13. DAILY DHIKR DUTY (INITIATION TO THE TARIQA)
Prof. Dr. Mahmud Es'ad COSAN
Let us seek forgiveness from Allah subhanahû wa ta'ala: Estaghfiru’llàh... Estaghfiru’llàh... Estaghfiru’llàh... Estagh- firu’llàh... Estaghfiru’llàh...
Estaghfiru’llàhe’l-azîm, el-karîm, elledhî lâ ilâhe illâ huwe’l- hayye’l-qayyûme wa etûbu ileyh... Wa es'eluhu’t-tewbete wa’l- maghfirate wa’l-hidâyete lenâ innehû huwe’t-tew-wâbu’r-rahîm... Tewbete abdin zâlimin li-nefsihî lâ yemliku li-nefsihî mewten wa lâ hayâten wa lâ nushûrâ...
Allàhumme ente rabbî... Lâ ilâhe illâ ente khalaktenî... Wa ene abdike wa ene alâ ahdike wa wa'dik... Mesteta'tu eùzu bike min sherri mâ sana'tu ebû-uleke bini'metike aleyye wa ebû-u bi-zenbî faghfirlî zunûbî feinnehû lâ yaghfiru’z-zunûbe illâ ent...
I seek forgiveness from Allah... I seek forgiveness from Allah... I seek forgiveness from Allah... I seek forgiveness from Allah... I seek forgiveness from Allah Who is the Most High, the Most Generous;
there is no deity except Him, the Living, Self-subsisting and Eternal. We turn to Him for forgiveness. I turn to him and seek forgiveness and guidance for us from Him because He is the One Who accepts repentance and He is the most merciful. I seek forgiveness as a servant who has wronged himself, who is unable to give death or life or to gather mankind as in the day of resurrection.
O Allah! You are my Lord. There is no deity except You. You created me. I am your servant, and I am keeping my promise to You as much as I can. I seek refuge with You against evil deeds that I have committed. As I express my gratitude for the blessings on me, I admit my wrong deeds and shortcomings. Forgive me my wrong deeds because there is none who can forgive sins but You.
This is a prayer of our beloved Prophet SAS. It is the master of
the repentances; it is a hadith. We are in the blessed month of Ramadhan, in a blessed mosque building. May Allah accept our prayer, our repentance, with His grace and generosity, for He is the One Who answers prayers. May He forgive us our sins. May He cleanse our book of deeds. May He grant us a life away from the offences. May we live as His beloved servants for the rest of our lives.
Repentance is a must and a good practice. Almighty Allah loves those who turn to Him in repentance. However, the repentance does not mean the mere utterance of the words “O my Lord, forgive me!” It means turning to the straight path, changing the state to the truth. The essence of the repentance is not the words, but change in the state. It is a return to Allah's path. In fact, in Arabic, tâbe-yetûbu means “returning.” When the person makes that return, becomes a tâib, abandons the wrong deeds and turns to Allah, Allah turns to him more. Allah is Tawwâb; He turns to the servant excessively. Almighty Allah turns to the servant when the servant abandons the wrong path. That is the essence of the repentance, the tewbe. That is why you shall not utter the words only, but make it a true repentance. Make it a real return, turn to the truth, have a desire to be on the path of Allah with all of your might.
Almighty Allah loves those who turn to Him in repentance.
However, not everything is erased with the repentance. The rights of other people if we have them unjustly will not be erased. If you have somebody's property or wealth without his consent, you could not say, “I sought forgiveness from Allah with Es'ad Khawaja in Marash Ulu Jamii.” It will not work! You have to return to people their due rights.
If there was an unfair division in the inheritance, for example, if somebody else's portion is in your possession, it must be returned.
If there are spiritual rights, one would ask the person to waive his rights: “Forgive me! Tell me what I can do to have you forgive me!” Thus the peace will be established with all. You should not leave
these kinds of matters to the hereafter. This is the first important point.
The second duty is to pay back for the daily formal prayers and fasting of Ramadhan if there are any. They are not erased by repentance, either. These are debts, and they remain as such.
Either one performs the prayers in their time, or you realize your fault and make them up later. The third alternative is the punishment in the hereafter. The punishment in the hereafter will be very difficult. That is why we must start paying back the debts of prayers and fasts.
