Islam – The Freedom To Serve (Shaykh Nazim, 93 pages, 4/4)
https://www.nvrislam.net/index.php?j=eng&post=6051
d catch it.’ But they die without having caught it, and we carry them to their graves because they cannot carry themselves. They put their burden on our shoulders, and we carry them. However, I say, ‘Brother, sister, walk. Why do you want to be carried to your grave?’ But they say, ‘Be quiet, you know what has happened to us.’
* * *
Allah’s Mercy has left a door open. One door.This door is for those who, without having asked and without knowing why,
are seized by the Love of God and by the desire to know Him, although it is like trying to hold a glowing coal in your hand.
* * *
He who governs space is more powerful than those who
govern on earth. Therefore, people fear the presence of life in space. But He who is higher than space governs both space and earth.
* * *
In our days who would be likely to say, ‘Please let this one or that one be as beautiful, or as powerful, or as intelligent as I am?’
* * *
As long as you are opposed to yourself, you do not like yourself. So, you become jealous and proud. Then, people do not like you and avoid you, and what happens to you will happen to them.
* * *
Perhaps you are very beautiful, very rich, very in-
telligent. But there are always others who are more beautiful, richer, and more intelligent. This hurts you. For you want to be the only living being on this earth. You want to be the only one, the only beautiful one, the only rich person, the only intelligent one in this world.
* * *
At first, we are busy with our bodies, then we are busy with our businesses. Finally we are busy with the future of our chil- dren, in order to stay busy. Our whole life consists in being busy. ‘That leaves no time for myself’, we say.
* * *
Technology keeps mankind imprisoned through a sim- ple trick. It keeps them in fear. It says, ‘If I go, then you are finished.’ However, it is made with our own hands. Everything comes from our two hands.
* * *
They say, ‘He died.’ What does this mean? It means, he was taken away. The Divine spark was taken from him. Then he is nothing.
* * *
Rifles, tanks, and bombs may stop people but they can- not stop their ego. It knows such weapons only too well and is not afraid of them. Only the Oneness of Allah teaches fear. Only to Him does the ego submit.
* * *
You should be like a dog with your master. Why? When you shout at a dog, when you beat him, throw stones at him, chase him, he runs away. When you call him he comes back; a hundred times, without resentment. When your master calls you back, and you are even slightly annoyed, then you are not a true disciple, but an imitator. Therefore, the master will always
try you, with everything. Your hearts hould never turn away from him, that is, if you belong to those who ask. For you do not ask for this or for that, you ask for the One.
* * *
Whoever refuses to feed his soul is cruel. Our soul nour-
ishes itself through obedience to its Lord. If you take away its nourishment, you shorten your life.
* * *
Whatever serves your selfishness goes against God.
What God says, goes against your selfishness.
* * *
The Oneness of God is the basis of all prophetic religions. It is the criterion with which to distinguish a false prophet from a true one. He who calls people to the Oneness of God calls them to the true way and is a true emissary of God Almighty. He who does not call them to this way, but who calls them to another or to others, does not follow a heavenly way but runs after his ego.
* * *
We are not humble enough to ask. We spend our lives on this planet, inquisitively and proudly inquiring about it and everything on it. Our knowledge is knowledge of that which ap- pears. Our inquirers and learned people are learned only in the apparent. But what is real is hidden. It is not on this planet, it is difficult to reach. As they want to know everything, but are not humble enough to ask, the imitation of knowledge is on the
increase and is spreading over the whole world. Everything is being imitated, even thoughts and wisdom.
* * *
What shall I say about myself? I am like the moon. When the sun goes, the light of the moon goes. If the light of my master leaves me, I am in darkness. I am nothing. Whoever sees me as this one or as that one, sees me through the light of my master.
* * *
If we do not find the key that opens us, nothing will be opened to us.
* * *
As long as you are in contact with yourself you are at peace, and everything suits you. But if you leave yourself, if you run away from yourself, everything that comes your way puts you to shame and makes you suffer. Each step of your life is pain- ful. A friend of God is within himself, with himself. If someone is present to himself in such a way, everything with him and everything around him changes, for he is with his Lord.
* * *
Outside, things may be as they are, but inside you must find what you are familiar with. You cannot change the world outside, for it is like frozen air. But inside you can light a fire.
* * *
Leave your shoes at the door and rest.
* * *
We only need one friend. One who gives us more than we
need and who gives us strength, so we are able to trust. One who gives us strength, so we are able to keep that trust, and to keep peace in our hearts. One who gives us strength, so we are able to hold still with ourselves. Why do we seek more friends? Why do we seek useless friends?
* * *
Why do we not see that which is closest to us? Why do
we prefer to overlook that which is best for us? Out of envy. The first child will always envy the second, and the first two will envy the third. Envy does not want to know and does not know. This is also the story of the religions. Which Jew thinks of Christianity when looking for help? Which Christian thinks of Islam? No, what you turn to must be as far away as possible. India, or Tibet may do. There are also God jumpers, from envy.
* * *
As long as you claim something, you must endure
something. If you own a little piece of earth, just big enough to stand on, little snow will fall on you. The more space you need, the more that falls on you, the more you must accept. The Ways of Heaven are ways of travelling light. Therefore, all of your burdens, one after the other, have to be taken from you. You cannot lay them down yourself, for they are important to you, important claims. Claims to be something and someone. Claims
to be a doctor, a businessman, an architect, an artist. Claims to be oneself, claims to be. The more you claim, the more you must undergo. Become less. Become less, until you have vanished. Then you are free.
* * *
Islam does not advocate the use of force on others. Force yourself: that is the highest degree. Urge yourself on and do not wait until someone pushes or pulls you. Animals have to be moved, a human being can move himself.
