Two Paths Forward: Sharia and Batin
In the works of Abdülkadir Geylani, the concept of ‘ittiba,’ meaning following an action, is divided into two main paths. The first is fulfilling the necessities of this world’s life and staying away from selfish desires and sins; this means meticulously applying the obligatory acts of worship and moral behaviors prescribed by Sharia. However, the true depth lies in progressing on the path of Batin, which requires following the commands related to permissible (mubah) matters that God Almighty whispers to His servant, which are not directly ruled upon in Sharia; these commands are a guidance for the servant to strengthen their connection with their Lord within their inner world.
The Mystery of Permissible Actions: A Compass for the Future
Permissible actions that have no ruling in Sharia may seem at first glance to be left to arbitrary choices; this situation leads them to be described as ‘stateless’ or ‘indifferent.’ In fact, this creates a space where the servant can act with their own reason and desire; but this freedom does not mean irresponsibility. The servant should listen to their inner voice and choose what is pleasing to their Lord. In this choice, the servant waits for the command, follows it when commanded, and thus their actions reach their Lord; this expresses the unity of those actions that are subject to Sharia with the ruling of the Batin order.
The Path of Submission: The States of the Servant
Complete submission requires purification from the desires of the self and turning towards God; at this point, the individual becomes a ‘servant of the king.’ This is not being a slave of the kingdom, but a servant of the command; just as a baby is in the hands of his mother, a patient is before his doctor, so too does the servant submit to the will of his Lord. The pinnacle of this submission is the state of ‘fana’; here, the heart integrates with God’s essence, follows the path of those who are masters of knowledge and reason, the gnostics and monotheists, and ultimately reaches the station of abdâl, who is the caliph, friend and beloved of Ar-Rahman. At this stage, will is completely in the hands of God; the person does not know themselves, they simply carry out the command.
The Sweetness of Patience: Even if You Don’t Get What You Want
Patience is one of the most important virtues on the path of divine approval; Allah Almighty gives good news that He can help us even if our wish does not come true. This help may be to alleviate our burden by eliminating desire, to protect us and our lives and bring us to the desired outcome, or to grant us the desire without hardship in this world or in the hereafter. If we successfully pass this trial with patience and gratitude, Allah Almighty will reward us; if it is destined for us, He will bring our wish to us and transform our patience into gratitude. If it is not in our destiny, even if our self resists, our Lord makes us needy of that desire, teaches us patience, and tests us with His grace; this is also an indication of true submission.