Keep your wudu at all times. The Prophet SAS used to keep wudu at all times. When he broke the wudu, he would make tayammum with sand until he reached the water. Then he would make wudu with water. Our elderly awliyaullah and the perfect guides maintained that tradition. We recommend you the same practice. Pay attention to not being without wudu.
Then do your daily dhikr duties! As you know, the Qur'an orders something and the Prophet SAS showed us how the orders of Qur'an is practiced. For instance, the Qur'an orders: “Offer your salat! Pay your zakah!” Yet we learn how to pray from the sunnah of the Prophet SAS.The Prophet SAS explained the prayer with its rukû, sujûd, subhaneke and at-tahiyyatu supplications, selams and other details. We also learned from the Prophet SAS the amount of zakah for the camels, sheep, and other possessions.
Also, Almighty Allah orders in the Qur'an:
يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا اللهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيرًا (الاحزاب١٤)
(Yâ eyyuhe’lledhîne âmenû’dhkuru’llâhe dhikran kathirâ) “O You who believe! Remember Allah with much rememberance—do the dhikr in plenty” (Qur'an 33:41). In the surah that the imam recited in the Tarawih prayer, Allah says:
وَاذْكُرْ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلاً (الانسان٥٢)
(We’dhkurisme rabbike bukraten wa esîlâ) “Remember the name of your Lord morning and evening” (Qur'an 76:25). There is information about how these orders are to be carried out in the ahadith of the Prophet SAS. I will quote these ahadith. Thus you can carry out the order of the Qur'an and do your dhikr duty.
The dhikr duty can be done at any time of the day. There is not time that would be improper or disliked. In the morning, at noon, after sunrise, late afternoon, at sunset time... You can do dhikr at any time of the day.
The manners of doing the dhikr duty is as follows: You seek a quiet and clean place and sit towards qibla. You would be with wudu. The [preferred] way of sitting is called “aqsi-tawarruk.” [One sits as in the formal prayer and turns the feet to the left.] The companions of the Prophet SAS used to sit like that. You close your eyes. Start with istighfar: Say 25 times “estaghfirullah.” Then read one Sura Fatiha and three Surah Ikhlas. Present the reading to the spirits of the Prophet SAS and the masters of our tariqa in the silsilah. You will earn their love and affection. You will benefit from it.
a. Râbita of Mawt
While your eyes are closed, you will imagine three things: your death, your guide, and that you are in the presence of Allah. The imagination of the death is called “rabita-i mawt.” Imagining the spiritual guide is called “rabita-i murshid.” Imagining that you are in the presence of Allah is called “rabita-i huzur.” The prophet ordered us to imagine about death. It has plenty of rewards, and benefits. It polishes the heart spiritually. It increases the spirituality and awakens the person from the unawareness, and
corrects the nafs. That is why you must imagine your own death well.
Imagine that you are in your death bed. You are living your last moments. The Angel of Death, Azra'il AS, has appeared to you. You get excited. He pushes your chest and start taking your soul from your body. There is panic, sweat, fear, and pain. The divine help arrives, and you utter the word of the kalima: “Ash-hadu en lâ ilâhe illallah wa ash-hadu enne muhammeden abduhû wa rasûluhu—I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammed is His servant and Prophet.” You submit your soul in that manner. Then people wash your body and wrap it in a shroud. Your body is brought to a mosque in a coffin. They perform the funeral prayer on you. You imagine all of this. Then the congregation picks the coffin and takes it to the cemetery. They placed you in the grave. The imam reminded you what to say when the angels meet you and interrogate you. Everybody leaves.
You are in your grave with the angel. The Angel asks: “Who is your Lord? What is your religion? Who is your prophet? What is your scripture? Which way is your qibla?” Imagine that you gave
the correct answers for all of these questions, and your chamber in the grave became a lot larger. In the realm of the spirits, you spend your time with our late masters doing the dhikr of Allah. Imagine that the life in this world comes to an end the day or resurrection begins. Imagine all of these terrifying states and events. Isrâfil AS has blown the trumpet Sûr and everybody gathers at a place. Imagine that people wait for thousands of years standing in a respectful position. Imagine that people run away from one another, and the colossal court is established. People are called for the account of their deeds, the deed books are opened, the good deeds and the bad deeds are weighed. The righteous servants will go to the Paradise happily while those who have bad deeds are sent to hellfire.
