My Turkey Experience Friday Night July 15, 2016 By Sister Sheima Salam Sumer, Ed.S.Author/ Trained Counselor I was in Istanbul, Turkey on Friday night, about to catch a flight the next morning from the airport. I was staying with my sister who works for TRT World (the Turkish Government News Channel in English). Around 9:30 PM we learned that a group within the Turkish military was trying to take over the Turkish government: a coup attempt. This group bombed the Turkish parliament in Ankara & took control of the bridge over the Bosporus Sea in Istanbul. The airport I was to fly from was closed down. This group also took control of the TRT news channels. An anchor woman was forced to repeat on the news channel that this group was now in control of Turkey. Using social media, Turkish President Erdogan urged the Turkish people to take to the streets in defiance of this attempted coup. At first, I thought that this was putting lives in danger, but then I realized that an overthrown government would also place lives in danger. Around 1 AM I heard the Adhan, the Muslim call to prayer reverberating in the air, waking up anyone who was asleep either physically or spiritually. There is no prayer at this time; the call both praised God & indirectly said, “defend ur country; defend the truth, defend justice.” The streets flooded with thousands of people, civilians, willing to die for truth & justice. Men, women & children flooded the streets & climbed on the tanks of the traitor soldiers. Some people died & many more were injured. I was struck by the courage of the Turkish people. They did not allow fear to stop them from standing up for truth. It didn’t matter what u looked like, what ideology u followed. Everyone was united against the coup. I stayed home with my kids while my husband & sister went out on the streets. We prayed & prayed for Turkey. Allah S.W.T answered our prayers. Some Quranic verses & hadiths about the theme of Courage: COURAGE: Mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, & withstand danger, fear, or difficulty …Aиϑ he said to his companion, “Have no fear, for Allah is with us…” (The Holy Quran 9:40) It is only Satan that suggests to u the fear of his supporters, so fear them not, but fear Me, if u are (true) believers. (The Holy Quran 3:175) Courage lies in the fact that we should fear only ﺍﻟﻠّﻪ Subhana wa Ta'ala & no one else. U will most certainly be tested by means of ur possessions & ur own person. U would definitely hear (many) hurtful remarks, (insults, & affronts) not only from those who were given the scriptures before u, but also from those who associate others with Allah. (Despite that), if u persevere patiently, & be pious, then that is indeed an act of courage & fortitude. (The Holy Quran 3:186) One night the people of Medina were terribly frightened by a strange sound. Some people proceeded toward the sound. They saw the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wasallam was coming from that direction. He had rushed before all others to find out what was the trouble. He was riding the horse of Abu Talha (radiallaahu anhu) without a saddle & a sword was hanging from his ( sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) neck. Rasulullah sallallaahu alayhi wasallam was comforting people, telling them not to be afraid, & saying there was nothing to worry about. ( Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 52, Number 277) Rasulullah sallallaahu alayhi wasallam risked his life before anyone else to investigate a loud & frightening sound in the night. Ali ( Radiallahu anhu) reported that in battles whenever the fighting started “We used to worry much about the Prophet (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam)because nobody was nearer to the enemy in the fighting than the Prophet.” (Ahmed #654) The Prophet’s ( sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) actions always spoke louder than his words. May we always be in the forefront of defending the truth & be courageous like our Nabi sallallaahu alayhi wasallam & the Sahabah radiallaahu anhum. ﺁﻣـــــــــﻴﻦ ﻳﺎ ﺭﺏ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﻟﻤـــــــــﻳﻦ ~Copied~