Mercy Oceans, Book 12 (192 pages, 15/15)
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me of Allah, All-mighty, All-merciful, Most Beneficent and Most Munificent. As He likes, everything is going to happen, and we are slaves. Our Lord's will is going on, and, for servants, to accept what their Lord chooses for them is the best.
Our Lord, Allah Almighty, chose Islam for His servants, and we agreed147; we agreed with our Lord's choice. Islam therefore is the greatest, no doubt. If anyone comes to stand up beside Islam, he may come; people may see what is the greatness of Islam and what they have. Anyone may claim that his way, his belief, is the best, but it is only a claim: if they come to compare with Islam, they can see which one is the best. But they do not come, because their egos do not give them permission to come all together.
At the time of the Last Prophet, p.b.u.h., the whole world was informed about the Last Prophet and his Message. He wrote letters in every direction and sent his messages. And as most people were informed about the coming of a prophet at that time, so many of the Ahl al-Kitab, the People of the Book148, came and asked about that prophet because they knew that finally a prophet must come.
One must come; they knew it through their holy books. If they hadn't known about a prophet, they would not have been interested in looking for him and asking about him. If today I look at a newspaper and it is written there that a lady is saying, "I am a prophet," must we go to look at her - who that one is, if she is true or not? No, because no prophet is expected.
147 See III:19, 85; V:4 (V:3 in Pickthall's translation); VI:125; IX:33; XLVIII:38; LXI:9 148 The "Book" refers to the Divine Scripture, revealed over the ages through the prophets, beginning with the first prophet, Adam, and ending with Muhammad, peace be upon them and upon him. The People of the Book therefore include Jews, Christians and Muslims
Allah sent His Last Message and informed all people that this is My Last Message with My Last Messenger. And the People of the Book, they were informed that there should come a prophet; he is going to be the last one, the Seal of the Prophets, and we must look for him. Yes. Therefore they came in groups, in delegations, to look at that one, to see if he was the right one or not.
When they found that he was that one about whom they had been informed, only a few of them came into Islam. And the Prophet, p.b.u.h., said, "If ten scholars of the Jewish people came and proclaimed that I am that prophet, all their people would come into Islam149." But even ten of their men did not come; only two or three came into Islam, accepting it.
'Abdullah ibn Salam was one of them; before he came into Islam, Ishmawil ibn Salam was his name. The greatest rabbi he was, the chief; and his father, his grandfather, his grandfather - all of them in that line, they were chief rabbis, knowing the Taurat, Torah.
He came and witnessed that Muhammad was that prophet, that he was that one mentioned in every holy book. And then he said to the Prophet: "O Rasul-Allah, I am humbly saying that I am the chief and most knowledgeable person about the Taurat among the Jewish people. If I speak about myself, perhaps it may not be an accurate report about me because it is not so good for a person to speak well about himself. But now, call the Jewish rabbis to you and, without saying that I have accepted Islam, ask from them who I am. Yes, they know who I am. You must ask them first because if they know that I have come into Islam, they will say everything that is not true. Therefore you must ask about me first and then tell them that I have come into Islam.".
149 In the Prophet's time, communities of Jews lived in Madinah, nearby Khaibar, and other towns in Arabia. Through their traditions, as well as through prophecies contained in the Torah, they were awaiting the coming of the Last Prophet. But they were expecting him to come from among their own community, the descendants of Abraham through Isaac, rather than through Ishmael, peace be upon them all
Then the Prophet, p.b.u.h., called the rabbis, the most famous rabbis among the Jewish people in Madinah, and asked 'Abdullah ibn Salam to come in front of them. And he asked, "What is your opinion about this person, Ishmawil ibn Salam?"
They stood up and gave their testimony: "Ashhadu bil-lah, I swear by Allah that he is our most famous rabbi. No one can know about the Taurat as he knows"; standing up, witnessing in his favor. "He is from our best family through his father, his grandfather - they are in that line. The most noble people, the most generous people, the most intelligent people" - everything.
Then the Prophet said, "And what if he testifies that I am that prophet?"
"A'udhu bil-lah, a'udhu bil-Lah150! May Allah save him from coming and saying that," they said, trembling, all of them, from hearing that.
"O 'Abdullah ibn Salam, come. Come here."
Then 'Abdullah ibn Salam came forward and said, "I am witness that there is no God but Allah and that you, O Muhammad, peace be upon you, are that prophet about whom Allah Almighty, the Lord of the Heavens, has informed us in our books. That prophet is yourself, and I am witness that you are Rasul-Allah, the Messenger of Allah."
Then all of them were going to be like crazy, some of them cursing, swearing: "It is known that he is a bad one and that his father, also, and his grandfather - all of them were bad people, accursed ones! All of them are always making trouble for the Children of Israel and they are kha'in, traitors," saying anything you can think of; they never left anything unsaid.
And 'Abdullah ibn Salām said, "O Rasul-Allah, just as I told you - those people are liars, quickly changing their report about me. Look at them!"