* * *
If, while speaking, your ego speaks, if, while acting, your ego acts, if, while acting and speaking, you only present your- self, you can never really reach others. This vanity of yours makes you artificial and forced. It makes you tired and tiresome. Because you have nothing, you have nothing to give. Only a self- less person reaches hearts. The words and deeds of such a per- son pierce the heart like an arrow.
* * *
When the hour comes at the end of time, everything will have lost its way. Everything will be walking in the wrong di- rection. Everything will have changed its direction. When peo- ple change their intention, they change their direction. They do this because they do not know that there is only one direction. When you know which one, your life will be light on you and you will be light for it.
* * *
You cannot reach perfection, perfect goodness, per-
fect light, perfect happiness, perfect peace, perfect satisfaction in this life and in the next, without paying the price.
* * *
Human knowledge is like the Earth, and the knowledge
of the Holy Qur’an is like Heaven. The Earth cannot carry the Heavens. But the knowledge of the destination of each human being is Heavenly Knowledge.
* * *
Because we are in darkness we ask for light. Because we are obscured from ourselves we ask for illumination. But knowl- edge by itself is not enlightening. Illumination comes from someone who is enlightened. You have a candle, so many of you have candles, but what are your candles worth if you do not find anything to light them with? If you find only one enlightened person, that is sufficient for all of you.
* * *
The knowledge of the Ways of the Heavens is the knowledge of this life and of the next. It allows you to under- stand each and to compare both. When you have understood the value of this life and the value of the next, you must act for the next life more than for this. If you are strengthened in this way, you must learn to leave this life and to work only for the next. Finally, you must learn to serve the Lord of both lives, of this and of the next.
* * *
Certainty can only be reached through your spiritual being. There is a bridge to your spiritual being. This bridge be- tween your physical and your spiritual being is faith.Without faith, there is no connection between you and your higher self. Without faith, you are disconnected within yourself. If you deny the necessity of faith, it means that you prefer to remain impris- oned in your physical being and to let go of your spiritual being. Then, your physical body will become dust and your soul will flutter around helplessly. Darkness, despair and misery will fall on you and after your death you will have no feet to put on the bridge.
* * *
This planet is within space and time. What is space? Is it empty? If space is empty, nothing can move in it. Is it noth- ing? If it is nothing, then everything in it is nothing. Is it full? Is it something? Nobody can say if it is empty. Nobody knows if it is full, if it is something or if it is nothing. What is space?
* * *
It is not necessary for the Creator to be amongst His crea- tures. He is beyond them. But His power and His Divine Attrib- utes are with His creatures. His Divine Knowledge, His Divine Will, His Divine Wisdom, His Divine Justice covers each crea- ture inside and outside. Nobody knows His Essence, but His Di- vine Attributes appear. The whole universe is their appearance. Therefore, He Alone is the Inner and the Outer.
* * *
Electric light does not light the future.
* * *
He who fights against the Lord of nature is fought by na- ture.
* * *
People deal with each other by using lies. It is the lat- est fashion. Lies are their money. Without it there is no com- merce. Islam says two things regarding this. Firstly, when you believe, stop lying and secondly, do not believe in people, be- lieve in Holy Books.
* * *
There are only two reasons why one human being
should be higher or lower than another one. The first is the obedience of a person to God. The second is the respect that someone pays to another human being. In our days, men are only respected for their wealth or their power. Women are not respected. Men cheat women, and finally no human being re- spects another.
* * *
Who will be in when all are out?
* * *
Sincerity and politics are as incompatible as faith and lying.
* * *
There is a wide-spread tendency to believe that Holy Scriptures are only of relevance when their words can be his- torically verified or validated by the most recent scientific dis- coveries. This way of seeing things starts from the strange idea that heaven has to be pulled down to earth in order to be truly heaven. But the moon is moon only in its place; the sun is sun in its centre, not on earth. Thus the religions should stay where they belong, in their centre. You have to move towards them, not bring them down to your level. What is the benefit if you succeed in pulling the spiritual plane down to the material one? We have had enough of all these material methods and material views. We are trying to free ourselves from the gravity of our physical bodies and physical desires, so that we can rise to our Heavenly Stations. How can so many scholars and scientists be- lieve that what they are doing is so excellent that it will benefit both religion and us? It will turn into its opposite, it will in- crease the already existing wildness of mankind.
* * *
We jump about from here to there. We are incapable of
paying attention to one thing and of staying with it. If we could concentrate even on the smallest thing, we would find God.
* * *
I do not say, ‘Follow me’, for I know who will follow.
* * *
Even if you are photographed in twenty thousand pos- es, you are still one. Great wisdom lies in this. To reach your one
essence you must die to yourself while you are still alive. ‘Die before you die,’ means to be in connection with the original.
* * *
The love of the believers, of the saints, of the prophets, comes from the love of God. At first God loves them, then His servants love Him. When does this love come to us? When we begin to obey. You will not become aware of love before begin- ning to obey. When you dig, you find water. It is the same with obedience, it is like digging in the heart.
* * *
We claim existence, and we cling to this existence. Maybe the price for it is high, very high. ‘It does not matter’, we keep saying, ‘we will pay.’
* * *
Yes, I know all languages. I understand them all. There is also a kind of speaking without speaking, and I know what will be said before it is said. I understand.
* * *
With each meeting we put a bit of love into each heart.
For, when there is a little bit of love in someone’s heart, he will not leave the one who gave him this love, even if he does not listen to what is said, even if he does not keep to it, even if he does not act accordingly.
* * *
God did not order His servants to be as correct as pos- sible, He ordered them to be absolutely correct with each other. To be absolutely correct means to be absolutely respectful. The essence of absolute respect is sincerity.
