Direction and Path (Book)

Subject

War In the book Yön ve Yol by Şafak Barkçin, the author emphasizes that the moral and cultural decay we encounter in daily life can, over time, evolve into an existential threat. In response to this threat, the author draws attention to the statement made by our Master (peace be upon him) in his Farewell Hutbe: "I have left you two things; as long as you hold fast to them, you will never go astray: the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet."^【1】 He stresses that we must shape our lives according to this guidance.

Original and a specific stance, as identified by author, are made possible only through the correct understanding of the Divine, and the author provides readers with source on how to achieve this.

Contents

Morality

The deterioration of human character, the gradual decline in trust among people, and the increasing prevalence of lies, greed, and other unacceptable action and ideas are undermining the identity structure of society. The author presents to readers how these actions and ideas can be corrected and how such correction can be achieved.

Allah and Islam

"Once people said 'Muslims.' Now they say 'Islam.' But is this Islam meant to please the West or to earn the pleasure of Allah?" The author explores this issue in depth, aiming to provoke awareness in the reader.

Success

Challenging readers to question the foundation upon which fame, reputation, and status in life are built, the author invites them to reconsider their definition of success.

The West

The author notes that some Muslim groups attempt to legitimize verses and hadiths by measuring them against the standards of Western positive sciences and seek validation from orientalist writers. The author provides readers with examples of the harms caused by this thought approach.

Being Able to Say "I Don't Know"

Although knowledge is a great Erdem, the ability to say "I don't know" is a reflection of true beautiful morality. The author underscores to readers the importance of being able to admit ignorance.

Environment

Highlighting the influence of the people and environment in which one spends time on morality and other human phenomena, the author informs readers what they should pay attention to in this regard.

Trust

Focusing on the lack of trust people feel today when visiting a car mechanic or hiring a lawyer, the author provides readers with opinion regarding the underlying causes of this distrust.

"Everyone Is Doing It"

Through the question, "Does the fact that everyone is doing something mean it is right?" the author encourages readers to reexamine their own actions.

Consciousness of Servitude

The author states in the book that servitude is neither a ritual nor a mere custom in daily life; rather, it is a fundamental reality that must be placed at the center of every moment of existence.

Contentment

The author prompts readers to reflect on whose pleasure their daily actions are intended to satisfy.

System

The author draws attention to people's criticisms of the system in response to daily difficulties. However, he conveys to readers that when criticizing the system, one must place their hand under the stone—that is, take action to bring about change.