Imagine all of these as described in the Qur'an.
Tell your nafs: “This is a serious matter. Each person comes to life only once. Come to your senses! As you live in this life, while you have the means, save yourself from the hellfire. Try hard to do the righteous deeds so you may earn Paradise. Be on the path to Paradise! Do not waste even a moment of your life! Do not waste your time. Come to your senses!” This imagination is called rabita- i mawt.
b. Râbita of Murshid
The second visualization is the râbita-i murshîd. You will imagine us with our masters in the tariqa. This powerless brother of yours would be sitting with them. You make a connection form your heart to our hearts and wait for the flow of divine fayz (spirituality and enlightenment) expectantly.
When a person makes rabita to a great personage from the awliyaullah, a connection is established, and the enlightenment fills the heart. Those who practice this know this fact. Thus a person becomes familiar with the secrets of the spiritual life and receives fayz even if his shaikh is far away physically. This rabita leads to fenâ fish-shaikh (annihilation within the shaikh, i.e.,
becoming united), fenâ fir-rasul (annihilation within the Prophet SAS), and other states.
This is a connection love, affection and respect. Try this the best way you can. This practice will develop your Tasawwuf experience and take you to better states.
c. Râbita of Huzur
The third imagination is the râbita-i huzur. Tilt your head towards your heart and be aware that Allah is closer to you than your jugular vein; He is omnipresent and observant. He sees you and hears you. He loves a person who turns to Him in supplication (dua). With this awareness, you will take a humble position, turn to Him, and pray: “My Lord! I have so many shortcomings. Forgive me my offenses and shortcomings. I want to be a good servant for You. Grant me Your guidance. I want to be among the servants whom You love and are pleased with. Allow me to be among the servants who do Your dhikr and be thankful to You often. This is what I want. O Allah! Help me!” You should turn to Allah in tears.
Then with the awareness that you are in the presence of Allah, start your dhikr.
d. Daily Dhikr Duty
1. Say one hundred times “Astaghfirullah.” This is recommended by the Prophet SAS.
2. Say one hundred times “Lâ ilâha illallah” 3. Say one thousand times “Allah.” For every one hundredth, add the statement “Ilâhî ente maqsùdî wa ridàke matlûbî.” This is from a Qudsî Hadith meaning “O Allah! You are my purpose, and I seek Your consent.” 4. Say one hundred times the salawat-i sharifa. This is also based on a Hadith.
5. Read one hundred time surah Ikhlas (Qul huwallahu ahad...).
This is, too, based on a hadith. You will be practicing the
recommendations of the Prophet SAS. Your dhikr complies with the ahadith of the Prpohet SAS.
After completing your dhikr duty, raise your hands and make dua. Ask good things from Allah for yourself, your parents, your loved-ones, your friends, for your worldly life, for your hereafter, for all Muslims, for the Chechens, Bosnians, and for all Muslims who were subjected to injustice in all parts of the world. Ask goodness for them, and wish well for them. Do not forget us in your prayers, either.
Now I am going to dictate dhikr for you traditionally as the Prophet dictated dhikr to his companions. You listen to me first:
“Lâ ilâha illallah... Lâ ilâha illallah... Lâ ilâha illallah...” Now you say it all together, and let Allah be a witness to it.
“Lâ ilâha illallah... Lâ ilâha illallah... Lâ ilâha illallah...” “Allah...” “Allah...” “Allah...” “Allah...” “Allah...” “Allah...” Continue with he same dhikr!
“Allah... Allah... Allah...” Now close your mouth and eyes, and continue saying it by heart.
...... May Allah bless it. Saying “Allah” by heart without the sound is the most virtuous dhikr of all because nobody would know about it. It would be free of show-off. Every tariqa has this dhikr. In every tariqa this is taught after a serious training. I am teaching this to you now. At every proper time of the day, you maintain this dhikr. No matter where you are—be it in the market or shopping mall, in the farm field, on the road, sitting, walking, even lying in bed— do not let your time pass in vain. Let your heart say “Allah.”
Do not let anybody hear it. Do not let it be a show-off. However, keep this in mind:
Bir kez Allah dese ashk ile lisân,
Dökülür cümle günah misl-i hazân.
