Author: The Pen

On Ramadan al-Sharif

The Pen

Verses from the Qur’an “It was the month of Ramadan in which the Quran was (first) sent down as guidance for all people, having (in it) clear proofs of (divine) guidance and the criterion (for right and wrong). So whoever among you bears witness to the month shall then fast it. Yet if one among you is sick or is on a journey (such a person shall then fast) the same number of other days. God intends for you ease, and does not intend for you hardship. Rather, (He wills)…

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The most perfect fasting

The Pen

The most excellent fasting is to make the human senses and organs, such as the eyes, ears, heart, and mind, fast together with the stomach. That is, to withdraw them from unlawful things and from trivia, and to urge each of them to their particular worship. For example, to ban the tongue from lying, back-biting, and obscene language, thus making it fast, and to busy it with such activities as reciting the Qur’an, praying, glorifying Allah’s Names, asking for Allah’s blessings for the Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon…

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Risale-i Nur through African eyes 

The Pen

Metin Uçar – A.Furkan Yeşilova The biggest problems of this century result from the decline and lack of the studies of faith. With the grace of Allah, Imam Bediuzzaman Said Nursi produced such an amazing work and a great role model that he led to a lot of beautiful things to happen and is still contributing to good results today. We know and witness that the Risale-i Nur works are a benefit to many countries around the world. When I visited Sudan for an event on the youth, I had…

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The Pen 29th issue

The Pen

Editor’s Letter: Finding pretexts for attacking the pious predecessors  Yunus Emre PEHLIVAN The philosophical core of the educational system must change Mustafa TOPOZ The illnesses that blind you and their treatment Zafer ZENGIN Knowledge and application of disciplining the lower self are totally different İdris TUZUN  The real purpose of those who deny the School of Thoughts, interpreters and the Companions Ahmed Said GUNDUZ Risale-i Nur through African eyes Metin UCAR – A. Furkan YESILOVA  Way to escape mischief Ali SEMERCI  How to protect women’s rights Zakir CETIN  Lying is not among the necessities of family life Dr. Mirza INAK …

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Seven Wonders of the World

The Pen

One day a teacher asked his students to write a list of the things which are worth being among the Seven Wonders of the World in their opinion. While taking their papers the teacher realized a girl did not complete her list yet. “Is it this difficult?” the teacher asks. “Yes, a bit. I just cannot decide; there are so many.” the student replies. “Tell us what you have written until now, maybe we can help you complete the list.” says the teacher. After a moment of hesitation, she tells…

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Consumption frenzy and the child

The Pen

Greed has never revealed itself before as severe a passion as today. Since the human being came into existence, the passion for possessing has not decreased; on the contrary it has increased and continued as ‘winning, having, consuming.’ This consumption culture, which has surrounded our life, sometimes goes so far that today’s human being makes even his family and children ‘objects of consumption’ without knowing. When the parents act without thinking about how their consumption habits influence their children, it becomes unavoidable that the children are dragged in this culture.…

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History & Nation

The Pen

A nation which has lost the continuation of its history is doomed to lose everything it has. Like a mental patient whose memories have gone bit by bit, its relation is broken with its past, with its memories and the elements of its existence that composed its self. Once a state has deteriorated to the point of needing foreign intervention and foreign protection, it first loses its independence, and then its national personality, and finally its existence. -Peyami Safa- 

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The key to our cultural heritage: Ottoman Turkish

The Pen

Ercan Türk | General Director, General Directorate of Secondary Education, The Ministry of National Education of Turkey Language, which is the most important means of people’s communicating with each other, is the common treasury of national memory, national emotions and thoughts, all material and moral values, the appearance of the world of thought and the cornerstone of culture. Communication of “the common emotions and thoughts of a nation’s individuals” is done through language. When the subject is culture, the first thing that comes to mind is language. For this reason,…

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Obedience to Divine Law and obedience to egoistic caprice

The Pen

The happiness of this world lies in worship and in becoming a soldier of Allāh, as does the happiness of the Hereafter. “The Third Word” from the Risale-i Nur Corpus O people! Worship your Lord (Qur’an: al-Baqarah, 2:21) If you wish to truly understand that worship (1) is an immense gain and happiness, and that open sin (2) and debauchery are ultimately massive loss and ruin, then direct your attention to this short allegory. Listen! [The allegory of the two roads – the road of Divine Law and the road…

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Be patient with each other and stay strong 

The Pen

Once upon a time one of the students who served in a dervish lodge told his master, Imam Feriduddin Attar: “Sir, I endeavour to serve your highness as much as I can and try to attain your love. However, some of our brothers in the lodge have different characteristics. Their behaviours and words disturb me a lot. A lot of our brothers are also disturbed similarly. For this reason we are thinking of leaving the lodge.” Having listened to his student, the master said: “Son, listen to me carefully. It…

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