A panel titled ‘The Importance of Quranic Morality Today’ was held within the framework of the commemoration program organized on the occasion of the 64th anniversary of Bediüzzaman Said Nursi’s passing. Speaking at the 11th program hosted by Üsküdar Üniversitesi, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan emphasized that capitalist morality has become a global morality today, warning that “we are faced with seeing the ugly consequences of bad morality.” Tarhan stated that “we first need to set an example for others by living it ourselves,” adding that if one cannot set an example, talking for hours holds no significance. Tarhan pointed out that morality is learned later in life.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “Morality is not genetic; it is learned later. If we do not provide education on morality, it spontaneously disappears. If we do not keep goodness and good morality alive, evil spreads on its own.”
Prof. Dr. Niyazi Beki: “Morality is essential for an individual to attain perfection in their own life and for the beautification of social life.”
Prof. Dr. Alpaslan Açıkgenç: “In Islamic thought, there is no ‘moral philosophy’ as there is in the West. We derive our rules and moral principles from the Quran.”
A commemoration program was organized by Tarhan Foundation, Risale-i Nur Research Platform, Risale-i Nur Institute, Çağın Vicdanı Club, and Şekercihan Association, hosted by Üsküdar Üniversitesi, on the occasion of the 64th anniversary of Bediüzzaman Said Nursi’s passing. The panel with the main theme ‘The Importance of Quranic Morality Today’ was held at the NP Sağlık Yerleşkesi Avicenna Auditorium.
Prof. Dr. Niyazi Beki: “The source of good morality in Islam is the Quran and Sunnah”
The commemoration program began with the recitation of the Holy Quran by Hafiz İbrahim Yağız and a video presentation about Bediüzzaman Said Nursi.
Following the speech by Zeynep Tokgöz, President of Üsküdar Üniversitesi Çağın Vicdanı Club, which was founded in 2014 inspired by Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan’s book ‘Bediüzzaman, Conscience of the Age,’ Prof. Dr. Niyazi Beki, President of Üsküdar Üniversitesi Risale-i Nur Research Platform (RİNAP), delivered the opening speech, addressing the importance of Quranic morality today.
Prof. Dr. Niyazi Beki stated that there are 3 unchangeable fundamental elements in Islam, listing them as principles of faith, worship, and good morality.
Prof. Dr. Niyazi Beki also shared the following information in his speech:
“Good morality has two facets. For both facets of morality to function properly as the mainspring of social life, knowledge and action are needed. Morality is essential for an individual to attain perfection in their own life and for the beautification of social life. To achieve a good life and to transmit it to others, it is imperative to possess knowledge and master the subject.
‘What was the source of moral education of our Prophet (PBUH) who said, ‘I was sent only to perfect good morals’? Hz. Aisha narrates, ‘The morality of the Prophet (PBUH) was the Quran.’ This hadith points out that the entire life of the Prophet (PBUH) was shaped within the framework of Allah’s commands and prohibitions.
‘On the Day of Judgment, the most beloved to me and the closest to my assembly will be those with the best character.’ In Islam, the source of good morality is the Quran and Sunnah.”
Prof. Dr. Ruhi Yavuz: “Only Quranic morality will restore humanity to itself”
Starting his speech by saying, “There have been ups and downs in human history,” Prof. Dr. Ruhi Yavuz, President of Şekercihan Association, stated, “We are living in a century where the evils of civilization outweigh its good deeds, and all kinds of immorality are openly experienced.”
Prof. Dr. Ruhi Yavuz continued his speech as follows:
“We are all witnessing the barbarities of Roman and Greek civilizations as if that spirit is being relived in this century. In particular, we see that human values are trampled upon. In such an environment, only Quranic morality can restore humanity to its sublime values.
Bediüzzaman, who dedicated his entire life to these truths, has revealed through his writings how faith, worship, and morality—and how morality can be rectified—should be in this era.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “Capitalist morality has now become a global morality”
Finally, Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector and Head of the Executive Board, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, took the stage and began his speech by thanking those who contributed to the Bediüzzaman Said Nursi commemoration programs held since the university's establishment, as well as the students of the Çağın Vicdanı Club.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, explaining how the need to emphasize Quranic morality arose in the panel planned this year with the theme ‘The Importance of Quranic Morality Today,’ said, “There is an envelope and there is its content. The envelope is there to protect what is inside. However, the content is the essence, the main part within the envelope. The other is complementary.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan pointed out that people have a notion like, ‘We respect Quranic morality, we believe in it, religiousness is good, but Quranic morality cannot be lived in this day and age,’ and continued by saying that this notion needs to be debated:
“Human rights are just the packaging…”
“There is capitalist morality now, which is money-centric. Capitalist morality says, ‘Money is the most sacred value, amen.’ It has now become a global morality. In this morality, what the powerful say goes. Jungle laws prevail in capitalism. Human rights are just the packaging. There is a system focused on self-interest and selfishness, marginalizing the weak and powerless. With this system, we are faced with seeing the ugly consequences of bad morality.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “If we do not provide education on morality, it spontaneously disappears”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that globally, incidents of violence, crimes, and cruelty are increasing, and continued his words as follows:
“There is an increase in everything contrary to morality. Morality is not genetic; it is learned later. If we do not provide education on morality, it spontaneously disappears. According to the law of entropy, if a place is not heated, it cools down; if it is not illuminated, it becomes dark. That is, there is no such thing as darkness, only the absence of light; there is no such thing as cold, only the absence of heat. Similarly, there is no such thing as evil, only the absence of good. If we do not keep goodness and good morality alive, evil spreads on its own. We are seriously heading towards the widespread prevalence of bad morality in the world. Suicides and crimes have increased. Families have started to fall apart, genderlessness propaganda is evident… In such a situation, we need to show that morality is livable. The method for this is representation rather than mere preaching.
