Mercy Oceans, Book 11 (183 pages, 16/17)
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at about all my business?" Then, "I must go this year," you must intend.
And, 0 people, this dunya is not for us. We have been created for Paradise, and we have been invited to be in that Paradise. Listen to the invitation, the holy invitation, the heavenly invitation, or your Lord, Allah Alnighty, and you must prepare for that journey. Pilgrimage is only for a short journey, but the long journey - that is to be in the Divine Presence. Now we are only going and looking at a simple, covered building; here Allah Almighty invites you to visit His Holy House but in Paradise He invites you to see Him, also, to visit Him, Almighty. That is the greatest honor that we have been given by our Lord, Almighty Allah.
O people, here you are eating, drinking and dressing, running after good places to live or good houses, palaces, cars and businesses, everything - but what is after that? It is passing on; all of those are nothing. And people will be standing there, taking away the earth with those shovels in their hands and putting your body inside. Try to be for your Lord's invitation on the Day of Resurrection, the Last Day.
You must think of the Last Day, o believers. You must not be deceived by this city's satanic pleasures, no. Keep yourself for the Divine Presence. No one has ever seen or heard nor has it came to his heart what pleasures and favors Allah Almighty has prepared and made ready for you, o people, o believers. Don't be like unbelievers; you are mumins, you are muminahs.
Don't look at those people who are running after such nonsensical pleasures of this life. They are nothing! Keep yourself for the invitation of your Lord, Allah Almighty.
Perhaps this may be my last khutbah, sermon, to you. Who knows? Only He knows if we will come next year to be with you or not. Therefore my advice to you, O people, is, don't be deceived by this temporary life's pleasures. They are nothing, no meaning - eating, drinking, dressing; nothing. But something, the important thing, for you is to reach your Lord's Divine Presence with
honor. All the prophets came just to give that invitation. Be prepared for that divine invitation.
We are asking forgiveness for every bad thought and bad intention and bad action. Keep away from bad actions, keep away from bad thoughts, keep away from bad intentions. That makes you dishonored. Always ask for forgiveness. And I am asking forgiveness for me and for you and for all mankind.
Morning/ June 22, 1985
(A newcomer to the group asks Sheikh Nāzim to explain what sufism is: - )
Sufism is the way which guides people to their heavenly stations; that is the meaning of sufism. It has been given so many meanings but, shortly, it is only the way to Heaven, leading people or guiding them to it.
Everyone has a private station in Heaven, in the spiritual world, because we just come from the spiritual world to this world and our spirits, our souls, are asking for a way to their Homeland. The physical body's homeland is this world but our soul's Homeland is the spiritual world. Therefore, people may be here from America, from Germany, from Turkey, f'rom Syria, but even though they are with me for only a short time, they are asking for their homelands.
This is a characteristic of souls, to love their Homeland. For this reason there is a hadith, "Hubb al-watan min al-Imān." Love of homeland is from your faith, the Prophet, says, p.b.u.h. Therefore it is 'amrun tabi'i166,- it is normal, natural, for a person's heart to go toward his homeland. We have a saying that if you could put a nightingale in a golden cage, still it would want its trees or its nest, saying, "I don't care for this golden cage, I have no need of it. I like to be in my nest which I made." Therefore the people who were born here never ask for Cyprus or Turkey or Damascus, but their parents still say, "Ah! Our village, our mountains, our rivers, our seas, our people," always.
That is an attribute of souls, and our souls always ask to reach their Homeland from which they came to this physical body.
166 A matter to be followed as a natural course that which is natural or normally accepted as right
MURID: Sheikh, many of the Sufis say that they're not seeking Heaven and its pleasures, and that they're not afraid of Hellfire. They want only the face of Allah. And then you say that we're going to heavenly stations. I thought we were supposed to aim higher than that.
SHEIKH: Yesterday we said in the Jum'ah khutbah what we were ordered to say, about pilgrimage to Hijāz.. Then They made me say that pilgrims now go to look at the Lord's House167 in Makkah, but the most important thing is to look for the Lord of the House, and we have been invited to His Divine Presence.
When we speak of the ways to heavenly stations, it means that people are seeking and looking at the Divine, Glorious Face. Why am I going to Buckingham Palace if there is no Queen there? If Her Majesty the Queen or His Majesty the King is not there, for what am I going? You would not even come to this humble place if the person your heart loves is not here; you would not be here either. You came from Canada, such a far-away place, to London to see London? If that person were not here, London would be empty for you. Therefore London is now full for you, and even if that person were in a cave, yet he fills London; you would find him, even in a cave. You are interested in that person. Therefore, when we speak of heavenly positions or divine stations in the Divine Presence, it is the same thing.
MURID: Is there a point at which one becomes united with Allah so much that one loses the sense of his own existence?
SHEIKH: When you are melted in Unity Oceans - then. Now you are a drop. When you end in Unity Oceans, each drop is going to be oceans. You do not lose; you gain endlessly.
MURID: Is that the same as the heavenly stations or is that another station?
