16. PATIENCE, THANKFULNESS AND HUMBLENESS

As-salâmu alaikum wa rahmatu’llàh!..

Dear Beloved AKRA radio audience!

May your dawn and suhur meal time be good and blessed. May Allah Almighty place all of you among those who benefited from the goodness, enlightenment, and blessings of Ramadhan at the highest level.

Praise be to Allah that we are Muslims, and there is no greater blessing than Islam, for Islam helps people attain the consent of Allah and infinite bounties and pleasures of Paradise in the hereafter, that no eye has seen, no ear has heard of, nor can any mind imagine. Islam also organizes people’s lives in this life, establishes invaluable principles that would make them happy.

That is why we praise Allah for the blessing of Islam and endless other blessings that he has showered on us.

I also wholeheartedly thank brothers who have managed to commence the radio broadcast in Ankara in this blessed month of Ramadhan. My well-wishes and thanks go for them.

a. Importance of Patience

My Beloved audience, in a Hadith Qudsi, Almighty Allah said:

يَا ابْنَ آدَمُ، اصْبِرْ وَتَوَاضَعْ أَرفَعْكَ،وَاشْكُرْنِي أَزِدْكَ، وَاسْتَغْفِرْنِي

أَغْفِرْ لَكَ، وَصِلْ رَحِمَكَ أَزِدْ عُمْرَكَ.

(Ya’bna âdam, isbir wa tawâda’ arfa’ka, wa’shkurnî azidka, wa’staghfirnî aghfir laka, wa sil rahimaka azid ‘umrak.)

During this blessed time of the day, I would like to explain the meaning of these words.

(Ya’bna âdam) “Oh son of Adam!” says Allah Subhanahu wa Taàlâ, addressing all of us: (Isbir) “Be patient, (wa tawâda’) and be humble; (arfa’ka) then I will exalt you.” My respected brothers and sisters! As you are aware, some characters, manners, codes of conduct, thought patterns, and inner feelings get developed and improved by education and training. Almighty Allah has prescribed some orders for our well-being and for us to be happy in this life and in the hereafter. The benefits resulting from the fulfilments of these orders are for us and for our well-being and happiness.

For this reason, all orders of Islam are like medicine and unmatched source of cure. We fulfill the orders of Almighty Allah as worship, for His consent, without any other thought. We worship Him in sole servitude. We want to obey his orders and be happy as a consequence of it. Yet, all the good things that results from our servitude are still for us and bring us the happiness of this life and

of the hereafter.

One of the endless beauties of Islam is that no order of Islam is meant to be a mere order. For the practice of a particular order, for people to uphold and practice the order, even for the layman to practice it with ease, Islam prepares people with other actions.

Let me explain this with an example. Almighty Allah encourages us: “Do good things towards mankind, your brethren, and other human beings.” A believer may feel lost about how he will do it. Every person may think of something and do various things. Islam establishes a measure, a way to carry out the orders. For example: “If you earn money, give at least one-fortieth of it as zakâh!” Zakâh is the minimum amount of the charitable deeds. The upper limit is left the benevolence of the giver. This is also expressed among people in Turkish for generosity: “You do not withhold agha’s hand!” He will give as much as he desires. You would not dare to tell him: “Don’t do it, leave it to me!” He is the landlord, the boss, and he will give with his generosity as much as he pleases. There is no upper limit to do the good deeds, giving for charity, and generosity. Each person can reach higher levels as much as he can, yet the lowest level is to pay the due zakâh.

While Islam orders “Do good to everybody, help people with what you possess,” it also described how it can be done in a way that everybody can practice:

“If it is money, gold or silver, give one-fortieth of it as Zakâh.”

“If you have this many sheep, you give this much. If you have this many camels, you give this much.” Specific, tangible, comprehensible orders and recommendations are stated.

This is an important management principle. If you are a manager, and give an order to people under your management, you need to think of how these people are going to carry out your order and direct people accordingly. Islam does that.

Each person must be good and earn the good code of conduct. Earning the good characteristics of conduct does not take place with words only. Saying “honey” does not sweeten the mouth of a person. It requires some action!

The blessed month we are in, the month of Ramadhan, has some great wisdom that we can notice when we study deeply. We can see a beautiful detail, more wisdom every time we look at it attentively. Consequently, we fall in love with Islam one more time. The love gets stronger and stronger.

Yes, Almighty Allah says: “O son of Adam!” We all are addressed: “Be patient and humble yourself. Then I will exalt you!”

