Türkmenistan
which has been the centre of many great transformations and a centre of
development and progress, had a very special place in the history and
expansion of Islam into the world. Türkmen people have made unlimited
contributions to the world.
(25.)
Our
Prophet (peace be upon him) also tried to reach two targets during his
life. The first was to convince all people of the
unity of God and the second to gather humanity around this idea of
God’s unity.
(94-95.)
One
day, Mahyıa, the ruler of Merw, was given a letter confirming his
position as ruler by the Caliph Ali. In the letter it said, “In the
name of Allah, the Great and Merciful, may the works of those who follow
the just be easy. Oraz Mahyıa, the ruler of Merw, came to me. I am very
pleased at his visit.” This was after the Muslim army had entered
these lands and stayed in the region and Türkmens and other clans and
tribes had
started discussions and formed relationships with them, and as a result
they had converted to Islam in groups without any fight.
(105-106.)
Anyone
with sense who reads the Book of Gorkut Ata can understand how
far-sighted, successful and wise Oguz Begs’ worldview was. In the book
of Gorkut Ata it can be seen that Oguz people had a great wealth of
literature and cultural diversity in festivals and holidays. Could a
society with such a wealth of literature, art and cultural range be
close to the primitive culture of fire-worshippers? The religion of
fire-worshippers was perpetuated by certain narrow-minded philosophers
of the ancient times, such as Mazdak and Mani. These philosophers by
modifying the religion of fire-worshipping suggested new practices such
as the sharing of property and even of women. Their ideas and practices
do not resemble our opinions and ideas. The 10th century
historian Ibn-i Fadlan wrote about the Türkmen as follows: “The Türkmen
people do not cover the faces of their women and girls like their
neighbours. Their women are free. However, they do not know what it is
to be unchaste. Türkmen women throughout history have lived without the
slightest stain to their honour.”
(106.)
The
religion of Islam penetrated deeply into the spirit of the Türkmen
people. After reading the Qur’an or after performing the prayer, they
open their hands and pray to God sincerely with their purest feelings.Since
they followed the religion of Gök Tanry/ the God of the Skies and
they believed God was in the heavens before
(107.)
The
Türkmen were already rich in treasure, great cattle, great amounts of
property and trust in their own people and country. After converting to
Islam, they severed their connections with other religions. It was for
this reason the ruler of Merw opened the doors of his city to the
soldiers of the Islamic army.
(108.)
|
 Gorkut
Ata the spiritual leader of his nation was among the first to accept
Islam. He visited Mekka and Medina and performed his duty of pilgrimage
there.
(106.)
The
spiritual leader of the Türkmen in this second age was Gorkut Ata. The
spirit of this era found expression in the tones of the kopuz.
Gorkut Ata converted to Islam of his own volition and discovered the new
comprehensive space unique to the Türkmen soul. Gorkut Ata established
new moral principles inspired by his personal faith and philosophy of
the afterlife. Life
was divided into three, and not two parts. People believed that in the
next world they would have to account for what they did in this world.
(290-191.)
|
With
the flag of Islam waving everywhere, the Oguz people abolished their
former religion and sought a new light which would illuminate them.
(109.)
One
of the factors that differentiates Türkmens from other nations is our
approach towards religion. Our nation’s view on religion has always
been the same even in the centuries when religion was dominant. The main
reason for this is the secular bases inherent in the character of the Türkmen
nation. The nation has always based its behaviour on discipline in life.
It has accepted Islam with its own interpretation. It managed to
synthesize pre-Islamic beliefs and traditions with Islamic ones without
deviating from the essence of Islamic principles.
(176.)
The
secular and national character of the Türkmens is intimately related to
their understanding of democracy in history. The following developments
show that Türkmens do not believe blindly: the elimination of the
differences between classes, the equality of rich and poor before the
law, the togetherness and closeness of the rich and poor in meetings,
the lack of discontented classes, the freedom of women, the active role
of women in the family and social life. The religious men did not form a
different stratum in Türkmen society. They generally served the
religious needs of the society, such as the adhan or call to
prayer and the performance of marriage and funeral ceremonies.
Furthermore, religious education has been important for the development
of the natural sciences.
(177.)
Saltuk
Bugra, the son of Bazar Han was brought up by Ogulcak Han after the
death of his father. When Saltuk Bugra became Muslim, Islam spread
rapidly in Central Asia, especially in Türkmenistan.
(217.)
As
it was narrated that the Prophet Ibrahim had built the Ka’bah, the
last Messenger of God, Muhammed, first built a mosque when he migrated
from Mekka to Medina, before building himself a house.
Beginning
in the name of Allah, we constructed a magnificent mosque, first in
Gypjak and then in the middle of Aºgabat. Later on, we built a
beautiful mosque in Gökdepe in the memory of the martyrs who sacrificed
their lives for this country.
(251.)