SHEIKH: It is the heavenly stations. But we are only giving too short a description of it because it is impossible to give an exact understanding of that, just as you can never give a little boy a description of what a mature- age youth understands. That little boy may see so many things on the "Shaytan-box," but he may think that they are quarreling, nothing else; he never understands. And sometimes I ask Allah Almighty to let my eyes be as the eyes of little children, pure; they may look but never does dirtiness come
167 The Holy K’aba in Makkah. The meaning of the "Lord's House” is that it is the place of His continuous sanctified worship and remembrance, which is filled with His Holy Presence
into their eyes from their looking, never does anything come here (indicating his heart]. That is the sign of sainthood - to be pure.
Therefore, it is a difficult point for description, but people mostly ask, ask, and never find satisfaction - impossible. And when they do not get satisfied, they quarrel, asking for more, more of a description. But it is only within limits because the "screen" is within limits, and they are asking for an unlimited screen. With this body's power it is im possible. When your drop reaches the Ocean, it quickly becomes Ocean, not losing its looking, its listening, its tasting, its touching, its knowing, its understanding at that time. Never; only coming out of limits. That is absolute pleasure.
MURID: But he keeps his personality?
SHEIKH: How can you say not? Personality belongs to the Divine Existence, to reach that Ocean. Therefore a human being is more valuable than all the universes because if his true personality appears, it covers the whole universe. But now you can't imagine this. We may say only that that drop comes, reaching the Ocean. You can't ask about that drop; the drop just became an ocean. You are in it with your personality that you have been given by the Divine Presence, that you have been granted by your Lord, Almighty Allah. Don't ask "How?" When you reach, you will know how.
MURID: Sheikh Efendi, are there any ways or short-cuts outside of Islam to reach that?
SHEIKH: Outside of Islam, a person is asking to keep himself in himself. Islam is asking surrender. Out of Islam, people are asking to have their wills in their hands. As long as they keep their wills in their hands, they are not going to reach any station; finished. Because all religions order islam, surrender to your Lord's will.
There is a misunderstanding of every religion. Christians misunderstand their religion, as Jews also misunderstand their religion. Even now, Muslims misunderstand what Islam is. As long as you keep your will that was granted to you by your Lord Almighty and say, "O my Lord, I know that your will is over our will, but I like to use my will, also. I do not surrender to Your will. I must do as I like," that person will never go up to heavenly stations until death comes and takes his will from his hands. At that time, by force he is taken up. When he reaches the first Heaven, he is thrown down; that is, his ego is thrown down. His soul is accepted but his ego is thrown down. But those who surrendered to their Lord's will, leaving their own wills, all the
Heavens will open their doors to that person to greet him, up to the Divine Presence.
MURID: So a person cannot be surrendered in another religion, even if he's following that religion carefully?
SHEIKH: He still has that will in his own hands, still not saying that Islam is from Allah Almighty. He still says that this is my choice and that I am far from the choice of the Lord, Allah Almighty. Therefore, no improvement for a person who is asking to reach heavenly positions or divine stations in the Divine Presence in such a way.
I am looking throughout East and West at all nations, at all people who are asking to climb, and they are using ladders. When I am looking - not with these eyes; with other eyes, inspecting from East to West - I see so many people who are trying to climb to heavenly positions and they are using ladders for the fire brigade; so many people I see. For what are they doing this? Those people are asking to reach their heavenly positions and they are using these ladders, a small one or a tall one. They are trying to climb up, and then – whooh! coming down. So many people, those. I understand that all of them are asking for a way to reach Heaven without using Islam, the rocket of Islam. Therefore, don't tell me that without Islam and its ways someone has reached heavenly positions. I am looking. Some of them disappear because they have fallen down. It means that they went down, not up.
MURID: Sheikh, what are the signs that the rocket has taken off?
SHEIKH: What signs? When you go up, the earth is going to disappear bit by bit. When dunya disappears from your heart - that is the sign. This world is going to become smaller, smaller, smaller, and then disappear from the screen of your heart; looking, looking, looking, and then it disappears. Then divine manifestations come upon your screen. You can understand that now we are reaching Heathrow Airport because there are so many lights; you can understand where you are landing. Don't be worried about your arrival, your heavenly landing; don't be worried. Therefore, as you are asking for a sign, when all dunya disappears from the screen of your heart, that is the sign that you have reached your divine station.
'Asr/Jume 23, 1985
Through the Holy Qur'an, Allah Almighty teaches people everything that they may be in need of, individually and collectively. Each verse gives exact directions for everyone so that they may find their way.
I was astonished at how a fly finds its way through darkness, at nighttime, to come from East to West. It is not in need of looking down. Yes, it looks at a private map for itself and perhaps it goes automatically. In such a way, each verse of the Holy Qur'ān may give your direction to your destination in safety.
There is a verse saying, wa li-kullin wijhatun hūa mualliha168." In this verse Allah Almighty is speaking about everything; it has a general or collective verb, which means for everything in existence. You can't find anything that is in existence which has been created useless; in everything, the atoms come together and these worlds and the universe appears. Therefore each particle, even the smallest particle, must be directed to a destination. It is not in existence without a purpose.
And when you look at the whole universe, you can't find anyone more perfect than man; among creatures, mankind is the most perfect. Then, if for everything in existence there must be a direction, must be a destination must be a purpose for being in existence, what about for mankind? Do you think that mankind was created or established on earth accidentally? To say that we are on earth accidentally is to deny science and knowledge because for knowledge and science there is no "accident," since they say that everything happens on earth according to natural laws. Yes - you can't find any branch of science without rules. No one can say that anything is accidental but rather everything appears on earth according to or governed by a rule.