If a person says “Allah” with love and zeal,
Like leaves in autumn all the sins will fall.
When a person says “Allah” with love, all of his sins will be wiped. Then he starts earning virtues. The dhikrullah has so much honor, virtue, rewards, and effects. That is why you should try to maintain this dhikr at all times. This leads to the state of being with Allah among people confirming the verse: Bi’smi’llâhi’r-rahmâni’r- rahîm:
رِجَالٌ لاَ تُلْهِيهِمْ تِجَارَةٌ وَلاَ بَيْعٌ عَنْ ذِكْرِ اللهِ(النور:٧٣)
(Rijâlun lâ tulhîhim tijâratun wa lâ bey'un an dhikri’llâh) “Men whom neither commerce nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allah... “ (Qur'an 24:37)
Our path is the path of upholding the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet SAS. That is our principle; that is the essence of our path.
We know that the path of bid'ah has no benefits. The deeds based on bid'ah have no rewards; they are not accepted. THay is why you must not deviate from the path of the Sunnah of the Prophet SAS. Let Riyâdhuz Sàlihîn of Imam Nawawî be your textbook, and read it. It contains authentic ahadith. Read it and benefit from the ahadith of the Prophet SAS. Do not act on permissions, but uphold the virtues in the path of taqwa. Stay away from the offences as you work.
e. Supererogotary Prayers
Try to offer your obligatory prayers in the mosque. You can pray the voluntary ones at home. In addition to the obligatory prayers perform the following prayers:
1. After the fajr prayer, keep yourselves busy with dhikrullah.
You may read the awrad, prayers, and the Qur'an. Study Islamic sciences. Then offer two or four units of ishraq prayer. That has so
much reward. You will earn the rewards of a Hajj and an Umrah.
Our beloved Prophet SAS recommended this prayer as stated in the collection of Imam Tirmidhî.
2. I recommend the duhâ prayer. It is offered between the fajr and the dhuhr prayers. A hadith states that those who maintain the duhâ prayer are registered among the muhsinîn.
3. There is awwâbîn prayer after maghrib prayer. Catechism books describe it. It has sound grounds. You should pray that as two, four or six units. It was reported that the awwâbîn prayer causes the sins to be erased even if they are as much as the suds of the oceans. That is why we ought to offer this prayer.
4. Make fresh wudu before going to bed at night and offer four units of tejdîd-i wudu (refreshing the wudu) prayer. Then go to bed with wudu. If a person goes to bed with wudu, the angels record that he has worshipped the whole night. They gather around him in a large crowd and pray for him: “Our Lord! Forgive and bless this servant because he went to sleep purified.” This is also based on a hadith; therefore, you should make it a principle for yourself.
5. We are in Ramadhan and we are practicing getting up before dawn to eat suhur meal. Getting up for the suhur meal is a Sunnah of the Prophet SAS. He said:50
50 Buhàrî, Sahîh, c.II, s.678, no:1823; Müslim, Sahîh, c.II, s.770, no:1095; Tirmizî, Sünen, c.III, s.88, no:708; Neseî, Sünen, c.IV, s.141, no:2146; İbn-i Mâce, Sünen, c.I, s.540, no:1692; Ahmed ibn-i Hanbel, Müsned, c.III, s.99, no:11968; Dârimî, Sünen, c.II, s.11, no:1696; İbn-i Huzeyme, Sahîh, c.III, s.213, no:1937; İbn- i Hibbân, Sahîh, c.VIII, s.245, no:3466; Taberânî, Mu’cemü’l-Evsat, c.II, s.295, no:2028; Taberânî, Mu’cemü’s-Sağîr, c.I, s.58, no:60; Ebû Ya’lâ, Müsned, c.V, s.235, no:2848; Abdü’r-Rezzak, Musannef, c.IV, s.227, no:7598; İbn-i Ebî Şeybe, Musannef, c.II, s.274, no:8913; Beyhakî, Şuabü’l-İman, c.III, s.408, no:3908; Beyhakî, Sünenü’l-Kübrâ, c.IV, s.236, no:7902; Neseî, Sünenü’l-Kübrâ, c.II, s.75, no:2456; Ebû Nuaym, Hilyetü’l-Evliyâ, c.III, s.35; İbnü’l-Ca’d, Müsned, c.I, s.215, no:1425; Kudàî, Müsnedü’ş-Şihâb, c.I, s.395, no:677; Deylemî, Müsnedü’l-Firdevs, c.II, s.55, no:2310; İbnü’l-Cârud, el-Müntekà, c.I, s.104, no:383; İbn-i Hibbân, Tabakàtü’l-Muhaddisîn, c.III, s.127; Hatîb-i Bağdâdî, Târih-i Bağdad, c.I, s.354, no:283; İbn-i Adiy, Kâmil fi’d-Duafâ, c.III, s.305; İbn-i Asâkir, Târih-i Dimaşk, c.IIL, s.230; Ebû Avâne, Müsned, c.II, s.177, no:2737; Begavî, Şerhü’s-Sünneh, c.III, s.238; Enes ibn-i Mâlik RA’dan.
