MERCY OCEANS, Book 02 (Shaykh Nazim, 224 pages, 6/12)
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Always you are escaping to the company of children. I will give you palace and slave girls, why stay with little boys?» «Oh my brot- her,» Bahlûl answered «Little boys have protection, there is mercy with them, and I am happy to be with that mercy. To be with you I must make consultation.» Harûn was surprised, «Here am I and my ministers, to whom are you going?» All the people followed Bahlûl
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until they reached the private toilet of the Sultan. The servant opened it and Bahlûl entered saying: «Oh pri- vate toilet of Harûn ar-Rashid, I am asking consultati- on for keeping company with the Sultan.» A voice was heard to reply: «Be careful, be careful, be careful. I was the finest meals in the world until going with Harûn ar- Rashid, and now look where I am.» Bahlûl went away, saying he would never go with the Sultan, and after this, Harûn repented.
Bahlûl is buried in Damascus. He ate only bread and cheese and wore an Aba of camel hair. When asked why, he said, «On the last day people will be called to stand on the cover of hell, and they will be asked about their favours in this life. I will say, ‘I ate only bread and cheese and wore an Aba,’ and then jump quickly aside.» As much as we are taking from this world, there is a bad smelling. Awliyā’ eat and drink and marry at their Lord’s com- mand. Enough will carry you, but too much, more than
enough, and you will carry it.
Oh my Lord, give us from your mercy, that we will like always to be in association with You, and our minds not going after this life’s enjoyments.
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WHAT IS BELIEF?
Our Grandsheikh is teaching, as we are from mankind, and Allah gave us nafs, we have endless desires. No one is saying: «I am fed up.» This is the nature of man.
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As much as we are asking, Allah is giving and opening doors. He gives endless favours; so each time we must ask more than before. What is the Divine Wisdom in this? Our endless desires show us that we are endlessly in need. It shows our absolute weakness. And on the contrary, shows that Allah Almighty has endless po- wers and generosity. He gives not only as servants ask, but gives more than they could ever know to ask. This is reason for everyone to accept the existence of a po- werful creator, Allah Almighty. The universe is in need of an endlessly powerful personality to keep it and to give to everyone what he needs. This belief is a base of faith.
What is belief? In science and technology you have experiments and evidence. That is not belief. Belief is in something you can’t see or try. All Prophets offered to people to believe in what they cannot see. Even when showing miracles, the people were not believing. Without unseen belief, there is no development. A boy must believe when his teacher says: «This is A, this is B, this is C.» Later putting them together, he may read. Prophets bring some principles to people which we must believe, then we are in the first class. Later with improvement, we see in reality things are as the Prophets told. We must believe in the unseen. When the veil goes away we may look.
For anything which is not clearly prohibited to be- lieve in by Qur’ān and Hadith, if a person is believing in it, it shows power of belief for him. For example: in the village of my birth there is buried a woman, Ummu Haram, the first martyr on the sea. She was an aunt
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of the Prophet. Once he awoke from sleeping went to her house, and said: «Just now I saw some of my nation fighting on the sea. They were like kings on thrones. She said: «Pray that I may be one of them.» «So you will be with them.» When the first people sailed to Cyprus for Islam, she was among them, and fell from a horse and died a martyr. Firstly though she had stayed in Le- banon as a guest of a nun. She saw three large rocks in the garden and asked the nun to sell them to her. She, said: «Oh my lady, no one can lift them, but if you want they are a gift to you.» Ummu Haram accepted and left them as a trust, saying that she would take them at a later time. On the night she died, the rocks came over the sea to her and stood at her grave, one at the head, one at the foot, and one over the top like an umbrella without support. This is a belief for example. If one is believing, it shows the power of faith in his heart. If not forbidden by Qur’ān and Hadith and you are believing, there is no harm.
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BAHLťL AND THE PARADISE PALACE
I heard our Grandsheikh speaking of the brother of Harûn ar-Rashid. Bahlûl the Wise was his name, Bahlûl Al-Khaws, Bahlûl Majnûn, or Bahlûl Al-Kadhab, «the liar», some called him. One doing what is pleasing to his nafs cannot reach the stations of the Awliyā’. Who- ever is looking to his Lord’s pleasure and leaving his
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ego’s pleasure may reach every station in the Divine Presence. As much as trying for your Lord’s pleasure, so much you are improving.
One day, Bahlûl was sitting in the palace gardens, when the Sultan’s wife saw him and asked what he was doing.» «I am building houses,» he replied. «Can you sell one to me?» she asked. «Yes, for one gold coin.» She bought it and went away. That night they were both having the same dream, that they were in Paradise loo- king at the wonderful palace which she had been given for one gold piece.
Bahlûl was in relationship with the Prophet awake or sleeping, all Awliyā’ are in contact with the Prophet. Bahlûl had been ordered for some charity and needed a gold coin. Her reward for giving it was a palace in Paradise. Harûn, hearing of the dream, came to Bahlûl the next morning. «What are you doing?» «I am buil- ding houses.» «Would you sell me one?» «Yes, the price is 2000 gold coins.» Harûn said, «What, why? You were selling yesterday for only one coin.» «She bought it without looking,» Bahlûl explained, «Now it has gotten expensive.»
This means belief in hidden things. If looking first, everyone may believe. Precious is to believe in veiled things. Now so many thoughts are coming against this kind of belief. In all religions are arising groups fighting against beliefs. In Islam also people are saying the only reality is what we feel and see. They deny the existence of saints. This is from Satan to destroy faith in hearts. If no faith, then no life for people. As much as we can believe we have a big heart. The heart of a believer is
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never contracted, always open. There is no peace or happiness in the hearts of unbelievers. In the hearts of believers there is light and peace and satisfaction.
