The Nature of the Station of Faqr and True Wealth
In Sufism, the station of faqr is not about having an empty pocket; it’s about the heart severing its ties from all beings and causes other than Allah. Shaykh Abdülkadir Geylani (may Allah be pleased with him) stated, “The truly poor one has no need for anyone except Allah Most High.” A dervish may possess wealth or status, but if their heart is not enslaved by these things, even in the slightest degree, they are a true person of faqr. As Feridüddin Attar narrates, when asked, “What is Sufism and poverty?” the elders replied, “It is being independent (needing nothing) from all of creation alongside your Lord.” A servant who finds Allah, the possessor of everything, will not extend a hand or bow down to anyone in this transient world.
Being a Dervish in the Heart, Not in Form
Formalism and ostentation are the greatest ailments on the spiritual path. Shaykh Geylani (may Allah be pleased with him) emphasizes that wearing coarse or old clothes, or merely abstaining from food and drink, does not earn one a spiritual station; the real issue is that the heart refuses to accept evil. The Sufi cloak must first be donned by the heart and soul, before it appears outwardly. Yunus Emre also says, “If one desires dervishhood, one must drink the poison (zehir),” highlighting the necessity of patience and swallowing bitter remedies against the domination of the ego on this difficult path.
Uprooting Worldly Desire
A dervish is one who has neither world nor hereafter; their heart contains only the pleasure of Allah. When a spiritual traveler chases worldly desires, they actually lose their freedom. Therefore, those entering suluk (spiritual apprenticeship) should not become attached to the world and its contents but use every available means as an instrument on the path of Allah. As Rumi said, the heart of a dervish purified from the ambitions of the ego becomes a shining mirror for Divine secrets.