Edep Ya Hu! (Decency O Allah!)

It has always drawn my attention… There is a signboard at the entrances of Sufism education institutions, or somewhere visible, written “Edep Ya Hu!”, meaning “O Allah (swt), render us with decency!” In some signboards, this phrase is written in Arabic scripts in Islamic calligraphy. What does "edep" (decency) mean? Why do sufis attach particular importance to decency? Why so much emphasis is put on decency?

Yes, "edep" mean a lot for a person… In fact, it is everything. "Edep" is a term that defines all divine virtues that makes a man a mature human being, purifying him bad behaviors even worse than the animals. It is the beauty of behaviors. It is the integration of the status of the "heart and behavior" of the perfect human being. It is the exaltedness of morality. It is the status of the human being who has achieved the fifth dimension passing through divine training. This is also called "Morality of Allah (swt)".

Edep (decency) is a condition of personality that emerges by a human being’s passing through Allah (swt)’s training, by his acquiring morality from Him and His distinguished messengers. The difference between people with and without decency is the difference between a mature person and a raw and rough person. Decency transforms an unkind, greedy, miser, selfish, hard and rude, impatient and untrustworthy person who is always in a hurry and anxious for continuously pursuing the desires of his ego, to a resigned, mature, caring, generous, just, benevolent, patient, mild-mannered, earnest, frank and pleasant person who is not in a hurry and anxious in his jobs. In short, a person with edep is the “real human being”. That person is Allah (swt)’s caliph on earth.

# Decency begin with obedience

Dear Readers, decency begin with obedience. Obedience is a state of compliance and surrender. Obedience is being subject to others' wishes, acting according to their desires and orders, surrendering and being subject to them.

I am sure that as soon as you have read those lines a reaction has emerged in you. I am sure that you have started to experience in your souls the spiritual difficulties that will be faced by acting according to others' wishes and orders. Imagining the things that annoy people in the real world will also be annoying when imagined. In fact, for a person with a personality, most difficult thing to stand is to be subject to others. Because having a personality means, in one sense, to have opinion and will, to act according to one’s own desires and to be one’s own master. On the other hand, when you are dependent to others you may feel humiliated, low and injured in personality. Therefore, many raw people get ill-tempered when they cannot do what they want but have to act according to others' wishes. I stated it in one of my previous articles that a good person and a bad person can be distinguished when that person’s wishes are not fulfilled. Many people are quite fine as long as you carry out their wishes, but once you disobey, they immediately take offence, go cross with you, they start to look at you with an evil eye. They can even develop a grudge against you; they hate you and use abusive language. The reason for all these is injury of personality and forbidding or limitation of being one’s own master.

Dear Readers; this injury of personality, forbidding and limiting ones independence constitutes the essence of the nafs (ego) training. The nafs-training is an education of personality. More clearly, eliminating the human personality that entices a person to do everything he wants and to be his own master, that cause him do all those unsuitable deeds, and replacing it with a divine personality that is subject to Allah (swt)’s will. Only after that a person can become a mature person.

# A self-ordained person is a raw human being

A self-ordained person whose demands were not limited in any way in childhood period and whose whole wants were always fulfilled is a raw human being. They try to make everything that they want. They always want their desires and demands to be satisfied. They never think of others. They begin to maturate only when their wishes are restricted or when they are forced to obey others' desires and wills. In our country (Turkey), a person is not considered to be mature even after they graduated from university if they haven't completed their military service and haven’t got married yet. In fact, maturing effects of these two institutions, military and marriage, on people cannot be denied. The most important reason is that people naturally learn to be subject to others' wishes in these institutions.

Therefore, the basis of a good child training is teaching the child decency, this is to say, refraining from acting according to one’s own desires but taking into consideration other people’s needs, to teach the child sharing with others and acting according to wishes of others from time to time.

# Vanishing

Dear readers,

An intellectual person has thoughts, wishes and wills different from the others. A person has a unique “personality” by achieving these differences. However, this situation leads a person to be independent from the others; subject to his servile desires and wishes make him has trouble. Such a selfish personality will be a misfortune both for the person and for the society, he lives in, if he does not go through a divine training and acquire divine virtues. Look around yourself and try to remember incidents that occur. Many sad events that shake societies are all deeds of such selfish personalities. A human being can only save himself, at fifth dimension, by leaving his selfish personality and reach salvation by acquiring the new selfless personality proposed by Allah (swt). A human being voluntarily resigning from his opinion and will, and rendering his human personality become ineffective on his behavior is called the one in "Fena" (vanishing) position in Sufism. This is a spiritual vanishing.

"Fena" (vanishing) is resigning from one’s own desires and wishes, in other words, from one’s own personality (ego). After a person resigns from his own desires, assumes the personality of the person whomever he is subject to; he unites his own personality with that person’s personality because, the person is not acting according to his own personality and desires but according to the wishes of the person, he is subject to. In tasawwuf education, this is called "Fena" (nonexistence) stage.