* * *
It is impossible to understand yourself. At least you must
look into a mirror. No one recognises the imperfections in him- self.
* * *
The rules of eternal life are different from the rules of this life. In this life people run after things which run away from them. But whoever wins Him gains all, and whoever loses Him loses all. It is as simple as that. Now, run if you like.
* * *
The most severe hardships come from ourselves. To
follow religious or secular instructions, to complete all of our small and big actions is nothing in comparison with the attempt to accept and to bear others. There are no two human beings equal to each other. You yourself are different on your outside and in your inside. Each one wants to be alone and independent, each one prefers to have as little to do with others as possible. When they come too close or even touch, they immediately at- tack. If you withdraw, the other pursues you. You are never by yourself. A man does not want to put up with his wife, a wom- an does not want to put up with her husband. Children cannot tolerate their parents, parents cannot cope with their children. No neighbour is patient with his neighbour, no soldier with his
officer, no teacher with her pupils, no pupils with their teacher. People have no patience with each other, and no one wants to endure anyone else.
When you see this, step aside. Do not expect help from those who only follow their own desires. They cannot follow their desires and you at the same time. Day by day it becomes more difficult, more dangerous. Lying and mutual suspicion are on the increase. If you are with such people, their illness will spread to you, and you will be as ill as them and as restless and without trust. As a result of this your life will be bitter. Stand aside, as far away as you can. No one can tolerate any- one else, unless he knows he is being tolerated, tolerated and nurtured by the One who sustains everything, sees everything and hides everything. If He did not care for us we would be taken away in an instant.
You must try to reach this attribute of God, this forbearance. But when you think that you are not capable, step aside, do not go amongst people. Live away from them. You need strong faith to live amongst them and to bear with them. If you do not have strong faith, leave them. Live alone, that is difficult enough. For, when you are alone because you cannot endure others, someone will come to you, speak to you and suggest bearing with you. He will not leave you in your seclusion, until you lose your mind. So you cannot even be alone there. However you should not be with this whisperer, you should be with someone who protects and guards you. If, however, you live amongst people, then you must live among them with your best attributes. Your best at- tribute is to endure them in the same way in which God endures His servants. Does He not bear with you, with everything, with all your bad attributes, with your bad deeds, your bad words? So thus endured by Him, do you not want to bear others? Whatev- er you do, whether you go alone or with others, guard yourself. If you are strong enough, try to bear with everyone, even if you
do not like them, even if they are on the wrong path. Then, when the time is ripe, God will make an opening in your heart.
* * *
What comes first, the pearl or the shell?
* * *
Mankind as such and all human beings individually are
unknown to themselves because they are closed to themselves. If an opening opens to you, you will see. You will be in that opening and you will understand. Outside, you cannot bear such knowledge and such wisdom. A drop of water, if taken out of the ocean, cannot sustain the ocean. Yet, if left in the water, it forms part of the ocean. It is easier to study the water from the beach or on board a ship, because if you go into the water, you will lose yourself. Whoever loses himself in this way, will never return. Nevertheless, they prefer to stay on the beach, and they are happy with their life, with life conditions on land. They say, ‘No reason. There is no reason to go in’. Thus it is difficult in our times to understand the secret of the Divine Law. I need someone to pull me and to push me. I do not have the courage to entrust myself to the ocean.
* * *
The Qur’an is an ocean. If you stay at its edge you may be able to read what is written, a meaning of scripture which is known to the unbelievers as well. But the Qur’an speaks to the believers of mankind. They are the ones who dive into his oceans of meaning, according to the measure of their faith. The Qur’an is an ocean, but it is unlike the ocean. The further you
dive, the lighter it becomes. The more knowledge you receive, the more being develops. Mankind needs a speaking Qur’an. Al- lah Almighty sent the silent Qur’an which is the Book. He also sent the speaking Qur’an who was the Prophet, peace be upon him, and He sent his inheritors.
* * *
I refused to have my hand kissed. Then, my Master said,
‘They are not kissing your hand, they are kissing mine.’ Then I was able to accept. Only when someone is proud do I pull my hand away and kiss his instead.
* * *
Equality in this world is always a kind of tyranny. It is like saying, ‘All the corn growing in this field has to be half a me- ter high.’ To achieve this, you have to cut away the differences, and then someone has to reign over ‘all that is equal’.
* * *
An important characteristic of a Muslim is that when your enemy flees from you, you do not pursue him. My master never said ‘No’, or ‘Why?’.
* * *
True being is God’s Being. Our existence is only the exist- ence of a form in a mirror. You look, you see yourself in the mirror but it is not real, it is only a shadow. The existence of all humanity, of all creatures, of the whole universe, is only the existence of a shadow. If you do not look into the mirror, you
cannot see your shadow. But, by looking, what you see is still not more than a shadow. That is not you. You are outside the mirror, quite apart from it. All our claims and opinions are such shadows, such imaginings. It is a pity that you are wasting your time.
* * *
If someone is humble enough to accept his nothingness, then nothing can hurt him. Nothing can harm him. Life will not be a burden to him. He will be light, going lightly upon his way, acting and living unencumbered. God could have created man as a strong creature. However, there is wisdom in His creating him as the weakest. In this way He saved him from the danger of forgetting God. This danger was most virulent in man, because of the gift which God had given him.
* * *
Doubt comes from pride. You doubt when you are not
humble enough to believe.
* * *
The example of the Prophet, peace be upon him, rests on three pillars: on his words, on his deeds, and on that which happened in his presence without him intervening. This is also the example of your master.
* * *
When Islam begins to adjust itself to the people, it begins to lose its honour.
* * *
Whoever searches within himself for a capacity, a qual- ity, or a power which others do not have, builds onto his ego.