تَسَحَّرُوا، فَإِنَّ فِي السَّحُورِ بَرَكَةٌ (ط. حم. خ. م. ت. ن. ه. حب. عن أنس؛ ن. حل. حم. خط. ض. عن أبي هريرة، و أبي سعيد، وجابر)
RE. 251/7 (Tesahharû fe-inne fis sahûri barakah) “Eat the suhur meal, for there is abundance in the suhur meal.” Even if it is a date fruit or a cup of water, one should get up for suhur and have the suhur meal. We learn how to get up at suhur time in Ramadhan; other times, even if we do not fast, we should get up and offer the tahajjud (night vigil) prayer because the tahajjud prayer
Neseî, Sünen, c.IV, s.140, no:2144; İbn-i Huzeyme, Sahîh, c.III, s.213, no:1936; Taberânî, Mu’cemü’l-Kebîr, c.X, s.138, no:10235; Ebû Ya’lâ, Müsned, c.IX, s.7, no:5073; Bezzâr, Müsned, c.V, s.217, no:1821; Neseî, Sünenü’l-Kübrâ, c.II, s.75, no:2454; Ebû Nuaym, Hilyetü’l-Evliyâ, c.III, s.305; Kudàî, Müsnedü’ş-Şihâb, c.I, s.395, no:675, 576; İbn-i Hibbân, Tabakàtü’l-Muhaddisîn, c.IV, s.69; Mizzî, Tehzîbü’l-Kemâl, c.XXIV, s.515; İbn-i Hacer, Tehzîbü’l-Tehzîb, c.IX, s.62; Cürcânî, Târih-i Cürcân, c.I, s.300, no:510; Hatîb-i Bağdâdî, Târih-i Bağdad, c.II, s.103; Dâra Kutnî, İlel, c.V, s.67, no:712; Ebû Avâne, Müsned, c.II, s.178, no:2745; Abdullah ibn-i Mes’ud RA’dan.
Neseî, Sünen, c.IV, s.141, no:2147-2151; Ahmed ibn-i Hanbel, Müsned, c.II, s.377, no:8895; Taberânî, Mu’cemü’l-Evsat, c.V, s.175, no:4990; Taberânî, Mu’cemü’s-Sağîr, c.I, s.162, no:253; Abdü’r-Rezzak, Musannef, c.IV, s.228, no:7601; İbn-i Ebî Şeybe, Musannef, c.II, s.275, no:8914; Neseî, Sünenü’l-Kübrâ, c.II,s.75, no:2457; Ebû Nuaym, Hilyetü’l-Evliyâ, c.III, s.322; İbn-i Hibbân, Tabakàtü’l- Muhaddisîn, c.III, s.20; Hatîb-i Bağdâdî, Târih-i Bağdad, c.V, s.233, no:2719; İbn- i Adiy, Kâmil fi’d-Duafâ, c.III, s.15; Dâra Kutnî, İlel, c.XI, s.103; Ebû Avâne, Müsned, c.II, s.178, no:2744; Ebû Hüreyre RA’dan.
Ahmed ibn-i Hanbel, Müsned, c.III, s.32, no:11299; Taberânî, Mu’cemü’l-Evsat, c.VIII, s.91, no:8064; İbn-i Ebî Şeybe, Musannef, c.II, s.275, no:8920; İbn-i Esir, Üsdü’l-Gàbe, c..I, s.1185; Ebû Saîd el-Hudrî RA’dan.