# Three levels of "Fena" stage

“Fena” position has three levels before a status of full maturity is achieved:

In the first level person has to obey the wishes of the Murshid-i Kamil to whom he is dependent and surrendered. This is called “Fena fish-Sheyh” situation, meaning vanishing in Murshid-i Kamil. Dervish Yunus has expressed this state, as “We became servants at Taptuk’s door..." At this stage, a person tries to carry out all demands of the Sufi thinker.

Secondly, the person has to be subject to wishes of Rasulullah, which is called “Fena fir-Rasul” (vanishing in the Rasulullah). In this stage, a person considers the way Rasulullah had lived and his deeds as an example and tries to abide by his wishes exactly and try not to depart even one millimeter from wants of Rasulullah.

Thirdly, a person has to surrender to proposals, wishes and orders of Allah (swt), and that stage is called "Fena fillah", meaning vanishing in Allah (swt). A person in this position tries to learn Allah (swt)’s all proposals, wishes, orders and prohibitions in every detail and be subject to Allah (swt) and tries not to depart even one millimeter from wishes of Allah (swt). A person at this stage wants everything, says everything and does everything for the sake of Allah (swt).

# Complete Surrender

Therefore, behavior of the person who is in a state of complete surrender to Allah (swt) becomes completely in accordance with the way Allah (swt) wishes. After this level all desires emanating from that humble servant becomes Allah (swt)’s desire, all looks of him becomes a look with Allah (swt)’s divine light, all deeds of him become a behavior that comply with the morality of the Allah (swt) and his messengers. In other words, the virtues of almighty Allah begin to emerge in that humble servant. Allah (swt) becomes that servant’s seeing eye, hearing ears. Almighty Allah has expressed this state in a sacred hadith as follows:

“Among the things that bring My servant close to Me, the ones I love best are the things that I have made fard. When My servant does the supererogatory ibadat, he gets very close to Me so much so that I love him very much. When I love him, I become his hearing ear, seeing eye, holding hand and walking foot. I give him whatever he wishes. When he invokes Me for help, I rescue him at once.”. (Bukhari, Rikak, 38) [1]

Dear readers, a person gifted with this mercy of Allah (swt) is now reached the peak in decency and maturity. Obviously, such a state can be reached after a very tough self-training with the help of Allah (swt) and not everyone can be endowed with it. Let Allah (swt) make us one of the perfectly mature person whose life will be ended in this status. Let Allah (swt) gift us the faith safety in our last breaths.

Be entrusted to Allah. 

----------------------

[1] Huseyn Hilmi Isık, 2012. Advice for the Muslim. Hakikat Kitabevi Publications No: 11, Fatih-Istanbul

"The one who knows his nafs knows Allah"

Dear Readers,

I wrote in my previous article that the difficulties experienced by the people are caused by being dependent on the wills and wishes of the nafs-i ammara that orders evil things to people, and the nafs (ego) is the biggest enemy of the human. Rasulullah (s.a.w), The Sultan of Hearts, ordered in the Hadith that:

"The worst enemy of yours is the nafs surrounding you" [Deylemi] 

"The strongest enemy of the human is the nafs, and then comes his family." [Deylemi] 

# The biggest struggle

The nafs is really a strong and mad enemy. It is really hard to overcome it without the help of Allah (swt). As the strongest enemy of the human is the nafs, the struggle with the nafs is the biggest one that human fights.

On returning from a Holy war Rasulullah said "We returned from the Small Jihad, now it is time for the Big Jihad." The companions of Rasulullah asked "What is the Big Jihad, Ya Rasulullah?" He answered, "It is the struggle with the nafs." [Deylemi]

Rasulullah ordered in some other Hadiths that:

"The supreme Jihad is the one with the nafs in the way of Allah." [Ebu Davud, Taberani] 

The real hero is the one who defeats the nafs." [El-Askeri] 

# The second most important parameter that changes the human life: Faith

Dear Readers; the fight with the nafs is a hard struggle that will last until the last breath. The beginning of this important fight is "Faith".

"Faith" is the second biggest gift Allah (swt) granted human with after the gift of Reason. Belief is the beginning of all goodness. It's the entrance gate of the maturity path that makes human different and superior to many other creatures. It is the second parameter that affects the daily life of a person. The human steps in the fifth dimension through belief. In this dimension, the human comprehends the order he lives in, accepts that the order and his existence have a Creator, surrenders, and depends on Him voluntarily.