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LADIES MUST OBEY HUSBANDS
Our Grandsheikh is speaking about ladies and their husbands. Once Fatima, may Allah be pleased with her, heard that her father had a headache. Quickly she ran to him with a jug of water. The Prophet asked her: «Where is ‘Alî?» «He is not at home.» she said. «Oh Fatima, dump the water out and come here. I swear by Allah that until you find your husband and take pardon from him, if you die, I can’t pray for you or bury you with Muslims.» Immediately she went and asked for pardon. Our Grandsheikh says that the badness appearing at the end of the world will be from women coming from their houses without permission. So many places they are going that their husbands would not have agreed to, had they been asked. As much as ladies stay in their houses, it is safety for them and their husbands. As much as coming out, affliction is resulting. In this time, women are not obeying husbands and the world is filled up with troubles. There is a way for women and a way for men; when all are going on their way, the world will be in peace. Any thinking person can see the sensibility in this.
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WHO TO FOLLOW?
Allah Almighty says: follow the way of him who left everything for the sake of his Lord. This does not mean people who have died. We must search for a man living with us, and pursue him. For the signs of such a man, look, if he calls you to his world’s enjoyment, don’t fol- low. But if he calls you away from your ego to High cha- racter, to love of Allah and His Prophet and to the Last Day, follow him. Whoever decorates this dunyā life, leave him. If in one’s company one feels an increase in love for the Lord and the afterlife, keep him. Otherwise they are only giving you more diseases. We are asking for a cure. May Allah forgive and bless us.
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THE WAY OF AzEEMAT ALLAH’S BEAUTY OCEANS
Our Grandsheikh is speaking about the base of Islam. The Prophet, peace be upon him, says, if a man is not asking goodness for others as he is asking for himself, he is not a believer. This is the first step of faith and the standard level of Islam. It is rukhsa. To prefer others over oneself is the high level of faith, the most lovely position for a human being. Such a one will be beloved
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by everyone. Keeping the Shari‘at strongly is the way of Azeemat, the way of Tariqat and the way of high pro- sperity. Shari‘ah gives permission for enjoying halâl in this life, but the way of Azeemat asks us to leave en- joyment of this life. Followers of Tariqat ask only their Lord’s face, Rukhsa is the standard level of people.
One lady came to a judge complaining that her hus- band planned to marry a second wife. The judge told her that that was no reason for complaint, since he may marry 2, 3, or 4. She replied: «Your honour, you say that, but if Allah allowed me to lift this veil, you would say that any man with such a beauty is a fool to want another. But I can’t lift it, that is for my husband only.» At this the judge fainted and the woman left. He woke up asking for her, as her words had come to him as if from Allah Almighty, saying: «Oh my people, if I am taking the veil of Grandeur from my Face, you can’t look at anything else.»
Beauties in Paradise are only one drop from His Beau- ty Oceans, and from Paradise only one drop is given to this world. When His Beauty appears every friday in Paradise, no one can find any taste in other things, they lose themselves, and, when coming back to themselves, find even better taste in their pleasures. Paradise is al- ways increasing, this world always decreasing. Whoever asks for Allah only, the veils are lifted for him. Those on the way of Azeemat have left enjoyment for this life and the next. This is the way of Tariqat, leading people to the Lord’s Divine Pleasure and endless Beauty Oceans. Those people are always in His Presence. Now our way is clear: either we try pleasing our ego, or pleasing our
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Lord. The Prophet’s teaching is that the main goal is to make your Lord pleased with you, then everything you can imagine and what you can’t imagine is for you, endless peace and satisfaction. Please yourself? This is something you can never do; you can’t be satisfied with anything. But almost no people are clever enough to understand this. The way for everyone before every action is to think: Is this pleasing for the Lord or for me pleasing? If pleasing to the Lord, do it, and then He will make you pleased. He rewards according to your working. If He can’t make you pleased nothing can make you pleased; He will make you pleased without anything; pleasure is not coming from the outside. A man may be sitting in prison, but his spirit can be free.
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THE MUREED WHO TESTED THEIR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER
Our Grandsheikh is speaking about love. There was one mureed in Daghestan who was on a high degree of love, a strong lover of Allah and the Prophet. He was saying about love between people that so many people are li- king one another but we are not accepting this love until it is tested to be true or not. A love that is true for only seven days, or seven months, or seven years and then on the eighth goes away, that is not love. How is that love described? You may see in your friend a no good word or action, and become angry with him and cut
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that love. Any love ending in enmity is not real love. We must be liking for the sake of Allah, then there is always forgiveness, love never ending. Real love must be forever.
If I like you and you are grinding me in a mill, if pos- sible to come out whole – after tasting all that crushing, if my love for you changes, it is not real love. «Who is in love for the sake of Allah, will be on Minbars of Light on the Last Day,» says the Prophet. All people will ask,
«Who are these, Prophets?» Angels will answer: «No, they are lovers for the sake of Allah.» If love is for this life and the ego’s enjoyment, then it is no real love. An important characteristic for believers is loving for the sake of Allah, even to love one person.
Our Grandsheikh said to me, there were two mureeds in his homeland who would sometimes meet and assault one another with words – saying to each other all man- ner of things. Then they would look to each other’s heart to see if there came any effect from the cursing, but no change. Next, with their hands they would slap each other until tiring, sitting down and blowing on their hands. Still, not changing in love. Finally they would beat each other with sticks, until falling down, then laughing together. Here Satan would become very angry and run away. To be like this is the highest degree for love, and for Awliyā’; not changing in love, whatever is coming from people. This Tariqat teaches us to en- dure. If angry, it means, no real love in your heart. We must accept the faults of people, as we all have so many. We must be tolerant and compassionate.