How are we going to be patient? This is an order, an order of conduct. Being patient is very important and required for success in life, too. A student will study patiently and succeed in the end. A worker will work and sweat patiently, and get the results of his perseverance, the product. A Turkish proverb goes, “With patience, unripe sour grapes turn into sweet dessert.” Naturally, the grape will ripen trough summer, get squeezed and boiled, and turn into molasses. Then various desserts will be made from the molasses. It will take time and patience. Man has to be patient while performing some servitude and worship.

If a person were confused about how he would be patient, if he thought about it and were amazed, then what would he do? He would be similar to a student taking an exam. If the instructor asks

the student, “Explain me a section you know well,” it would be quite difficult for the student. He would respond, “Please, Sir, you select the section.” As a matter of fact, the student would be confused with all possibilities to choose from.

We may ask, “Yes, we will be patient, but with what and how?” The answer is already given. Almighty Allah states in His book: “In the month of Ramadhan, during the daytime, avoid the most desirable and needed things for the body, be patient! Do not eat or drink anything, withhold other desires.” He teaches us how to be patient by action.

In other words, we have a month of patience training. Being patient is an important feeling and virtue. Our beloved prophet (peace be on him) said:⁶⁰

اَلإِيمَانُ نِصْفَانِ: فَنِصْفٌ فِي الصَّبْرِ، ونِصْفٌ فِي الشُّكْرِ (هب .والديلمي عن أنس)

RE. 193/8 (Al-îmânu nisfâni) “The imân is made two halves:

(nisfun fi’s-sabr) one half is in patience; (wa nisfun fi’sh-shukr) the other half is in thankfulness.”

We are having this month-long training to acquire this beautiful virtue of patience, to be a calm, dignified, earnest, profound, strong- willed, determined person; to earn this good character that is one of the requirements of success, we undergo this training process. A month of training… It is repeated every year. As the Muslim gets older, he becomes more mature and virtuous, for he practices Islam.

b. Benefits of Humbleness

⁶⁰ Beyhakî, Şuabü’l-İman, c.VII, s.123, no:9715; Kudàî, Müsnedü’ş-Şihâb, c.I, s.127, no:159; Harâitî, Fadîletü’ş-Şükr, c.I, s.39, no:18; Cürcânî, Târih-i Cürcân, c.I, s.410, no:712; Deylemî, Müsnedü’l-Firdevs, c.I, s.111, no:378; Enes ibn-i Mâlik RA’dan.

Kenzü’l-Ummâl, c.I, s.26, no:61; Câmiü’l-Ehàdîs, c.XI, s.64, no:10261; RE. 193/8.

Almighty Allah recommended humbleness, too. When a person humbles himself, Allah will exalt him:

اِصْبِرْ وَتَوَاضَعْ أَرفَعْكَ،

(Isbir wa tawâda’ arfa’ka) “If you are patient and if you humble yourself, then I will raise you!” Almighty Allah has promised.

As a matter of fact, we could assume a person loses something as a result of his humbleness. Yet it does not happen that way. On the contrary, other people feel relaxed due to his humbleness and develop a feeling of love and affection towards him. He does not lose anything as a result of his humbleness, but he earns the love and respect of people around him. The community gets organized; people become more affectionate. His humbleness elevates him.

This is the material, worldly aspect of the matter. Spiritually, a humble person would be cleaned of the arrogance and pride; he would not consider himself above others. This virtue will manifest itself in all of his behavior. This is pleasing to Almighty Allah, so He would reward him spiritually.

In this blessed month, we ought to equip ourselves with these good characters, being patient and being humble. May Allah elevate us material-wise, spiritually, bodily, and health-wise, and grant us great rewards.

c. Thankfulness

Almighty Allah says in the same Hadith-Qudsî:

وَاشْكُرْنِي أَزِدْكَ،

(Wa’shkurnî azidka) “Thank me, I will increase.”

Yes, this is a heavenly law. Almighty Allah provides us

everything. Our life is from Him; our health is from Him; our children, property, possessions, wealth are from Him. He is bestowing everything upon us.

Then, if we are thankful to Him, if we acknowledge that everything is from Him, be thankful to Him, and feel gratitude towards Him, Almighty Allah multiplies the blessings and favors upon us as He is the Musabbib-ul Asbâb the Producer of all secondary causes. He creates the causes and means, and sends abundant blessings and sustenance from various directions. This abundance and increase are the promise of Almighty Allah. Man can witness this when he is thankful to Allah Subhanahu wa Taàlâ.

d. Seeking Forgiveness

وَاسْتَغْفِرْنِي أَغْفِرْ لَكَ،

(Wa’staghfirnî aghfir laka) “Seek forgiveness from Me, oh son of Adam, so I will forgive you your offences,” says Almighty Allah.