In the fifth dimension, the human experiences the second most important differentiation of his life after the reason dimension. The human accepts the existence of Allah (swt) in this dimension. He is subject to the divine training system of Him that leads to goodness. The person starts to advance to the peak of human maturity gradually with the method Allah (swt) provided for him in this dimension. The person fights with his evil-commanding nafs that leads him to behaviors of animals in this dimension having Allah's (swt) support. He tries to clean his nafs from the animal qualifications shaped by the wills and desires of evil-commanding nafs (bad morals) and reshape it with divine qualifications (good morals). The more sincere his belief and faith in Allah and the divine rules are the sooner the process will be completed and he will become "a mature person".

"Reason" is the most important grace and gift that Allah granted the human. Reason is the first parameter that changes the human life the most and differentiates him from all other creatures in visible world. Belief is the second important parameter that causes the indefinable major changes in human life where the Reason acquires a new, selfless, and divine criterion by giving up the egoist natural criterion on his reasoning, evaluation, and decision. The standards based on the concept of "good and bad" has changed and the natural "personal benefit" standard has been replaced with a new "Right" standard he gained by the offer of Allah because of belief. If a person has good divine qualifications as honesty, generosity, equity, and humane sentiment, this person must never be blamed being an unbelieving one. One must think that his good behaviors are the signs that express the light of belief in his heart.

Dear Readers, indeed Islam is the struggle of maturity against the nafs entirely. The easiest way of this struggle is not fulfilling the wishes of the ego and making the nafs servile. It is ordered in the Hadiths that:

"The most valuable worship is not obeying the nafs" [Sehl b. Abdullah Tusteri]

"The one who makes his nafs servile, makes his religion beloved and the one who makes his nafs beloved, makes his religion servile" [Abu Nuaym]

# The biggest obstacle of struggle with nafs in our times

Unfortunately, people face limitless difficulties within their struggle of the nafs in our times. Liberal Capitalist system, which benefits from the wildness of the souls for its today's and future existence, is one of the most important reasons for it. This is a materialist system. It is only based on "money". This system, which is based on "money", takes advantage of human and all material and spiritual values of human to earn more money. Systematized production, increased and varied good and services transformed their advertisement into a completely independent and large sector. The producers and the purchasers use incredible advertisement means to produce and sell more. An impression is created as the human is given value and the human is tried to be the focal point in this advertisement. Indeed the people are transformed into monsters that don't think anything but themselves, consuming even they need or not.

However, the improvement and maturation of the human totally depend on Allah's will, these advertisements make people dependent to desires of their egos like a robot unaware of Allah and their creation.

Dear Brother, that's why today the right is mixed with superstitions and people just think of desires of their egos. The experts of Tasawwuf know well that the desires of the nafs are the main obstacle of knowing Allah (swt). Therefore, our faith is decreasing day by day. The process of becoming robots more or less affects us.

However, our Rasulullah ordered:

“The smart person is the one who takes control of their self and acts for what which comes after death; and the foolish person is the one who simply follows their whims and then has false hopes with Allah.” [Tirmizi]

# Two most important methods of struggling with the nafs: Riyazat and Mudjahada

Dear Readers; I stated that the struggle with the nafs begins with belief. Of course, belief is the beginning of this process. However, it is the most important step of this struggle. The process after belief is very long. Not everyone is granted with reaching the end of this path all the time. Because everybody doesn't show the same sincere belief and effort. The principle is to adopt the system of rules and improve in the way He shows us by believing and trusting Allah who creates everything, knows all qualities, abilities and weaknesses of His creations offers us the most appropriate system. In other words, it is to be dependent on Allah not his ego's desires.

The name of this system is "Islam" and its basis is "Faith". We must believe in Allah (swt) and the conveyed knowledge He informed us by His messengers without any doubt. The doubts and hesitations for the belief just delay the training of the people and make them unhappy. How sincere one is with his belief, the more he is gifted with the benefits and mercies of Allah (swt).

There are two basic methods of this maturing path that will lead us to happiness and well-being in real world and Hereafter that our creator and Lord Allah (swt) provided for us: Riyazat and Mudjahada. "Riyazat" is avoiding the activities forbidden by Allah; "Mudjahada" is perform the activities that Allah ordered. I explained these prohibitions and orders in detail in my article named "The Golden Rules of An Eternal Happiness". One can learn and obey these rules sincerely in every minute of his life and apply them in his life. This is called "Ibadat" (worship, being a servant to Allah). Don't consider it as being a servant even it is called so. In fact, it is salvation of the human from his servile nafs and reaching the real freedom. Many people think that everything they do is for Allah. You must know that everything people do is for them. Allah (swt) is rich. It is excluded from every kind of necessity. He needs nothing! Of course, He doesn't need the service of His incapable servants.

