THE DIVINE KINGDOM (Shaykh Nazim, 104 pages, 3/6)
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for his worship, they said, "Here we are, ready" (labbayk). Therefore, they faced their Lord's Divine Presence wholly through their hearts. The one who faced his Lord's Divine Presence most was the Seal of the Prophets, beloved Muhammad (saws). Then, to each one of God's servants, to the extent that they can put their hearts in the Divine Presence, inspiration is directed from the Divine Presence into their hearts. Sometimes it is easier for my heart for inspiration to come when I am awake and you put your hearts toward my heart. Then it is easy, translating from the Divine Presence to the Prophet (saws) and from the Prophet (saws) to the Grand Shaykh, and from Grand Shaykh's heart to my heart.
Today when I was praying an important point just appeared on the mirror of my heart to speak about. What is the Muslim's position in relation to others? When we say "others," it means toward all people excepting yourself. It is divided into so many parts, also. What is your position toward unbelievers or toward believers in other religions? Then, what is the position of men toward women and of women toward men? What is your position in relation to older people or younger people? What is your position toward rich people, toward poor people? What is your position toward learned people and toward ignorant people, toward peasants, toward every kind of people, and toward animals, toward plants, toward non-living things - toward all things that may be in existence?
We may gather everything into a word, into a saying that the Prophet (saws) spoke advising his nation, his community (ummah). The Prophet (saws) said, "My Lord taught me and gave me the best manners. whoever wants the best manners may take them from me, through me" (addabani rabbi fa ahsana
22 tadibi). He himself informed us that he had been taught or had been given the best manners (adab), that one may have.
Therefore, O believers, we can learn all good manners through our beloved Prophet Muhammad (saws). Now, we are in need of knowing what are the best manners for coming face to face with people, for everyone according to his or her level, because we are all of us the same in creation, but we are different in our forms, in our capabilities or abilities or characteristics. Everyone carries something different. That is from our Lord's Greatness that He can make everyone to be only one of a kind. Everyone carries a different personality. That is a sign to you that you have been honored in the Divine Presence. No one can anticipate the real honors that everyone has been given by His Lord.
Now we have, throughout this life, by Divine Wisdom, different levels. Therefore, you can't consider human beings like a factory product, all in the same mold. No, because you, the children of Adam, have been created to be God Almighty's vicegerents. Each one of the children of Adam, man or woman, has a manifestation of God Almighty's Most Beautiful Names. They are each manifestations (madhahar) of one of the Most Beautiful Names of the Lord Almighty. You can't say that your Name is the same as the next one's. No matter how many individuals you can imagine from humanity, from among the children of Adam, no matter how many millions of human beings may come, each of them is going to manifest one different Most Beautiful Name from among the Names of God Almighty.
That is a general view for you about the children of Adam. Therefore, you may stand up for everyone who comes to you, respecting that person. You must see each one of the children of Adam, all of them, as being a manifestation of a Most Beautiful Name of your Lord Almighty. That is good manners (adab). You must acquire the excellent manners which God Almighty taught His Prophet.
However, we have lost that now. We are going so far from true Islam and the true excellent manners, and we are inventing something. This is innovation (bidah). We must look at every one of humanity with respect. Therefore, if a baby is born and opens its mouth, breathing, one-two-three, and dies, you must give a name to that child. You must wash the body and you must pray over it with respect. Even if the sultan came, he would pray over the child. If there were no one but the sultan, he must pray, must give respect, to the children of Adam. That baby is one of the children of Adam, yes? That is having good manners or the best manners. We must maintain this. We must make a grave for that baby, not just throw stones and dust on that body.
23 That is true Islam. You can't find this in any other path, in any religion except Islam - the excellent manners which give perfect respect to the children of Adam. One day a funeral procession was going by where the Prophet (saws) was sitting. when it came near, he stood up, teaching people manners. Someone said, "Oh Prophet of God, that person was an idol-worshipper (mushrik)." But still the Prophet (saws) remained standing.
It was not good manners for a person to say this to the prophet, (saws), but at the beginning it didn't matter because the Prophet was teaching his Companions (sahabah) step-by-step. They were reaching perfection. But it was unmannerly. Then that person regretted that be had reminded the Prophet (saws ) saying that this is the body of an idol-worshipper. The Prophet (saws) knew this. How would he have been a prophet if he didn't know'? You know and He doesn't know?
What did the Prophet (saws) say then? He said one word according to the common level of people, because the Prophet (saws) kept so much knowledge in his heart, and he gave common knowledge to common people and private, special knowledge to special people. Some other knowledge was for himself and some for His Lord Almighty alone. He only said, "I am standing because the angel of Death is going with him. I see that and am standing up." And that is a form of respect, also. He was indicating that he could give respect, even for dead bodies, for everyone. When the funeral procession goes by, we may look, we may stop, because the dead body is not going alone. It is protected by angels, going with it, also. You must look and you must say, "Glory be to the Living One Who never dies" (subhana-l-Hayy al-ladhi la yamut). You must remember death and you must say that God Almighty alone never dies. Those are teachings for everyone from God Almighty to His beloved Prophet (saws) and to ourselves.