* * *
Pride is the greatest obstacle standing between us and our destination.
* * *
Anger is a big tree in our heart. It is difficult to uproot it.
* * *
All things except God are like shadows in a mirror.
* * *
Everybody must return to his true being in God’s Pres- ence, but only those have reason to rejoice who reach it through their will. This is the meaning of ‘Die before you die.’
* * *
Perfection is more important than knowledge. Perfec- tion is a quality of those sincere servants who see everything in their life as it is and see it as perfect. God is perfect, and everything He does is perfect. Imperfection comes from our- selves. It is a sign of the devil that he possesses great knowledge and, nevertheless, sees imperfection. Someone who is very ig- norant may still be perfect. The true friends of God begin their
voyage into the Presence of the Divine with the first step, then rise further and further until they have completed the circle. The end touches the beginning. Their perfection is their ordi- nariness.
* * *
To listen is more important than to speak. The recita- tion of the Qur’an is sunnah, an example worthy to be followed, but listening to the Qur’an is a Holy Order.
* * *
Human beings must turn their faces in one direction.
This makes their hearts stable.
* * *
Knowledge is
heart to heart.
not as
important as transmission from
* * *
He who is on the level of the ego cannot be moved through Allah. But if you tell such a person that there is a pearl hidden in a specific place, he will listen. He will believe that life in paradise is wonderful and so finds strength for fasting and praying.
* * *
What we call ‘understanding’ is our capacity to follow our destination. Our mind does not go beyond the set pathways
of our life. It cannot bear more. Or, as long as you are following your mind, you cannot bear more.
* * *
There are two kinds of orders: one comes to you
through the prophets, and it is obvious. The other comes to you through the creatures, and it is hidden.
* * *
Just as you must trust your master, he must trust you, so that you are capable of keeping this trust and of keeping what is entrusted to you.
* * *
Whatever comes or goes, is close. Even if it comes in bil- lions or trillions of years. What we can count is close.
* * *
Never remain idle. You must occupy your ego. If you do not occupy it with useful work, it will occupy you with harmful work. Do not be careless with your ego.
* * *
When a child is born, it comes into this world with closed hands. It wants to keep its existence. When we die, we die with open hands. This is, after all that struggle, the true pleasure of a human being: to give his whole self to Allah.
* * *
One of the friends of God said, ‘When I see someone from behind, I know how he thinks. When I see his face, I read his book of life’.
* * *
The devil can only scare his own people.
* * *
All praise, whatever its source, goes to Allah. When I praise you, I praise your Creator. For there is nothing praise- worthy about you, unless it comes from your Creator.
* * *
Be awake, be with yourself in everything you do. Then there is no chance for you to be swept away.
* * *
The meetings of the saints take our burden from us and leave us light and happy. Correction comes from yourself.
* * *
You can know Him with the senses of your heart. But what you lose of Him in your life will not return to you in your life. You must build from what remains.
* * *
We ask to be no-one and nothing. For, as long as we are someone, we are not complete.
* *
*
m o r e b o o k s b y s p o h r
Abdullah ad-Daghistani
Mercy Oceans (II)
The Teachings of Mevlana Abdullah Ad-Daghistani An-Naqshbandi ق 224 pages, Dali 2008.
ISBN 978-9963-40-001-0
‘I accepted Grandsheikh as Allah Al-
Mawlânâ Firâqî
The Forty Questions Prophet Muªammad’s k Response
to the Jews of Medina
144 pages, Lympia 2013.
ISBN 978-9963-40-113-0
The beautiful and astonish-
mighty ordered in Qur’ān: “Follow in
ing stories lead to a profound
the path of him who has turned to Me with love.” I left all my “knowledge”, and intended to follow his way to Al- lah Almighty.’ (Sh. Nazim Ef.)
Na bi l Ibrahim
Dawriya:
Keeping Company with a Saint 160 pages, paperback, Lympia 2016. is b n 978–9963–40–124–6
Nabil Ibrahim, who devoted him- self to the service of his Master for 15
understanding of the power of Allāh Almighty, His will and compassion which He bestows upon His crea- tion – a wisdom which generations of Muslims are proud of.
Mukhta¶ar
The Ihyâ’ ‘ulûm ad-dîn as abriged by himself.
Translated from the Arabic, and annotated by Marwan Khalaf
hardcover, 480 pages,
Lympia 2013.
isbn 978-9963-40-051-5
years, found the voice to speak, the
The Shaykh and Imam, the Proof
words to express something of the love and gratitude we all feel for an incomparable Master. But the love he so powerfully gives voice to, is ours, all of ours, the same.
To Be a Muslim The Basics of Faith by Sheikh Nazim
84 pages, Lympia 2016.
ISBN 978–9963–40–122–2
This is an adequate guidebook for everyone who wants to learn more about his religion, especially in this
of Islam, Abû Óâmid Muªammad ibn Muªammad al-Ghazâlî ق stated: ‘... I missed, in some of my travels, a fa- cility for extracting from the Ihyâ’ ‘ulûm ad-dîn its essences, due to the difficulty of carrying it around with me, on account of its bulk. Hence I tackled this matter, seeking success and guidance from God and prais- ing His Prophet. It consists of forty chapters. – And God guides to the truth.’
First readers’ comments:
«I am very happy with this book!» (Meh-
time when there is so much misinfor-
met Nazim Adil, Lefke, Cyprus)
mation, and when so many sources professing Islam are unreliable.
– ‘I am overwhelmed by the beauty and the importance of this book.’ (Ibrahim Tahir, Singapore)
www.spohr-publishers.com www.spohr-publishers.de
e as k to be no-one and nothing.
