Dear Visitors,

In our Before Sleep Program last night, we asked, “If it were you, what would you want?”

We are human beings and we always want something in our own way. Being understood correctly, loved, appreciated, eat, drink, sleep…. As human beings, we have many needs and when these are met, we feel at peace. We do not like people who waste our time and strength. We want to stay away from disturbing things that will harm our worship, dignity and pease of mind. Is the world just about us…? No, apparently no!

It has turned out that all creatures like us want to be valued and not devalued.

We thought, we thought, and thought again:

If we were a nose, what would we want? Of course, to smell good, to be kept clean and to be loved. What if we were ears? To hear beautiful voices, to listen to the truth and good, and necessary speeches, to be protected. What would we want if we were feet? Not to be carried to bad and wrong ways, but to be carried out to auspicious places, to rest in the evenings after carrying a big body all day.

What if we were an apple, who would we want to eat us? A thief or a good-natured person? If we were to be a dish, whose body would we wish to strengthen? Is it someone who is gossipy and jealous, or the other way, someone who can also rejoice for her/his sisters/brothers and accept her/his share? If we were a cushion, who would we want to sit and rest on us? Is it a wrongdoer or an enlightened scholar? If we were a rose, to whom would we like to be given as a gift? An immoral or a venerable person?

Considering all these, we realized that not only human beings but also all other beings, in fact, are in need of goodness. Animals expect compassion, trees await admiration and contemplation, and good treatment. Water does not want to be wasted, the air does not want to be polluted, the earth does not want to be destroyed. Even a small stone deserves to be used in the right place, in the most useful work.

Yes. The world is not just about us. Everything Allah has created has a right. While Gulberenk Children look at things, plants, animals, living and non-living things, they look with this consciousness and do what is necessary.

Thereby, in this program, we realized that regarding everyone and everything, starting with those closest to us, namely our mother and father, we have to ask, “What would I want if I were in her/his shoes?”. As a result, we should behave and live accordingly, a life full of love, respect and goodness.

Thus, last night, we went to our beds with such good understanding and a sweet tiredness of the day. We ended up being very grateful.