What is the measure of respect among people now, when we are claiming we have reached the peak of civilization? Rather, people are coming down. They have reached the lowest point of civilization, not the peak. No, the lowest. Islam comes with most high respect to our Lord, Almighty God, and out of respect for our Lord Almighty we respect His servants. We must respect them because everyone has been honored to be a vicegerent to our Lord Almighty and to be a manifestation of a Most Beautiful Name of our Lord, Almighty God.
Then, every trouble and every problem can be easily solved if we can do this for everyone, because the fruit of respect is respect. when you respect someone, you can find respect from that person to you, but when you are proud, trying to make him low, he will make you low, also. Therefore this world is now like a
24 hell, people falling into it, everyday going down lower, because we have lost respect for the sake of God Almighty.
This is the excellent manners that the Prophet (saws) teaches believers in Islam. Our respect begins from the day of birth, from our birthday. Everyone has a birthday, not just certain people. But you must not think of giving some value to a person only on one day and then throw that away. No. Respect must continue from the birthday on. You must be trained, from the beginning to the end, to give respect. Islam brought respect to humanity, men and women. No faith has given rights to men and women except Islam. Islam bases itself on good manners or the best manners for men and women and the relationship between them, in respect for the sake of God Almighty only.
What makes our Lord pleased with us? Everyone must try to make his or her Lord pleased with him or her. That is the important thing for us throughout our lives. We must make Him pleased with us. If you are asking what thing makes God Almighty pleased with us, you must know it makes our Lord pleased with us to respect His servants. Give respect to everyone for the sake of your Lord and it is enough. He is going to be pleased with you.
I was, by my Lord's favor, with my Grand Shaykh, may God Almighty bless him, for forty years. He taught me and he gave respect to everyone who came to him. "Oh my son, give your respect to everyone because that makes your Lord pleased with you."
If a little child, three years old, four years old, two years old, came to his assembly, and if Grand Shaykh, may God Almighty bless him, was sitting he would get up for him, saying, "Welcome, ahlan wa sahlan." As we said, if that baby is born, taking three breaths and then dying, if no one else is there, the sultan and all statesmen must give their respects to him because he is a candidate for being a deputy of God Almighty.
That is what we have been given by our Grand Shaykh, may God Almighty bless him, and we are trying to give you also those good or best manners. And you must keep them. To the extent that you keep them, you are going to be happy and in peace within yourself. You will find satisfaction. You will be respected among creatures and among heavenly beings, as well. That is an honor for us.
Therefore, don't say that that such-and-such a person is a Christian, that one is Jewish, that is another kind; that is black that is white, that is red, that is yellow; that is rich, that is a peasant, that is a worker, that is a miner; that is a learned one, that is an unlearned one - no. You must look at everyone as a manifestation of one of your Lord's Most Beautiful Names, God Almighty looks at him or her
25 through that Name. He or she is being trained under that Name. Therefore, everyone is perfect in that manifestation. Our Lord, God Almighty, gave to
them from His Attributes and you must keep that respect for the sake of your Lord, God Almighty.
Once Jalal al-Din Rumi, a famous mystic among Grand Shaykhs was walking in the market place. A priest was approaching. When that priest saw that Jalal al- Din Rumi was coming, he bowed. Then Jalal al-Din Rumi bowed lower than that priest.
The one who has been given wisdom may understand what the meaning of this is. Knowledge you can find everywhere but wisdom is a grant from God Almighty to certain people, not for everyone. Therefore, God Almighty praises the one who has been given wisdom, saying that he has been given a great favor by his Lord Almighty.
Perhaps someone may object concerning such a Grand Shaykh. "Why, that is a priest and he is a Grand Shaykh. Why did he bow like that, more than that priest? That priest is a humble person in front of such a Grand Shaykh." Who is grand? The one who is more humble than anyone else. He is grand. Grand is not the one who is proud of people. You must understand. That is the point. But the other thing that made Jalal al-Din Rumi bow lower than that priest was because he saw a manifestation of one of the Most Beautiful Names in that priest. Although he was a priest, he manifested one of God Almighty's Most Beautiful Names. Yes.
We are carrying so many sins concerning people and concerning ourselves, as well. We must ask forgiveness every time. May God Almighty bless you and forgive you and forgive us.
26 FREEDOM MORNING, JUNE 3, 1985
"So many people in western countries everywhere are asking for more freedom, more freedom. what more freedom?"
Do you think that if you put a big cage, a lion in the will come and enter it, saying, "Shut the door, I will sit inside." Do you think this? It is so now to catch hold of people and to make them be a situation in which everything is in measure, with discipline.
Now it is, as they say, "the Age of Freedom.” It began from the year 1789. You know that date? The French Revolution. Heads rolled, feet rose up. The turmoil (fitnah), of the whole world began from that time, the time when they put the noble people under their feet and the lowest level took their place. The door was opened at that time and it is still going on.
It is impossible to close it except by God Almighty's will and power. No one can stop it. Now, each day, from those seeds, is coming terrorism. Finished. All governments are trembling from terrorism everywhere. They can't stop it, because they opened - they opened - the door for the wild nature to come out and to do everything under the title of "democracy." Yes.
There is the zoological garden here, the zoo. Have you seen it? I went eleven years ago. I saw a strong building, stronger than any other. On it was written "Lion House." I went through the passage. On both sides tigers and lions were sitting and looking, like this, very angry at the children of Adam, as if to say, "Why have you put us here? Let us have our freedom.” Yes.