150 I take refuge with God
Then the Prophet said, "If only ten of them come into Islam, all the Children of Israel will come into Islam." But divine wisdoms kept them in that line151, and they must follow it up to the time of Mahdi, p.b.u.h., and up to the time of the Anti-Christ and up to the time of Jesus Christ, p.b.u.h.152
Yes, we are from mankind, and we have been honored by our Lord, as He has mentioned in every holy book that we have been honored. But the Children of Israel say that that honor is only for themselves. They say that they are a chosen race, while Allah says that honor has been given to all mankind; because He mentioned in the Old Testament and the New Testament, in the Taurat and the Injil153, as he also mentioned in the Holy Qur'an, that Adam and his descendants, mankind, were created to be the deputies of their Lord on earth.
That is clear, that is truth; that is well-known among all scholars. Rabbis know, priests know, bishops know, the Pope knows, and the Patriarch in Istanbul, he knows it well, also. In Damascus there is a patriarch; he knows well, also, that mankind are created to be the deputies of their Lord on earth.
But every time they have forgotten that they are deputies, that they have been honored, they have run into lies, they have run into cruelty, they have run into mercilessness, and they have ran into ignorance. Because we have been honored (and we have also been given a nafs, an ego, to be a horse or Buraq154 for ourselves to return from this earth to the Divine Presence in the
151 As Jews
152 A reference to the return of Jesus, p.b.u.h., to this world following the coming of the Mahdi, p.b.u.h., and the Dajjal (Anti-Christ). According to Muslim belief, Jesus was not crucified but was taken up by God without experiencing death, to retum to the word during the critical period preceding the Last Day (see III:155 and IV:157- 158).
153 The Taurat is the original, divinely-revealed scripture given to Moses, while the Injil is divine scripture given to the prophet Jesus, peace be upon them both
154 A heavenly steed; specifically, the heavenly mount sent to the Prophet, p.b.u.h., for his miraculous Night Journey. According to traditions on the Last Day those who were aways thankful to their Lord will be given heavenly mounts to convey them into Paradise
Heavens), when mankind, individually or collectively, are following the desires of their horses - I mean to say, the desires of their ego or nafs - they are cruel, are ignorant and unjust and merciless to each other, making fasad, corruption, and fighting, giving miseries to people, and making each other suffer.
Therefore, when people left the way most honored by their Lord, their Lord sent them, from His Divine Presence, a servant of His as His messenger, to bring people into the right, the honored, path. That is the divine wisdom in sending messengers to people. And you must look, o Christians: the whole Christian world must look at the condition of the world after Jesus Christ, when time was running and five or six hundred year's had passed away.
They may tell me. I know, but I am saying that they must look at what was the view, the general picture of mankind living on earth after Jesus Christ. If it was excellent, no need for a prophet. What was the general picture at the time before the Prophet came?
Is it possible for them to say that the message of Jesus Christ was enough for the whole world? Is it possible for them to claim that Christianity was sufficient for all mankind - no need for a renewal on earth - and that every part of this world, all people, were in excellent condition and that Jesus Christ's message was enough for them, while Christians were only in a limited area and they were living under difficult conditions, without unity among themselves but so many parties or groups? No, they can't say this.
If they can say - as scholars, as knowledgeable people, learned people - that there was no need for a new Message for mankind, I am going to kiss their hands and feet. But they know that all that grew up of science and knowledge was only after the coming of Prophet Muhammad, p.b.u.h., with his Book. They are saying so themselves; all scholars are saying that this was by the favor of Islam. If any of those learned people among the People of the Book can say that no benefit came to people from Islam, they are
either liars or there must be something wrong, some fanaticism, among them; they are following their egos pleasure. Yes, that is something that they are not stating.
Once Abu Yazid Bistami, may Allah bless him, was in seclusion. And an inspiration came to his heart, saying to him: "O Abu Yazid, o My servant, this is the Christians' Easter Day, and you must dress as a priest. There is a famous monastery here and you must be present at their gathering."
"A'udhu bil-lah!" said Abu Yazid, fearing them. Then he lay down for a little bit, sleeping, and in his dream someone came and said to him, "O Abu Yazid, go! Get up and quickly take clothes like a priest, put a priest's hat on your head, and go and be present with the priests in their monastery for Easter."
"A'udhu bil-Lahi min ash-Shaytani-r-Rajim!”155, Abu Yazid said. Awliya have hatif156, "telephone," hearing but not seeing. Then a third time that voice said to him, "O Abu Yazid, quickly dress as priests dress and put a priest's hat on your head and go, and no worry for you. I am the Commander over you.
Go!"
When that command came to Abu Yazid, he was one of those people to whom iradah, will, has been given; if they ask for something, it is ready for them. And according to the holy command, those clothes were ready
Quickly changing, putting on his head the hat of a priest; then, only doing like this, and he was among a huge crowd of black beards and also black clothes, all black - he was among them. Then, after not too long a time, a very splendid throne was made ready for the chief one. And he came, with golden clothes and a golden hat.
155 I seek refuge with God from Satan the Rejected
156 A heavenly voice or communication
So many people caught at him, from this side, from that side, and he sat down, looking around like this, like that, but he didn't speak. Silence; waiting. And those hundreds of of priests and bishops waited.
Then they asked: "O our lord, what has happened to you today? What is the matter? We have come from the East, from the West, gathering here, to listen to your lecture, to attend your ceremony. What is the matter? What has happened to you?"
Then he said: "There is nothing the matter with me. But there is a Muhammadan present among you."