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HOW DIVINE ATTRIBUTES DIFFER FROM OURS
Our Grandsheikh is speaking on the attributes of Allah Almighty. We must distinguish between the Attributes of Allah and the attributes of servants. He is Qādir, All- Powerful. He may do anything. He may put the whole world in a sesame seed. How? We think either making the seed very big or the world very small. This is our imagination.
But our Grandsheikh says that He may do it without making either bigger or smaller. This we can’t imagine, our mind stops there. After a limit, the mind is useless, not understanding. This is Allah’s attribute. We can’t see it or try it or understand it. These attributes are ne- ver coming down to be balanced in the minds of servants. We must always distinguish. To know that you are ne- ver going to understand Him, this is understanding.
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ATTRIBUTES OF LOVERS LAYLA AND MAJNťN
Our Grandsheikh says if a man loves a person, he never sees any disliked thing; everything is perfect, his fea- tures, his speaking and actions. By practicing, you may
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be on that station. Like Layla and Majnûn, he loved everything belonging to her, her dogs, her village, inclu- ding even the stones. Perfect love results in looking to a person and seeing all perfection.
For a lover, nothing can be disliked in his beloved. If seeing people in perfection, we will like them. Because everyone is unique in His creation, there is complete and special perfection with him. Even physically, each one is an individual. This is from Allah’s endless power, to make everyone on the top. Looking with these eyes, hearts come down to at least be friends with everybo- dy. Then everybody also comes to us with friendship, and friendship leads to love. As much as we are loving people, we are strong in love for the Lord.
Look every time to people’s perfection and search for their good actions. Allah orders, don’t look at people’s faults, it brings you to hate and enmity. You will come down, to these same faults. You must keep your eyes.
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MAKE DO WITH LESS
We are asking how to gain good character, and Allah tells us to follow good charactered people, the Prophet and his sincere followers. No one is having good cha- racter, until taking out all desires of this life’s plea- sures. As long as we have an inclination to this world’s enjoyments, we are not at good character’s level. Desire is coming from the ego, and it always orders bad things.
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All Prophets never looked to this life’s pleasure, and Awliyā’ also cut it out of their heart. If a man finds a spring of sweet water, does he drink from salty water? Do you prefer to drink from a gold cup or from an or- dinary cup? Awliyā’ have found a valuable thing and are not looking to cheap things. They eat and drink in order to live and worship.
Ordinary people live in order to eat and drink. A man living for eating is dangerous, he can’t prevent himself from his ego’s desires, or distinguish between good and bad. Wild character appears from him and he may do anything, dangerous. Those who can prevent them- selves are those who put out of their hearts desire of this life. You must follow a person who is only looking to heavenly pleasure. We may find one at every time if we are asking, and we must ask. Our Grandsheikh was such a person, and we are writing here hoping to take benefit from his words.
He said: «I am ashamed before Allah Almighty, from His favours, so many He is giving us, and in front of His favours, so many bad things we are doing. I am asking to escape to where there is no God there. But I can’t find without His looking, His hearing, His Po- wer and knowledge, without Himself there.» Now so many people are not thankful for the endless favours from their Lord. They are complaining. This is bad cha- racter, if thinking of endless favours, everyone must be ashamed.
One man, like Sheikh Ibrahim, says: «My cat only eats meat, nothing else.» Another, like Sheikh Anwar, says: «Give him to me, I will teach him to eat raw bar-
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ley.» «Impossible, it is a cat, not horse.» «We shall in- vestigate; I’ll bet you 3 pounds.» Then he puts the cat in a cage with only water and outside puts a dish of barley in water. For three days the cat is crying, until the people gather to watch, and it is let out of the cage to pounce on the sprouted barley, eating it quickly.
Oh my sons, you must thank the Lord for all favours. Allah orders us to listen to tales and take a lesson. This world is full of possibilities, the richest man may die of starvation. Thankfulness for favours keeps away bad things. Good character is to agree with everything from eating, drinking and wearing. A big man must take a big car, take a bus – the largest car. You may be the simp- lest person for everything; pride, Allah never likes it. The Prophet lived in the simplest nation, in the simp- lest life, in order to teach all people. One on the top can’t teach everyone. The Prophet is the most humble person in creation. As much as a person is simple, he is not carrying suffering in this life. A person not agreeing to a simple life, is never satisfied with any level, and he is always in trouble. The Prophet’s advice; agree with less and be happy for everything. 20th century people have everything except happiness.
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ADVICE ON HEALTH AND MARITAL RELATIONS
Tonight we were standing after supper and Mevlana Sheikh Nazim was speaking about preventative me- dicine. He told an old Arab saying. «The stomach is the house of sickness, and diet is the first cure.» Also another, saying that from every 40 mouthfuls of food comes one drop of blood; and from 4o drops of blood comes one drop of semen. He said, if someone loses a little blood, quickly you will see them in a panic to re- store themselves but for losing semen they are not even thinking. «Going here, going here, going here, and then when they pass thirty they are like this» (He droops his head and shoulders).
He then told a tale of Luqman: Once his wife said to their son, «Tell your father that you would like to have a little brother to play with.» The boy spoke to his father as his mother had coaxed him, but Luqman said:
«Go tell your mother that until now, I still have not regained the power I spent that first time.»
