1. BOOK — 6. CHAPTER — AVOIDING FETVA
There are some people who contemplate, and in such a way that they astonish those who possess reason, the subtleties of wisdom open the hearts of Allahu Teâlâ. Because of this, our Prophet said:
«He who acts upon what he knows, Allahu Teâlâ reveals to him what he does not know.» (154)
Some of the books revealed to the previous prophets write as follows:
«Knowledge is a treasure in the heavens, who will bring it down? It is beneath the earth, who will bring it up? It is behind the seas, who will bring it forth? Do not say so, for knowledge is within your hearts. Be like angels in my spiritual presence, and be pious like the truthful, so that the knowledge in your hearts may shine upon you.»
Abdullah Tüsteri said: «The scholars, the worshippers, and the ascetics leave the world while their hearts are closed, but only the truthful and the martyrs have their hearts opened.» After saying this, he recited the verse of Allahu Teâlâ:
«The keys of the unseen are with Him, and only He knows the unseen.» (6-En’am: 59)
If the understanding of hearts illuminated by inner knowledge did not dominate the outward knowledge, our Prophet would not have said:
«You should consult your heart, even if the jurists give a ruling.»
In a kudsi Hadith, our Prophet said:
«My servant, through supererogatory worship, comes close to me until he reaches my joy, and even becomes equal to my love. And I become his eyes when I look at him with love.» (155)
There are many subtle meanings in the Qur’an that the expositors of tafsir books cannot understand, and even the great mystics cannot know. These meanings are born in the hearts of those who engage in remembrance and contemplation. These meanings are revealed to the contemplative disciples, and when they are presented to the (just) expositors, they recognize them as the fruits of pure hearts and the reward of those who are devoted to Allahu Teâlâ. In the sciences of spiritual experience, the subtleties of the science of conduct, and the subtleties that reach the heart, the situation is the same. Each of these sciences is a sea whose depths have not been explored. Only those who are granted by their Lord and have performed good deeds in accordance with their capacity can delve into these sciences.
Hazret-i ATI, in a long hadith, describes such afterlife sciences as follows:
«Hearts are like vessels; the best vessel is the one that contains goodness.»
«People are divided into three groups: those who know Allah, those who read for salvation, and the third group, who are worthless and ordinary. They are followed by every cry, they bow to every breeze, they are not illuminated by the light of knowledge, and they do not cling to a strong branch. Knowledge is more beneficial than wealth. Because knowledge protects you, and you protect your wealth. Knowledge increases with teaching, while wealth diminishes with spending. Just as good deeds in life are achieved through knowledge, so too is the enjoyment of good memories after death possible through knowledge. Knowledge is the ruler, and wealth is the subject. The benefit of wealth increases greatly with the death of the person. The treasure-holders die, and their treasures remain behind. But the scholars live as long as the world lasts.» Then he took a long breath and said: «Be careful, if I had found my people, there is vast knowledge in my chest. Alas, those who seek are either unreliable people who use religion for worldly benefit, or they claim superiority over the saints of Allah with divine intentions, or they claim superiority over the servants of Allah with the evidence they have learned. Or they are those who are so lacking in insight that they cannot choose the right path, and they are carried away by the lusts of this world, or they are even more greedy for worldly pleasures and are driven by the desire to accumulate wealth. These people are even more like animals in the filth, and when the carriers of knowledge die, knowledge will also fade away. Nevertheless, the earth is not left empty of those who preserve the divine rulings. These people either appear openly for everyone to see, or they remain hidden to protect the honor of Allahu Teâlâ. (Ibn Kayyim: «There is no original source for this sentence; it is a fabrication added by the lying Rafidites.»
($85) Buhâri ile Müslim, Ebü Hureyre’den. . –
der.) Because this sentence is not found in Hilye. Because divine honor is not preserved through secrecy. Where are these people found? Because their numbers are few, but their value is high. Their identities are hidden, but their memories are in the hearts. Allahu Teâlâ preserves His honor through them. Even they entrust these proofs to those who come after them and place them in their hearts. Knowledge reaches them as it is. They reach the nearness of the soul, and things that seem harsh to the gentle become soft for them. They are familiar with the wild things that the heedless see. Their bodies, which are connected with lofty ranks, possess the world. These are the ones who are the friends and servants of Allah on earth, and they have been honored with His trust. They invite people to the religion.» Then he wept and said: «These are the things I have longed for.»