They looked around. When he said, "Muhammadan," they were expecting him to be among themselves like me, with my turban; looking, looking. "We are all of us priests here. We do not see any Muhammedan. Show him to us so that we can kill him. How has he come here, upsetting our meeting?"
"No!" He was a white-bearded bishop, sitting there; all of them had black beards except him. "No! We are People of the Book. I can't order you to kill a person without bringing evidence. With evidence, I may order the killing of that one who has come into our assembly. Now you, all of you, sit down and listen to me," he said. "Now, O Muhammadan, are you going to appear to us?"
Abu Yazid said, "Subhanallah wal-hamdulillah wa la ilaha illa-Llah, wal-Llahu akbar wa lil-Lahi-l-hamd,"157 and stood up. Immediately it appeared to him that those were not Christians, and he stood up among them, glorifying his Lord, Almighty Allah. No one could touch him.
"O Muhammadan! I am going to ask you one hundred-and-one questions, and I will listen to your answers. If you can give correct answers, according to your belief, you will be saved. Otherwise we are going to kill you."
157 Glory be to God; praise be to God; there is no God but Allah; God is the Most Great and to Him be the praise.
"No one can kill me," Abu Yazid said. "If my Lord does not permit you, you can't touch me," because if they tried to take him, there would be nothing there; they wouldn't be able to touch him. He would have been solid but then afterwards would have been nothing.
Then that bishop, so learned a one, began his questions, saying:: "First tell me about that One for whom it is impossible to find a second, and about those two for whom there is no third; about the three for whom there is no fourth, and about the fourth for whom there is no fifth."
Such strange questions he asked, one after the other, one hundred-and-one altogether. And when he stopped, Abu Yazid said to that chief priest, "It is all right now. Anything else?"
"No. I am waiting for your answers."
Then Abu Yazid began from the first, one, answering; the second one, answering; the third one, answering158. Like a tape recorder, recording and saying one after the other; he had that power. That bishop knew the answers and he was saying, "Yes, all right; yes, all right; yes, all right; yes, all right; yes, all ri-igh-t..." For all of them, "Yes, all right," finishing one hunedred-and- one. :
It is a long story, but it is enough to mention only one of those questions: _ "Who is that one for whom there can never be found a second?" And Abu Yazid replied, "Allah."
"That is right," the bishop said. Said. He did not say "Three," but he said, "Yes, that is our Lord, that One."
158 Sheikh Nazim adds parenthetically: "This information has not come to Western countries yet from our books. Western Muslims have learned only how to make some books about taharah, cleanliness about prayers, about fasting, about Hajj - only that, but such information they are not looking for. They are too serious about "knowledge" in Islam, but it is only information about outward matters, while so many thousands and thousands of events in Islam would make our hearts to open
And when all the questions were answered, Abu Yazid said, "Is there anything else you want to ask me?
"Not at all," the bishop said. "You are all right, and you are free to be among ourselves here."
Then Abu Yazid said, "But, o Chief Bishop, I have a question. I have one question to ask Your Holiness, if you give permission."
"Yes. Merhaba - Welcome, welcome! We are listening," His Holiness said. That answer awakened all the priests there. "Yes. What is that question?"
"What is the key to Heaven?"
The chief bishop bowed his head like this and did not speak. And all the people began murmuring to each other: "He asked him one hundred-and- one questions and he, like a machine, a machine gun, gave the answers, but for one question our boss, our chief, His Holiness, is not going to answer. O Our Holiness, what about the answer?" they murmured among themselves.
And he raised his head and said, "O my sons, I am not stopped from speaking because I do not know, but I am only afraid you are not going to agree with me about that key."
"Oh, what has happened? Are we going to leave the key to the Muhammedan and we will go to Hell? You must say it! We will quickly agree. What is that key?"
"I am saying, 'Ashshadu an la ilaha illa-Llah, wa ashshadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasulihu' - I am witness that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad, peace be upon him, is His servant and His messenger."
And they said, "Oh-h! Why are you going to leave that key in the hands of the Muhammadans only? We must have it! And we are saying it, also."
Then they cut their girdles, throwing them away, taking the crosses outside, and they changed that huge church into a mosque and went to pray behind Abu Yazid. And hatif, the Divine Voice, came to him, saying, "O Abu Yazid, you put on the girdle for Me, for My pleasure, and I have cut three hundred and more priests' girdles for your pleasure." Alhamdulillah!
We have that authority to be with everything; if they are claiming that they have power through their religions, we have authority, also, to show people that Islam is the best and Islam is the first. And we are asking forgiveness and saying, "Astaghfirullah..." And we are thankful to our Lord, who makes our hearts to be in peace and satisfaction with such holy words; and His wali, Abu Yazid, is looking and smiling at me, by his spiritual power coming to our meeting and saying, "Yes, it is all right." , And we are saying, "Alhamdulillah, al hamdulillah, wa shukru lil-Lah..." 159
The holy month has quickly passed away, taking something from ourselves, also, like a plane coming from the Heavens, landing on earth, and then taking away something. Whoever has given something, it is put there and taken to the Divine Presence. And we hope that Allah Almighty forgives us and gives to us from His endless Mercy Oceans.
O believers, we believe in the life here and Hereafter. And whoever believes in the Life Hereafter, the Eternal Life, he must know about his position during this life and he must have an aim for his life.
