ÜÇÜNCÜ FEN · BİRİNCİ BAB · BİRİNCİ FASIL · Birinci Madde
The First Article
It indicates that humankind is like animals when ignorant and heedless, but attains the station of the "Perfect Human" [95] when possessing knowledge and gnosis.
O esteemed one! Know that the Friends of Allah (ahlullâh) have said: Allah, the Most High, the Sole Penman of all wisdom, through His Will – His attribute of volition – writes the unique and perfect forms and the destinies and fates of existent beings onto a "Page of Creation Without Precedent," recording them without looking at a model; then, with the pen that scatters the essence of His power, He depicts and portrays the images and forms of existence through the manifestation of His attribute of volition upon the “Tablet of Unprecedented Creations.” Thus, in accordance with the meaning of the verse, "By the Pen and what they write!" (The Pen, 68/1), the First Intellect (akl-i evvel) and the Highest Pen (kalem-i a’lâ) have been the cause of the creation of existents, and the instrument through which valuable and worthless decrees (sutûr) emerge.
He is the leader of the caravan of primordial essences (a’yân) and the guide of the kervan of possible realities (hakayık-ı mümkinât).
For this white pearl, in accordance with the meaning of the verse, "Allah taught Adam all [the] names" (Bakara, 2/31), has emerged from the heights of the reality of Prophet Adam (peace be upon him); and this unique, singular essence (cevher-i ferd) shines with lights emanating from his nature, as stated in the verse, "The earth will shine with the light of your Lord" (Zumar, 39/69). Indeed, this great prototype (nüsha-i kübrâ), which is the gathering place of the subtleties of Allah’s creative artistry – that is, humankind – has been appointed as the bearer of Allah's trust and the fulfiller of the obligations of deputyship (hilâfet), being a fihrist (index) of unending wisdom and beauty, and the most magnificent page.
[Poem]
1-Ber semâvât ü arz ve mâ fî’l-beyn
Ve araznâ’l-emânete fe-ebeyn
2-Leyse fî’l-kevni kâ’inen men kân
Kâfilen hamelehâ sivâ’l-insân
(Translation)
1-To the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, We presented the trust; they declined.
2-No one in existence was able to bear it except humankind.
This noble command of the blessed company is enshrined in the verse, "I am going to place into the earth a vicegerent" (Bakara, 2/30), as he has been honored with the title of “vicegerent” and the beautiful qualities of this chosen group are confirmed by the verse, "He has subjected to you all that is in the heavens and on the earth, as a favor from Him" (Jasiya, 45/13), so their beautiful and precious forms are higher than even the seven heavens. All material and spiritual worlds have bowed down to them and obeyed their commands under the seal of guaranteed happiness, and they have become the place of prostration for all angels, the possessors of the magnificent seven thrones.
However, because they are the locus of manifestation of Allah’s contrary names (esmâ-i mutakãbile) and a mirror of mutually opposing attributes, sometimes they are honored and pleased with the address, "We have indeed given him preference over many of Our creatures" (Isra, 17/70), and sometimes they are blamed and criticized as in the reply of the angels to Allah, Most High, “Are you going to place into the earth mischief-makers and bloodshedders?” (Bakara, 2/30). At times, according to the sacred hadith, "I created creatures for your sake" [96], they ascend to the highest degree of the Divine Presence (a’lâ-i illiyîn), namely the station of seeing nothing but Allah (jam’ul-jam’), due to being the beloved in the court of Allah's Oneness (ehadiyet); at other times, some of them descend into the lowest regions of baseness and vulgarity ("asfal-i sâfilîn") by incurring Allah’s wrath, as stated in the verse, "They are like animals, nay, even worse" (A’raf, 7/179). Those of the first group are given glad tidings with the verse, “Those who believe and do good deeds will enter Paradise” (Infitaar, 82/13), while to the second group is announced that they will be destroyed and afflicted with punishment with the verse, "Those who disbelieve will be in the Fire" (Infitaar, 82/14).
[Poem]
Âdemî-zâde turfe ma‘cûnîst
K’ez firişte sirişte v’ez hayvân
Ger bedîn meyl mî-koned kem z’în
Ve’r bedân meyl mî-koned bih ez-ân
(Translation)
Adam's offspring is a mixture of angelic and animal nature. If the animal nature overwhelms him, he becomes lower than an animal. If the angelic nature prevails, he becomes higher than an angel.
