The relationship between Sufism and modern man discussed

In collaboration with Üsküdar University Institute for Sufi Studies and Kerim Foundation, a talk titled “What is Happening, What Should Happen?” was organized within the scope of “Human Sufi Thought and Healing Talks.” In the talk, featuring State Artist and Instructor at the Institute for Sufi Studies, Ahmet Özhan, the existential struggles of modern man were addressed from a Sufi perspective. Ahmet Özhan emphasized the importance of mental purification and deepening faith for a healthy mindset, while also highlighting that religion and science are an inseparable whole. Dr. Hasan Kerim Güç, an instructor in the History Department of İTBF, who moderated the program, stated that in the modern world, humanity is moved away from the center, and matter is brought to the forefront. 

In the program held at Üsküdar University Main Campus Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall, master artist Ahmet Özhan and Instructor Dr. Hasan Kerim Güç from the İTBF History Department evaluated the existential struggles of modern man and ways out from a Sufi perspective.

Ahmet Özhan: “Decoration is last, excavation is needed first”

Ahmet Özhan, who began his speech with an introduction on the knowledge of existence, stated that mental purification is essential for building a healthy belief system.
Emphasizing that the ground must first be cleared for the soundness of a building, Özhan stated that people today are preoccupied with decorations rather than fundamentals. Özhan said; “For a healthy building, serious excavation is needed first. After that, you perform insulation, then the walls go up. Tezyinat, or decoration, is last. Today, decoration is discussed first, but excavation is not taken into account.” 

“Knowing notes is not knowing music”

Emphasizing that science and religion are an inseparable whole, Özhan stated, using an example from the art world, that didactic knowledge alone is not sufficient. Özhan said; “I learned music not in the conservatory but on stage. Knowing notes is not knowing music. Music is a notion; you have to perceive it. In school, only principles are learned, but the spirit of that 'maqam' is hidden in the work, and the work only reveals itself through interpretation. The same applies to religion. You learn the principles, but you specialize in the field, that is, in life.”

“One needs to internalize what they believe in”

Drawing attention to a verse in the Holy Quran, Özhan said that faith is not just acceptance but a level of ‘itminan’ (inner peace and certainty). Özhan, arguing that one needs to internalize what they believe in at the level of 'mutmainne' (serenity/certainty), continued his words as follows:

“To the man of faith, Almighty God commands, ‘O you who believe, believe!’ This is what I am trying to convey. One needs to internalize what they believe in. If you believe in a being whose name is ‘Allah’ merely as a potential in some deferred, pushed-aside, different dimensions, we cannot truly understand or discover religion, Islam, or creation.”

“Every line of the Holy Quran is a condition of Islam” 

Stating that every line of the Holy Quran is a condition, Özhan described ‘knowing one's limits’ as the sixth, and ‘frequently remembering Allah’ as the seventh condition. Özhan said; “The conditions of Islam are not limited to five. All knowledge of existence, communication science, and the perception of the reality of things are found between these lines. The sole subject of the world and man’s true profession is religion.” 

“Razor Cut” Opening to Truth

Stating that there is no place for the concept of ‘the other’ in the consciousness of unity (wahdat), Özhan explained with a unique metaphor that every creature perceives truth to the extent of its own capacity:

“Every creature looks at the truth from an opening as wide as a 'razor cut,' commensurate with its own perceptive ability. The cat also observes existence from its own segment, and we respect it. We need to serve it so that it may observe more joyfully. If you believe in the verse, ‘Wherever you turn, there is the Face of Allah,’ how can you commit oppression?”

Modern man’s biggest problem: Loss of witnessing (Shuhud)… 

Stating that the biggest problem of modern man is the loss of the ability to witness, Özhan said that the secular understanding obscures meaning by placing matter at the center. Özhan said; “If you are in heedlessness (ghaflah), you will be deprived of the joy of witnessing (shuhud). Shuhud is to be included in the reality of things. If you look here and see only a chair, and look there and see only a wall, this is not witnessing. If you cannot be included in the reality of things, you merely look at dry matter but cannot see the wisdom. Even in philosophy, man was removed from the center and matter was put in his place.”

Dr. Hasan Kerim Güç: “Man has become instrumentalized”

Dr. Hasan Kerim Güç, who moderated the program, drew attention to the consequences of the pragmatist thought dominant after the industrial revolution. Making an analysis through urban planning and traffic, Güç noted the following:

“In the past, when we said 'sidewalk,' it was understood as a pleasant path for pedestrians. Today, we build four lanes for vehicles and a single lane for pedestrians. This situation is the most concrete indicator that man has been removed from the center in the prevailing philosophy and that man has become instrumentalized. Prophet Muhammad, when establishing Medina, placed the mosque, i.e., divine connection, at the center. The modern world, however, placed matter. Man has become instrumentalized.” 

Prayers were offered during the talk

The talk concluded in a spiritual atmosphere with the intense interest of the participants and Ahmet Özhan’s prayer. 

Gifts were presented

At the end of the program, Dr. Asuman Kulaksız, a Trustee of the Kerim Foundation, thanked Ahmet Özhan for the talk and presented him with a gift.

The program ended after a commemorative photo was taken.