The Prophet p.b.u.h. said, "Al-hikmata-d-dallatu-l-mumin. 'Indama wajadaha an takhadhaha."160 Wisdoms are all the property of Muslims, but it is lost
159 Glory be to God; praise be to God; there is no God but Allah; God is the Most Great and to Him be the praise.
160 Wisdom is the lost property of the believer. Wherever he finds it, he may take the (Hadith)
property. Therefore, anywhere they can find a wisdom, they may take it and say, "This belongs to us. I had lost it but now I have found it."
No fanatacism in Islam, particularly no fanatacism for knowledge161; that hadith, that saying from the Prophet, p.b.u.h., gives a wide horizon to believers. If they can find a wisdom in India,, they may take it, as the Prophet said: "Utlubu-l-'ilma wa lau bis-Sin162. If you can find a wisdom in China (at that time it was known as the farthest country), you may go and take it."
If a person brings you wisdoms, you may take them. But now in our time, even among ourselves, we are making so much trouble about taking some wisdoms from Muslims, even who are well-known as good persons, great people in Islam, making so much criticism.
Now I will say one word about such wisdoms. Islam just came among an ignorant tribe, the Quraish, the people of Jahiliyyah,163 and the Prophet, p.b.u.h., by the holy command of his Lord, Allah Almighty, brought the Last Message. He had 124,000 Sahabah, Companions, taking them from asfala safilin164, the lowest degree - perhaps lower than the level of animals, because you can't see an animal which will kill its child, and at that time they were killing their children, burying them alive - and changing them from asfal, the lowest, to the highest horizon of humanity.
This point must be well-known, how the Prophet and how Islam affect people. And Islam is so walud165, giving more and more at every time. We are not like 'a religion in which only a few people appear as scholars, 'ulama, or as awliya, no; at every time you can find thousands and thousands of people who are reaching the horizon of humanity. No objection; we can be happy and peaceful that there are such people as in Islam at every time.
161 That is, limiting the scope of useful knowledge to purely "religious" content
162 "Seek knowledge, even though it be in China." (Hadith)
163 Ignorance, specifically of the divine guidance
164 The lowest of the low. (XCV:5)
165 Prolific, productive, giving
We are now speaking about a wisdom, and it is going to give us an understanding of our goal. Ibrahim Adham was one of the famous personalities of Islam, well-known in the East and in the West, also. He was sultan in his time, and Allah Almighty gave everything to him and he had every means to enjoy with his ego.
One of his enjoyments was hunting. Hunting is also something useful; for jihad, warfare, and for our bodies, it is good. He was hunting one day, chasing a deer. Then from his saddle a voice came to him, hatif, saying, "Ya Ibrahim, a-li hadha khuliqta au li hadha umirt?"166
He listened. What was the meaning? "O Sultan Ibrahim, do you think that you have been created for this purpose? Do you suppose that you have been created and ordered to do this?" And he was shocked, not seeing anyone speaking to him but hearing that voice.
That is suitable for the holy command of Allah, showing people for what purpose they have been created, asking him, "Were you created for hunting, for enjoying yourself always, or is this the holy command for everyone - to enjoy themselves in this life with hunting, with playing?" And no answer.
That question is for all of us, for everyone; everyone will be asked it in the Divine Presence when he looks at his life-story. In a second's time you may look at your life-story, the Prophet saying that seventy "cassettes," tapes, are recording our lives; seventy records, each one going up to the horizon, extending as far as your vision can reach - seventy for everyone, to see his own life-story.
Now some people are putting on television a half-hour for that person, for this person - their life-stories. But that is nothing. You will see seventy there, but in one second's time you can look at all of them, not seeing them one by one; everything will happen in one second, in a moment, quickly. And then
166 O Abraham, have you been created for this or have you been ordered to do this?"
Allah Almighty will ask, "O My servant, did I create you for such a life? Did I order you to live such a life?" Yes, you must look after your answer.
I am saying this to my nafs, to myself, also. If you are listening, everyone must ask himself, "What is my aim?" Yes. People are coming, running to London, running to France, to Germany, to every European country; running
- for what? What is the purpose? For what are you coming? You must know.
You may say, "I am coming to this country because I am a strong believer and I am showing Islam to these unbelievers, so that they may see the light of Islam on my forehead, so that they may be affected by my faith." Are you saying this, or have you come here to take the rubbish of dunya, of this world's life?
For all of us, He knows what is in our hearts. You may say something with your lips but He knows what is in our hearts, what is our intention. If we are coming here for the sake of Islam, it is all right. Otherwise, it is difficult; then these countries' darkness is coming on you - darkness, dark clouds, coming and making the sun of your faith under a cloud, and you can't taste the sweetness, the freshness, of faith.
Therefore everyone must be very careful; yes: Here or there, everyone must know for what we are created, and we must give more time for worshipping our Lord, Almighty Allah. And also you must be like shining stars in the skies, not on earth. People should find in you the stars of Islam, not saying, "From where have those people come? They can go away," writing on walls, "Go away! Go! Go!"
One more Ramadan has just passed away, and we are on our way toward Allah Almighty. Be ready to face His Judgment Day, His Glorious Throne. There you are going to be asked about everything. And we are asking forgiveness - for you, for me, for everyone...