Therefore, the most important task for the intelligent human being is to worship Allah, as stated in the verse, "And I did not create the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me" (Zariyat, 51/56). Thus, knowing one’s origin and destination (mabda' wa ma'ad) is essential. Striving with all his power to be a trustworthy bearer of the trust of deputyship and a true center of deputyship, he will attain eternal bliss and everlasting happiness. By attaining the lofty mansions of the palace of gnosis – that is, by knowing Allah – and entering into its palaces which give pleasure and transport one beyond oneself; by striving to adhere to the firm rope of the Sharia, as stated in the saying, "Whoever clings to Allah’s Book and the Sunnah of the Messenger will surely have grasped a rope that will not break”; and by exerting his utmost effort on the path of attaining the love of the saints (evliyã) and becoming their disciple – these are profitable endeavors for an intelligent person.
[Poem]
Bende-i yek merd-i rûşen-dil şevî
Bih ki ber fark-ı ser-i câhil şevî
Ger tû seng-i sahre vu mermer şevî
Çun be-sâhib-dil resî gevher şevî
(Translation)
It is better to be a slave of a heart-illuminated man than to be on top of the head of an ignorant person.
Even if you are a stone or marble, if you reach a heart-possessor, you will become a jewel.
Although it is stated in the verse, "Today I have perfected your religion for you and completed My favor upon you and approved the way of life as Islam for you" (Ma’ida, 5/3), only the Book and
Acting in accordance with the Sunna is a sufficient cause for salvation. Acting upon it is a perfect instrument that leads to one’s goal. Those who follow the path of the Exalted God without deviating to right or left will ultimately reach the mansions of paradise. Those who take the Book and the Sunna as their guide will enter the gardens of paradise, which are a haven in the Hereafter. Along with this, the science of inheritance is the heir to the treasure of true words and the gift of the last of the prophets.
*Poem*
The secret between two lovers cannot be revealed by anyone.
Words and pen cannot relate it to the people.
The way to attain spiritual knowledge inherited from the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him, is also possible through being a disciple of heart-knowing saints, loving them, and visiting their blessed presence for healing. “These are the ones whom Allah has guided. Follow their path,” (Surah Al-An’am, 6:90) – in accordance with this command, one should partake of the harvests of guidance and, as expressed in the hadith "A person is upon the religion of those he loves," [99] be counted among those who love them (or those they love). It is necessary to make affection and compassion a refuge for hearts and to conceal sincere insights deep within the soul and heart like treasures from a ruler’s treasury.
*Verses*
1. I have found a bond between myself and love, through knowledge
That will never end, extending into eternity.
2. I shall depart from this world, but your love will intoxicate me,
Unnoticed by the very core of existence.
*Poem*
The sweetness and affection in my heart's desire, like milk mixed with saffron,
Have become intertwined and turned to life.
It is certain that the invaluable spiritual states of those possessing spiritual ecstasy and conditions are like precious pearls, having grown and ripened in the depths of the sea of taste and conscience, emerging from the mine of existence, witnessing, and certainty. Therefore, it is rare for divers of reason and sense to seize them. Even those who appreciate delicate and subtle jewels fail to comprehend their value. Thus, these magnificent pearls are protected within the chests of the chosen servants (the free ones), like their lives. It is as clear as day that these precious gems are hidden and concealed in the treasure chests of the great saints. There is no need to say that every destitute person whose capital of knowledge and love has run out is not worthy of this unique jewel and cannot attain it.
*Poem*
The science of Sufism is a science that everyone does not know,
Only the blessed one who is adorned with the attributes of Truth can taste it.
To attain the lofty character and beautiful states of the blessed saints; it is possible through correcting belief, performing prayers on time, forgetting desires and wishes, knowing the attributes of God, and loving His essence. Therefore, in this field, adherence to the Book and Sunna, along with the customs and conditions of the people of knowledge and love, has been deemed appropriate to be explained in various chapters and sections. So that by contemplating their sweet fragrance, the heart of the seeker of spiritual guidance may blossom like a rosebud. May his soul open like spring flowers, soak into the water, and pass through himself from these drops of wisdom, attaining degrees of perfection through spiritual states, reaching stations of love, entering the assembly of nearness to God, attaining eternal blessings and finding endless happiness. May his heart be cleansed of superfluous things (other than God) and become a place where divine wisdom descends.
"(O Allah! Remove the veil of unfamiliarity from our eyes by Your grace!) O Allah! Protect us from being preoccupied with frivolous matters and show us the truth of things as they are."
*Quatrain*
O Lord, create this eye of the heart for me
Make the mirror of the tongue pure and polished
Let your remembrance and gratitude be the vow of my tongue
Let the soul-nightingale sing praises to You.