Can you think, if they give freedom to those animals, what they would do? I also saw poisonous snakes and lizards inside, well-protected. Why do they not leave them free? They must be free because we have democracy! Is democracy only for people? They must give it to animals, also. Yes. they must.
And I also went to Safari Park where they give more freedom to wild animals. They say, "Lions walk around here as they like,” but I saw a wall, perhaps ten meters high, with iron bars all around. Then they say, "We gave them freedom," but it is not true. The animals are very angry, sitting by the walls, looking around. "What is this freedom?” they say. "It is not freedom." As so many people in our time are saying, they also say, "This is not yet freedom. We want more freedom." It means take down all the walls. Leave them. They will destroy anything that may come in front of them. That is their freedom, and they are
27 asking for more. Very angry, because guards are waiting with rifles, and those big doors open by electric commands. If one of them rushes at a guard, a bullet will go through his head, This is freedom? They do not want such freedom!
So many people in western countries, everywhere are looking for more freedom. what "more freedom?" They mean to say, "We must be like lions in the jungle - African jungles or Indian jungles - where we can move everywhere without any hindrance. We may see, we may like a woman and we must ride her. We may like to eat; from anywhere we may take. We may take any car, any jewels, anything - we may do anything we feel like doing.” That is their "freedom."
That freedom, that bad freedom - I mean to say, what we have of those wild animals within ourselves - wants more freedom. The first step was from that time, 1789, the French Revolution. They have opened that door and they are unable to shut it now. From there it spread to every place and now they are trembling from terrorism - the French government, the English government, the Turkish government. Only the Russian government is not trembling. Communist governments never tremble. But democratic countries, all of them, are trembling, like this. Yes it is good for them. May they continue with democracy! Then the dragon of terrorism will swallow all of them. That is coming now.
We are giving the Prophet's (saws) information. It is something which has to happen. No one can stop it because democracy is feeding them, and it must be. Therefore, from the time that we gave freedom to everyone - for good ones and for bad ones, and the bad ones have more courage, no shame to rule over others, but good people are ashamed, without courage. Therefore, bad people have covered the whole world. That is why we say that governments are trembling from bad people, from terrorists. They do so many bad things, but governments still say, "There is a law, there is humanity. We must protect them not punish them. They may kill but we can't kill them."
Those who do not give their voice or vote for the execution of killers, they will be killed, also, because it is impossible to stop killers without killing. Everyone must know that whoever kills is going to be killed. Put a guillotine in the Champs Elysees, and every day put one murderer on it and cut of his head, all the people looking. Will they begin to tremble, or not? In the Tower of London there is a big wooden log with an ax. They used it to cut off the heads of kings and queens. Bring killers. Put one there with an ax on his head. Then see who becomes bold to do such things. But you are talking about dragons. "Oh, we must keep those. Democracy - we have democracy. what shall we do? Even if you eat us up, we must keep democracy!" They are swallowing people and yet
28 they are saying, "May you be pleased with us! Eat as many as you like, but we must keep you in the same democracy.” You understand?
No intelligence with people now. Finished. This is correct. This is the meaning of democracy - to give the good person and the bad person the same chance. You must know that bad people have courage. They quickly conceal everything, taking matters into their own hands. Then good people become like sheep under a shepherd. What mentality can accept this? If people are bad, you must give no chance for badness, for evil. That is the perfect government, not to give every bad one an opportunity to do as he likes. With democracy, everything is all right for bad people.
Then, how can a person in our time agree to come and say, "I agree to be in a cage?" They say that if they come into Islam, they must be under a discipline. There is a discipline in it, but they want freedom. That is the reason why people are running away from Islam, nothing else. Nothing else. What is wrong with Islam? Nothing. Something is wrong with them.
Who can agree to be in a cage without doing anything that his ego says to him? People want to make everything permissible (ibahiyah, religious libertinism), a kind of thought in which they say that everything is permissible (halal) for them. No harm. They do anything their egos dictate and then they say, "It is all right."
That is an old way of thinking. Now most people practice that school of thought. They say, "We must give our ego everything that we are able to give it. We must make our ego pleased with us by any means, without my hindrance." Men can be women, women can be men. That is the worst thing. They are asking for this, making laws, also. You can understand from this what condition people are in now. This is one of the fruits of democracy, also. In democratic countries people are fighting against nature, changing nature. Therefore, the Prophet (saws) said that the time will come when men will be women and women will be men, and a curse will fall on them.
Once Jesus (as), was walking. He saw a man and a boy. The man was on fire, burning the boy, and the boy was on fire, burning the man. He was astonished. What was that punishment for the two of them? That is the worst action. Those people were making fire come on them. Therefore, God Almighty is punishing, His curse coming on earth by fire. It is impossible to stop World War III - Armageddon. They say this in all books. It must be. Don't suppose that the fire from nuclear weapons is without wisdom. No. It is by the Will of God Almighty, to burn them, to burn every dirtiness on earth. "I seek refuge in God from satan" (istighfar Allah).