"Whoever works righteousness benefits his own nafs;" [Fussilat, 46]

"And whoever purifies himself does so for the benefit of his own nafs" [Fatir, 18]

"Now have come to you, from your Lord, proofs (to open your eyes): if any will see, it will be for (the good of) his own nafs; if any will be blind, it will be to his own (harm): I am not (here) to watch over your doings." (Anaam, 104)

Dear Readers, being a servant of Allah will save you from being a servant of money, other people, possessions, your nafs, your desires, and bad habits. It will make you the most beloved of the visible creatures and the caliph of Almighty Allah on earth. Never forget it!!! Don't let your nafs detain you from being a servant of Allah by making you arrogant.

# "The one who knows his nafs knows Allah (swt)"

Dear Readers; although a person knows Allah by believing the principles mentioned in creed and becomes a Muslim, a person knows Allah (swt) in real terms by obeying His orders and prohibitions sincerely. Because whenever he tries to obey an order or a punishment, his nafs waits him there. He cannot fulfill the responsibility without struggling with his nafs. Because of this struggle, he knows his nafs better and understands how dangerous the enemy is. He learns it is the biggest obstacle between Allah and himself. Therefore, it is not possible to know Allah without knowing his nafs.

When Hz. Aişe (r.anh.) asked Rasulullah (pbuh) "When does a person know Allah?", the messenger answered "When he knows his self; as the one who knows his nafs knows Allah" [Acluni]. On the other hand, it is ordered that:

"Being saved from obeying the nafs is the biggest wealth. Because the nafs is the biggest curtain between Allah and the servant." (Abu Bakir Tamistani) 

The only obstacle of knowing Allah is his nafs (ego). "The one who knows his nafs knows Allah (swt)" The one who doesn't know his nafs is attached in desires of his nafs. Consider you are offered some food. The one who doesn't know his nafs thinks of the pleasure of that food. The one who knows his nafs seize Allah and His mercy through the food.

We cannot see Allah (swt). On the other hand, we can see the works and the results of the attributes of Allah concerning His actions. The results of the Subuti Attributes of Allah as knowledge, will, power and creation, clearly shows itself in every event in the universe. The person who doesn't know his nafs is always caught by desires of his nafs so he cannot see the world in order to take lesson.

Therefore, to understand Allah truly, one must fight with his nafs and resist the desires of his nafs. He must not try to do what he wants. He must be away from what Allah forbade and be away from the unlawful activities. Even if it is hard for him, he must try to worship continuously.

# Divine mercy eases everything

It is not difficult to perform a few times of in a day for the one who are dependent on Allah sincerely. However, it is very difficult to recite Tawhid (to say Lailahe illallah) or perform ablution for the ones who are subject to his nafs. If one intends to be a servant of Allah with faith by believing Him, Allah eases his works. He starts do the things easier, which were before difficult for him. It cannot be explained through habits only. It is hard to explain these by science. It is a divine mercy. This is the beginning of spirituality. Impossible things become easy and possible with the help of Allah (swt). One must ask Allah's help at the beginning of each his worship and pray as "Ya Rabbi, please accept from me and make it easy for me".

Dear Readers; Takwa means the fear of Allah (swt). It is ordered in the verse from the Koran that:

"Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you." (Hujurat, 13)

Takwa means avoiding the activities He forbid by being afraid of Him. To be more precise, it means not obeying the desires of the nafs, which are unlawful, it is understood "the more you struggle with your nafs, the more valuable they are for Allah (swt)". If you struggle with your nafs, you know your nafs, and Allah hereupon. Consequently, you have a value in the sight of Allah (swt).

That's the first stage to know Allah (swt) by heart.

Be entrusted to Allah.

The one who cleans his nafs reaches happiness

Dear Readers,

The first step of Tasawwuf training is "cleaning of the nafs (ego)".

Although I wrote it in my first article; I would like to remind it again. The existence of human is composed of five dimensions. The first one is the material dimension and the human is completely like an inanimate thing with this dimension that is subject to the physical and chemical laws of material. The second one is the physiological dimension where the living events start including bio-analysis (producing energy) and biosynthesis (using the obtained energy), the human is like a plant in this dimension. The third one is the psychological dimension including psychological activities as attention, perception, recognizing, and consciousness and reacting the effects, the human is like an animal in this dimension.

# The inherent criterion of the reason is to protect the individual

The fourth one is the reason dimension of the human. The "reason" is the most important gift after existence and health granted the humans by Allah (swt) and it is the first parameter that changes human the most. As reason is a mechanism of reasoning and decision, it is a very important mental activity discriminating human from the other animals and other humans. Every person has his own private life and directs it as he wants because of reason.  Every person has thoughts, targets, decisions and wishes (opinions and wills), plans and programs different from others because of  the "reason". A person shows a set of behaviors different from the others related to this activity in the reason dimension. The existence of the human formed by these behaviors, which are transformed into habits in time, is called "ego" (internal view) or "personality" (external view) of the person. This ego is named as "nafs" in Arabic. In other words, our "personality" is a spiritual creation that is built by the implementations of the decisions of our reason.

