Ertuğrul : Gold, Morality & Delusional Muslims

The world hurtles ever further into a what may perhaps be the most confusing epoch in the history of mankind. We know not who to trust and who follows what agenda. What is news and what is lies? What is fact and what is fiction? Concepts which should have clear demarcations now have murky dividing lines, if at all. If that were not bad enough, humanity seems intent on surrendering its divine gift of intellect, of distinguishing between truth and falsehood. Instead we are happy to wallow in a drunken stupor of self-delusion, entertainment and whatever satisfies the ego.

The reaction to the television series on Ertuğrul, Diriliş: Ertuğrul, is a worrying phenomenon. Had it been introduced and treated as mere fictional entertainment, it could be overlooked as a just another passing blip. What is worrying is how readily Muslims are deluded, unable to distinguish fact from fiction, how they implement fantasy in their lives and how zealous they become over a lie coated in religious fantasy. How can such people be able to withstand the test of Dajjāl? Do they no longer worship He whose attribute is ʾal-Ḥaqq, the Truth? Do they no longer obey the His Messenger ﷺ who taught that it is possible for a believer to commit almost any sin [out of weakness] but it is not possible for to be a believer and lie?

While the Jews allocate one day for clouding the intellect with wine, some Muslims act as if clouding the intellect is a constant virtue in their religion:

….the Talmudic tractate Megillah (7b): Rava said: A person is obligated to drink on Purim until he does not know the difference between “cursed be Haman” and “blessed be Mordechai.”…

For 364 days a year, we have no other choice. Our mind must exercise complete control over our emotions and behavior, lest the animal in us rage rampant and trample to death all that is good in ourselves and our world. …

But there is one day in the year in which we enjoy direct, immediate access to these truths. This day is Purim. The Jew who rejoices on Purim—who rejoices in his bond with G‑d without equivocation—has no need for reason. For he is in touch with his truest self—a self before which his animalistic drives are neutralized, a self which requires no medium by which to express itself and no intermediaries by which to relate to its source in G‑d.

The Jew who rejoices on Purim no longer requires the mind to tell him the difference between “cursed be Haman” and “blessed be Mordechai”; he is above it all, relating to the divine truth that transcends the bifurcation of good and evil.

Chabad.org

Allāh’s Messenger ﷺ has described a key feature of the Jewish Anti-Christ, Dajjāl, to be lies and confusion, presenting fiction as fact. Allāh alone knows if we shall witness his coming, but it is worrying that Muslims surrender their intellect with a drunken acceptance of fantasy over reality. It might be an exaggeration to say that they are eroding their faith, but the question needs be asked, if Muslims are so easily deluded and act so immature now, what then when Dajjāl appears? How then will they distinguish between truth and falsehood against the greatest test ever, when they so miserably fail against the allure of a television series?

The Historicity of Ertuğrul

Any historian who has researched the matter will be able to testify that other than the fact that he probably existed, almost obsoletely nothing else is known about Ertuğrul with historical certainty. So shadowy is this figure that we are not even sure who his father was. His father may either have been a Sulayman, or a Gündüz Alp.

He is touted as an Islāmic hero. His biography is so non-existent, that not only is it ridiculous to call him a hero without a single fact to back the claim, but the sad fact is also that we do not even know if he embraced Islām. We do not know if he was a Muslim or not!

Much is made of “Halime Hatun” and his romance with her in a supposedly Islāmic series. The early Ottoman records do not reference this woman at all. When she is finally mentioned there is no certainty on her name, whether she married the ghostly Ertuğrul or not, and whether it is she who is the mother of his Muslim son, ʿUthmān, Allāh’s mercy be upon him, or some other lady.

Yet Netflix broadcasts a spectacular 448 episodes over 5 seasons of history of these phantoms about whom only Allāh and the recording angels know anything about. How are the Muslims happy to swallow every second of every episode as verified history of Islām? A single disclaimer flashing on their TV screens suffices to dispel any doubt, “The stories and characters depicted here were inspired by our history.” If this is an accurate translation of the Turkish disclaimer, then the joke is on the viewer. Read the statement properly. It does not claim that a single story or character is factual! You are the same community who overdoes it with conspiracy analysis, yet a single misread sentence is enough for you to accept medieval fantasy as fact. Allāh have mercy. How will your brain process the lies of the Anti-Christ?

 “Its Good for Teaching Morals”

Those possessing slightly more cognitive function concede the fictional nature of the series but aver that the series is a good vehicle for teaching Islāmic morals. Their ultimate trump card is, “It is better than watching the filth of Game of Thrones.”

I concede that there might be some merit to these arguments on the surface, but really, we should think a little deeper and not be so superficial.

• It is true that Islāmic teaching tradition includes the usage of parables. The Qurʾān itself uses parables. However, if you a sincere student of the Qurʾān you would draw a clear line between factual narration and created parables, as the Qurʾān does, and which the TV series does not.
• As for teaching morals, a moral lesson can be drawn from any incident. This depends on the spiritual insight on the believer – “Beware of the insight of the believer for he gazes with the light of Allāh”. Embedding Hollywood in the homes of Muslims is a poor excuse for teaching morals. We should also ask, “What morals?” I was convinced to watch a few episodes and if the scholars who promoted this are too shallow to see their error, then this ʾUmmah is in a terrible state. I shall not examine various theological issues (Muslims dressed as Crusaders and displaying the Crusader flag and cross) and juristic issues (intermingling on sexes) which are more than enough to blot out any spirituality the series might in theory have had. I shall but mention three points in regards the Hollywood morals that the series teaches, which are far from the teachings of Allāh’s Messenger ﷺ.

