The Light of the Day of Judgment: Comfort in the Shade of the Throne
A profound understanding gained from the works of Abdülkadir Geylânî reveals that there is a haven to which one can retreat in the face of the terror of the Day of Resurrection. This haven is built by abandoning our attachments to worldly pleasures and desiring the Hereafter and our Lord. As mentioned in hadiths, those who serve Allah will be comfortably present under the shade of the Throne, at dazzling tables on the Day of Judgment. These spiritual scenes are a beacon of hope intricately weaving deliverance from worldly distress and eternal bliss.
The Mask of Worldly Love: A Trap Forgetting the Hereafter
Geylânî strikingly expresses that excessive attachment to this world constitutes an obstacle on the path to the Hereafter. Worldly desires and ambitions prevent a person from seeking Allah’s pleasure, diverting them from the guidance of the Book and the Sunnah. This opens the door to hardship and humiliation in the Day of Judgment. We must not forget that the world is transient; the truly eternal life is the Hereafter. Realizing this truth is the first step in avoiding succumbing to the whims of the ego.
Compassion for the Ego and Allegiance to the Guide: Finding One’s Way on the Right Path
Islamic ethics requires controlling the ego and guiding it onto the right path. Geylânî emphasizes the importance of approaching the ego with compassion; because the ego is also a part of one’s being, and when properly guided, it can perform virtuous deeds. However, to protect the ego from the evil influences of devils, it is essential to adhere firmly to the Book and the Sunnah, and to act ‘under the guidance’ of an ‘imam’. We should live in accordance with the Sunnah of our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), not according to our own whims.
Humility and Absence of Envy: Protecting the Light of the Heart
The warnings about the destructive effects of envy in Geylânî’s works demonstrate how important it is to protect the light of our hearts. Envy consumes goodness, leading to spiritual poisoning and causing one to stray from Allah’s pleasure. Instead of envying our neighbor’s blessings, we should rejoice in their fortune, knowing that what we have is by Allah’s decree. We must remember that this worldly life is one of the trials Allah has given us, and we can successfully pass this test with humility.