In order to maintain mental and physical power for the path of Sufism, mureeds should try to observe the following guidelines: When a couple are newly married they may enjoy as they wish, without limitation. After six months‚ having relations every other day is enough and don’t repeat intercourse unless taking a shower first after which, if passion still persists, you are free to enjoy. This taking a shower is very important as repeating intercourse is causing people to get old too quickly. After the age of thirty, a man should gage his
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own strength; how long it takes him to regenerate, and restrict himself accordingly – once, twice, three times a week or more or less than that. It is different for each man. If one will observe these simple guidelines he may keep himself healthy and strong.
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«THE GOD YOU WORSHIP IS BENEATH MY FEET»
I heard from our Grandsheikh this tale describing the real powers of Awliyā’. He was speaking of the mira- cles of Sheikh Muhiy-ud-Dîn Ibn ‘Arabî; Esh-Sheikh Al-Akbar. In his books he wrote many predictions for the future. He said: «If ’sin’ is going into ’shin’ then will appear the tomb of Sheikh Muhiy-ud-Dîn.»
After he was killed for saying to the people: «The God you worship is under my feet.» many years passed with his burial place in obscurity, until Sultan Selim captured Shām. Selim (initial letter ‘sîn’) entered Shām (initial letter ‘shîn’) as predicted. On the first friday he ordered a bath, and ordered that no one else be per- mitted inside. He took off his clothes, and was step- ping, into the bath-dome when he saw someone sit- ting there. He quickly became angry, «Who is that?» Came the reply: «Oh Sultan, just go and bring soap and a wash-cloth and wash my back.» The Sultan carried out the order, thinking: «This is no ordinary person.»
«Oh Sultan, do you know who I am?» «For the sake of
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Allah, tell me, who are you?» «I am Muhiy-ud-Dîn Ibn ‘Arabî.» Then the Sultan kissed his hands and feet. The Sheikh asked him to find his tomb and build a dome and mosque there. «How can I find the tomb?» «Before fajr go up a minaret and look toward Jabal Qasiyûn. You will see a column of light reaching to the sky.» The Sul- tan did this and sent workers to dig at that spot. They found Sheikh Muhiy-ud-Dîn intact in his shroud. Then the eldest living person in Shām was brought to show the spot where he had stepped and said: «The God you worship is under my feet.» Digging there they found two copper cauldrons filled with gold. It was used to build the mosque, and to provide three meals a day for all fuqara. He said: «If anyone is eating and drinking from my charity, even if he is a hypocrite, he must be changed to real belief in the end.» Now even rich peo- ple come on fridays to drink soup, hoping to reach that reward. The gold was his blood money. He gave his life for that charity.
So many miracles there are for the Awliyā’ of this Ummah, giving an indidation for the proof and power of the Prophet. You can’t find Awliyā’ now in any religion except Islam. I am ready to meet with anyone, someone says is a saint with miracles from another religion. I am the weakest in this religion, but I am ready to destroy his miracles with the power of Grandsheikh. I am sa- ying this to the whole world.
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HUMBLENESS
WHO CARRIES A SNAKE WILL BE BITTEN
Today we speak about humbleness. It is a most impor- tant character and most lovely to Allah and to all peo- ple; our Grandsheikh’s main teaching every time was for humbleness. Yet, it is so difficult for our ego, which likes to wear the dress of pride. Until a person exchanges pride for humbleness, you can’t trust him and he is ne- ver a believer. This must be the first step. Allah ordered this for every Prophet. Our Grandsheikh said: «Oh my son, if asking which character is loveliest in the sight of the Lord, it is humbleness. If a man is humble he is a be- loved person.» Everyone saying: «I am following the way of Sufism.» If asking his heavenly share, he must believe sincerely about his ego that it is under the level of Satan, Pharaoh, Nimrod and Abû Jahl. «If given authority like Pharaoh’s perhaps my ego would do worse», he must think. We can be thankful we are not given such po- wers. We must be careful everytime for nafs, never can you trust him and never will you be able to control him. Maybe now he is in a cage, but he says pitifully, «Open it a little, I am very weak, if not trusting me, put a rope on my neck.» But if letting him out, oh you will see at that time that nafs is terrible. Abû Yazîd said, «For 37 years I was fighting my nafs, yet afterwards I looked and saw on me the belt of a zoroasterian priest.» For twelve more years he was fighting and then made the four Takbirs of the funeral prayer over his nafs.
In my island we have deadly snakes. Striking them has no effect, they are like rubber. Nafs is like that sna-
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ke. If you are striking it, maybe it is still for a time or hibernating. Once a man travelling in winter saw a piece of rope. He said: «I must take this» but his com- panion said: «No, it is a snake.» «What do you mean? Snake?» he replied, and he put it in his bag. Being war- med, the snake came to life and bit the man and he fell from his camel.
Who carries a snake will be bitten. You must not say: «I am Muslim, a prayer and a believer, my nafs is alright.» In the blink of an eye, he is biting you. By loo- king to a prohibited place you may forget everything, about sheikh, your family, your honour, everything. I have one cat; when I put food on the table it sits quietly with closed eyes like sleeping. When I leave, it jumps on the table. You must be careful, you may do everything, but in one second a thousand years of doing can be de- stroyed. You must know what is the reality of nafs, or you are never going to control it. We are in the Greater War and must know the enemy’s power and tactics and defend ourselves.
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THAT WHICH BEGINS AS DIRTY WATER AND ENDS A DECAYED BODY CAN BE PROUD?
