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 Knowing how to discipline the lower self and disciplining it 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.…
Read MoreAuthor: The Pen
Seven Wonders of the World
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…
Read MoreConsumption frenzy and the child
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.…
Read MoreHistory & Nation
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-
Read MoreThe key to our cultural heritage: Ottoman Turkish
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,…
Read MoreObedience to Divine Law and obedience to egoistic caprice
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…
Read MoreBe patient with each other and stay strong
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…
Read MoreThe Pen 28th issue
Editor’s Letter: The main road of the Ahl al-Sunnah leads to the guidance of Allah Yunus Emre Pehlivan If you give up Sunnah, you perish Enes Çalık You cannot achieve your goal by wrong means Zakir Çetin Is the intercession a reality? İdris Tüzün The illness of the century: Double standard Arif Emre Gündüz Be patient with each other and stay strong A story a lesson A window of reflection opened to the knowledge of Allah Muhammed Said Arpacı Obedience to Divine Law and obedience to egoistic caprice The Third Word from…
Read MoreWe have not, and will never forget!
We have never forgotten the villainous coup and occupation attempt that targeted our motherland which is the hope of the world, the shelter of the oppressed and victims. We will never forget it! And we will never let it be forgotten! We strongly condemn this cruel attempt, with the same anger and hatred we had on that day, which was arranged by vile centres from home and abroad, in order to destroy the unity, integrity and solidarity of our beloved country, Turkey. We state that we stand by the man…
Read MoreNamazgâh and prayer in the open field
Mustafa Yılmaz The word “namazgâh” – which means ‘place of prayer’ – is a compound of Persian word ‘namaz’ and preposition ‘gâh’ – which mean prayer and place respectively. Muslims have esteemed the prayer (i.e. salah) very much for centuries. And they have not neglected this worship even in the most difficult conditions including travelling. In Ottoman times, the places that were built in the countryside where there was no nearby mosque or masjid were called ‘namazgah.’ They are outdoor places of worship that are mostly used in summers and…
Read More