, also reminding that the first verse is 'Read', referred to Surah Al-Alaq and noted that 'Read' means the search for truth.
Tarhan also explained that it is stated that humans were created from a clot of blood, saying, “The 9 months and 10 days process is a complete miracle. For two cells to come together and become a human in 9 months and 10 days is impossible without an external will, external intelligence, external power.”
Remembering Allah gives peace to the heart…
Tarhan, drawing attention to divine love, said, “When a person loves transient things, they disappear. They love money, it runs away. For love to be permanent and give inner peace, that love must be connected to an eternal being. It is necessary to connect to an everlasting and eternal power. Remembering Allah gives peace to the heart.”
Reminding Bediüzzaman's saying, “If you want a friend, Allah is enough; if you want a companion, the Quran is enough; if you want an enemy, the self (nafs) is enough,” Tarhan said, “Paradise is not cheap, Mevlana endured so many hardships.”
We are living in a simulation in this world; real life is not this life...
Tarhan, stating in his speech that ‘Allah's invisibility is not proof that He does not exist’, said, “Allah knows where and what we will do. We are living in a simulation in this world. Real life is not this life. This life is entirely a game. We are in a game, just like a computer game. We are living in a simulation. After death, we will go to real life. Just as 2 times 2 is certain… According to quantum dynamics, this is certain. We are in a different energy band, and after death, we will transition to a different energy band. Allah sees us.”
Connecting to Allah gives 10 times more peace than what we provide with therapies…
Emphasizing the importance of connecting to Allah, Tarhan said, “Connecting to Allah gives 10 times more peace than what we provide with therapies. A person feels true peace when they connect to an eternal will.”
Tarhan, also pointing to mindfulness therapies, noted that Mevlana's ideas should be taken and presented with today's methodology.
Thinking minds will find the truth
Tarhan also explained how his book “Mathnawi Therapy” came about, stating that the US taught them about Mevlana through positive psychology, and he prepared the book based on this.
Tarhan, stating that people of this age live far from the truth and that thinking minds will find the truth, expressed that if Mevlana is the sun, they held up a mirror to this era with the book.
Tarhan, explaining that each of Mevlana's stories corrects faulty thought patterns, said, “There are no perfect people; those with sealed hearts criticize Mevlana… There are some people who would find fault with an egg even if it passed in front of them. Those who find fault with Mevlana are such people. If you put them in paradise, they would object, 'Why is this place beautiful?'”
Whoever has their heart sealed lives with the program of hatred within them
In response to the question of what needs to be done to achieve wisdom in this age, Tarhan said, “We actually need to be online with Allah in this world. Just as we connect everywhere with phone and online internet. Whoever opens their heart to Allah will be online. Whoever has their heart sealed lives with the program of hatred within them: eating, drinking, reproducing, sheltering. This is a primitive way of life. The level of development is; loving, being loved, pursuing a certain meaning and purpose in life…”
Tarhan also stated that there are other beings on the planet that we do not see, saying, “After death, we will change our energy band. Knowing this and living with that preparation is important.”
Tarhan, noting that the knowledge brought by science and technology leads people to Tawhid (Oneness of God), concluded his words by saying, “For a person who finds faith in Allah, peace forms in their heart and soul, like a small garden of paradise in this world. This world is not the hell of a believer.”