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me of Allah, All-mighty, All-merciful, Most Beneficent and Most Munificent. As He likes, everything is going to happen, and we are slaves. Our Lord's will is going on, and, for servants, to accept what their Lord chooses for them is the best.
Our Lord, Allah Almighty, chose Islam for His servants, and we agreed147; we agreed with our Lord's choice. Islam therefore is the greatest, no doubt. If anyone comes to stand up beside Islam, he may come; people may see what is the greatness of Islam and what they have. Anyone may claim that his way, his belief, is the best, but it is only a claim: if they come to compare with Islam, they can see which one is the best. But they do not come, because their egos do not give them permission to come all together.
At the time of the Last Prophet, p.b.u.h., the whole world was informed about the Last Prophet and his Message. He wrote letters in every direction and sent his messages. And as most people were informed about the coming of a prophet at that time, so many of the Ahl al-Kitab, the People of the Book148, came and asked about that prophet because they knew that finally a prophet must come.
One must come; they knew it through their holy books. If they hadn't known about a prophet, they would not have been interested in looking for him and asking about him. If today I look at a newspaper and it is written there that a lady is saying, "I am a prophet," must we go to look at her - who that one is, if she is true or not? No, because no prophet is expected.
147 See III:19, 85; V:4 (V:3 in Pickthall's translation); VI:125; IX:33; XLVIII:38; LXI:9 148 The "Book" refers to the Divine Scripture, revealed over the ages through the prophets, beginning with the first prophet, Adam, and ending with Muhammad, peace be upon them and upon him. The People of the Book therefore include Jews, Christians and Muslims
Allah sent His Last Message and informed all people that this is My Last Message with My Last Messenger. And the People of the Book, they were informed that there should come a prophet; he is going to be the last one, the Seal of the Prophets, and we must look for him. Yes. Therefore they came in groups, in delegations, to look at that one, to see if he was the right one or not.
When they found that he was that one about whom they had been informed, only a few of them came into Islam. And the Prophet, p.b.u.h., said, "If ten scholars of the Jewish people came and proclaimed that I am that prophet, all their people would come into Islam149." But even ten of their men did not come; only two or three came into Islam, accepting it.
'Abdullah ibn Salam was one of them; before he came into Islam, Ishmawil ibn Salam was his name. The greatest rabbi he was, the chief; and his father, his grandfather, his grandfather - all of them in that line, they were chief rabbis, knowing the Taurat, Torah.
He came and witnessed that Muhammad was that prophet, that he was that one mentioned in every holy book. And then he said to the Prophet: "O Rasul-Allah, I am humbly saying that I am the chief and most knowledgeable person about the Taurat among the Jewish people. If I speak about myself, perhaps it may not be an accurate report about me because it is not so good for a person to speak well about himself. But now, call the Jewish rabbis to you and, without saying that I have accepted Islam, ask from them who I am. Yes, they know who I am. You must ask them first because if they know that I have come into Islam, they will say everything that is not true. Therefore you must ask about me first and then tell them that I have come into Islam.".
149 In the Prophet's time, communities of Jews lived in Madinah, nearby Khaibar, and other towns in Arabia. Through their traditions, as well as through prophecies contained in the Torah, they were awaiting the coming of the Last Prophet. But they were expecting him to come from among their own community, the descendants of Abraham through Isaac, rather than through Ishmael, peace be upon them all
Then the Prophet, p.b.u.h., called the rabbis, the most famous rabbis among the Jewish people in Madinah, and asked 'Abdullah ibn Salam to come in front of them. And he asked, "What is your opinion about this person, Ishmawil ibn Salam?"
They stood up and gave their testimony: "Ashhadu bil-lah, I swear by Allah that he is our most famous rabbi. No one can know about the Taurat as he knows"; standing up, witnessing in his favor. "He is from our best family through his father, his grandfather - they are in that line. The most noble people, the most generous people, the most intelligent people" - everything.
Then the Prophet said, "And what if he testifies that I am that prophet?"
"A'udhu bil-lah, a'udhu bil-Lah150! May Allah save him from coming and saying that," they said, trembling, all of them, from hearing that.
"O 'Abdullah ibn Salam, come. Come here."
Then 'Abdullah ibn Salam came forward and said, "I am witness that there is no God but Allah and that you, O Muhammad, peace be upon you, are that prophet about whom Allah Almighty, the Lord of the Heavens, has informed us in our books. That prophet is yourself, and I am witness that you are Rasul-Allah, the Messenger of Allah."
Then all of them were going to be like crazy, some of them cursing, swearing: "It is known that he is a bad one and that his father, also, and his grandfather - all of them were bad people, accursed ones! All of them are always making trouble for the Children of Israel and they are kha'in, traitors," saying anything you can think of; they never left anything unsaid.
And 'Abdullah ibn Salām said, "O Rasul-Allah, just as I told you - those people are liars, quickly changing their report about me. Look at them!"