The best way to preach is to represent, to be an example. If you cannot be a good example, talking for hours holds no significance. The era of sermons delivered by pounding the pulpit is over. We need to proceed with persuasion and conviction. We need to appeal to people's hearts.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “The primary condition for the formation of morality is living it”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that the reference point in morality is the Meccan period, saying, “During the Meccan period, our Prophet (PBUH), despite those who wanted to resist pressures and revolt, migrated and did not engage in physical struggle. Because it needs to be built upon hearts. We must revive the prophetic morality.”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, “First, we need to set an example for others by living it ourselves. Indeed, when a person becomes an example, there is no need to say anything to others. They spontaneously begin to influence others. There are people who are friends of Allah; they say nothing, yet people gather around them even when they don't want them to. The reason for this is that Allah inspires feelings of love towards such individuals.
When we think about what the most important measure of morality Bediüzzaman has set before us is, the measure is Ihlas (sincerity) morality… If we can live by Ihlas morality, it becomes the most effective method. The primary condition for the formation of morality is living it,” he stated.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “The disease of selfishness is the greatest enemy of morality”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan also pointed out that there are many diseases that hinder morality, stating that the greatest disease of this century is selfishness. “The disease of selfishness is the greatest enemy of morality,” said Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, adding, “A person who loves themselves and pursues their own interests is enough to be evil. If a married person says ‘me first, then my beloved,’ the marriage ends; today, the biggest reason for the breakup of families is selfishness. The second enemy of morality is opportunism, self-interest… Self-interest is also a disease of modernism. The capitalist system glorifies this. Because it encourages happiness through consumption rather than production, people want to earn without working or by exploiting others. We are heading towards such a world.”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan concluded his words as follows:
“Here, we need to be good examples. It doesn't happen from where we sit. Eastern culture, unfortunately, always waits for ‘the Mahdi to come and save us.’ Instead of waiting for the Mahdi, one needs to work. Waiting for a savior without doing anything is laziness. How can we expect Allah's help without putting in effort? Not thinking about the Day of Reckoning is the greatest negligence.
Today, the disease of ‘wahn’ (weakness/love of worldly life) is much discussed. It manifests itself in two ways: first, love of the world, worldliness. People live as if they will never die. Second, fear of death. If these two exist, then the disease of wahn exists.
Currently, ‘wardrobe Islam’ (superficial religiosity) prevails; outwardly, people are quite Muslim, but in terms of lifestyle, lies, deception, forbidden acts, violating others' rights, public rights, not keeping promises—all are present. The quality of trustworthiness in Islam is at rock bottom.”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Tümay: “In a society living with Quranic morality, negativity cannot find a place”
Following the opening speeches, the panel on “The Importance of Quranic Morality Today” began. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Tümay, a faculty member at Medeniyet Üniversitesi, who moderated the panel, said, “Quranic morality is based on very fundamental values such as love, compassion, justice, honesty, and sacrifice. These values contain very important truths for both individual and social order. Quranic morality helps in the development of human spirituality and in finding peace. A person living with Quranic morality will have a clear conscience and a peaceful heart, and will be a beneficial individual to their society, country, and nation. From a social perspective, it forms the foundation of peace and tranquility. In a society living with Quranic morality, negativities such as oppression, violence, and injustice cannot find a place.”
Prof. Dr. İshak Özgel: “Humanity, boasting of intellectual and technological development, is in a period of ignorance…”
Among the panel speakers, Prof. Dr. İshak Özgel, a faculty member at Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi, said the following in his presentation:
“We are going through a time when we understand what the age of disaster and destruction means. When history writes about what happened in these years, people will be astonished. Sociologists will try to analyze, but they will find nothing. It is impossible to explain the events unfolding before our eyes; historians will also be unable to make sense of them.
In such an environment, we are discussing Quranic morality. Because if we had lived it ourselves, if we had been able to set an example, it might have been possible for these atrocities not to occur today. The pre-Islamic era of ignorance (Jahiliyyah) bears a strong resemblance to today. Today, humanity is experiencing the same things. Humanity, boasting of intellectual and technological development, is in a period of ignorance…”
Prof. Dr. Alpaslan Açıkgenç: “We derive our moral principles from the Quran”
Among the panelists, Lawyer Ahmet Özkılınç, in his speech titled ‘Perspective and Our Agenda,’ gave examples from Bediüzzaman Said Nursi's life and experiences, highlighting that Bediüzzaman's agenda was always the Quran.
Üsküdar Üniversitesi faculty member Prof. Dr. Alpaslan Açıkgenç, in his speech titled ‘Quranic Morality and Its Contributions to Our Day,’ expressed the following:
“When we look at Islamic thought, there is no ‘moral philosophy’ as there is in the West. When I researched the reason for this, I found that our philosophers like Ibn Sina and Farabi started their education with the Quran. They began studying philosophy at the university level. That is, by the time they started studying philosophy, their minds had been shaped by the Quran. It is not possible for them to go outside the Quran. They can only provide interpretations on certain topics, and that is what they did. Their work on morality has been entirely in this manner. If we do not have moral philosophy, where do we get our rules, our moral principles? We get them from the Quran.”
The program, broadcast live on Üsküdar Üniversitesi YouTube channel and ÜÜTV, concluded after a group photo session.
Participants gathered for iftar dinner…
Within the scope of the program held on the occasion of the 64th anniversary of Bediüzzaman Said Nursi's passing, participants gathered for an iftar dinner hosted by Tarhan Foundation.