Semerkand English - October 2025

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The magazine Semerkand English welcomes its readers with the feature article “Parenting: Understanding Children.”
Penned by the renowned pedagogue Elif Özdemir, who also contributes to various other journals, this piece centers on the joy of our hearts—our children—and their upbringing. The article reminds us that raising a child well first requires the presence and effort of parents. It draws attention to the fact that a parent’s character and conduct lay the very first foundations of a child’s personality. From the very moment children enter the world, they take their parents as models; more than words or counsel, what they truly observe is the kind of people their parents are. This article poses significant questions that invite parents to reflect upon their own states and aspirations, thereby opening the door to becoming better parents.
In the column “Reflections from the Age of Bliss,” written by Nuri Keskin, readers are introduced to the life of Abu Sufyan—poet, statesman, one of the wealthiest men of Mecca, and the closest relative of the Prophet before Islam. The narrative offers poignant and instructive episodes from his life.
The article “Who is an Artist?” by Turkish intellectual and literature teacher Ali Yurtgezen examines how artists shape society and explores the qualities that, from an Islamic perspective, ought to be found in a true artist.
In “Bringing Order to the World,” academic and intellectual Halil Akgün discusses the principles Islam proposes for establishing a just world order, while also presenting a critique of the current global system.