Words That Fell Upon the Heart from Shaykh Edebali
The wisdoms of Shaykh Edebali are a selection of brief sayings that touch the heart, character, and inner discipline of a person. Although each saying may appear as a simple note on its own, behind them lie fundamental matters such as the discipline of the nafs (the lower self), awareness of mortality, knowledge, adab (etiquette), and maturity of the qalb (the heart).
01
"Do not befriend the ignorant: he knows no knowledge, no maʿrifa (gnosis, experiential knowledge of God), no word; you will be grieved."
02
"You and your companions with the sword, and dervishes like us with thought, reflection, and dua (supplication), for what has been promised to us."
03
"Know the ḥāl (spiritual state), know the conditions, know the heart."
04
"If you compare yourself to others, you will become either unhappy or arrogant. For you will always find someone in a better or worse state than yourself."
05
"But if you do not know where and how to use these, you will be scattered away in the morning winds."
06
"Loneliness is for those who are afraid. The farmer who knows the time to sow the earth does not consult another. Even if he is left alone! It is enough that he knows the earth is in the right condition."
07
"The world is not as big as your eyes see it. All the mysteries yet to be conquered, the unknowns, the unseen, will only come to light through your virtue and merits."
08
"Advice to Osman Bey: Son, there are people who are born at dawn and die at the evening call to prayer. Console yourself, my son, console yourself. You are strong, powerful, intelligent, eloquent. But if you do not know where and how to use these, you will be scattered away in the morning wind. Your anger and nafs (the lower self) will unite and overcome your mind. Always be patient, steadfast, and possess your will. The world is not as big as your eyes see it. All the mysteries yet to be conquered, the unknowns, the unseen, will only come to light through your virtue and merits. Respect your mother and father, for blessing is with the elders. If you lose your faith in this world, you will become barren while still green, you will turn into deserts. Be frank. Do not take every word upon yourself. Do not speak what you see, do not reveal what you know. Do not frequent places where you are loved too often, your affection will fade, and you will lose esteem. Pity three types of people: the scholar among the ignorant, the one who becomes poor after being rich, and the one who loses his reputation after being respected. Remember! Those who hold high positions are not as safe as those below. Do not fear to struggle when you are right. Know that the best horse is called 'doru', the best brave man is called 'mad'."
09
"Laziness is for us; to warn, to encourage, to shape is for you."
10
"Sabr (patient endurance) is to swallow a black thorn, and even as the thorn tears through your insides, to make no sound."
11
"From now on, anger is for us; gentleness is for you."
12
"The world is a strange inn, a harsh place; man is a strange being who does not fit his vessel. Life is a sip of water, a momentary dream; life is a short road with no repetition."
13
"Do not befriend the conceited: he speaks much, speaks emptily, speaks ill; you will be grieved."
14
"Do not befriend the uncultured: he knows no way, no method, no rule; you will be grieved."
15
"Those who can distinguish the beneficial from the useless are those who possess knowledge."
16
"Do not befriend the greedy: he knows no generosity, no rule, no satiety; you will be grieved."
17
"He who does not know his past cannot know his future."
18
"Pity three types of people: the scholar among the ignorant, the one who becomes poor after being rich, and the one who loses his reputation after being respected."
19
"When an animal dies, its saddle remains; when a human dies, his work remains. One should weep not for the one who leaves, but for the one who does not leave anything behind."
20
"Know generosity, know rules, know contentment."
21
"Do not speak much, do not speak emptily, do not speak ill."
22
"From now on, dividing is for us; uniting is for you."
23
"May your beylik be blessed. May He make it beneficial on the path of Truth. May He make your light shine. May He convey it to distant lands."
24
"The bey is not beyond the land. A war is not fought only for the bey. We have no right to stop or rest, for there is no time, the duration is short."
25
"Incapacity is for us, error is for us; forbearance is for you."
26
"Discords, conflicts, incompatibilities, disagreements are for us; justice is for you."
27
"Know yourself; this suffices for you all your life."
28
"Do not break anyone's hope."
29
"Your anger and nafs (the lower self) will unite and overcome your mind; always be patient, steadfast, and possess your will."
30
"To blame is for us; to endure is for you."
31
"May He grant you the strength to bear your burden, the mind and heart that will not let your foot slip."
32
"Be courageous, be brave of heart."
33
"Know method, know adab (etiquette), know limits."
34
"A person's strength will one day be exhausted, but knowledge lives on. The light of knowledge seeps in even through closed eyes and brings one to illumination."
35
"Know that the best horse is called 'doru', the best brave man is called 'mad'."
36
"Do not speak what you see, do not reveal what you know."
37
"Know the way, know the method."
38
"Do not befriend the ignoble: he knows no courage, no heart, no friendship; you will be grieved."
39
"Your burden is heavy, your task is arduous, your strength is as thin as a hair, may Allah Most High be your helper."
40
"Do not befriend the arrogant: he knows no state, no condition, no heart; you will be grieved."
41
"Resentment is for us; making amends is for you."
42
"Know knowledge, know maʿrifa (gnosis, experiential knowledge of God), know the word."
43
"Do not befriend the disrespectful: he knows no method, no adab (etiquette), no limits; you will be grieved."
44
"Those who hold high positions are not as safe as those below."