150 I take refuge with God
Then the Prophet said, "If only ten of them come into Islam, all the Children of Israel will come into Islam." But divine wisdoms kept them in that line151, and they must follow it up to the time of Mahdi, p.b.u.h., and up to the time of the Anti-Christ and up to the time of Jesus Christ, p.b.u.h.152
Yes, we are from mankind, and we have been honored by our Lord, as He has mentioned in every holy book that we have been honored. But the Children of Israel say that that honor is only for themselves. They say that they are a chosen race, while Allah says that honor has been given to all mankind; because He mentioned in the Old Testament and the New Testament, in the Taurat and the Injil153, as he also mentioned in the Holy Qur'an, that Adam and his descendants, mankind, were created to be the deputies of their Lord on earth.
That is clear, that is truth; that is well-known among all scholars. Rabbis know, priests know, bishops know, the Pope knows, and the Patriarch in Istanbul, he knows it well, also. In Damascus there is a patriarch; he knows well, also, that mankind are created to be the deputies of their Lord on earth.
But every time they have forgotten that they are deputies, that they have been honored, they have run into lies, they have run into cruelty, they have run into mercilessness, and they have ran into ignorance. Because we have been honored (and we have also been given a nafs, an ego, to be a horse or Buraq154 for ourselves to return from this earth to the Divine Presence in the
151 As Jews
152 A reference to the return of Jesus, p.b.u.h., to this world following the coming of the Mahdi, p.b.u.h., and the Dajjal (Anti-Christ). According to Muslim belief, Jesus was not crucified but was taken up by God without experiencing death, to retum to the word during the critical period preceding the Last Day (see III:155 and IV:157- 158).
153 The Taurat is the original, divinely-revealed scripture given to Moses, while the Injil is divine scripture given to the prophet Jesus, peace be upon them both
154 A heavenly steed; specifically, the heavenly mount sent to the Prophet, p.b.u.h., for his miraculous Night Journey. According to traditions on the Last Day those who were aways thankful to their Lord will be given heavenly mounts to convey them into Paradise
Heavens), when mankind, individually or collectively, are following the desires of their horses - I mean to say, the desires of their ego or nafs - they are cruel, are ignorant and unjust and merciless to each other, making fasad, corruption, and fighting, giving miseries to people, and making each other suffer.
Therefore, when people left the way most honored by their Lord, their Lord sent them, from His Divine Presence, a servant of His as His messenger, to bring people into the right, the honored, path. That is the divine wisdom in sending messengers to people. And you must look, o Christians: the whole Christian world must look at the condition of the world after Jesus Christ, when time was running and five or six hundred year's had passed away.
They may tell me. I know, but I am saying that they must look at what was the view, the general picture of mankind living on earth after Jesus Christ. If it was excellent, no need for a prophet. What was the general picture at the time before the Prophet came?
Is it possible for them to say that the message of Jesus Christ was enough for the whole world? Is it possible for them to claim that Christianity was sufficient for all mankind - no need for a renewal on earth - and that every part of this world, all people, were in excellent condition and that Jesus Christ's message was enough for them, while Christians were only in a limited area and they were living under difficult conditions, without unity among themselves but so many parties or groups? No, they can't say this.
If they can say - as scholars, as knowledgeable people, learned people - that there was no need for a new Message for mankind, I am going to kiss their hands and feet. But they know that all that grew up of science and knowledge was only after the coming of Prophet Muhammad, p.b.u.h., with his Book. They are saying so themselves; all scholars are saying that this was by the favor of Islam. If any of those learned people among the People of the Book can say that no benefit came to people from Islam, they are
either liars or there must be something wrong, some fanaticism, among them; they are following their egos pleasure. Yes, that is something that they are not stating.
Once Abu Yazid Bistami, may Allah bless him, was in seclusion. And an inspiration came to his heart, saying to him: "O Abu Yazid, o My servant, this is the Christians' Easter Day, and you must dress as a priest. There is a famous monastery here and you must be present at their gathering."
"A'udhu bil-lah!" said Abu Yazid, fearing them. Then he lay down for a little bit, sleeping, and in his dream someone came and said to him, "O Abu Yazid, go! Get up and quickly take clothes like a priest, put a priest's hat on your head, and go and be present with the priests in their monastery for Easter."
"A'udhu bil-Lahi min ash-Shaytani-r-Rajim!”155, Abu Yazid said. Awliya have hatif156, "telephone," hearing but not seeing. Then a third time that voice said to him, "O Abu Yazid, quickly dress as priests dress and put a priest's hat on your head and go, and no worry for you. I am the Commander over you.
Go!"
When that command came to Abu Yazid, he was one of those people to whom iradah, will, has been given; if they ask for something, it is ready for them. And according to the holy command, those clothes were ready
Quickly changing, putting on his head the hat of a priest; then, only doing like this, and he was among a huge crowd of black beards and also black clothes, all black - he was among them. Then, after not too long a time, a very splendid throne was made ready for the chief one. And he came, with golden clothes and a golden hat.
155 I seek refuge with God from Satan the Rejected
156 A heavenly voice or communication
So many people caught at him, from this side, from that side, and he sat down, looking around like this, like that, but he didn't speak. Silence; waiting. And those hundreds of of priests and bishops waited.
Then they asked: "O our lord, what has happened to you today? What is the matter? We have come from the East, from the West, gathering here, to listen to your lecture, to attend your ceremony. What is the matter? What has happened to you?"
Then he said: "There is nothing the matter with me. But there is a Muhammadan present among you."