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sheikh muªammad nazim adil al-ªaqqani (q)
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Link: https://www.nvrislam.net/index.php?j=eng&post=6051
d catch it.’ But they die without having caught it, and we carry them to their graves because they cannot carry themselves. They put their burden on our shoulders, and we carry them. However, I say, ‘Brother, sister, walk. Why do you want to be carried to your grave?’ But they say, ‘Be quiet, you know what has happened to us.’
* * *
Allah’s Mercy has left a door open. One door.This door is for those who, without having asked and without knowing why,
are seized by the Love of God and by the desire to know Him, although it is like trying to hold a glowing coal in your hand.
* * *
He who governs space is more powerful than those who
govern on earth. Therefore, people fear the presence of life in space. But He who is higher than space governs both space and earth.
* * *
In our days who would be likely to say, ‘Please let this one or that one be as beautiful, or as powerful, or as intelligent as I am?’
* * *
As long as you are opposed to yourself, you do not like yourself. So, you become jealous and proud. Then, people do not like you and avoid you, and what happens to you will happen to them.
* * *
Perhaps you are very beautiful, very rich, very in-
telligent. But there are always others who are more beautiful, richer, and more intelligent. This hurts you. For you want to be the only living being on this earth. You want to be the only one, the only beautiful one, the only rich person, the only intelligent one in this world.
* * *
At first, we are busy with our bodies, then we are busy with our businesses. Finally we are busy with the future of our chil- dren, in order to stay busy. Our whole life consists in being busy. ‘That leaves no time for myself’, we say.
* * *
Technology keeps mankind imprisoned through a sim- ple trick. It keeps them in fear. It says, ‘If I go, then you are finished.’ However, it is made with our own hands. Everything comes from our two hands.
* * *
They say, ‘He died.’ What does this mean? It means, he was taken away. The Divine spark was taken from him. Then he is nothing.
* * *
Rifles, tanks, and bombs may stop people but they can- not stop their ego. It knows such weapons only too well and is not afraid of them. Only the Oneness of Allah teaches fear. Only to Him does the ego submit.
* * *
You should be like a dog with your master. Why? When you shout at a dog, when you beat him, throw stones at him, chase him, he runs away. When you call him he comes back; a hundred times, without resentment. When your master calls you back, and you are even slightly annoyed, then you are not a true disciple, but an imitator. Therefore, the master will always
try you, with everything. Your hearts hould never turn away from him, that is, if you belong to those who ask. For you do not ask for this or for that, you ask for the One.
* * *
Whoever refuses to feed his soul is cruel. Our soul nour-
ishes itself through obedience to its Lord. If you take away its nourishment, you shorten your life.
* * *
Whatever serves your selfishness goes against God.
What God says, goes against your selfishness.
* * *
The Oneness of God is the basis of all prophetic religions. It is the criterion with which to distinguish a false prophet from a true one. He who calls people to the Oneness of God calls them to the true way and is a true emissary of God Almighty. He who does not call them to this way, but who calls them to another or to others, does not follow a heavenly way but runs after his ego.
* * *
We are not humble enough to ask. We spend our lives on this planet, inquisitively and proudly inquiring about it and everything on it. Our knowledge is knowledge of that which ap- pears. Our inquirers and learned people are learned only in the apparent. But what is real is hidden. It is not on this planet, it is difficult to reach. As they want to know everything, but are not humble enough to ask, the imitation of knowledge is on the
increase and is spreading over the whole world. Everything is being imitated, even thoughts and wisdom.
* * *
What shall I say about myself? I am like the moon. When the sun goes, the light of the moon goes. If the light of my master leaves me, I am in darkness. I am nothing. Whoever sees me as this one or as that one, sees me through the light of my master.
* * *
If we do not find the key that opens us, nothing will be opened to us.
* * *
As long as you are in contact with yourself you are at peace, and everything suits you. But if you leave yourself, if you run away from yourself, everything that comes your way puts you to shame and makes you suffer. Each step of your life is pain- ful. A friend of God is within himself, with himself. If someone is present to himself in such a way, everything with him and everything around him changes, for he is with his Lord.
* * *
Outside, things may be as they are, but inside you must find what you are familiar with. You cannot change the world outside, for it is like frozen air. But inside you can light a fire.
* * *
Leave your shoes at the door and rest.
* * *
We only need one friend. One who gives us more than we
need and who gives us strength, so we are able to trust. One who gives us strength, so we are able to keep that trust, and to keep peace in our hearts. One who gives us strength, so we are able to hold still with ourselves. Why do we seek more friends? Why do we seek useless friends?
* * *
Why do we not see that which is closest to us? Why do
we prefer to overlook that which is best for us? Out of envy. The first child will always envy the second, and the first two will envy the third. Envy does not want to know and does not know. This is also the story of the religions. Which Jew thinks of Christianity when looking for help? Which Christian thinks of Islam? No, what you turn to must be as far away as possible. India, or Tibet may do. There are also God jumpers, from envy.
* * *
As long as you claim something, you must endure
something. If you own a little piece of earth, just big enough to stand on, little snow will fall on you. The more space you need, the more that falls on you, the more you must accept. The Ways of Heaven are ways of travelling light. Therefore, all of your burdens, one after the other, have to be taken from you. You cannot lay them down yourself, for they are important to you, important claims. Claims to be something and someone. Claims
to be a doctor, a businessman, an architect, an artist. Claims to be oneself, claims to be. The more you claim, the more you must undergo. Become less. Become less, until you have vanished. Then you are free.
* * *
Islam does not advocate the use of force on others. Force yourself: that is the highest degree. Urge yourself on and do not wait until someone pushes or pulls you. Animals have to be moved, a human being can move himself.
