During the regular Maarif Conversations organized by Turkish Maarif Foundation, Yunus Emre, one of the most important cornerstones of our civilization, was discussed. Dr. Mustafa Tatcı, who has made valuable contributions to the studies of Yunus Emre, was the guest speaker at the conversation. The event was attended by Prof. Dr. Ahmet Emre Bilgili, the Acting President and Trustee Board Member of the Turkish Maarif Foundation, Board Member Ahmet Türkben, department heads, and employees. "The Scients fly with the wings of love and wisdom" Mustafa Tatcı emphasized the significant influence of many individuals in shaping our identity in Turkish history, stating, "The most important figure in the field of Eastern Turks is Hazrat Ahmet Yesevi. He passed away in 1166 at the age of 125. In the West, it is Yunus Emre. He passed away in 1321. The Turks accepted Islam during the Karakhanids period in the 10th century. Islamic armies came and went to the regions that are now within the borders of China. There were some minor conflicts in history until that period. The Sufis played an important role in the acceptance of Islam by the Turks. These individuals laid the groundwork for Hazrat Ahmet Yesevi. So who is Yesevi? The clearest answer to this question is through books, namely the Quran and the practices of Prophet Muhammad. Their extensions are love and wisdom. The Scients fly with two wings: love and wisdom," he stated. "If Islam is practiced in Kazan and Anatolia today, we owe it to Ahmet Yesevi" Tatcı drew attention to the fact that the geographical area where Hazrat Ahmet Yesevi lived was like an infinite desert, where the sky and the earth seemed to merge. He said, "It is an area where people are not connected to each other. Think about hundreds of years ago, there were no means of transportation. The only means of transportation were horses and camels. Therefore, people did not have any contact with each other. In such an environment, Yesevi grew up without a mother and father, and his sister sent him to Bukhara and Samarkand to study. He went to Yusuf Hemedani. He received education predominantly in Arabic and Persian languages. People in that region had no possibility of understanding Arabic and Persian. Ahmet Yesevi made a revolutionary move in this region by presenting the knowledge of the Quran and the practices of Prophet Muhammad in the Turkish language for the first time in history. From this perspective, the first characteristic of Hazrat Yesevi is that he presents true Islam, and the second characteristic is that he presents Turkish Islam." Tatcı emphasized that Ahmet Yesevi also represented active Islam and pointed out that if the flag of Islam is waving in Kazan today and if we can live Islam in Anatolia, it is thanks to Hazrat Yesevi. "Yunus Emre is the last of the previous and the first of the later" In the Western context, Mustafa Tatcı stated that Yunus Emre is one of the most important actors in the spread of Islam. Referring to the line "Those who have preceded us, who hide the essence, I have come as if born from a mother so that I can express myself naked," he described Yunus Emre as the last of the previous and the first of the later. Tatcı mentioned that figures such as Ahmet Yesevi, Maruf-u Kerhi, İbrahim Ethem, and Rabia-i Adeviyye paved the way for Yunus Emre, and emphasized that Hz. Yunus also guided those who came after him. "Yunus colors our language with the essence of Allah, the Quran, and the Prophet" Tatcı pointed out that in the Islamic world, everyone focuses on the appearance of Prophet Muhammad, but no one cares about what is inside. He concluded his remarks by saying, "However, Yunus Emre is our language of sharia, tarikat (mysticism), hakikat (truth), and marifat (knowledge). Yunus Emre says, 'Come from the form to the attribute, so that you may find the essence in it.' He says that if we get caught up with individuals and faces in this realm of appearance, we will be deprived of the essence. In a sacred saying, it is stated, 'I become the eyes that see, the ears that hear, and the feet that walk for the person who approaches me with optional prayers.' Yunus is the person who colors our language with the essence of Allah, the Quran, and the Prophet. The words he used are no longer ordinary. Behind these seemingly simple concepts, there is Yunus who has transcended seven stages." The conversation concluded with a Q&A session. ...
