Our precious members,

Gulberenk Values Education Association’s Gulberenk Educational Children’s Program this May took to the stage with, “I am modest because I do my prayers” performance. The program has been prepared in collaboration with Golden Child Magazine. The program started with Allah’s verse in Surah Al-Furkan, “And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace” (Verse 63).

Modesty means being humble, not being arrogant. The modest servants do their prayers in accordance with Allah’s blessings and obey His commandments and prohibitions. While drinking, eating, while buying goods to their homes at every stage of their lives these peoples reflect modesty. Simple clothes, homes where there are efforts, dinner tables without waste all these depictions belong to a modest person’s life.

As Mawlana refers, “With regard to modesty, be like soil”, that is, the soil is remarkably a modest reflection of Allah’s creation. As the farmer would say, “Oh earth, how patient and modest you are! I dig your flesh, your stomach but you never complain, you never chase away me. I harshly step on you, you never grumble”.

But after a while, some children came playing on the earth, and threw away whatever they ate, the seeds of their fruits, their trash water bottles, their dirty mops they wiped their noses, and the earth got furious, “I am modest, but I cannot accept whatever you throw away! I can turn your fruit seeds into seedlings; but I can not digest the garbage you throw!”. When the children heard this they were surprised. Then they understood that to be modest, does not mean one accepts injustice.

A person should be humble; but she/he shouldl not ignore wrong, ugly and harmful behaviors.
Thus, Gulberenk Educational Children’s Program was completed with the participation and enthusiasm of hundreds of children. Precious educators from Balikesir, Karaman, and Samsun helped us to prepare the program and also received an education on service. Our six skillful friends who participated in the weaving design competition took their places in the program with their beautiful works.

You will understand that Gulberenk was again a combination of entertainment and education. On our way out, we received our modest dinner, one slice of bread and hoped to meet in June. No, we did not leave, we were only going home to be back soon.