I told that the reason is a mechanism of thoughts and decisions before. This mechanism is responsible from reasoning and consideration and it uses various criterions to decide. Inherently, this "criterion" is dignifying this person, meeting the material, physiological, and psychological needs, supporting and protecting him. In other words, the reason is structured to protect the personal benefits naturally and it decides according to the desires and wishes emerging from the person's own material, physiologic and psychological nature. However, it may be considered as something good for this person, indeed it may be a disaster, when it exceeds necessity limits for the person living in the society, which threatens his life and the life of the society he lives in. Please, remember how the selfish people around you damage both themselves and the society while they were trying to protect their benefits.

# The ones who deem as god their own passions...

The anfus (plural of nafs), which are at the fourth dimension without passing through religious training for knowing Allah, using their personal benefit criterions within all reasoning and decisions, with thoughts that limited with their existence, thinking their own material, physiologic and psychological wishes and desires, whose hearts are filled with this desire, harming both themselves and the society while they think they have benefits, are called "nafs-i-ammara" (The evil-commanding nafs, the inciting nafs). This type of ego orders the evil things to its owner.

It is ordered for the people with this nafs in Qur'an that:

"But many do mislead (men) by their low desires without knowledge." (Anaam, 119)

"Seest thou such a one as taketh for his god his own passion (or impulse)? Couldst thou be a disposer of affairs for him?" (Furqan, 43)

"Or thinkest thou that most of them listen or understand? They are only like cattle;- nay, they are farther astray from the way." (Furqan, 44) 

# The source of all evils

Indeed the most important enemy of a person is his ego that doesn't know his Creator and doesn't accept Allah's orders that lead him to prosperity and goodness, but tries to decide in line with the person's wills and wishes. All the difficulties experienced by the human are because of being dependent to this evil-commanding nafs (nafs-i-ammara). It is ordered in the verses from the Qur'an that:

"The (human) soul is certainly incites to evil" [Yusuf, 53]

"But Allah wronged them not: nay, they wronged their own souls." [Nahl, 33]

 "Whatever misfortune happens to you is because of the things your hands have wrought" [Shura, 30]

In the hadith, it is ordered that

"Miserliness, obeying the nafs and admiring oneself leads one to disaster." [Taberani]

# The one who cleans his nafs reaches happiness

Of course, every person has some vital needs that must be met in order to live. Every person has the right to have wishes and desires to meet them. It is not related to evil-commanding nafs. The limit of the nafs-i-ammara is the requests that lead one to unlawful activities beyond the vital needs. A person is in need of eating fruit and vegetable to meet the daily vitamin needs. However, if one feels a strong desire for food, it is because of the nafs. If one fulfills these desires, he may be obese and be exposed to various illnesses and difficulties accordingly. Whenever you have a problem, please look back on your past. You will see astonishingly that these problems are emerged because you are dependent on the wills and desires of your nafs most of the time.

How can a person avoid evil-commanding nafs, his most important enemy, which leads him to disasters? The secret of our salvation and eternal happiness underlines in the answer of this question.

"Truly he succeeds that purifies it"  (Shams, 9)

"And he fails that corrupts it!" (Shams, 10)

The evil-commanding nafs is such a terrible enemy that nobody can be saved from it easily without the help and mercy of Allah.

"Then seest thou such a one as takes as his god his own vain desire? Allah has, knowing (him as such), left him astray, and sealed his hearing and his heart (and understanding), and put a cover on his sight. Who, then, will guide him after Allah (has withdrawn Guidance)? Will ye not then receive admonition? (Jathiya, 23)

"And were it not for the grace and mercy of Allah on you, not one of you would ever have been pure: but Allah doth purify whom He pleases: and Allah is One Who hears and knows (all things)." [Nur, 21]

One shall never trust his own knowledge, experiences, and wills in the struggle with his nafs that leads him to evil continuously. One must ask for help from Allah (swt) all the time. When the help of Allah (swt) arrives, everything becomes easier at once.

Be entrusted to Allah.

Why bay'ah (the oath of allegiance)?

Dear Readers,

In my previous articles, I explained that one can reach Marifetullah truly through tasawwuf education and made some explanations about Murshid-i Kamils (tasawwuf specialists) who are the spiritual leaders of the societies and stated that the bases of the Tasawwuf are "Bay'ah" (the oath of allegiance), "Cleaning of the nafs" (ego) and "Purifying of the heart".