We are speaking on man’s personality. Everyone has nafs and everyone has soul. They are not the same; one is from the world and the other is heavenly. Each claims he is the real ruler of the body. Like two kings they
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fight against each other; the soul should have the king- dom in
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Always you are escaping to the company of children. I will give you palace and slave girls, why stay with little boys?» «Oh my brot- her,» Bahlûl answered «Little boys have protection, there is mercy with them, and I am happy to be with that mercy. To be with you I must make consultation.» Harûn was surprised, «Here am I and my ministers, to whom are you going?» All the people followed Bahlûl
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until they reached the private toilet of the Sultan. The servant opened it and Bahlûl entered saying: «Oh pri- vate toilet of Harûn ar-Rashid, I am asking consultati- on for keeping company with the Sultan.» A voice was heard to reply: «Be careful, be careful, be careful. I was the finest meals in the world until going with Harûn ar- Rashid, and now look where I am.» Bahlûl went away, saying he would never go with the Sultan, and after this, Harûn repented.
Bahlûl is buried in Damascus. He ate only bread and cheese and wore an Aba of camel hair. When asked why, he said, «On the last day people will be called to stand on the cover of hell, and they will be asked about their favours in this life. I will say, ‘I ate only bread and cheese and wore an Aba,’ and then jump quickly aside.» As much as we are taking from this world, there is a bad smelling. Awliyā’ eat and drink and marry at their Lord’s com- mand. Enough will carry you, but too much, more than
enough, and you will carry it.
Oh my Lord, give us from your mercy, that we will like always to be in association with You, and our minds not going after this life’s enjoyments.
* * *
WHAT IS BELIEF?
Our Grandsheikh is teaching, as we are from mankind, and Allah gave us nafs, we have endless desires. No one is saying: «I am fed up.» This is the nature of man.
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As much as we are asking, Allah is giving and opening doors. He gives endless favours; so each time we must ask more than before. What is the Divine Wisdom in this? Our endless desires show us that we are endlessly in need. It shows our absolute weakness. And on the contrary, shows that Allah Almighty has endless po- wers and generosity. He gives not only as servants ask, but gives more than they could ever know to ask. This is reason for everyone to accept the existence of a po- werful creator, Allah Almighty. The universe is in need of an endlessly powerful personality to keep it and to give to everyone what he needs. This belief is a base of faith.
What is belief? In science and technology you have experiments and evidence. That is not belief. Belief is in something you can’t see or try. All Prophets offered to people to believe in what they cannot see. Even when showing miracles, the people were not believing. Without unseen belief, there is no development. A boy must believe when his teacher says: «This is A, this is B, this is C.» Later putting them together, he may read. Prophets bring some principles to people which we must believe, then we are in the first class. Later with improvement, we see in reality things are as the Prophets told. We must believe in the unseen. When the veil goes away we may look.
For anything which is not clearly prohibited to be- lieve in by Qur’ān and Hadith, if a person is believing in it, it shows power of belief for him. For example: in the village of my birth there is buried a woman, Ummu Haram, the first martyr on the sea. She was an aunt
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of the Prophet. Once he awoke from sleeping went to her house, and said: «Just now I saw some of my nation fighting on the sea. They were like kings on thrones. She said: «Pray that I may be one of them.» «So you will be with them.» When the first people sailed to Cyprus for Islam, she was among them, and fell from a horse and died a martyr. Firstly though she had stayed in Le- banon as a guest of a nun. She saw three large rocks in the garden and asked the nun to sell them to her. She, said: «Oh my lady, no one can lift them, but if you want they are a gift to you.» Ummu Haram accepted and left them as a trust, saying that she would take them at a later time. On the night she died, the rocks came over the sea to her and stood at her grave, one at the head, one at the foot, and one over the top like an umbrella without support. This is a belief for example. If one is believing, it shows the power of faith in his heart. If not forbidden by Qur’ān and Hadith and you are believing, there is no harm.
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BAHLťL AND THE PARADISE PALACE
I heard our Grandsheikh speaking of the brother of Harûn ar-Rashid. Bahlûl the Wise was his name, Bahlûl Al-Khaws, Bahlûl Majnûn, or Bahlûl Al-Kadhab, «the liar», some called him. One doing what is pleasing to his nafs cannot reach the stations of the Awliyā’. Who- ever is looking to his Lord’s pleasure and leaving his
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ego’s pleasure may reach every station in the Divine Presence. As much as trying for your Lord’s pleasure, so much you are improving.
One day, Bahlûl was sitting in the palace gardens, when the Sultan’s wife saw him and asked what he was doing.» «I am building houses,» he replied. «Can you sell one to me?» she asked. «Yes, for one gold coin.» She bought it and went away. That night they were both having the same dream, that they were in Paradise loo- king at the wonderful palace which she had been given for one gold piece.
Bahlûl was in relationship with the Prophet awake or sleeping, all Awliyā’ are in contact with the Prophet. Bahlûl had been ordered for some charity and needed a gold coin. Her reward for giving it was a palace in Paradise. Harûn, hearing of the dream, came to Bahlûl the next morning. «What are you doing?» «I am buil- ding houses.» «Would you sell me one?» «Yes, the price is 2000 gold coins.» Harûn said, «What, why? You were selling yesterday for only one coin.» «She bought it without looking,» Bahlûl explained, «Now it has gotten expensive.»
This means belief in hidden things. If looking first, everyone may believe. Precious is to believe in veiled things. Now so many thoughts are coming against this kind of belief. In all religions are arising groups fighting against beliefs. In Islam also people are saying the only reality is what we feel and see. They deny the existence of saints. This is from Satan to destroy faith in hearts. If no faith, then no life for people. As much as we can believe we have a big heart. The heart of a believer is
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never contracted, always open. There is no peace or happiness in the hearts of unbelievers. In the hearts of believers there is light and peace and satisfaction.
