Recognizing the Sleep of Negligence and the Awareness of Illness
Humanity’s greatest tragedy is failing to realize that their heart is ill, and their spiritual eyes are blinded. Worldly desires, pride, and sins create such a thick layer over the soul that one becomes incapable of seeing Truth. Geylani (may Allah be pleased with him) addresses those suffering in the clutches of spiritual illnesses with a shocking language, stating that true awakening begins by finding a physician (spiritual guide): “How long will this blindness last? Until a physician is found…” A patient who does not acknowledge their illness cannot be treated. A believer who sees the viruses of hypocrisy, pretense, and worldliness within themselves should immediately seek a spiritual physician to show them the ways of guidance.
Finding a Physician and Enduring the Medications
When an accomplished perfect guide (mürşid-i kâmil) is found on the path of spirituality, the only thing a servant must do is complete surrender. Geylani (may Allah be pleased with him) presents the prescription as follows: “Persistently seek a physician without tiring. When you find one, bow your head and supplicate. Think well of that physician; do not let it occur to you that they will do evil.” A true guide will give their patient bitter medications (spiritual practices, fasting, little sleep, breaking down the ego) that will be difficult for their nafs. “Accept every medication with trust. Even when pain comes, endure it. Thus, your condition will improve and your eyes will open,” without waging war against the desires of the nafs, healing cannot be found. One who disobeys the physician’s words with stubbornness and pride is doomed to drown in spiritual darkness.
The Opening of the Eye of the Heart
The disciple (salik) who strictly adheres to their guide’s prescription and disciplines their nafs will, over time, see that the blindness within their inner world is lifted. They now begin to look not at fleeting worldly events but at the Divine power behind them. This servant whose eye of the heart has opened views earthly misfortunes as mercies and difficulties as opportunities for the soul to take flight. Having escaped the narrow limits of their limited intellect and dived into the ocean of Divine knowledge under the guidance of a perfect human being, this fortunate servant obtains the certificate of eternal salvation while still in this world.