Therefore, as we are on earth and we are perfect creatures, there must be a purpose, generally and individually. Everyone occupies a place on this earth, and everyone does something that is not the same as others. Each person works or acts, but each one thinks something different; even if you can find workers of the same work, their thinking is so different. It means that, as Allah Almighty says, "I am the Creator and I am the Director. I am directing," And that is correct, because each one keeps, each one thinks something in his mind. Now we are all of us attending here, but each one of us has a particular kind of understanding and each one has something in his mind
168 And for everything there is a direction (destination, goal) to which it turns. (II:148)
which he thinks about that thing. And that is what Allah Almighty says: "I direct people, and each one has a different idea and opinion." That directs people to their destinations.
Yes - one of our brothers thinks that when we finish here, he will go in a certain direction; he is waiting for this meeting to finish so that he can run to what he is thinking about. Khurshid is thinking about one thing, 'Abdul-Haqq is thinking about America, Isma'il about Germany, Deutschland. You can't find two people whose thinking is going in the same direction - so different, because Allah Almighty says, “Wa li-kullin wijhatun." For each one there is a private direction to which he has been directed, because everything has a destination.
That is the greatness of the Creator. He can look after everything in existence. You can't imagine His greatness and His endless power, to look after every particle, even a particle so small that you cannot imagine how small it is. And its Creator looks after that and makes its direction for it. How does each atom come to join with this one or that one, and how many others come around each of them? It is impossible for one of them to lose its group and come to another one, it is so exactly-directed.
That is a teaching for the Children of Adam so that they will be arranged and organized in everything. Don't suppose that you are alone and you are free; don't imagine that you have been left free, no. You have been caught. If you do not see from the outside view that such things are catching you, then you must look at your thoughts, your thinking. That thinking, those ideas which came, opinions falling on your mind - those things are tying you, catching you, because you can't be without opinions, you can't be without thoughts.
You can't see how they catch you, but you are caught169."
And through those ideas and opinions you have been directed, going on. Thinking makes intentions within you; through thoughts, through ideas, you intend, the second step. First thoughts come to your head, to your mind or to your heart, and then you intend. When you intend, you are going to act.
Actions follow intentions, and actions make your way toward your destination.
169 That is, an individual is caught and bound by his particular mind-set, the over-all mental framework in which he views reality, of which his individual thoughts, ideas and opinions are a part
Now, you are thinking of going to a place after this meeting. When you finish, you intend to go in that direction and then you go to it, to that destination. "Wa li-kullin wijhatun hūa mūalliha"; the Lord of the Heavens, the Lord of mankind, says, "I am that Director - for everything." Therefore you can't find anything in existence without a destination and without a direction. Each thing must be directed to its destination.
What is the benefit if we know this? Firstly, this makes peace and satisfaction in your heart and gives you trust in your Creator for your future, and it takes away sufferings from you, because if a person does not trust a driver, he can't go in that car and sit with him. You trust the driver, and then you get in and go with him. Maybe you may sleep and the pilot flies, and makes you fly. And you are in peace, no trouble within yourself.
Therefore this body belongs to our Lord, Allah Almighty; He is the Creator and we are surrendering to His will. We know that the Director guards His creatures, and we hope that our Lord will never take us to a dangerous place. Therefore, the one who believes in his Lord and wants Him, believes that He is my Driver or He is my Director, and then I am in peace and in satisfaction because He is directing me to a safe destination.
When you put your will-power to change your direction, then you fall into troubles. Most of mankind who live in our time are asking to change the direction of their lives and they think that it is so easy. And when they ask for a change in their lives and they can't make it, they lose their hope of living.
When they lose hope of life, they are going to die quickly. Even if natural death does not come to them quickly, they make their lives end by their own hands, suicide, because they think that they can change the line of their lives, and it is impossible.
Believe and trust; then you are in safety and in peace, Believe in your Creator, Allah Almighty, and trust in Him that He must take you to a safe destination. Don't put your will against the will of your Lord; then you may fall into troubles. It is a part of a verse that we are speaking on, but thinking people, if they can use their thoughts, their minds, on that point, may find endless knowledge for directing people individually and collectively. And the most important thing for the life of man is to believe and to trust.
You must believe in your Lord, Allah Almighty, and you must trust in Him. But it is a little bit difficult because you are always accustomed to looking at a person and to believing or trusting in him. To trust a person, you' must believe in him, and to believe and to trust in Allah Almighty is a great favor
from Allah Almighty and it is so difficult. For this reason Allah Almighty sent His prophets to be His deputies with people; then they could see someone from mankind. Therefore Allah Almighty never sent prophets from among angels. He is able to send prophets from among angels but it would be useless for mankind because the level of angels is not the same as mankind's; therefore you could not get any benefit from an angel- prophet. You are in need of prophets from among mankind; they can understand you. For this reason, Allah Almighty sent His prophets to mankind from among themselves, and it is a characteristic of ourselves to believe in a person and to trust in him.