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LADIES MUST OBEY HUSBANDS
Our Grandsheikh is speaking about ladies and their husbands. Once Fatima, may Allah be pleased with her, heard that her father had a headache. Quickly she ran to him with a jug of water. The Prophet asked her: «Where is ‘Alî?» «He is not at home.» she said. «Oh Fatima, dump the water out and come here. I swear by Allah that until you find your husband and take pardon from him, if you die, I can’t pray for you or bury you with Muslims.» Immediately she went and asked for pardon. Our Grandsheikh says that the badness appearing at the end of the world will be from women coming from their houses without permission. So many places they are going that their husbands would not have agreed to, had they been asked. As much as ladies stay in their houses, it is safety for them and their husbands. As much as coming out, affliction is resulting. In this time, women are not obeying husbands and the world is filled up with troubles. There is a way for women and a way for men; when all are going on their way, the world will be in peace. Any thinking person can see the sensibility in this.
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WHO TO FOLLOW?
Allah Almighty says: follow the way of him who left everything for the sake of his Lord. This does not mean people who have died. We must search for a man living with us, and pursue him. For the signs of such a man, look, if he calls you to his world’s enjoyment, don’t fol- low. But if he calls you away from your ego to High cha- racter, to love of Allah and His Prophet and to the Last Day, follow him. Whoever decorates this dunyā life, leave him. If in one’s company one feels an increase in love for the Lord and the afterlife, keep him. Otherwise they are only giving you more diseases. We are asking for a cure. May Allah forgive and bless us.
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THE WAY OF AzEEMAT ALLAH’S BEAUTY OCEANS
Our Grandsheikh is speaking about the base of Islam. The Prophet, peace be upon him, says, if a man is not asking goodness for others as he is asking for himself, he is not a believer. This is the first step of faith and the standard level of Islam. It is rukhsa. To prefer others over oneself is the high level of faith, the most lovely position for a human being. Such a one will be beloved
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by everyone. Keeping the Shari‘at strongly is the way of Azeemat, the way of Tariqat and the way of high pro- sperity. Shari‘ah gives permission for enjoying halâl in this life, but the way of Azeemat asks us to leave en- joyment of this life. Followers of Tariqat ask only their Lord’s face, Rukhsa is the standard level of people.
One lady came to a judge complaining that her hus- band planned to marry a second wife. The judge told her that that was no reason for complaint, since he may marry 2, 3, or 4. She replied: «Your honour, you say that, but if Allah allowed me to lift this veil, you would say that any man with such a beauty is a fool to want another. But I can’t lift it, that is for my husband only.» At this the judge fainted and the woman left. He woke up asking for her, as her words had come to him as if from Allah Almighty, saying: «Oh my people, if I am taking the veil of Grandeur from my Face, you can’t look at anything else.»
Beauties in Paradise are only one drop from His Beau- ty Oceans, and from Paradise only one drop is given to this world. When His Beauty appears every friday in Paradise, no one can find any taste in other things, they lose themselves, and, when coming back to themselves, find even better taste in their pleasures. Paradise is al- ways increasing, this world always decreasing. Whoever asks for Allah only, the veils are lifted for him. Those on the way of Azeemat have left enjoyment for this life and the next. This is the way of Tariqat, leading people to the Lord’s Divine Pleasure and endless Beauty Oceans. Those people are always in His Presence. Now our way is clear: either we try pleasing our ego, or pleasing our
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Lord. The Prophet’s teaching is that the main goal is to make your Lord pleased with you, then everything you can imagine and what you can’t imagine is for you, endless peace and satisfaction. Please yourself? This is something you can never do; you can’t be satisfied with anything. But almost no people are clever enough to understand this. The way for everyone before every action is to think: Is this pleasing for the Lord or for me pleasing? If pleasing to the Lord, do it, and then He will make you pleased. He rewards according to your working. If He can’t make you pleased nothing can make you pleased; He will make you pleased without anything; pleasure is not coming from the outside. A man may be sitting in prison, but his spirit can be free.
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THE MUREED WHO TESTED THEIR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER
Our Grandsheikh is speaking about love. There was one mureed in Daghestan who was on a high degree of love, a strong lover of Allah and the Prophet. He was saying about love between people that so many people are li- king one another but we are not accepting this love until it is tested to be true or not. A love that is true for only seven days, or seven months, or seven years and then on the eighth goes away, that is not love. How is that love described? You may see in your friend a no good word or action, and become angry with him and cut
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that love. Any love ending in enmity is not real love. We must be liking for the sake of Allah, then there is always forgiveness, love never ending. Real love must be forever.
If I like you and you are grinding me in a mill, if pos- sible to come out whole – after tasting all that crushing, if my love for you changes, it is not real love. «Who is in love for the sake of Allah, will be on Minbars of Light on the Last Day,» says the Prophet. All people will ask,
«Who are these, Prophets?» Angels will answer: «No, they are lovers for the sake of Allah.» If love is for this life and the ego’s enjoyment, then it is no real love. An important characteristic for believers is loving for the sake of Allah, even to love one person.
Our Grandsheikh said to me, there were two mureeds in his homeland who would sometimes meet and assault one another with words – saying to each other all man- ner of things. Then they would look to each other’s heart to see if there came any effect from the cursing, but no change. Next, with their hands they would slap each other until tiring, sitting down and blowing on their hands. Still, not changing in love. Finally they would beat each other with sticks, until falling down, then laughing together. Here Satan would become very angry and run away. To be like this is the highest degree for love, and for Awliyā’; not changing in love, whatever is coming from people. This Tariqat teaches us to en- dure. If angry, it means, no real love in your heart. We must accept the faults of people, as we all have so many. We must be tolerant and compassionate.
