Futuwwa Definition and Scope
Futuwwa and mürüvvet (civanimertlik) are among the most virtuous levels of Islamic morality. It is not merely doing good to others, but sharing in their sorrows, preferring your brother even when you have your own needs. Farīd al-Dīn Attar summarizes futuwa as “not arguing with the poor and not competing with the rich.” Civanimertlik is bearing the burden of the people and tolerating their mistakes, and willingly spending what one has in their hands. A dervish walking on the spiritual path does not become a burden to people; rather, he shoulders the suffering of society; thus morality becomes beautiful and his heart becomes a mirror for divine lights.
Covering Faults and Keeping Secrets
A true civanmert is not one who investigates another’s faults, but one who covers that fault as if it were his own. The Most High does not reveal the secret of the civanmerds either in this world or in the next; those who are disciplined with this morality never expose the secrets of others. They have such an immense burden and compassion in their hearts that if they placed this burden on an ordinary creature, that creature would perish. One of the most beautiful qualities for a human being is to be able to establish a compassionate friendship. A person of irfan shows compassion to the people while willingly fulfilling their requests, not imposing burdens upon them that they cannot bear.
The Pinnacle of Selfless Service
The most distinctive characteristic of a civanmert is that he does not expect any material or spiritual benefit (even reward) in return for any good deed he does. They do not look at worldly riches with envy, but with the eyes of advice; and they approach the poor with humility rather than pride. The knowledge and secrets carried within the civanmerds are also different from the common people’s knowledge; for this knowledge, which is the esoteric of the esoteric, is a very special secret between the civanmerds and Allah Ta’ala, and there is no way for the public to reach it. Those who completely push their ego aside and put their brothers forward don them the crown of futuwa and attain to the highest ranks of divine pleasure.