They looked around. When he said, "Muhammadan," they were expecting him to be among themselves like me, with my turban; looking, looking. "We are all of us priests here. We do not see any Muhammedan. Show him to us so that we can kill him. How has he come here, upsetting our meeting?"
"No!" He was a white-bearded bishop, sitting there; all of them had black beards except him. "No! We are People of the Book. I can't order you to kill a person without bringing evidence. With evidence, I may order the killing of that one who has come into our assembly. Now you, all of you, sit down and listen to me," he said. "Now, O Muhammadan, are you going to appear to us?"
Abu Yazid said, "Subhanallah wal-hamdulillah wa la ilaha illa-Llah, wal-Llahu akbar wa lil-Lahi-l-hamd,"157 and stood up. Immediately it appeared to him that those were not Christians, and he stood up among them, glorifying his Lord, Almighty Allah. No one could touch him.
"O Muhammadan! I am going to ask you one hundred-and-one questions, and I will listen to your answers. If you can give correct answers, according to your belief, you will be saved. Otherwise we are going to kill you."
157 Glory be to God; praise be to God; there is no God but Allah; God is the Most Great and to Him be the praise.
"No one can kill me," Abu Yazid said. "If my Lord does not permit you, you can't touch me," because if they tried to take him, there would be nothing there; they wouldn't be able to touch him. He would have been solid but then afterwards would have been nothing.
Then that bishop, so learned a one, began his questions, saying:: "First tell me about that One for whom it is impossible to find a second, and about those two for whom there is no third; about the three for whom there is no fourth, and about the fourth for whom there is no fifth."
Such strange questions he asked, one after the other, one hundred-and-one altogether. And when he stopped, Abu Yazid said to that chief priest, "It is all right now. Anything else?"
"No. I am waiting for your answers."
Then Abu Yazid began from the first, one, answering; the second one, answering; the third one, answering158. Like a tape recorder, recording and saying one after the other; he had that power. That bishop knew the answers and he was saying, "Yes, all right; yes, all right; yes, all right; yes, all right; yes, all ri-igh-t..." For all of them, "Yes, all right," finishing one hunedred-and- one. :
It is a long story, but it is enough to mention only one of those questions: _ "Who is that one for whom there can never be found a second?" And Abu Yazid replied, "Allah."
"That is right," the bishop said. Said. He did not say "Three," but he said, "Yes, that is our Lord, that One."
158 Sheikh Nazim adds parenthetically: "This information has not come to Western countries yet from our books. Western Muslims have learned only how to make some books about taharah, cleanliness about prayers, about fasting, about Hajj - only that, but such information they are not looking for. They are too serious about "knowledge" in Islam, but it is only information about outward matters, while so many thousands and thousands of events in Islam would make our hearts to open
And when all the questions were answered, Abu Yazid said, "Is there anything else you want to ask me?
"Not at all," the bishop said. "You are all right, and you are free to be among ourselves here."
Then Abu Yazid said, "But, o Chief Bishop, I have a question. I have one question to ask Your Holiness, if you give permission."
"Yes. Merhaba - Welcome, welcome! We are listening," His Holiness said. That answer awakened all the priests there. "Yes. What is that question?"
"What is the key to Heaven?"
The chief bishop bowed his head like this and did not speak. And all the people began murmuring to each other: "He asked him one hundred-and- one questions and he, like a machine, a machine gun, gave the answers, but for one question our boss, our chief, His Holiness, is not going to answer. O Our Holiness, what about the answer?" they murmured among themselves.
And he raised his head and said, "O my sons, I am not stopped from speaking because I do not know, but I am only afraid you are not going to agree with me about that key."
"Oh, what has happened? Are we going to leave the key to the Muhammedan and we will go to Hell? You must say it! We will quickly agree. What is that key?"
"I am saying, 'Ashshadu an la ilaha illa-Llah, wa ashshadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasulihu' - I am witness that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad, peace be upon him, is His servant and His messenger."
And they said, "Oh-h! Why are you going to leave that key in the hands of the Muhammadans only? We must have it! And we are saying it, also."
Then they cut their girdles, throwing them away, taking the crosses outside, and they changed that huge church into a mosque and went to pray behind Abu Yazid. And hatif, the Divine Voice, came to him, saying, "O Abu Yazid, you put on the girdle for Me, for My pleasure, and I have cut three hundred and more priests' girdles for your pleasure." Alhamdulillah!
We have that authority to be with everything; if they are claiming that they have power through their religions, we have authority, also, to show people that Islam is the best and Islam is the first. And we are asking forgiveness and saying, "Astaghfirullah..." And we are thankful to our Lord, who makes our hearts to be in peace and satisfaction with such holy words; and His wali, Abu Yazid, is looking and smiling at me, by his spiritual power coming to our meeting and saying, "Yes, it is all right." , And we are saying, "Alhamdulillah, al hamdulillah, wa shukru lil-Lah..." 159
The holy month has quickly passed away, taking something from ourselves, also, like a plane coming from the Heavens, landing on earth, and then taking away something. Whoever has given something, it is put there and taken to the Divine Presence. And we hope that Allah Almighty forgives us and gives to us from His endless Mercy Oceans.
O believers, we believe in the life here and Hereafter. And whoever believes in the Life Hereafter, the Eternal Life, he must know about his position during this life and he must have an aim for his life.