Turkish Maarif Foundation, the window through which Türkiye opens up to the world in education, continues its journey with new achievements in its goal of raising good individuals.As a global education brand with its 52,000 students studying in 440 schools in 51 countries, the Foundation held its 2023 Graduation ceremony at Sabancı Öğretmenevi. The program, which began with the opening speech by the President of the Foundation, Prof. Dr. Birol Akgün, was attended by Members of the Board of Trustees Selim Cerrah, Mahmut Özdil, Ömer Faruk Terzi, Board Member İpek Coşkun Armağan, parents, and employees of Turkish Maarif Foundation. "Travelers and scholars were raised in centers of knowledge" Starting his speech by greeting the participants, the President of the Turkish Maarif Foundation, Prof. Dr. Birol Akgün, said, "As someone who has received an international education, I must tell you that you will feel the contribution of international education throughout your life. We see that the scientists and statesmen who have left their mark in history have been nourished from different centers and regions during their education. For example, Ibn Khaldun was present in all geographies. The travelers and scholars who left great works behind were raised in centers of knowledge. Ibn Battuta not only traveled but also participated in scholarly gatherings. Our Nobel laureate Turkish scientist, Aziz Sancar, received an international education. These individuals developed their perspectives by nourishing themselves from different places and people. With the education you receive, you will gain different perspectives." "Our motto is to raise good individuals" Emphasizing that Türkiye is one of the most vital regions in the world, Prof. Dr. Akgün said, "These lands are a living museum that has carried the stamp of a great civilization that has shaped the history of Islam for maybe a thousand years of the past 1500 years, with the tradition of the Seljuks and the Ottomans. As Mevlana said, in these lands, you see nothing but love for humanity. As Yunus Emre said, it is our tradition to know seventy-two and a half nations as one. This is the case in knowledge, social relations, and culture. Istanbul is a city that carries civilization and culture. Every part of Türkiye carries a different historical and cultural heritage. Konya, Bursa, Edirne, and Ankara are the same. These cities, which contribute to the development and progress of Türkiye, will offer you a lot." He expressed that being a student of Maarif, which is Türkiye’s international educational institution, will also bring many benefits to individuals. Prof. Dr. Akgün stated, "Our vision, as stated in the strategic plan, is to raise good individuals who will use their knowledge and wisdom for the peace and harmony of humanity. Our motto is to raise good individuals. We carry out our work with this goal in mind." "We are all members of the great Maarif family" Highlighting the fact that these lands carry a great civilization, Prof. Dr. Akgün concluded his words as follows: "You will have important roles in international relations. You will become diplomats, academics, engineers, traders, teachers, and take on different roles. Whatever you do, your goal should be to carry these relations, these traces of civilization to your country. If this happens, we would have fulfilled our duty as the Maarif Foundation. We say that a Maarif graduate is primarily nurtured with a local and national mindset. They love their own country, and they use their knowledge and accumulation, whether in terms of technology, language, or culture, to serve their own people and to develop their own country and nation. The Anatolian tradition of knowledge is the human-centered perspective of Mevlana, Yunus, and Yesevi. If we talk about a civilization vision for the future, our motto is to sustain human life and establish peace and justice among people. Education is a part of this. As Yunus Emre said, let's meet and get to know each other. The Maarif Foundation has become the carrier of this cause with its 440 schools in 51 countries and 52,000 students. You will also join us, and together we will sow new seeds and initiate new leaderships. The important thing is to fulfill this duty properly. A Maarif graduate uses their knowledge and accumulation to serve their own country. If we believe in this, without disconnecting from the global world, by experiencing freedom and not surrendering mentally to different worlds, we serve our own nation. If we believe in this, we work together to establish a more just world. I congratulate you all. Convey our greetings to your families and your nation, and never forget that you are members of a great family. I wish you success." "As children of Turkish Maarif Foundation, we will contribute to Maarif's journey" Following Prof. Dr. Birol Akgün, Maliha Temori, one of the graduating students, expressed her pride in being a graduate of a Maarif school in Afghanistan and said, "Speaking on behalf of the graduates is a significant responsibility. Turkish Maarif Foundation carries out educational activities all around the world. When I came to Türkiye from Afghanistan for my university education, I gained new experiences and got to know new cultures. Turkish Maarif Foundation is not just an educational institution; it is also a family. We all have a common goal: development and progress. Maarif Schools provided us with not only academic but also universal values. As students graduating from here, we are grateful to Turkish Maarif Foundation. As children of Turkish Maarif Foundation, we will contribute to this journey. I thank our families, teachers, classmates, and all the staff of Turkish Maarif Foundation. You believed in us and gave us courage. Without you, this success would not have been possible. Dear graduates, let's work together as we walk towards a hopeful future and make meaningful contributions to the world." "After receiving the education and gaining the experience, we are ready to offer a different perspective to the world." After Temori, Nematullah Rahimi said, "I am here as a graduate and, God willing, a teacher at Turkish Maarif Foundation. For years, Turkish Maarif Foundation has not only provided students with quality education but also a comprehensive education with entertaining programs. The foundation's teacher candidates' education program not only provided quality education but also helped us gain friendships and develop a sense of brotherhood. Discovering historical places and participating in cultural activities gave us different experiences. Today, I congratulate the students graduating from here. With the education we have received and the experiences we have gained, we are ready to offer a different perspective to the world. I thank our families and all the employees of Turkish Maarif Foundation. Without you, it would not have been possible to climb this ladder of success. Dear fellow graduates, our future is in your hands. You will inspire future generations as beacons of light. Teachers play an important role in building the future. While performing this duty, we should create a loving environment based on our values. I wish you all success once again." After the flag handover ceremony, the program concluded with the presentation of graduation certificates and gifts. ...