Ebû Nuaym, Hilyetü’l-Evliyâ, c.VII, s.90; Hatîb-i Bağdâdî, Târih-i Bağdad, c.III, s.111, no:1116; İbn-i Adiy, Kâmil fi’d-Duafâ, c.VI, s.98; İbn-i Hibbân, Mecrûhîn, c.III, s.60, no:1126; Câbir ibn-i Abdullah RA’dan.
Kenzü’l-Ummâl, c.VIII, s.849, no:23966; Keşfü’l-Hafâ, c.I, s.361, no:976; Câmiü’l-Ehàdîs, c.XI, s.262, no:10736.
is a very rewarding prayer. The Prophet SAS said:51
رَكْعَتَانِ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الدُّنـْيَا وَمَا فِيهَا
(Rak'atâni minel layl) “Two units of the prayer from the night are (khayrun mined dunyâ wa mâ fîhâ) better than this world and everything in it.” People will appreciate its value in the hereafter.
They will realize what they missed and regret missing it: “Why didn't we offer more? Why didn't we offer every day?” Get yourself used to the tahajjud prayer during Ramadhan.
While you are taking the one-month taqwa training course, get used to the tahajjud prayer. After Ramadhan, set your clock to the time that you get up for suhur meal. Insha-Allah, we will get up at that time. Getting up at night before down is the custom of the righteous servants. Besides, the gates of the heaven are opened at night, and the prayers and supplications reach Almighty Allah without any obstacles. Almighty Allah accepts the prayers at night. One who has a desire of his heart should ask for it from Allah at night, before dawn, at the suhur time, at the tahajjud time.
f. Voluntary Fasting
In addition to the voluntary salat, insha-Allah, you will fast on Mondays and Thursdays after Ramadhan. Then fast the “eyyâm-i biydh,” that is the days when the moon looks full at night; i.e., the 13th, 14th and 15th days of the lunar months. These are Sunnah, and our beloved Prophet SAS persisted on these fasts. Also fast the sitte-i Shawwal—six days of fasting in Shawwal. In addition, fast on the ashr-i Dhilhijjah—the first ten days of the month Dhilhijjah when the pilgrims go for Hajj. Especially, fasting on the day of
51 Lafız farkıyla: Deylemi, Müsnedü’l-Firdevs, c.III, s.455, no:5404; Abdullah ibn-i Ömer RA’dan.
Kenzü’l-Ummal, c.VII, s.785, no:21405; Camiü’l-Ehadis, c.XIII, s.145, no:12782.
Arafa is very rewarding—it is an expiation to the sins for a year.
Do not miss it.
Dear Brothers and Sisters! Try to earn rewards by fasting in the months Rajab and Shaban, on the special nights, by voluntary salat and by attending the rewarding deeds. This life is the arable filed of the hereafter. One could not earn Paradise without working in that field. Man has to have the good intention and do righteous deeds to earn Paradise.
It is written on the cover of Ka'abah that Allah says:
وَإِنِّي لَغَفَّارٌ لِمَنْ تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا ثُمَّ اهْتَدَى (طه٢٨)
(Wa innî ghaffârun li-men tâbe wa âmene wa amile amelen sàlihan thummehtedâ) “Verily, I am the Perpetual Forgiver of whoever repents and beleives and does righteous deeds and then continues in guidance” (Qur'an 20:82). Dear Brothers and Sisters! As you see, there is the condition of doing righteous deeds. You try Ulu Cami, KAHRAMAN MARAŞ
to do the righteous deeds. I will also remind you of another verse:
فَالْيَوْمَ لاَ تُظْلَمُ نَفْسٌ شَيْئًا وَلاَ تُجْزَوْنَ إِلاَّ مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ (يس:٤٥)
(Fel yewme lâ tuzlemu nefsun shey'en wa lâ tujzewne illâ mâ kuntum ta'melûn) “When the accounting ends on the Day of Judgement, no soul will be wronged at all, and you will not be recompensated except for what you had done.” (Qur'an 36:54) Nobody will be mistreated on the day of Judgment. People will get what they deserve for the deeds they do in this life. If a person is rewarded with good rewards, he should be thankful to Allah! If a person is punished in the hereafter, then he should blame himself because it is stated (illâ mâ kuntum ta'melûn) “except for what you had done.” Doing righteous deeds is very important. Despite this fact, all of our good deeds worth nothing in comparison to the blessings that Allah has granted us. No matter how much we worship for Allah, we could not pay back even one blessing of Allah. Yet without the righteous deeds, we would be a total loser. We have to obey the orders of Allah. It would not be befitting for a good Muslim to disobey the orders of Allah.