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HOW DIVINE ATTRIBUTES DIFFER FROM OURS
Our Grandsheikh is speaking on the attributes of Allah Almighty. We must distinguish between the Attributes of Allah and the attributes of servants. He is Qādir, All- Powerful. He may do anything. He may put the whole world in a sesame seed. How? We think either making the seed very big or the world very small. This is our imagination.
But our Grandsheikh says that He may do it without making either bigger or smaller. This we can’t imagine, our mind stops there. After a limit, the mind is useless, not understanding. This is Allah’s attribute. We can’t see it or try it or understand it. These attributes are ne- ver coming down to be balanced in the minds of servants. We must always distinguish. To know that you are ne- ver going to understand Him, this is understanding.
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ATTRIBUTES OF LOVERS LAYLA AND MAJNťN
Our Grandsheikh says if a man loves a person, he never sees any disliked thing; everything is perfect, his fea- tures, his speaking and actions. By practicing, you may
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be on that station. Like Layla and Majnûn, he loved everything belonging to her, her dogs, her village, inclu- ding even the stones. Perfect love results in looking to a person and seeing all perfection.
For a lover, nothing can be disliked in his beloved. If seeing people in perfection, we will like them. Because everyone is unique in His creation, there is complete and special perfection with him. Even physically, each one is an individual. This is from Allah’s endless power, to make everyone on the top. Looking with these eyes, hearts come down to at least be friends with everybo- dy. Then everybody also comes to us with friendship, and friendship leads to love. As much as we are loving people, we are strong in love for the Lord.
Look every time to people’s perfection and search for their good actions. Allah orders, don’t look at people’s faults, it brings you to hate and enmity. You will come down, to these same faults. You must keep your eyes.
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MAKE DO WITH LESS
We are asking how to gain good character, and Allah tells us to follow good charactered people, the Prophet and his sincere followers. No one is having good cha- racter, until taking out all desires of this life’s plea- sures. As long as we have an inclination to this world’s enjoyments, we are not at good character’s level. Desire is coming from the ego, and it always orders bad things.
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All Prophets never looked to this life’s pleasure, and Awliyā’ also cut it out of their heart. If a man finds a spring of sweet water, does he drink from salty water? Do you prefer to drink from a gold cup or from an or- dinary cup? Awliyā’ have found a valuable thing and are not looking to cheap things. They eat and drink in order to live and worship.
Ordinary people live in order to eat and drink. A man living for eating is dangerous, he can’t prevent himself from his ego’s desires, or distinguish between good and bad. Wild character appears from him and he may do anything, dangerous. Those who can prevent them- selves are those who put out of their hearts desire of this life. You must follow a person who is only looking to heavenly pleasure. We may find one at every time if we are asking, and we must ask. Our Grandsheikh was such a person, and we are writing here hoping to take benefit from his words.
He said: «I am ashamed before Allah Almighty, from His favours, so many He is giving us, and in front of His favours, so many bad things we are doing. I am asking to escape to where there is no God there. But I can’t find without His looking, His hearing, His Po- wer and knowledge, without Himself there.» Now so many people are not thankful for the endless favours from their Lord. They are complaining. This is bad cha- racter, if thinking of endless favours, everyone must be ashamed.
One man, like Sheikh Ibrahim, says: «My cat only eats meat, nothing else.» Another, like Sheikh Anwar, says: «Give him to me, I will teach him to eat raw bar-
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ley.» «Impossible, it is a cat, not horse.» «We shall in- vestigate; I’ll bet you 3 pounds.» Then he puts the cat in a cage with only water and outside puts a dish of barley in water. For three days the cat is crying, until the people gather to watch, and it is let out of the cage to pounce on the sprouted barley, eating it quickly.
Oh my sons, you must thank the Lord for all favours. Allah orders us to listen to tales and take a lesson. This world is full of possibilities, the richest man may die of starvation. Thankfulness for favours keeps away bad things. Good character is to agree with everything from eating, drinking and wearing. A big man must take a big car, take a bus – the largest car. You may be the simp- lest person for everything; pride, Allah never likes it. The Prophet lived in the simplest nation, in the simp- lest life, in order to teach all people. One on the top can’t teach everyone. The Prophet is the most humble person in creation. As much as a person is simple, he is not carrying suffering in this life. A person not agreeing to a simple life, is never satisfied with any level, and he is always in trouble. The Prophet’s advice; agree with less and be happy for everything. 20th century people have everything except happiness.
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ADVICE ON HEALTH AND MARITAL RELATIONS
Tonight we were standing after supper and Mevlana Sheikh Nazim was speaking about preventative me- dicine. He told an old Arab saying. «The stomach is the house of sickness, and diet is the first cure.» Also another, saying that from every 40 mouthfuls of food comes one drop of blood; and from 4o drops of blood comes one drop of semen. He said, if someone loses a little blood, quickly you will see them in a panic to re- store themselves but for losing semen they are not even thinking. «Going here, going here, going here, and then when they pass thirty they are like this» (He droops his head and shoulders).
He then told a tale of Luqman: Once his wife said to their son, «Tell your father that you would like to have a little brother to play with.» The boy spoke to his father as his mother had coaxed him, but Luqman said:
«Go tell your mother that until now, I still have not regained the power I spent that first time.»
