The Journal of Üsküdar University Institute for Sufi Studies (TAED) has published its highly anticipated new issue, distinguished by its interdisciplinary richness and strong academic contributions.
One of the standout articles in the new issue is authored by President of Üsküdar University and Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan. In his article titled “Spiritual Sustainability in the Modern World: Sustainable Development Goals from a Sufi Perspective,” Prof. Tarhan draws attention to the profound harmony between Sufi thought and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Journal of Üsküdar University Institute for Sufi Studies presents groundbreaking research across a wide spectrum, ranging from West African Sufism to Indo Islamic relations, from the search for spirituality in modern business life to approaches to patients in Ottoman medicine.
The contribution of Sufism to modern sustainability
One of the most prominent articles in the new issue belongs to President of Üsküdar University and Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan. In his article titled “Spiritual Sustainability in the Modern World: Sustainable Development Goals from a Sufi Perspective,” Prof. Tarhan highlights the deep compatibility between Sufi thought and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Prof. Tarhan includes the following statements in his article: “Today’s sustainability crises are not problems that can be overcome solely through technological or economic solutions. Traditional wisdom gives spirit to modern quality approaches by placing the individual’s inner transformation at the center.”
The intersection of Sufi values and the SDGs
In his article, Prof. Tarhan presents Sufi values such as contentment, compassion, sharing, prevention of waste, and equality as a strong ethical framework for global issues including poverty, inequality, and the climate crisis. Through examples, he explains that this connection established between the Sufi approach and development goals has a broad sphere of influence, ranging from individual awareness to social justice.
Prof. Tarhan summarizes the relationship between the SDGs and Sufi values with the following words: “Although sustainable development aims to transform the external world, the permanence of this transformation is only possible through moral maturation that begins in the inner world of the human being.”
Editor Prof. Reşat Öngören: “The journal offers rich academic content”
According to the evaluation of the journal’s editor, Prof. Reşat Öngören, a faculty member at the Institute for Sufi Studies of Üsküdar University, this issue offers rich academic content demonstrating that Sufism is not merely a historical heritage but a dynamic intellectual tradition capable of producing solutions to the complex issues of today’s world.
Highlighted topics in the new issue
The new issue of the journal includes noteworthy research revealing the multifaceted academic reflections of Sufi thought.
West African Sufism and debates on spiritual authority: An in-depth analysis of how the Yan Hakika movement, emerging from the Tijaniyya Ibrahimiyya branch in Nigeria, has generated a new debate on authority through interpretations of Wahdat al Wujud.
The cultural journey of the metaphysics of love: The connection established between Fakhr al Din Iraqi’s theory of love and Japanese philosopher Nishida’s metaphysics of the self offers a striking bridge between Sufism and Far Eastern philosophy.
Work life and spirituality among Generation Z: A field study examining young professionals’ search for meaning, purpose, and belonging shows that Sufi concepts are forming a new psychosocial ground in the modern business world.
The relationship between history and politics: Indo Sufi state relations are evaluated through the works of historian Khaliq Ahmad Nizami from the perspective of tranquility, negotiation, and the preservation of spiritual integrity.
Holistic treatment in Ottoman medicine: The principle of “pleasing the patient’s heart” practiced by Ottoman physicians recalls the holistic perspective that modern medicine sometimes neglects.
Click here for Tarhan’s article.
Click here for the Journal of the Institute for Sufi Studies