That is the first step to believing in Allah Almighty and trusting in Him. We look at the Prophet, and he says, "O people, you must believe what I am saying because I am true." When he says that he is true, then you believe in him and, also, if he offers some commands and orders, you trust that he is to be trusted for keeping every order he brings. If you do not see the Prophet as trustworthy, how are you keeping five prayers or how do you fast? To trust a person, it is important that he must be a true one. If a person is not true, your heart says, "Don't trust him."
This is an important point, particularly in our time. So many people may say so many things, may offer so many things to people, but finally you must ask your conscience. If your conscience says, "He is all right, trust him," you may trust. But if you find hesitation in your conscience, don't trust him because that hesitation signals danger.
Therefore it is easy for a person to believe in a man and to trust him. Then he may improve from that to trusting the Prophet, to belief and trust in Allah Almighty. When you believe and trust, you can be in peace and satisfaction.
For this reason this verse is such an important one, even if it is only part of a verse, "Wa li-kullin wijhatun hua mūallihā." Then following that Allah Almighty says, "Fa-stabiqu-l-khairat."170 O people, I am your Director, and don't suppose that I am directing you toward sharr, evil - no. Only when you put your will to stop My directing of yourself, then you fall into evil. If you surrender to Me and leave My will to operate, it will take you, will direct you, to your destination. You will find absolute peace, absolute goodness and happiness and absolute Mercy Oceans if you do not try to prevent My will concerning you."
170 "Then compete (with one another) in goodness." (11:148)
And in our time people are fighting against Allah Almighty's will. As long as they are fighting, they are falling into troubles and sufferings. Let your Lord's will carry you to your destination because He knows what is useful for us and what is harmful for us, now and for the future, here and Hereafter. Everyone must think that, since I am one of the things which are in existence, I must be directed. If I am directed, why am I putting my willpower against that one who is my Director? "Aslim, taslam171”. For this reason the Prophet, p.b.u.h., says, "O people, give up fighting. Give up your wills and let your Lord's will go on. Then you will be in peace and safety here and Hereafter."
Finally, everyone must look at his actions, whether he is fighting or surrendering, because by each action you can see if you are fighting your Lord or surrendering, going according to His will. You can understand that easily; with every action you can see that.
If you are fighting, stop fighting; that is best for you. If you continue fighting, it is going to be a terrible end for you, or for your wife or for your children or for your business or for your life, spiritually and physically. Look at every action, whether it is fighting your Lord, Almighty Allah, or it is a suitable way for your Lord's will. Awliyā, a group of people who are on earth during every period, are those people surrendering to Allah Almighty, saying, "We have finished. We are under your command and, O our Lord, We trust that you are leading us to a good destination. And that gives us peace and satisfaction and pleasure, and also gives to our hearts from His endless divine favours, and gives us from divine knowledge."
And we are asking forgiveness for every action which is fighting against our Lord. Like Nimrod; every action of his was fighting against Allah Almighty, and then Allah Almighty destroyed his kingdom and killed him. Don't be like Nimrod; rather you must be like your Prophet, p.b.u.h., surrendering, All prophets were under surrender to their Lord's will; they never made any objection. It is terrible for a person to say "why?" The one who says. "Why?" has not yet surrendered. And the first to say "Why?" in the Divine Presence was Satan; he started asking “Why?" - not anyone else. Among all creatures, only Satan said that why?" That objection made him Satan; he was on a throne, respected, and that word, "Why?" brought him down and he fell. He is falling yet because he still does not leave off that word, "Why?" "Why should I make sajdah to Adam?" he says. "I can't do that." If you can't do that, you may get out!
171 Surrender; then you will be in peace (or safety)." (Hadith)
Every action that we do in objection to our Lord is a sin. We are asking forgiveness for every objection to His commands or to His will, saying "Astāghfirullan." And we are thankful to our Lord, Allah Almighty, for His endless favors in making us understand, and saying, "Alhamdulillan, alhamdulillah, wa shukrulillah."
Morning) June 24, 1985
(In a morning session, Sheikh Nazim emphasizes the importance of Muslim children learning their parents' mother tongues: -)
If a person knows two languages, he is two people; if three languages, three people; if four languages, four people - that is the meaning. Every language allows a person to be one more person. Therefore it is important to know as many languages as possible. But our people are foolish. They are losing their mother-languages.
I never speak to my children in Arabic. They were born in Damascus but I always speak Turkish at home because they learned Arabic in school. Then why should they lose their Turkish? Therefore they know Turkish as well as they know Arabic.
In our homeland, Cyprus, we were living with Greeks. The Greeks were the majority and we were the minority. We learned Greek, all of us, but they did not learn Turkish. It was a loss for them; if they had learned it, it would have been better for them.
I asked our brother if he has any problem and he said, "I am not married." What does it mean? Two meanings come: If no marriage, no problem, or, to be unmarried is my problem.
That is correct; the second one is the problem for him - to be unmarried. But some people get problems when they marry. And in Westem countries, all people get into problems, into troubles, after marriage. Actually Allah Almighty made marriage to take people away from problems and troubles, but Satan is now making marriage a source of problems and troubles and sufferings. Our brother now has one problem, to be unmarried, but when he gets married that one problem is going to be one hundred problems.
