Human beings often attribute their sustenance, health, position, or success directly to intermediaries, patrons, or other people. However, Abdülkadir Geylânî (r.a.) describes trusting the public and viewing causes as the primary actor as a “hidden shirk” that darkens the heart. “Causes are veils against the essence of Allah. If you turn away from the gate of the Shah, that place will close to you.” The servant who forgets the Creator and clings only to causes is ignorant of the absolute blessings of the Almighty. Hoping in people means abandoning the door of Allah and begging at the doors of the powerless, which is one of the most reprehensible types of ingratitude that Allah becomes angry about.
If a believer expects something from perishable beings while Allah exists, Allah will leave him in the hands of those very perishable beings and condemn him to humiliation. “The Prophet (PBUH) said: Cursed, cursed is he who relies on another creature.” Looking at what people have, expecting praise from them, or fearing their condemnation enslaves a person spiritually. Geylânî al-Qadiri exclaims: “Cover the door of gratitude to the public, and you will see that at that time the door of Allah’s goodness will open to you.” When the servant attains the awareness in his inner world that “Allah gives abundance and scarcity,” he realizes that the power of created beings is actually zero.
True freedom is when the heart feels no debt of gratitude to any creature and surrenders all ropes to Allah. “Leave your nafs, your words, and your entire being to His destiny… Have tawakkul in Him,” 27. For a servant who connects his whole being to Allah, Allah suffices him in every trouble. When the servant asks for his needs not with his tongue from people but only with his heart from Allah, Allah bestows those needs upon him through unexpected doors and paths that even people do not know. A believer who surrenders himself to the compassionate hands of the Creator attains an unshakable spiritual security, honor, and absolute freedom that no position or wealth on earth can provide.