In order to maintain mental and physical power for the path of Sufism, mureeds should try to observe the following guidelines: When a couple are newly married they may enjoy as they wish, without limitation. After six months‚ having relations every other day is enough and don’t repeat intercourse unless taking a shower first after which, if passion still persists, you are free to enjoy. This taking a shower is very important as repeating intercourse is causing people to get old too quickly. After the age of thirty, a man should gage his
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own strength; how long it takes him to regenerate, and restrict himself accordingly – once, twice, three times a week or more or less than that. It is different for each man. If one will observe these simple guidelines he may keep himself healthy and strong.
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«THE GOD YOU WORSHIP IS BENEATH MY FEET»
I heard from our Grandsheikh this tale describing the real powers of Awliyā’. He was speaking of the mira- cles of Sheikh Muhiy-ud-Dîn Ibn ‘Arabî; Esh-Sheikh Al-Akbar. In his books he wrote many predictions for the future. He said: «If ’sin’ is going into ’shin’ then will appear the tomb of Sheikh Muhiy-ud-Dîn.»
After he was killed for saying to the people: «The God you worship is under my feet.» many years passed with his burial place in obscurity, until Sultan Selim captured Shām. Selim (initial letter ‘sîn’) entered Shām (initial letter ‘shîn’) as predicted. On the first friday he ordered a bath, and ordered that no one else be per- mitted inside. He took off his clothes, and was step- ping, into the bath-dome when he saw someone sit- ting there. He quickly became angry, «Who is that?» Came the reply: «Oh Sultan, just go and bring soap and a wash-cloth and wash my back.» The Sultan carried out the order, thinking: «This is no ordinary person.»
«Oh Sultan, do you know who I am?» «For the sake of
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Allah, tell me, who are you?» «I am Muhiy-ud-Dîn Ibn ‘Arabî.» Then the Sultan kissed his hands and feet. The Sheikh asked him to find his tomb and build a dome and mosque there. «How can I find the tomb?» «Before fajr go up a minaret and look toward Jabal Qasiyûn. You will see a column of light reaching to the sky.» The Sul- tan did this and sent workers to dig at that spot. They found Sheikh Muhiy-ud-Dîn intact in his shroud. Then the eldest living person in Shām was brought to show the spot where he had stepped and said: «The God you worship is under my feet.» Digging there they found two copper cauldrons filled with gold. It was used to build the mosque, and to provide three meals a day for all fuqara. He said: «If anyone is eating and drinking from my charity, even if he is a hypocrite, he must be changed to real belief in the end.» Now even rich peo- ple come on fridays to drink soup, hoping to reach that reward. The gold was his blood money. He gave his life for that charity.
So many miracles there are for the Awliyā’ of this Ummah, giving an indidation for the proof and power of the Prophet. You can’t find Awliyā’ now in any religion except Islam. I am ready to meet with anyone, someone says is a saint with miracles from another religion. I am the weakest in this religion, but I am ready to destroy his miracles with the power of Grandsheikh. I am sa- ying this to the whole world.
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HUMBLENESS
WHO CARRIES A SNAKE WILL BE BITTEN
Today we speak about humbleness. It is a most impor- tant character and most lovely to Allah and to all peo- ple; our Grandsheikh’s main teaching every time was for humbleness. Yet, it is so difficult for our ego, which likes to wear the dress of pride. Until a person exchanges pride for humbleness, you can’t trust him and he is ne- ver a believer. This must be the first step. Allah ordered this for every Prophet. Our Grandsheikh said: «Oh my son, if asking which character is loveliest in the sight of the Lord, it is humbleness. If a man is humble he is a be- loved person.» Everyone saying: «I am following the way of Sufism.» If asking his heavenly share, he must believe sincerely about his ego that it is under the level of Satan, Pharaoh, Nimrod and Abû Jahl. «If given authority like Pharaoh’s perhaps my ego would do worse», he must think. We can be thankful we are not given such po- wers. We must be careful everytime for nafs, never can you trust him and never will you be able to control him. Maybe now he is in a cage, but he says pitifully, «Open it a little, I am very weak, if not trusting me, put a rope on my neck.» But if letting him out, oh you will see at that time that nafs is terrible. Abû Yazîd said, «For 37 years I was fighting my nafs, yet afterwards I looked and saw on me the belt of a zoroasterian priest.» For twelve more years he was fighting and then made the four Takbirs of the funeral prayer over his nafs.
In my island we have deadly snakes. Striking them has no effect, they are like rubber. Nafs is like that sna-
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ke. If you are striking it, maybe it is still for a time or hibernating. Once a man travelling in winter saw a piece of rope. He said: «I must take this» but his com- panion said: «No, it is a snake.» «What do you mean? Snake?» he replied, and he put it in his bag. Being war- med, the snake came to life and bit the man and he fell from his camel.
Who carries a snake will be bitten. You must not say: «I am Muslim, a prayer and a believer, my nafs is alright.» In the blink of an eye, he is biting you. By loo- king to a prohibited place you may forget everything, about sheikh, your family, your honour, everything. I have one cat; when I put food on the table it sits quietly with closed eyes like sleeping. When I leave, it jumps on the table. You must be careful, you may do everything, but in one second a thousand years of doing can be de- stroyed. You must know what is the reality of nafs, or you are never going to control it. We are in the Greater War and must know the enemy’s power and tactics and defend ourselves.
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THAT WHICH BEGINS AS DIRTY WATER AND ENDS A DECAYED BODY CAN BE PROUD?
We are speaking on man’s personality. Everyone has nafs and everyone has soul. They are not the same; one is from the world and the other is heavenly. Each claims he is the real ruler of the body. Like two kings they
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fight against each other; the soul should have the king- dom in
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