I am sure that many of you have questions, as "Isn't it enough for one to live as it is written in   Islamic manuals" "Why Tasawwuf education is needed to know Allah (swt)?" Those thoughts you have are of course very reasonable. Islam itself is a path to increase one’s maturity. A person who lives Islam properly reaches both Marifetullah and the individual maturity. The role of Tasawwuf here is only to make training quicker with the help of a mentor who is the inheritor of Rasulullah by using the methods of him.

# Tasawwuf is a Heart training method

As I explained beforehand, Marifetullah and other knowledge related to heart is a grace and beneficence of the Almighty Allah. He grants it anyone He wishes. One doesn't need to have a deep knowledge of religion or other subjects for being honoured with this grace of Allah. A person can be an illiterate. Uveys Al-Karani hazrats, one of the great awliyas, and Hz. Rasulullah himself were the most appropriate examples of it. As you can remember Rasulullah was an illiterate and it is ordered in the Qur'an that,

"And thou wast not (able) to recite a Book before this (Book came), nor art thou (able) to transcribe it with thy right hand: In that case, indeed, would the talkers of vanities have doubted." (Ankabut, 48)
 
"Nay, here are Signs self-evident in the hearts of those endowed with knowledge: and none but the unjust reject Our Signs."  (Ankabut, 49)

When Rasulullah was afraid that he would forget the revealed divine inspiration; it was explained clearly that Qur'an was a revealed divine inspiration by Allah (swt) and he would never forget once it was read to him,  by ordering:

"By degrees shall We teach thee (the Message), so thou shalt not forget," (Ala, 6)

 The spiritual knowledge is bestowed to those who stayed away from their nafs's desires through the divine revelation, intuition or inspiration. Tasawwuf is a method of heart training that aims to make people closer to Allah (swt) by preserving them from nafs's whim. However, the success of this method depends on the trueness and sincerity of the people. The real thing that will cause people to be honored with this gift is the sincerity of their faith. Bay'ah consists of a statement of intention and a sign that a person is ready to follow the path of Tasawwuf.

# Bay'ah is the beginning of Tasawwuf training

Bay'ah constitutes the main basis of Tasawwuf training even if it wasn't given importance by many people who were students of a sufi leader.

Bay'ah is the beginning of Tasawwuf training. The trainer of the Tasawwuf is called the Murshid (the one who shows the true path, the guide), and the learner is called the Murid (requester, demandant, trainee). Bay'ah is the agreement between Murshid and Murid. Repentance is the beginning of Tasawwuf training. Afterwards the person promises his murshid that he will follow the path of Tasawwuf about carrying out the orders of Allah (swt) like performing salaat, fasting, giving zakat when he can and going on pilgrimage. This is called "bay'ah". Bay'ah means the promise of the murid that he will be subject to the murshid's will and be dependent to this path of maturity. A special ceremony is held for it. The promise is given to Allah indeed. It is ordered in a verse from the Qur'an that:

"Verily those who plight their fealty to thee plight their fealty in truth to Allah; the Hand of Allah is over their hands: then any one who violates his oath, does so to the harm of his own soul, and any one who fulfills what he has covenanted with Allah,- Allah will soon grant him a great Reward." (Fath, 10)


# Bay’ah is a promise given to Allah (swt)

Why bay'ah is so important? Why is it given so much importance?

For the reason that Awliyaullah is an inheritor of Rasulullah and a loyal servant of Allah (swt), in fact, the promise is given to Rasulullah and Allah (swt), as it can be understood from the above verse. In fact, without another reason even this represents why this promise shall be given importance.

# Bay'ah constitutes the basis of nafs training

Secondly, the promise about being dependent to the Murshid indeed constitutes the basis of nafs training. The base of nafs training is learning to give up one’s own will. I will explain it in my next article. The hardest thing for a person is to give up his own will. Remember the children fighting for toys. This fight ends only if one of them gives up his will. This simple fact is the beginning of morals. The one who is more immoral (is dependent to his nafs) has the most toys. The one, who is more moral and well-trained, gives up his desire and leaves the ownership to the other side. Now try to put yourself into the child's shoe that makes the sacrifice. How hard it is psychologically. It is also the same for adults. Is it easy for the ones who didn't learn to give but just knew how to take by training in a right way to give up their wishes? Why do you think the people get divorced very soon after they are married for only 2 months? The basis of each kind of morals and manners is one's learning to give up the ignoble desires of his nafs. It is the abandonment of the ego. The one entering the path of Tasawwuf accepts to be dependent on his murshid by bay'ah.