* * *
If, while speaking, your ego speaks, if, while acting, your ego acts, if, while acting and speaking, you only present your- self, you can never really reach others. This vanity of yours makes you artificial and forced. It makes you tired and tiresome. Because you have nothing, you have nothing to give. Only a self- less person reaches hearts. The words and deeds of such a per- son pierce the heart like an arrow.
* * *
When the hour comes at the end of time, everything will have lost its way. Everything will be walking in the wrong di- rection. Everything will have changed its direction. When peo- ple change their intention, they change their direction. They do this because they do not know that there is only one direction. When you know which one, your life will be light on you and you will be light for it.
* * *
You cannot reach perfection, perfect goodness, per-
fect light, perfect happiness, perfect peace, perfect satisfaction in this life and in the next, without paying the price.
* * *
Human knowledge is like the Earth, and the knowledge
of the Holy Qur’an is like Heaven. The Earth cannot carry the Heavens. But the knowledge of the destination of each human being is Heavenly Knowledge.
* * *
Because we are in darkness we ask for light. Because we are obscured from ourselves we ask for illumination. But knowl- edge by itself is not enlightening. Illumination comes from someone who is enlightened. You have a candle, so many of you have candles, but what are your candles worth if you do not find anything to light them with? If you find only one enlightened person, that is sufficient for all of you.
* * *
The knowledge of the Ways of the Heavens is the knowledge of this life and of the next. It allows you to under- stand each and to compare both. When you have understood the value of this life and the value of the next, you must act for the next life more than for this. If you are strengthened in this way, you must learn to leave this life and to work only for the next. Finally, you must learn to serve the Lord of both lives, of this and of the next.
* * *
Certainty can only be reached through your spiritual being. There is a bridge to your spiritual being. This bridge be- tween your physical and your spiritual being is faith.Without faith, there is no connection between you and your higher self. Without faith, you are disconnected within yourself. If you deny the necessity of faith, it means that you prefer to remain impris- oned in your physical being and to let go of your spiritual being. Then, your physical body will become dust and your soul will flutter around helplessly. Darkness, despair and misery will fall on you and after your death you will have no feet to put on the bridge.
* * *
This planet is within space and time. What is space? Is it empty? If space is empty, nothing can move in it. Is it noth- ing? If it is nothing, then everything in it is nothing. Is it full? Is it something? Nobody can say if it is empty. Nobody knows if it is full, if it is something or if it is nothing. What is space?
* * *
It is not necessary for the Creator to be amongst His crea- tures. He is beyond them. But His power and His Divine Attrib- utes are with His creatures. His Divine Knowledge, His Divine Will, His Divine Wisdom, His Divine Justice covers each crea- ture inside and outside. Nobody knows His Essence, but His Di- vine Attributes appear. The whole universe is their appearance. Therefore, He Alone is the Inner and the Outer.
* * *
Electric light does not light the future.
* * *
He who fights against the Lord of nature is fought by na- ture.
* * *
People deal with each other by using lies. It is the lat- est fashion. Lies are their money. Without it there is no com- merce. Islam says two things regarding this. Firstly, when you believe, stop lying and secondly, do not believe in people, be- lieve in Holy Books.
* * *
There are only two reasons why one human being
should be higher or lower than another one. The first is the obedience of a person to God. The second is the respect that someone pays to another human being. In our days, men are only respected for their wealth or their power. Women are not respected. Men cheat women, and finally no human being re- spects another.
* * *
Who will be in when all are out?
* * *
Sincerity and politics are as incompatible as faith and lying.
* * *
There is a wide-spread tendency to believe that Holy Scriptures are only of relevance when their words can be his- torically verified or validated by the most recent scientific dis- coveries. This way of seeing things starts from the strange idea that heaven has to be pulled down to earth in order to be truly heaven. But the moon is moon only in its place; the sun is sun in its centre, not on earth. Thus the religions should stay where they belong, in their centre. You have to move towards them, not bring them down to your level. What is the benefit if you succeed in pulling the spiritual plane down to the material one? We have had enough of all these material methods and material views. We are trying to free ourselves from the gravity of our physical bodies and physical desires, so that we can rise to our Heavenly Stations. How can so many scholars and scientists be- lieve that what they are doing is so excellent that it will benefit both religion and us? It will turn into its opposite, it will in- crease the already existing wildness of mankind.
* * *
We jump about from here to there. We are incapable of
paying attention to one thing and of staying with it. If we could concentrate even on the smallest thing, we would find God.
* * *
I do not say, ‘Follow me’, for I know who will follow.
* * *
Even if you are photographed in twenty thousand pos- es, you are still one. Great wisdom lies in this. To reach your one
essence you must die to yourself while you are still alive. ‘Die before you die,’ means to be in connection with the original.
* * *
The love of the believers, of the saints, of the prophets, comes from the love of God. At first God loves them, then His servants love Him. When does this love come to us? When we begin to obey. You will not become aware of love before begin- ning to obey. When you dig, you find water. It is the same with obedience, it is like digging in the heart.
* * *
We claim existence, and we cling to this existence. Maybe the price for it is high, very high. ‘It does not matter’, we keep saying, ‘we will pay.’
* * *
Yes, I know all languages. I understand them all. There is also a kind of speaking without speaking, and I know what will be said before it is said. I understand.
* * *
With each meeting we put a bit of love into each heart.
For, when there is a little bit of love in someone’s heart, he will not leave the one who gave him this love, even if he does not listen to what is said, even if he does not keep to it, even if he does not act accordingly.
* * *
God did not order His servants to be as correct as pos- sible, He ordered them to be absolutely correct with each other. To be absolutely correct means to be absolutely respectful. The essence of absolute respect is sincerity.
* * *
It is impossible to understand yourself. At least you must
look into a mirror. No one recognises the imperfections in him- self.