Dear brothers and sisters!

Our beloved master, Prophet SAS, on the last day of a month Sha’ban, he stepped on the pulpit, and gave a sermon about the month of Ramadhan. At the end of his sermon, he recommended:⁶¹

وَاسْتَكْثِرُوا فِيهِ مِنْ أَ رْبَعِ خِصَ ال : خَصْلـَتَ انِ تُرْضُـونَ بِهِمَا رَبــَّكُمْ، وَ

خَصْلَتَانِ لاَ غِنٰى لَكُمْ عَنْهُمَا. فَأَمَّا الْخَصْلَتَانِ اللَّتَانِ تُرْضُونَ بِهِمَا

رَبَّكُمْ: فَشَهَادَةُ أَ نْ لاَإِلٰ هَ إِلاَّ اللهُ وَتَسْتَغْفِرُونَ هُ. وَأَمَّا الْخَصْ لـَتَ انِ اللَّتَانِ

⁶¹ İbn-i Huzeyme, Sahîh, c.III, s.191, no:1887; Beyhakî, Şuabü’l-İman, c.III, s.305, no:3608; Heysemî, Müsnedü’l-Hàris, c.I, s.412, no:321; İbn-i Şâhin, Fadàilü Şehri Ramadàn, c.I, s.18, no:16; Selmân-ı Fârisî RA’dan.

Kenzü’l-Ummâl, c.VIII, s.757, no:²³⁷¹⁴ ve s.961, no:24276; Câmiü’l-Ehàdîs, c.XXIII, s.176, no:25782.

لاَ غِنٰى لَكُمْ عَنْهُمَا: فَتَسْأَلوُ نَ اللهَ الْجَنَّةَ، وَتَتَعَوَّذُونَ بِهِ مِ نَ النَّ ارِ

(هب. عن سلمان)

(Festekthirû fîhî min erbai hisâl) "Do these four deeds in plenty (Hasleteyni turdùne bihimâ rabbekum) two of these deeds will have you earn the consent of your Lord. (Wa hasleteyni lâghinâe bikum anhumâ) The other two deeds are something you cannot give up."

What could be these four deeds? (Feemmel hasletâni’lletâni urdùne bihimâ rabbekum) "What are the two deeds with which you are going to earn the consent of Allah? (Feshahâdetu en lâ ilâhe illa’llah) To bear witness that there is no deity but Allah." This is a very important word. (Wa testaghfirûnehû) "The second one is seeking forgiveness."

What we understand is that we need to keep saying "Esh-hadu en lâ ilâhe illallah" and "Estaghfirullah." We could say "Estaghfirullah al azîm wa etûbu ileyh" I had written in the magazines in the past: "Ramadhan is the month of Tasawwuf." As you see in this hadith, the Prophet is ordering the practices of Tasawwuf. You shall do the dhikr of "Lâ ilâhe illallah" and "Estaghfirullah." With these dhikr, you will make Almighty Allah pleased with you. It is grace of Allah that he is pleased with us when we say "Lâ ilâhe illallah" and "Estaghfirullah." What a great system of belief! (Wa emmel-hasletâni’lletâni lâ ghinâe bikum anhumâ) "The other two deeds that you could not do without are (Fetes'elûna’llahe

’l-jenneh wa teùzûne bihî mine’n-nâr) asking Paradise from Allah and seek refuge with Allah from hellfire.”

“Do the following four deeds in this month: recite kalima of shahadah (Ash-hadu an lâ ilâha illa’llàh) in plenty.” These words or kalima of tawheed (Lâ ilàha illa’llàh) declare the unity of Allah.

We are asked to recite kalima of shahadah or kalima of tawheed in plenty. Ask Paradise from Allah and seek refuge with Allah from hellfire."

Lâ ilàha illa’llàh...There is no deity but Allah… Ash-hadu an lâ ilâha illa’llàh... I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah.

These are the statements that declare the existence and unity of Allah. We turn to Allah and say, “Oh my Lord! There is no deity but You. I worship only You!” This is a very noble, very elevated, unmatched, unique, the most beautiful faith. The Prophet SAS recommended reciting these words in plenty during Ramadhan.

