In this heartfelt sohbet, Sheikh Bahauddin Adil Efendi turns his attention to the education of our children, inviting us to look beyond the familiar refrain that success is measured by titles, degrees or professional status. He reminds us that every child arrives already endowed with a divine identity and purpose, and that true learning must honor both mind and soul.
The state and society encourage parents to enroll their youngsters in school, insisting on literacy, mathematics and the cultivation of “intelligent” minds. Phrases such as “our children should become doctors, engineers, useful citizens” echo loudly in public discourse. Yet Sheikh Bahauddin asks whether this relentless focus serves the deeper well‑being of the child. When a child is still only three or five years old, are we ready to decide what future path they must follow? He points out that nature already distinguishes each being: Allah gave femininity to the female and masculinity to the male, just as a cat instinctively follows its counterpart and a male bird builds a nest for his mate. These natural patterns illustrate that gender is not merely a social construct but a divine gift, urging us to respect the innate order created by God.
Beyond these external considerations, Sheikh Bahauddin introduces the concept of serkilasyon—the completion of the inner spiritual circle. When each individual acknowledges their unique, divinely‑appointed role and integrates that awareness into education, the collective world begins to “see how many corners it truly has.” In other words, when schooling aligns with spiritual development rather than solely feeding the intellect, humanity moves closer to a harmonious whole.
We are invited to reflect on how our educational choices can nurture both the heart and the mind of the next generation. For those who wish to explore more of Sheikh Bahauddin’s teachings, the Society’s digital library offers a growing collection of talks and writings that deepen this conversation: Royal Ottoman Society Library.