29 Whoever comes to a Muslim teacher to listen and to say, "You are right,” then his ego or her ego, like a dragon, catches him by his ear, taking him out. "I do not give you permission to do more than only go and see what is in this Regent's Park Mosque - to see how it is built; what is inside, what they are eating and drinking, what they are saying; to look at it as an exhibit, not to learn Islam from these teachers. I do not give that permission. You can just go and look around. Then it is like an exhibition in Alexander's Palace. Leave. it is enough. Who said you should sit down to learn what religion is, what Islam is, what it orders? What is this? Get out,” it says.
Therefore, the one who may be able to put his ego under foot, he or she is a real hero / heroine. Without overcoming your egos, none of you can come to me from Germany, from America, from Sweden, from every part of the world. So many people are coming. You are overcoming your ego so that you can come. Yes. Your names have been written as heroes and heroines on the Guarded Tablet. It is not an easy thing to overcome your ego and almost all of you are young people with egos like spirited horses. All of you, all of you, you may fly - strong ones, your egos. That is the reason that you have been written as heroes and heroines on earth. Wherever you may go, there is light, lighting you as we look at the stars at night and heavenly people are looking on earth and seeing you also with light. Say, "Praise belongs to God, the Lord of the Worlds."
Disciple: You were speaking yesterday about respect, and I would like to understand. How do we respect those people who are like wild animals or people who are oppressors or who are really wicked?
Shaykh Nazim: The Prophet (saws) said, "You must help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or oppressed” (unsur akhaka dhaliman au madluma). You must give your help because all people have been created for the manifestation of the Most Beautiful Names of God Almighty. They are candidates to be God Almighty's viceregents. That is their honor.
Now, we are fighting Satan or against egos. A surgeon performs an operation, but he does not cut a person to kill him. He is not a butcher. Butchers kill, and surgeons do the same kind of thing but they do it to preserve life. Thus, every one of the children of Adam has been honored originally, but our egos take people under their command. Egos are wild animals. We must help them or save them with any means possible. For this reason, the Prophet (saws) said, "Whether oppressor or oppressed, you must help your brother."
Then people asked, "Oh Prophet, how can we help an oppressor?” He said, "You must catch hold of his hand.” If you see one person beating another, catch his hand, or if there is a sword in his hand ready to kill, catch his hand. That is
30 help to the oppressor. You can help the oppressed person by taking them from the hands of their oppressor.
Now, all people, even oppressors, like to be respected. Respect is a kind of protection for you. You are weak before an oppressor. You can't keep him away. Therefore, when you give him your respect, you may receive protection from him and by that means - because your respect works on him, also - you may be able to make him give at least something of respect for your life.
Therefore, although oppressors may do bad deeds, they are not bad originally, but by the path of following their egos, they went towards bad ways. The human being is not bad originally. He or she is not dirty originally, but you may make yourself dirty by dirty actions, by following satanic ways and by following your ego. Therefore, we may give respect, particularly to oppressors, to protect ourselves through that respect. That is a wisdom that we may use in our time.
Our Grand Shaykh lived in a time when there were so many oppressors around, so many enemies for shaykhs and spiritual paths during his time. They would often come to visit him. They wanted to do some harm to him, also, but he had heavenly wisdom, keeping respect for them. when he gave respect to an official person, too much respect, too much praise, then his disciples, his students, would sit and look in amazement. They thought that it was alright. But his wife often said, "Oh my sons, when you hear your Grand Shaykh praising someone too much, run away from him. It is only for protection from his evil so that no harm comes to you."
Therefore, respect takes away troubles and harms from you. There is no problem in giving your respect. Originally all people are respectable in the Divine Presence. According to your intention, you are going to apologize to God Almighty for what you did, but it is something God Almighty's tolerance covers. God Almighty never punishes a person because he showed respect towards His servants because respect keeps harm away from you.
Disciple: So even if you meet Hitler or Stalin, for example, the worst of the worst, you should behave respectfully to him?
Shaykh Nazim: What else can you do? You have no power to stand before him, to take his harm. No. Once a Shaykh was sitting at the entrance of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. A new general came by on a horse and all the people stood up to salute him. That Shaykh looked to see who he was. Then everyone stood up, saluting, except him. The Shaykh had a tiger skin in front of him. Then with his stick, he hit the tiger skin. A tiger - grr! - rushed at the people, at the general, also. If you can be such a person, no worry about facing Hitler or Stalin or any other one!
31 32 HOW CAN WE RESPECT OURSELVES? AFTERNOON, JUNE 3, 1985
"We bear witness that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is the Servant and Messenger of God" (ash-shadu an la ilaha ill-Allah wa ash-shadu anna Muhammadun abduhu wa rasulahu).
There are so many tape recorders here, but which is the best one? The best one is Japanese, they say, or British, because they have a certain stamp or seal, a trademark. Then, if people see that seal or trademark, they say, "This is a famous one, It must be the best."
What about yourselves, the children of Adam? You have a stamp on your heart, the stamp of the Creator. Do you think about that? Sometimes newspapers put some photographs, saying that the word "Allah" is written here, but it is written so weakly (if there is something useless, photographs fill the whole world and people look at that so much). And on the heart, they say "Allah" is written, as well. It has the Lord's stamp on it, but not too many people are looking for that.