The Prophet SAS also recommended seeking forgiveness:

“In addition to reciting the kalima of shahadah, seek forgiveness of Allah many times.” He asked to increase these recitations in Ramadhan.

In the Hadith Qudsî, Almighty Allah says: “Seek forgiveness from Me, ask me to forgive you your sins, then I will forgive you!”

Allah is the Most Generous; He bestows whatever His servants want.

Dear brothers and sisters!

Almighty Allah is the Most Generous; He grants whatever His servants ask for. That means, eventually, our strong desires, wishes and supplications will be answered by Almighty Allah. That is His divine law. For this reason, we ought to be careful as we ask for His forgiveness; we must insist, and continuously repent for our offences.

For this reason, in the Sufi path, there is a duty: “Every day, repeat the words of istighfar, ask forgiveness from Almighty Allah, at least 100 times!”

As the seeker repeats these words, he acquires the habit of asking Allah’s forgiveness often. Thus, the doors for the path leading to the Mercy of Allah are opened for him.

e. Sila-i Rahim—Keeping Ties with Relatives

Then, Almighty Allah says:

وَصِلْ رَحِمَكَ أَزِدْ عُمْرَكَ.

(Wa sil rahimaka azid umrak) “And keep ties you’re your

relatives, maintain your relationship with your relatives, I will increase your lifespan.”

The word rahim means relatives. A person has some ties through his birth and his parents. He has aunts, uncles, and other relatives. These people are close to us. Almighty Allah is ordering us to keep our ties with them and maintain the relationship. In this Hadith Qudsî, the Lord of the Universe, Almighty Allah is promising that He will make us live longer as a spiritual reward for our maintenance of good ties with our relatives.

I would like to complete my discourse with these words. We should do what this Hadith Qudsî is stating. These are the recommendations and orders of our Lord; they are what He is asking from us. We have also learned about the rewards of these deeds.

We ought to be patient; we practice patience by fasting, we hold ourselves back upon some improper treatments, we humble ourselves. The reward is being exalted; Almighty Allah will elevate our level in this life and in the hereafter, material wise and Prof. Dr. M. Es'ad COŞAN and H. Necati COŞAN

spiritually.

We ought to be thankful for everything Almighty Allah has bestowed upon us. Consequently, Almighty Allah will increase His bounty and blessings for us. That is its reward, the reward for the thankfulness.

We shall ask Almighty Allah our forgiveness: “Oh Almighty Allah, forgive us our sins!” Then He will forgive us.

As you know, Ramadhan is especially the month of forgiveness:⁶²

أَوَّلُهُ رَحْمَةٌ، وَأَوْسَطُهُ مَغْفِرَةٌ، وَآخِرُهُ عِتْقٌ مِنَ النَّارِ (خز. هب. عن سلمان)

(Awwaluhû rahmatun, wa awsatuhû maghfiratun, wa âkhiruhû itkun mina’n-nâr) “The first part of Ramadhan is mercy; its middle, forgiveness, and its final part is freedom from hellfire,” said the Prophet SAS.

We will repent and ask for forgiveness in this month, so that Almighty Allah will reward us with forgiveness.

We shall keep an eye on our relatives and tend their needs. We shall visit them, earn their hearts, and do our duty required by the kinship. We will support them with their financial, material and spiritual problems and help them.

As you know, Ramadhan is the month in which zakâh payments are made because Almighty Allah rewards all good deeds carried out in this month seventy folds in comparison to those carried out in other months. As we pay our zakâh, we customarily start with our relatives. We shall give our zakâh and alms to our relatives. Almighty Allah will make our life longer.

⁶² İbn-i Huzeyme, Sahîh, c.III, s.191, no:1887; Beyhakî, Şuabü’l-İman, c.III, s.305, no:3608; Heysemî, Müsnedü’l-Hàris, c.I, s.412, no:321; Selmân-ı Fârisî RA’dan.

Kenzü’l-Ummâl, c.VIII, s.757, no:²³⁷¹⁴ ve s.961, no:24276.

May Allah Subhanahu wa Taàlâ grant us the opportunities to be His obedient servants. May He shower us will rewards and heavenly blessings. May your life here and in the hereafter be flourished. May Allah grant all of us happiness in this life and in the hereafter, my dear brothers and sisters, the listeners of AKRA radio.

As-salâmu alaikum wa rahmatu’llàhi wa barakâtuhû!..

15. 02. 1995 – Ankara

(AKRA Sahur Discourse)