Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: “Mevlâna was a revolutionary who created a mental transformation”
The “Friendship” themed talk, organized within the scope of the 752nd Anniversary of Mevlâna’s Reunion (Shab-i Arus Week) through the collaboration of the Üsküdar University Institute forSufi Studies and the Kerim Foundation, was held at the Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall.
President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that Mevlâna’s messages continue to resonate strongly today and said: “Even after 752 years, it is as if his spiritual influence continues, and he keeps delivering messages to our time.”
Prof. Tarhan emphasized that “Mevlâna was a revolutionary who brought about a mental transformation.”
Rector Advisor Cemalnur Sargut noted that friendship is founded on a divine bond and said: “A friend is God, or those who come together for the sake of God. Friendship means trust and loyalty. One should not place trust in anyone other than God. However, those who unite for the sake of God trust both God and one another.”
Head of the Department at the Institute forSufi Studies Prof. Emine Yeniterzi stated: “Friendship is formed through unity of heart and purpose. Mevlâna advises that to gain friends, we must first demonstrate friendship ourselves and cultivate qualities such as love, respect, loyalty, sincerity, humility, and generosity.”
The “Friendship” themed talk, organized within the scope of the 752nd Anniversary of Mevlâna’s Reunion (Shab-i Arus Week) through the collaboration of the Üsküdar University Institute forSufi Studies and the Kerim Foundation, was held at the Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall. The event attracted great interest from academicians, students, and admirers of Mevlâna.
Delivering the opening speech, President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that Mevlâna’s messages continue to resonate strongly today and said, “Even after 752 years, it is as if his spiritual influence continues, and he keeps delivering messages to our time.”
“Can we bring Mevlâna into our time to solve today’s problems?”
In his opening speech, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan highlighted the importance of interpreting contemporary global crises through Mevlâna’s values: “When we examine Mevlâna, our aim is not to go back to his era and solve today’s problems under the conditions of that time. Rather, we ask whether we can bring Mevlâna into the present and solve today’s problems using his principles, values, and measures. For this reason, Mevlâna offers powerful messages to this age. He was a revolutionary who transformed the human mind.”
Referring to the increase in looting and violence among young people in the United States, Prof. Tarhan pointed to underlying social tension: “In the United States, groups of young people form gangs, enter stores, and loot them. Why does this happen among youth? Sixty-two families control fifty percent of the world’s resources. There is an extreme level of income inequality. As a result, a serious hostility toward wealth has begun globally.”
Mevlâna’s teachings are being taught under the name of mindfulness
Prof. Tarhan noted that Western societies are increasingly seeking solutions through values long emphasized by Mevlâna: “In elite high schools in the United States, students are taken to mindfulness sessions during class hours. They are taught awareness, forgiveness, empathy, and gratitude journaling. In fact, they are teaching Mevlâna’s teachings under the name of mindfulness. This essentially means knowing oneself and turning inward. The modern global system constantly promotes the message, ‘Buy this to be happy, own that to be happy.’ However, Sufi culture teaches that happiness should be tied to inner causes rather than external ones. As the saying goes, it is not the wind that lifts the kite, but the stance taken against the wind. What matters is how we position ourselves in the face of events.”
Pain must be given meaning and managed
Stating that Sufism teaches acting through inner strength, Prof. Tarhan explained that Mevlâna conveys this truth through many stories. According to Mevlâna, love, not money or ambition, should be the driving force behind human action. He explained this through the famous compass metaphor: “Let one foot remain fixed in truth, and let the other travel the world. Be idealistic, but do not lose touch with reality.” Prof. Tarhan emphasized that Mevlâna also teaches how pain can be transformed:“The modern system advises fighting pain, fighting illness, fighting cancer. However, if we assign the right meaning to pain, we can manage it. When a person encounters suffering or illness, giving that experience meaning makes it manageable. Otherwise, pain turns into an uncontrollable force, increasing stress and worsening illness. If a person believes in a higher power that can be trusted and says, ‘I should not be hopeless or pessimistic,’ this becomes what we call constructive despair. This is precisely what Mevlâna continuously emphasizes.” He also highlighted that Mevlâna teaches cognitive flexibility, advising people to manage change rather than resist it, since rigid thinking leads to greater suffering.
Forgiveness holds a central place in Mevlâna’s teachings
Prof. Tarhan explained that forgiveness, similar to the forgiveness modules in modern positive psychology, occupies an important place in Mevlâna’s teachings: “There are burdens that can be forgiven and burdens that cannot. When forgiveness is not possible, one must place the situation within a rational framework and, where strength falls short, turn toward acceptance and allow time to help. One form of revenge is success itself. When a person succeeds, those who dislike them feel discomfort. This is a form of silent revenge. Therefore, pursuing goals is far more valuable than seeking vengeance.
Mevlâna placed divine love at the center
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that Mevlâna placed divine love at the center of recognizing God and turning toward Him, and said: “According to Mevlâna, the true purpose of human existence in this world is to turn toward love. However, in today’s world, the path of love can sometimes be dangerous. If a person enters this path without control, they may lose balance. Therefore, according to Mevlâna, before embarking on the path of love, one must recognize their state of helplessness and poverty. This means acknowledging one’s weakness, insufficiency, and vulnerability before the Creator and being able to attach the heart solely to Him. Love, of course, has levels. Mevlâna’s understanding of love represents a peak. For us, remembering God should not be limited to moments of worship but should be possible in every breath and in every state of being.”