Everyone's heart has been sealed by the Divine Signature. The children of Adam bear the Divine Stamp,
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for his worship, they said, "Here we are, ready" (labbayk). Therefore, they faced their Lord's Divine Presence wholly through their hearts. The one who faced his Lord's Divine Presence most was the Seal of the Prophets, beloved Muhammad (saws). Then, to each one of God's servants, to the extent that they can put their hearts in the Divine Presence, inspiration is directed from the Divine Presence into their hearts. Sometimes it is easier for my heart for inspiration to come when I am awake and you put your hearts toward my heart. Then it is easy, translating from the Divine Presence to the Prophet (saws) and from the Prophet (saws) to the Grand Shaykh, and from Grand Shaykh's heart to my heart.
Today when I was praying an important point just appeared on the mirror of my heart to speak about. What is the Muslim's position in relation to others? When we say "others," it means toward all people excepting yourself. It is divided into so many parts, also. What is your position toward unbelievers or toward believers in other religions? Then, what is the position of men toward women and of women toward men? What is your position in relation to older people or younger people? What is your position toward rich people, toward poor people? What is your position toward learned people and toward ignorant people, toward peasants, toward every kind of people, and toward animals, toward plants, toward non-living things - toward all things that may be in existence?
We may gather everything into a word, into a saying that the Prophet (saws) spoke advising his nation, his community (ummah). The Prophet (saws) said, "My Lord taught me and gave me the best manners. whoever wants the best manners may take them from me, through me" (addabani rabbi fa ahsana
22 tadibi). He himself informed us that he had been taught or had been given the best manners (adab), that one may have.
Therefore, O believers, we can learn all good manners through our beloved Prophet Muhammad (saws). Now, we are in need of knowing what are the best manners for coming face to face with people, for everyone according to his or her level, because we are all of us the same in creation, but we are different in our forms, in our capabilities or abilities or characteristics. Everyone carries something different. That is from our Lord's Greatness that He can make everyone to be only one of a kind. Everyone carries a different personality. That is a sign to you that you have been honored in the Divine Presence. No one can anticipate the real honors that everyone has been given by His Lord.
Now we have, throughout this life, by Divine Wisdom, different levels. Therefore, you can't consider human beings like a factory product, all in the same mold. No, because you, the children of Adam, have been created to be God Almighty's vicegerents. Each one of the children of Adam, man or woman, has a manifestation of God Almighty's Most Beautiful Names. They are each manifestations (madhahar) of one of the Most Beautiful Names of the Lord Almighty. You can't say that your Name is the same as the next one's. No matter how many individuals you can imagine from humanity, from among the children of Adam, no matter how many millions of human beings may come, each of them is going to manifest one different Most Beautiful Name from among the Names of God Almighty.
That is a general view for you about the children of Adam. Therefore, you may stand up for everyone who comes to you, respecting that person. You must see each one of the children of Adam, all of them, as being a manifestation of a Most Beautiful Name of your Lord Almighty. That is good manners (adab). You must acquire the excellent manners which God Almighty taught His Prophet.
However, we have lost that now. We are going so far from true Islam and the true excellent manners, and we are inventing something. This is innovation (bidah). We must look at every one of humanity with respect. Therefore, if a baby is born and opens its mouth, breathing, one-two-three, and dies, you must give a name to that child. You must wash the body and you must pray over it with respect. Even if the sultan came, he would pray over the child. If there were no one but the sultan, he must pray, must give respect, to the children of Adam. That baby is one of the children of Adam, yes? That is having good manners or the best manners. We must maintain this. We must make a grave for that baby, not just throw stones and dust on that body.
23 That is true Islam. You can't find this in any other path, in any religion except Islam - the excellent manners which give perfect respect to the children of Adam. One day a funeral procession was going by where the Prophet (saws) was sitting. when it came near, he stood up, teaching people manners. Someone said, "Oh Prophet of God, that person was an idol-worshipper (mushrik)." But still the Prophet (saws) remained standing.
It was not good manners for a person to say this to the prophet, (saws), but at the beginning it didn't matter because the Prophet was teaching his Companions (sahabah) step-by-step. They were reaching perfection. But it was unmannerly. Then that person regretted that be had reminded the Prophet (saws ) saying that this is the body of an idol-worshipper. The Prophet (saws) knew this. How would he have been a prophet if he didn't know'? You know and He doesn't know?
What did the Prophet (saws) say then? He said one word according to the common level of people, because the Prophet (saws) kept so much knowledge in his heart, and he gave common knowledge to common people and private, special knowledge to special people. Some other knowledge was for himself and some for His Lord Almighty alone. He only said, "I am standing because the angel of Death is going with him. I see that and am standing up." And that is a form of respect, also. He was indicating that he could give respect, even for dead bodies, for everyone. When the funeral procession goes by, we may look, we may stop, because the dead body is not going alone. It is protected by angels, going with it, also. You must look and you must say, "Glory be to the Living One Who never dies" (subhana-l-Hayy al-ladhi la yamut). You must remember death and you must say that God Almighty alone never dies. Those are teachings for everyone from God Almighty to His beloved Prophet (saws) and to ourselves.