You should compete in doing the rewarding deeds. You will acquire taqwa in Ramadhan—for Allah says (le'allekum tetteqùn) “you may learn taqwa” as a result of fasting. You are going to have taqwa and avoid the sins.
There is something shameful and strange: A person fasts during the day, remains patient even towards the halal things, and does not drink water or eat food. However, when the sun goes down, he gets indulged in the offenses, prohibitions, and questionable entertainment. This is not befitting! Taqwa during the day, sinning at night—this is not acceptable. One should maintain the
taqwa of the daytime during the night, too. One should also maintain the taqwa of the Ramadan after Ramadhan as well. This is the proper way. You try to do this.
You should abstain from sin. Your eyes should not look at haram; your tongue should not utter haram. No haram food should go into your stomach; your hand should not reach haram; your feet should not walk to haram; none of your body organs should be indulged in a haram deed. You have to protect yourselves from haram. This is your duty.
To reiterate, first, you should do righteous deeds. Second, you should avoid sin. The third duty for you and for us is to acquire good manners. Good code of conduct can take a person to Paradise.
If a person has good manners, Almighty Allah grants him plenty of rewards. A person of good manners will earn the rewards of fasting during the day and of offering prayers at night just by having good manners. Mostly people will enter paradise for their taqwa and good manners. When the person has ill manners, he will be bankrupt in the hereafter and suffer the consequences of having bad manners. That is why we should abandon ill characters and have good characters.
In fact, the tariqa is a way of training—training of the manners, training by a tekke. It leads a person to perfection. May Allah enable you to do all of these good things.
Now each one of you should read one Surah Fatiha and three Surah Ikhlas and present the rewards to our beloved Prophet SAS, our masters and perfect guides in the tariqa. Then I will make a dua. .....................
Bi’smi’llâhi’r-rahmâni’r-rahîm:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُبَايِعُونَكَ إِنَّمَا يُبَايِعُونَ اللهََّ، يَدُ اللهَِّ فَوْقَ أَيْدِيهِمْ، فَمَنْ
نَكَثَ فَإِنَّمَا يَنْكُثُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ، وَمَنْ أَوْفٰى بِمَا عَاهَدَ عَلَيْهُ اللهََّ
فَسَيُؤْتِيهِ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا (الفتح٠١)
(Innelledhîne yubâyi'ûneke innemâ yubâyi'ûna’llah... Yedu’llàhi fewqa eydîhim... Femen nekethe wa innemâ yenkuthu alâ nefsihî... Wa men ewfâ bimâ àhede aleyhu’llàhe feseyu'tîhi ejran azîmâ.) Sadaqa’llàhu’l-azîm. “In deed, those who pledge allegiance to you O Muhammed, they are actually pledging allegiance to Allah. The hand of Allah is over their hands. So he who breaks his word only breaks it to the detriment of himself. And he who fulfills that which he has promised Allah—he will give him a great reward” (Qur'an 48:10)
Keep your pledge and be loyal to the path of Allah. Do not deviate from the straight path. May Allah Almighty make you victorious over your nafs and Satan. May He keep you on His path and on His remembrance. May He give you means to learn about the manners of the tariqa and become a good, perfect and beloved servant who is equipped with the manners of tekke.
May Allah illuminate your hearts and erase the tarnish from your hearts. May He lift the curtains from your hearts. May He grant you the divine knowledge and make you adept and wise servants. May He grant you His love and affection. Serve for Allah with love and zeal. May Allah receive you as His beloved servants whom He is content with. May He treat you with His beauty in His Paradise. May He place you to the highest ranks of Paradise.
Bi-hurmeti esrâr-ı sûreti’l-fâtihah!
December 12, 1995 / Ramadhan 12, 1415
Ulu Camii — Kahraman Marash, TURKEY