“Sincerity is a secret even angels cannot record”
Prof. Tarhan also emphasized Mevlâna’s understanding of love and sincerity, reminding that Sufism is built upon genuineness and purity of the heart. Referring to Cüneyd-i Baghdadi, Prof. Tarhan said: “Cüneyd-i Baghdadi says, ‘Sincerity is such a secret that even Satan cannot corrupt it, and even angels cannot record it.’ Mevlâna also advises directing the compass of the heart solely toward the Truth.”
The talk continued with the theme of friendship
Following the opening speech, the program continued with the “Friendship” talk, held with the participation of Prof. Emine Yeniterzi, Head of the Department at the Institute forSufi Studies, and Rector Advisor Cemalnur Sargut of Üsküdar University. At the beginning of the discussion, Prof. Emine Yeniterzi stated that friendship is an indispensable need for living a meaningful life and said: “To live life deeply and give it meaning, we need a friend, we need friends. Even prayer and fasting have compensation, but there is no compensation for time spent away from friends. When you find a true friend, you must hold on tightly.”
Friends help one another grow and elevate one another
Emphasizing the friendship between Mevlâna and Shams of Tabriz, Prof. Yeniterzi stated: “Mevlâna was, in fact, an academic who taught at four madrasas simultaneously. After meeting Shams of Tabriz, he attained the knowledge of the heart. This shows that friendship is also a tremendous transformation. Friends help one another grow and elevate one another.” Giving the example of Pakistan’s national poet Dr. Muhammad Iqbal, Prof. Yeniterzi noted that friendship can exist even without sharing the same time or geography. She added: “Conversation is a means of friendship. If we wish to converse with Almighty God, we read the Holy Quran. To converse with the Prophet Muhammad, we read the books of hadith. To converse with Mevlâna, we read the Masnavi.”
Stating that everything that comes from a friend should be accepted as a blessing regardless of whether it appears as grace or hardship, Prof. Yeniterzi said: “To gain a friend, we must first be a friend ourselves. By winning hearts, doing good deeds, and demonstrating true friendship, we can also earn the friendship of Almighty God. That is the greatest blessing that can be attained in this world.”
The essence of friendship is love and sincerity
Continuing her remarks, Prof. Yeniterzi said: “True friendship emerges when a person adopts divine morality, meaning when the attributes of God such as ‘The Most Merciful’ and ‘The Most Forbearing’ manifest in the individual. Friendship reflects divine qualities such as compassion, generosity, loyalty, and forgiveness in human behavior. For this reason, friendship can be considered a form of moral worship. When a person wins the heart of a friend, they in fact draw closer to intimacy with the Truth. In short, the essence of friendship is love and sincerity, which are the moral characteristics of the ideal believer as described in verses of the Quran and the sayings of the Prophet.”
“A friend is God”
Rector Advisor Cemalnur Sargut stated that friendship is founded on a divine bond and said: “A friend is God, or those who come together for the sake of God. Friendship means trust and loyalty. One should not place trust in anyone other than God. However, those who unite for the sake of God trust both God and one another. This is very important, because such a person is loyal. Friendship is a profound love. It means expecting nothing in return, not acting to please anyone, and acting solely for the sake of God.” Referring to the story of Prophet Moses, Sargut emphasized that true friendship is only possible through service performed solely for the pleasure of God. She stated that friendship is built upon mutual courtesy and respect and remarked that “being a friend is a level far superior to being merely a sibling.”
One does not hold grudges against a friend
Pointing out that one must first learn how to be a friend, Sargut explained: “A friend does not focus on faults. A friend does not think ill of another friend. A friend always holds good intentions toward their friend. A friend does not dwell on past mistakes or shortcomings. A friend does not shame another for errors or sins. A friend does not belittle. A friend sees their friend’s flaw as their own. A friend wishes to enter Paradise together with their friend. A friend reminds their friend to respect the limits set by God. A friend advises discretion regarding spiritual stations. A friend does not show kindness toward those who unjustly oppose their friend. A friend stands up when their friend arrives. A friend never lies to another friend. A friend prays for their friend. A friend never harbors resentment or hostility. A friend listens with respect. A friend does not put the other to the test. When a friend commits a wrong, a friend assumes repentance has followed and does not mention it again. A friend does not become estranged. A friend does not punish. Noble character is the greatest quality.”
Patience in divine dealings and the depth of friendship
Through stories from the Masnavi, Cemalnur Sargut explained the depth of bonds of friendship and the necessity of patience in the face of divine dealings. She stated: “Mevlâna taught us this through all his teachings: Only God. Nothing else. No anger, no resentment, no hatred. Mevlâna is a great example for us. The Masnavi is a great example.”
A spiritual response to crowded loneliness
Addressing the concept of “crowded loneliness” brought about by the modern world, Cemalnur Sargut argued that distancing oneself from spirituality leads people into loneliness. She said: “Loneliness is something everyone asks me about this year. Yet there is no such thing as loneliness. How can we be lonely if we are together with our Owner? However, many have never met their Owner. They have never known Him. God exists. God is always present.” Offering advice to young people, Sargut added that the most valuable legacy families can leave their children is a rich spiritual life.
