* What is Sufism? Introduction to Sufism to a non-Muslim audience"The heart of man has been constituted by the Almighty that, like a flint, it contains a hidden fire which is evoked by music and harmony and renders man beside himself with ecstasy. These harmonies are echoes of that higher world of beauty which we call the world of spirits; they remind man of his relationship with that world and produce in him an emotion so deep and strange that he himself is powerless to explain it. The effects of music and dancing fan into a flame whatever love is already dormant in the heart, wether it be earthly and sensual, or divine and spiritual."
Imam Ghazzali continues that "pure religious music is used by the Sufis to stir up in themselves greater love toward God often obtaining spiritual visions and ecstasies, their heart becoming as clean as silver in the flame of a furnace."
Dardanelles Campaign
Rare footage of the martyrs of the Battle of Gallipoli- the last warriors of Islam under the banner of the Ottoman Caliphate.
Against all odds they prevented the crusading west from taking over Istanbul, the heart of Islam for centuries.
The way of the Holy Prophet is preserved because of their blood sacrifice for the sake of Allah.
al-Fatiha for their souls
[1915]
120,000 Ottoman soldiers, out gunned and ill prepared for winter conditions, were driven to their fate, not only at the hands of Russian heavy artillery, but, to frostbite under the command of Enver Pasha, a Union and Progress Party figure (İttihat ve Terakki Cemiyeti). Thousands perished on The Allahuekber mountains without firing a single shot. This was one of the many methods employed by Enver and other masons to weaken the Ottoman Empire. Footage by occupying Russian forces.
Only 40,000 survived
One of the most important sources about the Sarıkamış Campaign is the memoirs of Köprülülü Şerif Bey. He mentions that they did not even possess a proper map of the region.
In his memoirs, Şerif Bey writes: "Let us make up our mind about this: For us, Sarıkamış has not only been a great lesson, but also a bright chapter of our history. Future generations should know that we met this fate because we sought salvation following a wrongly created man. History has witnessed that a great Turkish army has fought due to the greed of an ignorant and mad commander."
"OSMANLI troops fought on the top of tall mountains under snowstorm against the artillery of an enemy of centuries and they were completely annihilated, but not a single soldier has ever turned his back to his nation... ın Sarıkamış, there was no panic."
[1915]
Ever since they cut me from the reed bed,
my wail has caused men to weep.
I want a heart torn open with longing
to share this pain of love