That is an illness among people n
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at about all my business?" Then, "I must go this year," you must intend.
And, 0 people, this dunya is not for us. We have been created for Paradise, and we have been invited to be in that Paradise. Listen to the invitation, the holy invitation, the heavenly invitation, or your Lord, Allah Alnighty, and you must prepare for that journey. Pilgrimage is only for a short journey, but the long journey - that is to be in the Divine Presence. Now we are only going and looking at a simple, covered building; here Allah Almighty invites you to visit His Holy House but in Paradise He invites you to see Him, also, to visit Him, Almighty. That is the greatest honor that we have been given by our Lord, Almighty Allah.
O people, here you are eating, drinking and dressing, running after good places to live or good houses, palaces, cars and businesses, everything - but what is after that? It is passing on; all of those are nothing. And people will be standing there, taking away the earth with those shovels in their hands and putting your body inside. Try to be for your Lord's invitation on the Day of Resurrection, the Last Day.
You must think of the Last Day, o believers. You must not be deceived by this city's satanic pleasures, no. Keep yourself for the Divine Presence. No one has ever seen or heard nor has it came to his heart what pleasures and favors Allah Almighty has prepared and made ready for you, o people, o believers. Don't be like unbelievers; you are mumins, you are muminahs.
Don't look at those people who are running after such nonsensical pleasures of this life. They are nothing! Keep yourself for the invitation of your Lord, Allah Almighty.
Perhaps this may be my last khutbah, sermon, to you. Who knows? Only He knows if we will come next year to be with you or not. Therefore my advice to you, O people, is, don't be deceived by this temporary life's pleasures. They are nothing, no meaning - eating, drinking, dressing; nothing. But something, the important thing, for you is to reach your Lord's Divine Presence with
honor. All the prophets came just to give that invitation. Be prepared for that divine invitation.
We are asking forgiveness for every bad thought and bad intention and bad action. Keep away from bad actions, keep away from bad thoughts, keep away from bad intentions. That makes you dishonored. Always ask for forgiveness. And I am asking forgiveness for me and for you and for all mankind.
Morning/ June 22, 1985
(A newcomer to the group asks Sheikh Nāzim to explain what sufism is: - )
Sufism is the way which guides people to their heavenly stations; that is the meaning of sufism. It has been given so many meanings but, shortly, it is only the way to Heaven, leading people or guiding them to it.
Everyone has a private station in Heaven, in the spiritual world, because we just come from the spiritual world to this world and our spirits, our souls, are asking for a way to their Homeland. The physical body's homeland is this world but our soul's Homeland is the spiritual world. Therefore, people may be here from America, from Germany, from Turkey, f'rom Syria, but even though they are with me for only a short time, they are asking for their homelands.
This is a characteristic of souls, to love their Homeland. For this reason there is a hadith, "Hubb al-watan min al-Imān." Love of homeland is from your faith, the Prophet, says, p.b.u.h. Therefore it is 'amrun tabi'i166,- it is normal, natural, for a person's heart to go toward his homeland. We have a saying that if you could put a nightingale in a golden cage, still it would want its trees or its nest, saying, "I don't care for this golden cage, I have no need of it. I like to be in my nest which I made." Therefore the people who were born here never ask for Cyprus or Turkey or Damascus, but their parents still say, "Ah! Our village, our mountains, our rivers, our seas, our people," always.
That is an attribute of souls, and our souls always ask to reach their Homeland from which they came to this physical body.
166 A matter to be followed as a natural course that which is natural or normally accepted as right
MURID: Sheikh, many of the Sufis say that they're not seeking Heaven and its pleasures, and that they're not afraid of Hellfire. They want only the face of Allah. And then you say that we're going to heavenly stations. I thought we were supposed to aim higher than that.
SHEIKH: Yesterday we said in the Jum'ah khutbah what we were ordered to say, about pilgrimage to Hijāz.. Then They made me say that pilgrims now go to look at the Lord's House167 in Makkah, but the most important thing is to look for the Lord of the House, and we have been invited to His Divine Presence.
When we speak of the ways to heavenly stations, it means that people are seeking and looking at the Divine, Glorious Face. Why am I going to Buckingham Palace if there is no Queen there? If Her Majesty the Queen or His Majesty the King is not there, for what am I going? You would not even come to this humble place if the person your heart loves is not here; you would not be here either. You came from Canada, such a far-away place, to London to see London? If that person were not here, London would be empty for you. Therefore London is now full for you, and even if that person were in a cave, yet he fills London; you would find him, even in a cave. You are interested in that person. Therefore, when we speak of heavenly positions or divine stations in the Divine Presence, it is the same thing.
MURID: Is there a point at which one becomes united with Allah so much that one loses the sense of his own existence?
SHEIKH: When you are melted in Unity Oceans - then. Now you are a drop. When you end in Unity Oceans, each drop is going to be oceans. You do not lose; you gain endlessly.
MURID: Is that the same as the heavenly stations or is that another station?