* * *
The rules of eternal life are different from the rules of this life. In this life people run after things which run away from them. But whoever wins Him gains all, and whoever loses Him loses all. It is as simple as that. Now, run if you like.
* * *
The most severe hardships come from ourselves. To
follow religious or secular instructions, to complete all of our small and big actions is nothing in comparison with the attempt to accept and to bear others. There are no two human beings equal to each other. You yourself are different on your outside and in your inside. Each one wants to be alone and independent, each one prefers to have as little to do with others as possible. When they come too close or even touch, they immediately at- tack. If you withdraw, the other pursues you. You are never by yourself. A man does not want to put up with his wife, a wom- an does not want to put up with her husband. Children cannot tolerate their parents, parents cannot cope with their children. No neighbour is patient with his neighbour, no soldier with his
officer, no teacher with her pupils, no pupils with their teacher. People have no patience with each other, and no one wants to endure anyone else.
When you see this, step aside. Do not expect help from those who only follow their own desires. They cannot follow their desires and you at the same time. Day by day it becomes more difficult, more dangerous. Lying and mutual suspicion are on the increase. If you are with such people, their illness will spread to you, and you will be as ill as them and as restless and without trust. As a result of this your life will be bitter. Stand aside, as far away as you can. No one can tolerate any- one else, unless he knows he is being tolerated, tolerated and nurtured by the One who sustains everything, sees everything and hides everything. If He did not care for us we would be taken away in an instant.
You must try to reach this attribute of God, this forbearance. But when you think that you are not capable, step aside, do not go amongst people. Live away from them. You need strong faith to live amongst them and to bear with them. If you do not have strong faith, leave them. Live alone, that is difficult enough. For, when you are alone because you cannot endure others, someone will come to you, speak to you and suggest bearing with you. He will not leave you in your seclusion, until you lose your mind. So you cannot even be alone there. However you should not be with this whisperer, you should be with someone who protects and guards you. If, however, you live amongst people, then you must live among them with your best attributes. Your best at- tribute is to endure them in the same way in which God endures His servants. Does He not bear with you, with everything, with all your bad attributes, with your bad deeds, your bad words? So thus endured by Him, do you not want to bear others? Whatev- er you do, whether you go alone or with others, guard yourself. If you are strong enough, try to bear with everyone, even if you
do not like them, even if they are on the wrong path. Then, when the time is ripe, God will make an opening in your heart.
* * *
What comes first, the pearl or the shell?
* * *
Mankind as such and all human beings individually are
unknown to themselves because they are closed to themselves. If an opening opens to you, you will see. You will be in that opening and you will understand. Outside, you cannot bear such knowledge and such wisdom. A drop of water, if taken out of the ocean, cannot sustain the ocean. Yet, if left in the water, it forms part of the ocean. It is easier to study the water from the beach or on board a ship, because if you go into the water, you will lose yourself. Whoever loses himself in this way, will never return. Nevertheless, they prefer to stay on the beach, and they are happy with their life, with life conditions on land. They say, ‘No reason. There is no reason to go in’. Thus it is difficult in our times to understand the secret of the Divine Law. I need someone to pull me and to push me. I do not have the courage to entrust myself to the ocean.
* * *
The Qur’an is an ocean. If you stay at its edge you may be able to read what is written, a meaning of scripture which is known to the unbelievers as well. But the Qur’an speaks to the believers of mankind. They are the ones who dive into his oceans of meaning, according to the measure of their faith. The Qur’an is an ocean, but it is unlike the ocean. The further you
dive, the lighter it becomes. The more knowledge you receive, the more being develops. Mankind needs a speaking Qur’an. Al- lah Almighty sent the silent Qur’an which is the Book. He also sent the speaking Qur’an who was the Prophet, peace be upon him, and He sent his inheritors.
* * *
I refused to have my hand kissed. Then, my Master said,
‘They are not kissing your hand, they are kissing mine.’ Then I was able to accept. Only when someone is proud do I pull my hand away and kiss his instead.
* * *
Equality in this world is always a kind of tyranny. It is like saying, ‘All the corn growing in this field has to be half a me- ter high.’ To achieve this, you have to cut away the differences, and then someone has to reign over ‘all that is equal’.
* * *
An important characteristic of a Muslim is that when your enemy flees from you, you do not pursue him. My master never said ‘No’, or ‘Why?’.
* * *
True being is God’s Being. Our existence is only the exist- ence of a form in a mirror. You look, you see yourself in the mirror but it is not real, it is only a shadow. The existence of all humanity, of all creatures, of the whole universe, is only the existence of a shadow. If you do not look into the mirror, you
cannot see your shadow. But, by looking, what you see is still not more than a shadow. That is not you. You are outside the mirror, quite apart from it. All our claims and opinions are such shadows, such imaginings. It is a pity that you are wasting your time.
* * *
If someone is humble enough to accept his nothingness, then nothing can hurt him. Nothing can harm him. Life will not be a burden to him. He will be light, going lightly upon his way, acting and living unencumbered. God could have created man as a strong creature. However, there is wisdom in His creating him as the weakest. In this way He saved him from the danger of forgetting God. This danger was most virulent in man, because of the gift which God had given him.
* * *
Doubt comes from pride. You doubt when you are not
humble enough to believe.
* * *
The example of the Prophet, peace be upon him, rests on three pillars: on his words, on his deeds, and on that which happened in his presence without him intervening. This is also the example of your master.
* * *
When Islam begins to adjust itself to the people, it begins to lose its honour.
* * *
Whoever searches within himself for a capacity, a qual- ity, or a power which others do not have, builds onto his ego.
* * *
Pride is the greatest obstacle standing between us and our destination.
* * *
Anger is a big tree in our heart. It is difficult to uproot it.
