Students enrolled in the Sufi Literature and Culture Master's program at Üsküdar Üniversitesi Institute of Sufi Studies gathered with institute faculty members and students at an event held as part of the Sufi Culture and Art course they took this spring semester. The event took place at the Nermin Tarhan conference hall on the central campus.
As part of the event, students of the course presented parables assigned to them from Rumi's Masnavi. In-depth text readings and analyses of the presentations were carried out within the scope of the course's objectives. An iftar dinner was offered to participants due to the month of Ramadan.
During the event, moderated by our alumnus Hüseyin Cem Durak, a concert titled 'Muhabbet Meşki' consisting of divine hymns (ilâhî) and nefes (breath-based chants) was performed by Serhan Yasdıman and Mehmet Evren Hacıoğlu. Hüseyin Cem Durak performed with a bendir called 'erbane', Serhan Yasdıman with a guitar, and Mehmet Evren Hacıoğlu with a divan saz. The selected ilâhî and nefes began with a 'gülbank' recited in a historically traditional style.
Dr. F. Cangüzel Güner Zülfikar provided an opportunity for online participation for those who could not attend the event in person. After the practical event related to the course content, students were encouraged to write an opinion piece expressing their impressions.