SHEIKH: It is the heavenly stations. But we are only giving too short a description of it because it is impossible to give an exact understanding of that, just as you can never give a little boy a description of what a mature- age youth understands. That little boy may see so many things on the "Shaytan-box," but he may think that they are quarreling, nothing else; he never understands. And sometimes I ask Allah Almighty to let my eyes be as the eyes of little children, pure; they may look but never does dirtiness come
167 The Holy K’aba in Makkah. The meaning of the "Lord's House” is that it is the place of His continuous sanctified worship and remembrance, which is filled with His Holy Presence
into their eyes from their looking, never does anything come here (indicating his heart]. That is the sign of sainthood - to be pure.
Therefore, it is a difficult point for description, but people mostly ask, ask, and never find satisfaction - impossible. And when they do not get satisfied, they quarrel, asking for more, more of a description. But it is only within limits because the "screen" is within limits, and they are asking for an unlimited screen. With this body's power it is im possible. When your drop reaches the Ocean, it quickly becomes Ocean, not losing its looking, its listening, its tasting, its touching, its knowing, its understanding at that time. Never; only coming out of limits. That is absolute pleasure.
MURID: But he keeps his personality?
SHEIKH: How can you say not? Personality belongs to the Divine Existence, to reach that Ocean. Therefore a human being is more valuable than all the universes because if his true personality appears, it covers the whole universe. But now you can't imagine this. We may say only that that drop comes, reaching the Ocean. You can't ask about that drop; the drop just became an ocean. You are in it with your personality that you have been given by the Divine Presence, that you have been granted by your Lord, Almighty Allah. Don't ask "How?" When you reach, you will know how.
MURID: Sheikh Efendi, are there any ways or short-cuts outside of Islam to reach that?
SHEIKH: Outside of Islam, a person is asking to keep himself in himself. Islam is asking surrender. Out of Islam, people are asking to have their wills in their hands. As long as they keep their wills in their hands, they are not going to reach any station; finished. Because all religions order islam, surrender to your Lord's will.
There is a misunderstanding of every religion. Christians misunderstand their religion, as Jews also misunderstand their religion. Even now, Muslims misunderstand what Islam is. As long as you keep your will that was granted to you by your Lord Almighty and say, "O my Lord, I know that your will is over our will, but I like to use my will, also. I do not surrender to Your will. I must do as I like," that person will never go up to heavenly stations until death comes and takes his will from his hands. At that time, by force he is taken up. When he reaches the first Heaven, he is thrown down; that is, his ego is thrown down. His soul is accepted but his ego is thrown down. But those who surrendered to their Lord's will, leaving their own wills, all the
Heavens will open their doors to that person to greet him, up to the Divine Presence.
MURID: So a person cannot be surrendered in another religion, even if he's following that religion carefully?
SHEIKH: He still has that will in his own hands, still not saying that Islam is from Allah Almighty. He still says that this is my choice and that I am far from the choice of the Lord, Allah Almighty. Therefore, no improvement for a person who is asking to reach heavenly positions or divine stations in the Divine Presence in such a way.
I am looking throughout East and West at all nations, at all people who are asking to climb, and they are using ladders. When I am looking - not with these eyes; with other eyes, inspecting from East to West - I see so many people who are trying to climb to heavenly positions and they are using ladders for the fire brigade; so many people I see. For what are they doing this? Those people are asking to reach their heavenly positions and they are using these ladders, a small one or a tall one. They are trying to climb up, and then – whooh! coming down. So many people, those. I understand that all of them are asking for a way to reach Heaven without using Islam, the rocket of Islam. Therefore, don't tell me that without Islam and its ways someone has reached heavenly positions. I am looking. Some of them disappear because they have fallen down. It means that they went down, not up.
MURID: Sheikh, what are the signs that the rocket has taken off?
SHEIKH: What signs? When you go up, the earth is going to disappear bit by bit. When dunya disappears from your heart - that is the sign. This world is going to become smaller, smaller, smaller, and then disappear from the screen of your heart; looking, looking, looking, and then it disappears. Then divine manifestations come upon your screen. You can understand that now we are reaching Heathrow Airport because there are so many lights; you can understand where you are landing. Don't be worried about your arrival, your heavenly landing; don't be worried. Therefore, as you are asking for a sign, when all dunya disappears from the screen of your heart, that is the sign that you have reached your divine station.
'Asr/Jume 23, 1985
Through the Holy Qur'an, Allah Almighty teaches people everything that they may be in need of, individually and collectively. Each verse gives exact directions for everyone so that they may find their way.
I was astonished at how a fly finds its way through darkness, at nighttime, to come from East to West. It is not in need of looking down. Yes, it looks at a private map for itself and perhaps it goes automatically. In such a way, each verse of the Holy Qur'ān may give your direction to your destination in safety.
There is a verse saying, wa li-kullin wijhatun hūa mualliha168." In this verse Allah Almighty is speaking about everything; it has a general or collective verb, which means for everything in existence. You can't find anything that is in existence which has been created useless; in everything, the atoms come together and these worlds and the universe appears. Therefore each particle, even the smallest particle, must be directed to a destination. It is not in existence without a purpose.
And when you look at the whole universe, you can't find anyone more perfect than man; among creatures, mankind is the most perfect. Then, if for everything in existence there must be a direction, must be a destination must be a purpose for being in existence, what about for mankind? Do you think that mankind was created or established on earth accidentally? To say that we are on earth accidentally is to deny science and knowledge because for knowledge and science there is no "accident," since they say that everything happens on earth according to natural laws. Yes - you can't find any branch of science without rules. No one can say that anything is accidental but rather everything appears on earth according to or governed by a rule.