What is the measure of respect among people now, when we are claiming we have reached the peak of civilization? Rather, people are coming down. They have reached the lowest point of civilization, not the peak. No, the lowest. Islam comes with most high respect to our Lord, Almighty God, and out of respect for our Lord Almighty we respect His servants. We must respect them because everyone has been honored to be a vicegerent to our Lord Almighty and to be a manifestation of a Most Beautiful Name of our Lord, Almighty God.
Then, every trouble and every problem can be easily solved if we can do this for everyone, because the fruit of respect is respect. when you respect someone, you can find respect from that person to you, but when you are proud, trying to make him low, he will make you low, also. Therefore this world is now like a
24 hell, people falling into it, everyday going down lower, because we have lost respect for the sake of God Almighty.
This is the excellent manners that the Prophet (saws) teaches believers in Islam. Our respect begins from the day of birth, from our birthday. Everyone has a birthday, not just certain people. But you must not think of giving some value to a person only on one day and then throw that away. No. Respect must continue from the birthday on. You must be trained, from the beginning to the end, to give respect. Islam brought respect to humanity, men and women. No faith has given rights to men and women except Islam. Islam bases itself on good manners or the best manners for men and women and the relationship between them, in respect for the sake of God Almighty only.
What makes our Lord pleased with us? Everyone must try to make his or her Lord pleased with him or her. That is the important thing for us throughout our lives. We must make Him pleased with us. If you are asking what thing makes God Almighty pleased with us, you must know it makes our Lord pleased with us to respect His servants. Give respect to everyone for the sake of your Lord and it is enough. He is going to be pleased with you.
I was, by my Lord's favor, with my Grand Shaykh, may God Almighty bless him, for forty years. He taught me and he gave respect to everyone who came to him. "Oh my son, give your respect to everyone because that makes your Lord pleased with you."
If a little child, three years old, four years old, two years old, came to his assembly, and if Grand Shaykh, may God Almighty bless him, was sitting he would get up for him, saying, "Welcome, ahlan wa sahlan." As we said, if that baby is born, taking three breaths and then dying, if no one else is there, the sultan and all statesmen must give their respects to him because he is a candidate for being a deputy of God Almighty.
That is what we have been given by our Grand Shaykh, may God Almighty bless him, and we are trying to give you also those good or best manners. And you must keep them. To the extent that you keep them, you are going to be happy and in peace within yourself. You will find satisfaction. You will be respected among creatures and among heavenly beings, as well. That is an honor for us.
Therefore, don't say that that such-and-such a person is a Christian, that one is Jewish, that is another kind; that is black that is white, that is red, that is yellow; that is rich, that is a peasant, that is a worker, that is a miner; that is a learned one, that is an unlearned one - no. You must look at everyone as a manifestation of one of your Lord's Most Beautiful Names, God Almighty looks at him or her
25 through that Name. He or she is being trained under that Name. Therefore, everyone is perfect in that manifestation. Our Lord, God Almighty, gave to
them from His Attributes and you must keep that respect for the sake of your Lord, God Almighty.
Once Jalal al-Din Rumi, a famous mystic among Grand Shaykhs was walking in the market place. A priest was approaching. When that priest saw that Jalal al- Din Rumi was coming, he bowed. Then Jalal al-Din Rumi bowed lower than that priest.
The one who has been given wisdom may understand what the meaning of this is. Knowledge you can find everywhere but wisdom is a grant from God Almighty to certain people, not for everyone. Therefore, God Almighty praises the one who has been given wisdom, saying that he has been given a great favor by his Lord Almighty.
Perhaps someone may object concerning such a Grand Shaykh. "Why, that is a priest and he is a Grand Shaykh. Why did he bow like that, more than that priest? That priest is a humble person in front of such a Grand Shaykh." Who is grand? The one who is more humble than anyone else. He is grand. Grand is not the one who is proud of people. You must understand. That is the point. But the other thing that made Jalal al-Din Rumi bow lower than that priest was because he saw a manifestation of one of the Most Beautiful Names in that priest. Although he was a priest, he manifested one of God Almighty's Most Beautiful Names. Yes.
We are carrying so many sins concerning people and concerning ourselves, as well. We must ask forgiveness every time. May God Almighty bless you and forgive you and forgive us.
26 FREEDOM MORNING, JUNE 3, 1985
"So many people in western countries everywhere are asking for more freedom, more freedom. what more freedom?"
Do you think that if you put a big cage, a lion in the will come and enter it, saying, "Shut the door, I will sit inside." Do you think this? It is so now to catch hold of people and to make them be a situation in which everything is in measure, with discipline.
Now it is, as they say, "the Age of Freedom.” It began from the year 1789. You know that date? The French Revolution. Heads rolled, feet rose up. The turmoil (fitnah), of the whole world began from that time, the time when they put the noble people under their feet and the lowest level took their place. The door was opened at that time and it is still going on.
It is impossible to close it except by God Almighty's will and power. No one can stop it. Now, each day, from those seeds, is coming terrorism. Finished. All governments are trembling from terrorism everywhere. They can't stop it, because they opened - they opened - the door for the wild nature to come out and to do everything under the title of "democracy." Yes.
There is the zoological garden here, the zoo. Have you seen it? I went eleven years ago. I saw a strong building, stronger than any other. On it was written "Lion House." I went through the passage. On both sides tigers and lions were sitting and looking, like this, very angry at the children of Adam, as if to say, "Why have you put us here? Let us have our freedom.” Yes.