The Prophet p.b.u.h. said, "Al-hikmata-d-dallatu-l-mumin. 'Indama wajadaha an takhadhaha."160 Wisdoms are all the property of Muslims, but it is lost
159 Glory be to God; praise be to God; there is no God but Allah; God is the Most Great and to Him be the praise.
160 Wisdom is the lost property of the believer. Wherever he finds it, he may take the (Hadith)
property. Therefore, anywhere they can find a wisdom, they may take it and say, "This belongs to us. I had lost it but now I have found it."
No fanatacism in Islam, particularly no fanatacism for knowledge161; that hadith, that saying from the Prophet, p.b.u.h., gives a wide horizon to believers. If they can find a wisdom in India,, they may take it, as the Prophet said: "Utlubu-l-'ilma wa lau bis-Sin162. If you can find a wisdom in China (at that time it was known as the farthest country), you may go and take it."
If a person brings you wisdoms, you may take them. But now in our time, even among ourselves, we are making so much trouble about taking some wisdoms from Muslims, even who are well-known as good persons, great people in Islam, making so much criticism.
Now I will say one word about such wisdoms. Islam just came among an ignorant tribe, the Quraish, the people of Jahiliyyah,163 and the Prophet, p.b.u.h., by the holy command of his Lord, Allah Almighty, brought the Last Message. He had 124,000 Sahabah, Companions, taking them from asfala safilin164, the lowest degree - perhaps lower than the level of animals, because you can't see an animal which will kill its child, and at that time they were killing their children, burying them alive - and changing them from asfal, the lowest, to the highest horizon of humanity.
This point must be well-known, how the Prophet and how Islam affect people. And Islam is so walud165, giving more and more at every time. We are not like 'a religion in which only a few people appear as scholars, 'ulama, or as awliya, no; at every time you can find thousands and thousands of people who are reaching the horizon of humanity. No objection; we can be happy and peaceful that there are such people as in Islam at every time.
161 That is, limiting the scope of useful knowledge to purely "religious" content
162 "Seek knowledge, even though it be in China." (Hadith)
163 Ignorance, specifically of the divine guidance
164 The lowest of the low. (XCV:5)
165 Prolific, productive, giving
We are now speaking about a wisdom, and it is going to give us an understanding of our goal. Ibrahim Adham was one of the famous personalities of Islam, well-known in the East and in the West, also. He was sultan in his time, and Allah Almighty gave everything to him and he had every means to enjoy with his ego.
One of his enjoyments was hunting. Hunting is also something useful; for jihad, warfare, and for our bodies, it is good. He was hunting one day, chasing a deer. Then from his saddle a voice came to him, hatif, saying, "Ya Ibrahim, a-li hadha khuliqta au li hadha umirt?"166
He listened. What was the meaning? "O Sultan Ibrahim, do you think that you have been created for this purpose? Do you suppose that you have been created and ordered to do this?" And he was shocked, not seeing anyone speaking to him but hearing that voice.
That is suitable for the holy command of Allah, showing people for what purpose they have been created, asking him, "Were you created for hunting, for enjoying yourself always, or is this the holy command for everyone - to enjoy themselves in this life with hunting, with playing?" And no answer.
That question is for all of us, for everyone; everyone will be asked it in the Divine Presence when he looks at his life-story. In a second's time you may look at your life-story, the Prophet saying that seventy "cassettes," tapes, are recording our lives; seventy records, each one going up to the horizon, extending as far as your vision can reach - seventy for everyone, to see his own life-story.
Now some people are putting on television a half-hour for that person, for this person - their life-stories. But that is nothing. You will see seventy there, but in one second's time you can look at all of them, not seeing them one by one; everything will happen in one second, in a moment, quickly. And then
166 O Abraham, have you been created for this or have you been ordered to do this?"
Allah Almighty will ask, "O My servant, did I create you for such a life? Did I order you to live such a life?" Yes, you must look after your answer.
I am saying this to my nafs, to myself, also. If you are listening, everyone must ask himself, "What is my aim?" Yes. People are coming, running to London, running to France, to Germany, to every European country; running
- for what? What is the purpose? For what are you coming? You must know.
You may say, "I am coming to this country because I am a strong believer and I am showing Islam to these unbelievers, so that they may see the light of Islam on my forehead, so that they may be affected by my faith." Are you saying this, or have you come here to take the rubbish of dunya, of this world's life?
For all of us, He knows what is in our hearts. You may say something with your lips but He knows what is in our hearts, what is our intention. If we are coming here for the sake of Islam, it is all right. Otherwise, it is difficult; then these countries' darkness is coming on you - darkness, dark clouds, coming and making the sun of your faith under a cloud, and you can't taste the sweetness, the freshness, of faith.
Therefore everyone must be very careful; yes: Here or there, everyone must know for what we are created, and we must give more time for worshipping our Lord, Almighty Allah. And also you must be like shining stars in the skies, not on earth. People should find in you the stars of Islam, not saying, "From where have those people come? They can go away," writing on walls, "Go away! Go! Go!"
One more Ramadan has just passed away, and we are on our way toward Allah Almighty. Be ready to face His Judgment Day, His Glorious Throne. There you are going to be asked about everything. And we are asking forgiveness - for you, for me, for everyone...
Link: https://www.nvrislam.net/index.php?j=eng&post=6187