Therefore, as we are on earth and we are perfect creatures, there must be a purpose, generally and individually. Everyone occupies a place on this earth, and everyone does something that is not the same as others. Each person works or acts, but each one thinks something different; even if you can find workers of the same work, their thinking is so different. It means that, as Allah Almighty says, "I am the Creator and I am the Director. I am directing," And that is correct, because each one keeps, each one thinks something in his mind. Now we are all of us attending here, but each one of us has a particular kind of understanding and each one has something in his mind
168 And for everything there is a direction (destination, goal) to which it turns. (II:148)
which he thinks about that thing. And that is what Allah Almighty says: "I direct people, and each one has a different idea and opinion." That directs people to their destinations.
Yes - one of our brothers thinks that when we finish here, he will go in a certain direction; he is waiting for this meeting to finish so that he can run to what he is thinking about. Khurshid is thinking about one thing, 'Abdul-Haqq is thinking about America, Isma'il about Germany, Deutschland. You can't find two people whose thinking is going in the same direction - so different, because Allah Almighty says, “Wa li-kullin wijhatun." For each one there is a private direction to which he has been directed, because everything has a destination.
That is the greatness of the Creator. He can look after everything in existence. You can't imagine His greatness and His endless power, to look after every particle, even a particle so small that you cannot imagine how small it is. And its Creator looks after that and makes its direction for it. How does each atom come to join with this one or that one, and how many others come around each of them? It is impossible for one of them to lose its group and come to another one, it is so exactly-directed.
That is a teaching for the Children of Adam so that they will be arranged and organized in everything. Don't suppose that you are alone and you are free; don't imagine that you have been left free, no. You have been caught. If you do not see from the outside view that such things are catching you, then you must look at your thoughts, your thinking. That thinking, those ideas which came, opinions falling on your mind - those things are tying you, catching you, because you can't be without opinions, you can't be without thoughts.
You can't see how they catch you, but you are caught169."
And through those ideas and opinions you have been directed, going on. Thinking makes intentions within you; through thoughts, through ideas, you intend, the second step. First thoughts come to your head, to your mind or to your heart, and then you intend. When you intend, you are going to act.
Actions follow intentions, and actions make your way toward your destination.
169 That is, an individual is caught and bound by his particular mind-set, the over-all mental framework in which he views reality, of which his individual thoughts, ideas and opinions are a part
Now, you are thinking of going to a place after this meeting. When you finish, you intend to go in that direction and then you go to it, to that destination. "Wa li-kullin wijhatun hūa mūalliha"; the Lord of the Heavens, the Lord of mankind, says, "I am that Director - for everything." Therefore you can't find anything in existence without a destination and without a direction. Each thing must be directed to its destination.
What is the benefit if we know this? Firstly, this makes peace and satisfaction in your heart and gives you trust in your Creator for your future, and it takes away sufferings from you, because if a person does not trust a driver, he can't go in that car and sit with him. You trust the driver, and then you get in and go with him. Maybe you may sleep and the pilot flies, and makes you fly. And you are in peace, no trouble within yourself.
Therefore this body belongs to our Lord, Allah Almighty; He is the Creator and we are surrendering to His will. We know that the Director guards His creatures, and we hope that our Lord will never take us to a dangerous place. Therefore, the one who believes in his Lord and wants Him, believes that He is my Driver or He is my Director, and then I am in peace and in satisfaction because He is directing me to a safe destination.
When you put your will-power to change your direction, then you fall into troubles. Most of mankind who live in our time are asking to change the direction of their lives and they think that it is so easy. And when they ask for a change in their lives and they can't make it, they lose their hope of living.
When they lose hope of life, they are going to die quickly. Even if natural death does not come to them quickly, they make their lives end by their own hands, suicide, because they think that they can change the line of their lives, and it is impossible.
Believe and trust; then you are in safety and in peace, Believe in your Creator, Allah Almighty, and trust in Him that He must take you to a safe destination. Don't put your will against the will of your Lord; then you may fall into troubles. It is a part of a verse that we are speaking on, but thinking people, if they can use their thoughts, their minds, on that point, may find endless knowledge for directing people individually and collectively. And the most important thing for the life of man is to believe and to trust.
You must believe in your Lord, Allah Almighty, and you must trust in Him. But it is a little bit difficult because you are always accustomed to looking at a person and to believing or trusting in him. To trust a person, you' must believe in him, and to believe and to trust in Allah Almighty is a great favor
from Allah Almighty and it is so difficult. For this reason Allah Almighty sent His prophets to be His deputies with people; then they could see someone from mankind. Therefore Allah Almighty never sent prophets from among angels. He is able to send prophets from among angels but it would be useless for mankind because the level of angels is not the same as mankind's; therefore you could not get any benefit from an angel- prophet. You are in need of prophets from among mankind; they can understand you. For this reason, Allah Almighty sent His prophets to mankind from among themselves, and it is a characteristic of ourselves to believe in a person and to trust in him.