Can you think, if they give freedom to those animals, what they would do? I also saw poisonous snakes and lizards inside, well-protected. Why do they not leave them free? They must be free because we have democracy! Is democracy only for people? They must give it to animals, also. Yes. they must.
And I also went to Safari Park where they give more freedom to wild animals. They say, "Lions walk around here as they like,” but I saw a wall, perhaps ten meters high, with iron bars all around. Then they say, "We gave them freedom," but it is not true. The animals are very angry, sitting by the walls, looking around. "What is this freedom?” they say. "It is not freedom." As so many people in our time are saying, they also say, "This is not yet freedom. We want more freedom." It means take down all the walls. Leave them. They will destroy anything that may come in front of them. That is their freedom, and they are
27 asking for more. Very angry, because guards are waiting with rifles, and those big doors open by electric commands. If one of them rushes at a guard, a bullet will go through his head, This is freedom? They do not want such freedom!
So many people in western countries, everywhere are looking for more freedom. what "more freedom?" They mean to say, "We must be like lions in the jungle - African jungles or Indian jungles - where we can move everywhere without any hindrance. We may see, we may like a woman and we must ride her. We may like to eat; from anywhere we may take. We may take any car, any jewels, anything - we may do anything we feel like doing.” That is their "freedom."
That freedom, that bad freedom - I mean to say, what we have of those wild animals within ourselves - wants more freedom. The first step was from that time, 1789, the French Revolution. They have opened that door and they are unable to shut it now. From there it spread to every place and now they are trembling from terrorism - the French government, the English government, the Turkish government. Only the Russian government is not trembling. Communist governments never tremble. But democratic countries, all of them, are trembling, like this. Yes it is good for them. May they continue with democracy! Then the dragon of terrorism will swallow all of them. That is coming now.
We are giving the Prophet's (saws) information. It is something which has to happen. No one can stop it because democracy is feeding them, and it must be. Therefore, from the time that we gave freedom to everyone - for good ones and for bad ones, and the bad ones have more courage, no shame to rule over others, but good people are ashamed, without courage. Therefore, bad people have covered the whole world. That is why we say that governments are trembling from bad people, from terrorists. They do so many bad things, but governments still say, "There is a law, there is humanity. We must protect them not punish them. They may kill but we can't kill them."
Those who do not give their voice or vote for the execution of killers, they will be killed, also, because it is impossible to stop killers without killing. Everyone must know that whoever kills is going to be killed. Put a guillotine in the Champs Elysees, and every day put one murderer on it and cut of his head, all the people looking. Will they begin to tremble, or not? In the Tower of London there is a big wooden log with an ax. They used it to cut off the heads of kings and queens. Bring killers. Put one there with an ax on his head. Then see who becomes bold to do such things. But you are talking about dragons. "Oh, we must keep those. Democracy - we have democracy. what shall we do? Even if you eat us up, we must keep democracy!" They are swallowing people and yet
28 they are saying, "May you be pleased with us! Eat as many as you like, but we must keep you in the same democracy.” You understand?
No intelligence with people now. Finished. This is correct. This is the meaning of democracy - to give the good person and the bad person the same chance. You must know that bad people have courage. They quickly conceal everything, taking matters into their own hands. Then good people become like sheep under a shepherd. What mentality can accept this? If people are bad, you must give no chance for badness, for evil. That is the perfect government, not to give every bad one an opportunity to do as he likes. With democracy, everything is all right for bad people.
Then, how can a person in our time agree to come and say, "I agree to be in a cage?" They say that if they come into Islam, they must be under a discipline. There is a discipline in it, but they want freedom. That is the reason why people are running away from Islam, nothing else. Nothing else. What is wrong with Islam? Nothing. Something is wrong with them.
Who can agree to be in a cage without doing anything that his ego says to him? People want to make everything permissible (ibahiyah, religious libertinism), a kind of thought in which they say that everything is permissible (halal) for them. No harm. They do anything their egos dictate and then they say, "It is all right."
That is an old way of thinking. Now most people practice that school of thought. They say, "We must give our ego everything that we are able to give it. We must make our ego pleased with us by any means, without my hindrance." Men can be women, women can be men. That is the worst thing. They are asking for this, making laws, also. You can understand from this what condition people are in now. This is one of the fruits of democracy, also. In democratic countries people are fighting against nature, changing nature. Therefore, the Prophet (saws) said that the time will come when men will be women and women will be men, and a curse will fall on them.
Once Jesus (as), was walking. He saw a man and a boy. The man was on fire, burning the boy, and the boy was on fire, burning the man. He was astonished. What was that punishment for the two of them? That is the worst action. Those people were making fire come on them. Therefore, God Almighty is punishing, His curse coming on earth by fire. It is impossible to stop World War III - Armageddon. They say this in all books. It must be. Don't suppose that the fire from nuclear weapons is without wisdom. No. It is by the Will of God Almighty, to burn them, to burn every dirtiness on earth. "I seek refuge in God from satan" (istighfar Allah).