1. Let us imagine that your study of Turkish history went slightly beyond this series, and that you picked up a book on the subject (shock, horror!) You might know that the Turks ultimately originate from the Mongolian steppes region. They migrated south and west. After centuries of interbreeding they acquired the European features that we associate with them today. Ertuğrul and his son would have more resembled Genghis Khān in physical appearance, rather than actors with handsome white boy looks. Islām teaches that Allāh looks at our hearts, not faces. Hollywood depicts good guys as physically handsome and preferably white. Bad guys are ugly and preferably not white. The “morality” of the series in the way it depicts good vs evil is in line with Hollywood, not Islām. If you regard this issue as minor, then you are either blind to the problem that this prejudice wrecks amongst Muslims, or you are perhaps one of those prejudiced racists yourself.
2. So the romance of Ertuğrul is an example of these Islamic morals that you promote? Further, the implication is that this minor zinā is so glorious because it ultimately laid the foundation of the Islamic empire of the Turks. No Comment!
3. I have delved enough on truth vs falsehood. If you need convincing that morality that arise from falsehood, then end of discussion.

• How is better than watching Game of Thrones a valid argument in Islām? Something is either right or wrong, pure or impure. That you are forced to advance this excuse reveals that your heart knows that something does not add up. The argument of lesser evil requires a valid rationale. Evil in any quantity is not permitted just for the fun of it. Pork is permitted to save life, not for taste and entertainment, or “it is better than drinking wine” and thus a lesser evil. Even when it is permitted, the jurists differ on the quantity than is permitted, but none ever said that one can eat without restriction. So if the TV series is better than Game of Thrones what is the quantity? Are you allowed a lesser evil without restriction, simply because there is a greater evil elsewhere?
• The weird argument was often made this TV series when compared to Game of Thrones proves the superiority of Islām! Allāhu Akbar, so that is all your religion boils down to? Is that what Islām offers, is the making of a “better” TV series than others? As ʾal-ʾImām Shafiʿī said, he would never debate an idiot because he would not be able to defeat the idiot.
• The west knows its TV series is fiction and watches it for mere entertainment, while you watch your fiction and present it as your religion’s truth, who then is the more mentally balanced of the two? If anything, those who make this comparison show a terrifying void in their lives and understanding of their religion, which they fill with fiction.

Fanaticism & Harms

• I have already mentioned the ultimate harm of a Muslim who cannot distinguish between truth and falsehood which is an absolute essential of our religion. But let us do a quick search of social media and see just how delusional Muslims are:

• 

Ghāzī? We don’t know. Now he is the Sulṭān of Ghāzīs? Ever pick up a book on historically verifiable Muslim warriors? Ever heard of Khālid bin Walīd, Ṣalāḥuddīn, ʿUmar ʾal-Mukhtār?

• Question the state of your faith if you are amongst those who greet each other like Ertuğrul characters. I have seen this. Have a frank dialogue with your heart and ask it why the TV series has a greater impact on you than the many Ḥadīth and verses of the Qurʾān in regards Islāmic salutation which we are way less mindful of.
• Same for those who dress their children like TV characters. Did you implement the teachings of Allāh’s Messenger ﷺ in regards upbringing of children with the same zeal that you now dress your children? Who is more beloved unto you? Ertuğrul or Muḥammad ﷺ?
• Ertuğrul weddings – ditto.  

Fake News

I shall conclude with an example of how this mental disease, so overpowers the senses that a news headline, was tweaked just to bring Ertuğrul into the picture. Muslim activists are fond of pointing out “fake news”, but it seems that this does not apply to their fantasies.

• On 22 December 2020, Daily Sabah, calmly and rationally reported on gold reserves discovered in mines in Turkey. The headline was Gold reserve detected in northwestern Turkey worth around $6B
• This northwest region encompassed the supposed burial site of Ertuğrul. This was sufficient license for Muslim “journalists” who are either TV fanatics or desperate for views, to distort the headline, as if it were gold treasures found in his tomb, Tutankhamen style, and this was their headline the following day – Turkey: Tons Of Gold Discovered From Burial Site Of Ertugrul Ghazi
• The article of the “journalists” first distort the facts in the leadline and shove Ertuğrul into the story without rhyme or reason, making him half of the story:

Billions of dollars worth of gold have been discovered in the Turkish city of Sogut, the burial site of Ertugrul Ghazi.

According to a report of Turkish News Agency, billions of dollars worth of gold have been discovered in the city of brave leader Ertugrul Ghazi who set an example of bravery in Islamic history. This has been confirmed by the head of Turkey’s agricultural sector and credit corporates, Fahrettin Poyraz.

The head of Turkey’s agricultural sector and credit corporations, Fahrettin Poyraz, told a Turkish news agency that more than 100 tonnes of gold had been discovered in the southwestern part of Sogut, estimating the amount of gold. 3.5 million ounces (99 tons) has been planted and its value is more than 6 billion dollars.

Fahrettin Poyraz said that the gold from the newly discovered deposits would start to become part of the Turkish economy in the next two years, adding that the gold in the discovered deposits would be enough to revolutionize the Turkish economy.

Interestingly, Ertugrul Ghazi, father of Osman I the founder of the Ottoman Empire.

www.bolnews.com

The next time you pray, “O Allāh show us the truth as true and falsehood as false,” consider its meaning in your life.

سليمان الكندي

Twitter: @sulayman_Kindi