That is the first step to believing in Allah Almighty and trusting in Him. We look at the Prophet, and he says, "O people, you must believe what I am saying because I am true." When he says that he is true, then you believe in him and, also, if he offers some commands and orders, you trust that he is to be trusted for keeping every order he brings. If you do not see the Prophet as trustworthy, how are you keeping five prayers or how do you fast? To trust a person, it is important that he must be a true one. If a person is not true, your heart says, "Don't trust him."
This is an important point, particularly in our time. So many people may say so many things, may offer so many things to people, but finally you must ask your conscience. If your conscience says, "He is all right, trust him," you may trust. But if you find hesitation in your conscience, don't trust him because that hesitation signals danger.
Therefore it is easy for a person to believe in a man and to trust him. Then he may improve from that to trusting the Prophet, to belief and trust in Allah Almighty. When you believe and trust, you can be in peace and satisfaction.
For this reason this verse is such an important one, even if it is only part of a verse, "Wa li-kullin wijhatun hua mūallihā." Then following that Allah Almighty says, "Fa-stabiqu-l-khairat."170 O people, I am your Director, and don't suppose that I am directing you toward sharr, evil - no. Only when you put your will to stop My directing of yourself, then you fall into evil. If you surrender to Me and leave My will to operate, it will take you, will direct you, to your destination. You will find absolute peace, absolute goodness and happiness and absolute Mercy Oceans if you do not try to prevent My will concerning you."
170 "Then compete (with one another) in goodness." (11:148)
And in our time people are fighting against Allah Almighty's will. As long as they are fighting, they are falling into troubles and sufferings. Let your Lord's will carry you to your destination because He knows what is useful for us and what is harmful for us, now and for the future, here and Hereafter. Everyone must think that, since I am one of the things which are in existence, I must be directed. If I am directed, why am I putting my willpower against that one who is my Director? "Aslim, taslam171”. For this reason the Prophet, p.b.u.h., says, "O people, give up fighting. Give up your wills and let your Lord's will go on. Then you will be in peace and safety here and Hereafter."
Finally, everyone must look at his actions, whether he is fighting or surrendering, because by each action you can see if you are fighting your Lord or surrendering, going according to His will. You can understand that easily; with every action you can see that.
If you are fighting, stop fighting; that is best for you. If you continue fighting, it is going to be a terrible end for you, or for your wife or for your children or for your business or for your life, spiritually and physically. Look at every action, whether it is fighting your Lord, Almighty Allah, or it is a suitable way for your Lord's will. Awliyā, a group of people who are on earth during every period, are those people surrendering to Allah Almighty, saying, "We have finished. We are under your command and, O our Lord, We trust that you are leading us to a good destination. And that gives us peace and satisfaction and pleasure, and also gives to our hearts from His endless divine favours, and gives us from divine knowledge."
And we are asking forgiveness for every action which is fighting against our Lord. Like Nimrod; every action of his was fighting against Allah Almighty, and then Allah Almighty destroyed his kingdom and killed him. Don't be like Nimrod; rather you must be like your Prophet, p.b.u.h., surrendering, All prophets were under surrender to their Lord's will; they never made any objection. It is terrible for a person to say "why?" The one who says. "Why?" has not yet surrendered. And the first to say "Why?" in the Divine Presence was Satan; he started asking “Why?" - not anyone else. Among all creatures, only Satan said that why?" That objection made him Satan; he was on a throne, respected, and that word, "Why?" brought him down and he fell. He is falling yet because he still does not leave off that word, "Why?" "Why should I make sajdah to Adam?" he says. "I can't do that." If you can't do that, you may get out!
171 Surrender; then you will be in peace (or safety)." (Hadith)
Every action that we do in objection to our Lord is a sin. We are asking forgiveness for every objection to His commands or to His will, saying "Astāghfirullan." And we are thankful to our Lord, Allah Almighty, for His endless favors in making us understand, and saying, "Alhamdulillan, alhamdulillah, wa shukrulillah."
Morning) June 24, 1985
(In a morning session, Sheikh Nazim emphasizes the importance of Muslim children learning their parents' mother tongues: -)
If a person knows two languages, he is two people; if three languages, three people; if four languages, four people - that is the meaning. Every language allows a person to be one more person. Therefore it is important to know as many languages as possible. But our people are foolish. They are losing their mother-languages.
I never speak to my children in Arabic. They were born in Damascus but I always speak Turkish at home because they learned Arabic in school. Then why should they lose their Turkish? Therefore they know Turkish as well as they know Arabic.
In our homeland, Cyprus, we were living with Greeks. The Greeks were the majority and we were the minority. We learned Greek, all of us, but they did not learn Turkish. It was a loss for them; if they had learned it, it would have been better for them.
I asked our brother if he has any problem and he said, "I am not married." What does it mean? Two meanings come: If no marriage, no problem, or, to be unmarried is my problem.
That is correct; the second one is the problem for him - to be unmarried. But some people get problems when they marry. And in Westem countries, all people get into problems, into troubles, after marriage. Actually Allah Almighty made marriage to take people away from problems and troubles, but Satan is now making marriage a source of problems and troubles and sufferings. Our brother now has one problem, to be unmarried, but when he gets married that one problem is going to be one hundred problems.
That is an illness among people n
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