The Nature of the Station of Poverty and True Wealth
In Sufism, the “station of poverty” (fakr) is not about having an empty pocket, but rather about the heart severing its ties from all beings and causes other than Allah. Shaykh Abdülkadir Geylani states, “The true poor one needs no one but Allah Ta’ala.” A dervish, even if possessing wealth and status, is a true poor person if their heart is not enslaved by these things in the slightest. According to what Feridüddin Attar narrates, when asked, “What is dervishism and poverty?” the elders replied, “It is being independent (needing nothing) from the entire universe along with your Lord.” A servant who finds Allah, the possessor of everything, will no longer extend a hand or bow down to anyone in the transient world.
Being a Dervish in the Heart, Not in Form
Formalism and ostentation are the greatest diseases on the spiritual path. Geylani (may Allah be pleased with him) states that wearing coarse and old clothes or merely abstaining from eating and drinking does not earn one a spiritual station; the real issue is that the heart does not accept evil, and the Sufi cloak must first be worn by the heart and soul, before being outwardly displayed. Yunus Emre also says, “If one desires dervishism, one must drink the poison (zehri nûş etmek)” emphasizing the necessity of patience and swallowing bitter remedies against the domination of the ego on this path.
Uprooting Worldly Greed
A dervish is someone who has neither a world nor an afterlife; only the pleasure of Allah resides in their heart. When a spiritual traveler chases worldly desires, they actually lose their freedom. Therefore, one who enters into suluk (spiritual apprenticeship) should not become attached to the world and its contents, but rather use every available means as a tool on the path of Allah. As Rumi said, the heart of a dervish cleansed from the ambitions of the ego becomes a shining mirror for divine secrets.