# Bay'ah is a Sunna of Rasulullah

Thirdly, bay’ah is a Sunna of Rasulullah. It is ordered in a verse from the Qur'an that:

"Allah's Good Pleasure was on the Believers when they swore Fealty to thee under the Tree: He knew what was in their hearts, and He sent down Tranquility to them; and He rewarded them with a speedy Victory;" (Fath, 18)
 

"O Prophet! When believing women come to thee to take the oath of fealty to thee, that they will not associate in worship any other thing whatever with Allah, that they will not steal, that they will not commit adultery (or fornication), that they will not kill their children, that they will not utter slander, intentionally forging falsehood, and that they will not disobey thee in any just matter,- then do thou receive their fealty, and pray to Allah for the forgiveness (of their sins): for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (Mumtahana, 12)

It is written in the Hadiths that:

12 Muslims from Medina in the first Akabe: "They pledged their allegiance to Allah's messenger (pbuh) on the following conditions; Obedience and submission come first and foremost during times of distress, pressure, prosperity, and happiness. We are under your command. We will not disobey you in any way". (Bukhari, Muslim)

When the Muslims asked in the second Akabe: "We will pledge even our goods are ruined and our elders are killed. What will we take in return if we are loyal to it?" Rasulullah (s.a.w) answered "Paradise!" Then they said, "Give me your hand!" Rasulullah gave them his hand and they pledged their allegiance to Allah's messenger. (Ibn Kesir, el-Bidâye)

Enes b. Mâlik (r.a.) stated that: "I pledged my allegiance to obey Allah's messenger (pbuh) on the conditions that I am capable of". (Ali el Muttaki, Kenzu’l Ummal)

As it can be understood clearly from the verse of the Qur'an and Hadiths, bay’ah is a Sunna of Rasulullah. Rasulullah took the hands of Sahaba-i kiram, obtained a promise from them one by one, and asked them to be loyal to their promises about some important issues. Ahl al-tasawwuf continues this tradition and obtains promises about obeying the rules of Allah (swt) and being dependent to his murshid from anyone who wants to walk in the path of Tasawwuf. The commitment of the promise is totally under conscientious responsibility of him depending on the sincerity of the will to benefit from Tasawwuf training. He keeps the promise if he wishes or he doesn't keep the promise if he doesn't wish. It is something that he can decide by himself.

Be entrusted to Allah.

Tasawwuf is a science of hâl (status)

Dear Readers,

Tasawwuf is a science of hâl. "Hâl" is an Arabic word and it means "status" in English. Science of Hâl means learning a status by living. Therefore, Tasawwuf cannot be learned from the books. It is learned by doing and experiencing. The states that will be experienced here are the spiritual states and behaviors that were ordered by Allah (swt) in Qur'an, experienced in detail by Rasulullah (Allah’s messenger Hz. Muhammad), and advised to be experienced to all humanity. They are called Sirat-i mustaqim (the right way, the true path) in Qur'an. "Sirat-i mustaqim" is the complete good behaviors, manners, and morals that advance people to salvation, goodness, and benefaction in real world and Hereafter. It is the light that enlightens the humanity. This divine mercy prevents people to be in conditions lower than the animals, and make them true human. As it reached to its maximum maturity level in the last messenger, it is also called "The light of Muhammad". In fact, all Prophets lived these sample manners since Adam (pbuh). Rasulullah summarized this state as follows at different times:

"The believer can do anything wrong but he cannot betray nor lie" [Ibni Ebi Seybe, Bezzar]

"Ethics is going to the ones who don't come, giving to the ones who don't give, and forgiving the cruel people." [Taberani]

“None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.” [Bukhari]

"Allah does not look at your appearance or your possessions; but He looks at your heart and your deeds!" [Muslim]

"The worst servant of Allah is the one who hurts and harms people." [Islam Ahlaqi]

"The most beloved one and closest to me amongst you in the Hereafter is the one with the best temper." [Riyazu's-Salihin]

"You may, demolish even the Kaaba, but do not break a person's heart." [Islam Ilmihali]

Although they are mentioned in different ways; in fact the meaning here is single and unique: Being on the Sirat-i mustaqim. Being true, right, fair, and frank. All of these are possible with a strong "faith", and "sincerity in the worship", namely "ikhlas".

Tasawwuf is not mentioning them frequently but experiencing them sincerely.

# Tasawwuf is a science of status. It can only be achieved by experiencing

Dear Readers,

Tasawwuf is a science of status. It can only be achieved by experiencing. The status to be experienced is the status of Rasulullah. It is not possible to understand Islam as a life style and appraise it without experiencing the religion clearly. Of course, it is important to learn Islam through Fiqh (Islamic laws) books and know Allah (Swt), the creator of the material and spiritual worlds accordingly. However, it is like a doctor's knowing malaria without experiencing it and this knowledge always has something missing. The events having multiple effects cannot be learnt by the books. They can be learned through experiencing. Can a person know the real meaning of fire unless he experiences a fire with some burns despite the fact that he knows the fire burns and gives pain? How can people know drowning without being drowned? How can a person understand the others having a traffic accident with damaged organs without experiencing it?