* * *
All things except God are like shadows in a mirror.
* * *
Everybody must return to his true being in God’s Pres- ence, but only those have reason to rejoice who reach it through their will. This is the meaning of ‘Die before you die.’
* * *
Perfection is more important than knowledge. Perfec- tion is a quality of those sincere servants who see everything in their life as it is and see it as perfect. God is perfect, and everything He does is perfect. Imperfection comes from our- selves. It is a sign of the devil that he possesses great knowledge and, nevertheless, sees imperfection. Someone who is very ig- norant may still be perfect. The true friends of God begin their
voyage into the Presence of the Divine with the first step, then rise further and further until they have completed the circle. The end touches the beginning. Their perfection is their ordi- nariness.
* * *
To listen is more important than to speak. The recita- tion of the Qur’an is sunnah, an example worthy to be followed, but listening to the Qur’an is a Holy Order.
* * *
Human beings must turn their faces in one direction.
This makes their hearts stable.
* * *
Knowledge is
heart to heart.
not as
important as transmission from
* * *
He who is on the level of the ego cannot be moved through Allah. But if you tell such a person that there is a pearl hidden in a specific place, he will listen. He will believe that life in paradise is wonderful and so finds strength for fasting and praying.
* * *
What we call ‘understanding’ is our capacity to follow our destination. Our mind does not go beyond the set pathways
of our life. It cannot bear more. Or, as long as you are following your mind, you cannot bear more.
* * *
There are two kinds of orders: one comes to you
through the prophets, and it is obvious. The other comes to you through the creatures, and it is hidden.
* * *
Just as you must trust your master, he must trust you, so that you are capable of keeping this trust and of keeping what is entrusted to you.
* * *
Whatever comes or goes, is close. Even if it comes in bil- lions or trillions of years. What we can count is close.
* * *
Never remain idle. You must occupy your ego. If you do not occupy it with useful work, it will occupy you with harmful work. Do not be careless with your ego.
* * *
When a child is born, it comes into this world with closed hands. It wants to keep its existence. When we die, we die with open hands. This is, after all that struggle, the true pleasure of a human being: to give his whole self to Allah.
* * *
One of the friends of God said, ‘When I see someone from behind, I know how he thinks. When I see his face, I read his book of life’.
* * *
The devil can only scare his own people.
* * *
All praise, whatever its source, goes to Allah. When I praise you, I praise your Creator. For there is nothing praise- worthy about you, unless it comes from your Creator.
* * *
Be awake, be with yourself in everything you do. Then there is no chance for you to be swept away.
* * *
The meetings of the saints take our burden from us and leave us light and happy. Correction comes from yourself.
* * *
You can know Him with the senses of your heart. But what you lose of Him in your life will not return to you in your life. You must build from what remains.
* * *
We ask to be no-one and nothing. For, as long as we are someone, we are not complete.
* *
*
m o r e b o o k s b y s p o h r
Abdullah ad-Daghistani
Mercy Oceans (II)
The Teachings of Mevlana Abdullah Ad-Daghistani An-Naqshbandi ق 224 pages, Dali 2008.
ISBN 978-9963-40-001-0
‘I accepted Grandsheikh as Allah Al-
Mawlânâ Firâqî
The Forty Questions Prophet Muªammad’s k Response
to the Jews of Medina
144 pages, Lympia 2013.
ISBN 978-9963-40-113-0
The beautiful and astonish-
mighty ordered in Qur’ān: “Follow in
ing stories lead to a profound
the path of him who has turned to Me with love.” I left all my “knowledge”, and intended to follow his way to Al- lah Almighty.’ (Sh. Nazim Ef.)
Na bi l Ibrahim
Dawriya:
Keeping Company with a Saint 160 pages, paperback, Lympia 2016. is b n 978–9963–40–124–6
Nabil Ibrahim, who devoted him- self to the service of his Master for 15
understanding of the power of Allāh Almighty, His will and compassion which He bestows upon His crea- tion – a wisdom which generations of Muslims are proud of.
Mukhta¶ar
The Ihyâ’ ‘ulûm ad-dîn as abriged by himself.
Translated from the Arabic, and annotated by Marwan Khalaf
hardcover, 480 pages,
Lympia 2013.
isbn 978-9963-40-051-5
years, found the voice to speak, the
The Shaykh and Imam, the Proof
words to express something of the love and gratitude we all feel for an incomparable Master. But the love he so powerfully gives voice to, is ours, all of ours, the same.
To Be a Muslim The Basics of Faith by Sheikh Nazim
84 pages, Lympia 2016.
ISBN 978–9963–40–122–2
This is an adequate guidebook for everyone who wants to learn more about his religion, especially in this
of Islam, Abû Óâmid Muªammad ibn Muªammad al-Ghazâlî ق stated: ‘... I missed, in some of my travels, a fa- cility for extracting from the Ihyâ’ ‘ulûm ad-dîn its essences, due to the difficulty of carrying it around with me, on account of its bulk. Hence I tackled this matter, seeking success and guidance from God and prais- ing His Prophet. It consists of forty chapters. – And God guides to the truth.’
First readers’ comments:
«I am very happy with this book!» (Meh-
time when there is so much misinfor-
met Nazim Adil, Lefke, Cyprus)
mation, and when so many sources professing Islam are unreliable.
– ‘I am overwhelmed by the beauty and the importance of this book.’ (Ibrahim Tahir, Singapore)
www.spohr-publishers.com www.spohr-publishers.de
e as k to be no-one and nothing.
For, as long as we are someone, we are not complete.
sheikh muªammad nazim adil al-ªaqqani (q)
i s b n 978–9963–40–015–7
Link: https://www.nvrislam.net/index.php?j=eng&post=6051