Around 40 years ago, we would gather sheepskins to generate funds for constructing a dormitory and establishing student residences during the Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice). We would engage in a competition to collect sheepskins.
There were some houses from which we couldn’t get any sheepskin. They said they would donate it to another association or foundation. We did not insist.
Sometimes, friends would come unexpectedly from the most unlikely houses, hands full, and we would rejoice. We would be happy, saying, “Look, even this person donated it to us!” The sacrificial skin we received from people with different worldviews would become as valuable as gold, overwhelming us with joy. There was a belief that they were also approaching us with tolerance.
I recall making a loud announcement from a car, holding a microphone and requesting a donation. Sometimes, I would realize that I kept saying the same things and get bored. I don’t like repetitions in expressions. Even now, if I write a poem on a topic, I forget it and write it again later in a different way on the same topic. This means I have a nature that doesn’t like uniformity.
If it were now, I would use different sentences. I would repeat one or two sentences occasionally like a chorus. This would not bore people and me.
Whatever it is, we used to collect a lot of sheepskins back then. Someone would say, ‘I collected 100 pieces,’ and another would say, ‘I collected 200.’ Such explanations would often come from us, the young ones, rather than the elderly.
After collecting the sheepskins and slaughtering the sacrificial animals given by some people, livers or hearts would be cooked, and we would eat it with appetite. This was also a reward for us.
The building of the Büyük Çiğli Qur’an Course was ideal for this. The late Brother Aziz had donated the building. He was a very devout person. May he rest in peace.
The course had a square in the middle. All cutting and salting processes were done in that square.
On one Eid al-Adha, we collected sheepskins again. We helped with the slaughtering process. We were very happy to serve. Once again, the young ones were in a competitive spirit, saying, “You collected this much, and I collected this much.”
Right in the heat of the conversation, a big white dog appeared at the entrance. Everyone was surprised when they saw the dog. The dog was dragging a piece of sheepskin. It brought it and left it in the square. Then, it looked at us. As if saying, ‘If God wills, He can make dogs do this service too. This is a favor to you. Appreciate the value of this Divine favor, do not fall into arrogance, and be grateful.’ Then, it turned around and left. We also learned the lesson we needed to take from this event.