29 Whoever comes to a Muslim teacher to listen and to say, "You are right,” then his ego or her ego, like a dragon, catches him by his ear, taking him out. "I do not give you permission to do more than only go and see what is in this Regent's Park Mosque - to see how it is built; what is inside, what they are eating and drinking, what they are saying; to look at it as an exhibit, not to learn Islam from these teachers. I do not give that permission. You can just go and look around. Then it is like an exhibition in Alexander's Palace. Leave. it is enough. Who said you should sit down to learn what religion is, what Islam is, what it orders? What is this? Get out,” it says.
Therefore, the one who may be able to put his ego under foot, he or she is a real hero / heroine. Without overcoming your egos, none of you can come to me from Germany, from America, from Sweden, from every part of the world. So many people are coming. You are overcoming your ego so that you can come. Yes. Your names have been written as heroes and heroines on the Guarded Tablet. It is not an easy thing to overcome your ego and almost all of you are young people with egos like spirited horses. All of you, all of you, you may fly - strong ones, your egos. That is the reason that you have been written as heroes and heroines on earth. Wherever you may go, there is light, lighting you as we look at the stars at night and heavenly people are looking on earth and seeing you also with light. Say, "Praise belongs to God, the Lord of the Worlds."
Disciple: You were speaking yesterday about respect, and I would like to understand. How do we respect those people who are like wild animals or people who are oppressors or who are really wicked?
Shaykh Nazim: The Prophet (saws) said, "You must help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or oppressed” (unsur akhaka dhaliman au madluma). You must give your help because all people have been created for the manifestation of the Most Beautiful Names of God Almighty. They are candidates to be God Almighty's viceregents. That is their honor.
Now, we are fighting Satan or against egos. A surgeon performs an operation, but he does not cut a person to kill him. He is not a butcher. Butchers kill, and surgeons do the same kind of thing but they do it to preserve life. Thus, every one of the children of Adam has been honored originally, but our egos take people under their command. Egos are wild animals. We must help them or save them with any means possible. For this reason, the Prophet (saws) said, "Whether oppressor or oppressed, you must help your brother."
Then people asked, "Oh Prophet, how can we help an oppressor?” He said, "You must catch hold of his hand.” If you see one person beating another, catch his hand, or if there is a sword in his hand ready to kill, catch his hand. That is
30 help to the oppressor. You can help the oppressed person by taking them from the hands of their oppressor.
Now, all people, even oppressors, like to be respected. Respect is a kind of protection for you. You are weak before an oppressor. You can't keep him away. Therefore, when you give him your respect, you may receive protection from him and by that means - because your respect works on him, also - you may be able to make him give at least something of respect for your life.
Therefore, although oppressors may do bad deeds, they are not bad originally, but by the path of following their egos, they went towards bad ways. The human being is not bad originally. He or she is not dirty originally, but you may make yourself dirty by dirty actions, by following satanic ways and by following your ego. Therefore, we may give respect, particularly to oppressors, to protect ourselves through that respect. That is a wisdom that we may use in our time.
Our Grand Shaykh lived in a time when there were so many oppressors around, so many enemies for shaykhs and spiritual paths during his time. They would often come to visit him. They wanted to do some harm to him, also, but he had heavenly wisdom, keeping respect for them. when he gave respect to an official person, too much respect, too much praise, then his disciples, his students, would sit and look in amazement. They thought that it was alright. But his wife often said, "Oh my sons, when you hear your Grand Shaykh praising someone too much, run away from him. It is only for protection from his evil so that no harm comes to you."
Therefore, respect takes away troubles and harms from you. There is no problem in giving your respect. Originally all people are respectable in the Divine Presence. According to your intention, you are going to apologize to God Almighty for what you did, but it is something God Almighty's tolerance covers. God Almighty never punishes a person because he showed respect towards His servants because respect keeps harm away from you.
Disciple: So even if you meet Hitler or Stalin, for example, the worst of the worst, you should behave respectfully to him?
Shaykh Nazim: What else can you do? You have no power to stand before him, to take his harm. No. Once a Shaykh was sitting at the entrance of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. A new general came by on a horse and all the people stood up to salute him. That Shaykh looked to see who he was. Then everyone stood up, saluting, except him. The Shaykh had a tiger skin in front of him. Then with his stick, he hit the tiger skin. A tiger - grr! - rushed at the people, at the general, also. If you can be such a person, no worry about facing Hitler or Stalin or any other one!
31 32 HOW CAN WE RESPECT OURSELVES? AFTERNOON, JUNE 3, 1985
"We bear witness that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is the Servant and Messenger of God" (ash-shadu an la ilaha ill-Allah wa ash-shadu anna Muhammadun abduhu wa rasulahu).
There are so many tape recorders here, but which is the best one? The best one is Japanese, they say, or British, because they have a certain stamp or seal, a trademark. Then, if people see that seal or trademark, they say, "This is a famous one, It must be the best."
What about yourselves, the children of Adam? You have a stamp on your heart, the stamp of the Creator. Do you think about that? Sometimes newspapers put some photographs, saying that the word "Allah" is written here, but it is written so weakly (if there is something useless, photographs fill the whole world and people look at that so much). And on the heart, they say "Allah" is written, as well. It has the Lord's stamp on it, but not too many people are looking for that.
Everyone's heart has been sealed by the Divine Signature. The children of Adam bear the Divine Stamp,
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