Dear readers, the practical knowledge is prior to theoretical knowledge because the former is achieved by the whole spirit of the people. When people learn something through their experiences, they comprehend the hundreds of the material and spiritual realities of the phenomenon together, as a whole, and in the same time. It is a state that covers all of bodies and spirits, and the results of them reflect accordingly in our hearts.

# The heart is the mirror of our bodies and spirits

As you can remember from my article named "Understanding the Heart", heart is just like the mirror of our bodies and spirits. The knowledge emerged through in both of them reflect to our heart sometimes as visible images by our consciousness and sometimes as complicated spiritual phenomenon by our unconscious mind. The heart is a focal point where the entire spiritual events take place. However, all material and spiritual events reflect the heart, the knowledge, ideas, feelings, and thoughts of our heart affect our body and spirit with a feedback. That is why the heart nurturing is very important for a Muslim. Rasulullah (s.a.w) ordered that:

"Beware! There is a piece of flesh in the body if it becomes good (reformed) the whole body becomes good but if it gets spoilt the whole body gets spoilt and that is the heart." [Bukharî]

As the reflections and echoes emerge at the heart, Tasawwuf is a science of heart at the same time. Knowing Allah (Swt) by heart can only be possible through experiencing Tasawwuf, the science of state, meaning and core of the religion, in accordance with the wishes of Creator and in the sense that He intended. Is it possible to understand Allah (Swt) who is the owner of the material and spiritual order truly, unless one experiences the religion of Allah by being dependent to a Murshid-i Kamil according to the divine orders?.. The most accurate knowledge about Allah (swt) can be achieved through experiencing the realities of the material and spiritual orders that were created by Him, and with benefaction of Allah. This knowledge is a gift and benefaction achieved by a true belief by heart so it is called "Knowledge of Ledunni". "Knowledge of Ledunni" means the knowledge given by us. This knowledge cannot be achieved with the effort of the human. It can only be achieved by blessing and benefaction of Allah. The attempts of the people are only being sincere in their beliefs and works.

# Allah (swt) grants wisdom to anyone He wishes

It is ordered in the verses from the Qur'an that:

"He granteth wisdom to whom He pleaseth; and he to whom wisdom is granted receiveth indeed a benefit overflowing." [Baqarah, 269] 

"O ye who believe! if ye fear Allah, He will grant you a Criterion (to judge between right and wrong), remove from you (all) evil deeds you, and forgive you: for Allah is the Lord of Grace unbounded." [Anfal, 29]

Rasulullah ordered in the Hadiths that:

"If a man eats lawful food for forty days, Allah illumines his heart and lets flow wisdom from his heart through his tongue" [Ebu Nuaym]

"The fear of Allah is the Beginning of Wisdom." [Taberani]

"Wisdom is made up of ten parts—nine of which are silence, and the tenth is brevity of language." [Beyheki]

"Allah illumines his heart with wisdom of whom fulfills Islam sincerely for forty days" [Ebu Nuaym]

As it can be understood by these hadits, the core of it is the halal food, the fear of Allah (takva), sincerity (within their works) and avoiding from unnecessary speech.

# The essence of Tasawwuf education is bay'ah (The oath of allegiance), cleaning of the nafs (ego) and purifying of the heart

However, each Awliya assigned by a divine order has a special method, the education of Tasawwuf is relied on 3 basic principles:

(1) Through bay'ah by depending on a Murshid-i Kamil representing Muhammad Rasulullah who had passed through this path and experienced the divine training, benefiting from his experiences and conversations;

(2) Cleaning his nafs under the supervision of this Murshid-i Kamil with Riyazat (avoiding the Islamic prohibitions) and Mudjahada (worshiping) by experiencing Islam according to the divine orders;

(3) Purifying his heart by refining it with zikr (remembering Allah) from all kinds of immoralities as harmful thoughts, arrogance, revenge and grudge, avoiding hypocrisy and pride, and being frank.

The more sincere the person is during this training, the faster the learning process is. The learning process is interrupted each time the fancy of the self is obeyed. As a result, if Allah (swt) wishes, the person will have an eye that sees everything through the light of Allah, a heart that is filled with love for every creature and a foresight that can distinguish the divine orders of Allah from the superstitions. He can comprehend the reality of Allah more correctly. The doubts on the existence of Allah and the religion He imposed disappear. Because of this sincere belief and trust, he has an invaluable devotion, approval, and trust in Allah with a relief and happiness. These people are called "man of heart" or "people of heart". Like Dervish Yunus... Their benign and resigned state not only enables peace and serenity for themselves but also spread to anyone with them. The people accompanying them feel peaceful and relieved without any reasons. In fact, it is nothing but the human maturity in other words the visible form of the divine compassion of Allah that spread from heart to heart since Prophet Adam (pbuh).

May your hearts fill with peace. Be entrusted to Allah.