DÖRDÜNCÜ BÂB · BİRİNCİ FASIL · Dördüncü Madde
The Fourth Article
Those of profound insight (Arifin) declare that they found the Lord (Hazret-i Mevlâ) by forgetting all else than Him.
O beloved! It must be known that the friends of Allah have said: A knower is one who cannot be distanced from Allah by any preoccupation. Not even in the blink of an eye does he remain unaware of presence and intimacy.
A knower is one whose tongue remains silent, yet Allah Most High speaks through his secret.
A knower is one who turns away from all that is not He and occupies himself with the Lord he recognizes within his heart.
A knower is one who abandons his own measures (plans) and awaits the measure of Allah, seeking favor in it. A knower is one who grieves over nothing; everything brings him presence and joy, and he knows no sorrow. A knower is one for whom the world becomes constricted despite its vastness, and he flees from the customs of people to the Presence of the Most High, settling in His bestowed peace and friendship. A knower is one who constantly reflects and with this traverses the realm of the unseen. A knower knows that his gnosis (irfan) is a capital of blessedness and avoids placing it where it is not deserved – that is, speaking to those unworthy. A knower feels no interest in that which he does not understand its nature, and never does the thought arise within him to know or comprehend anything other than Allah. A knower annihilates his own attributes with the Attributes of the Real. Until he reaches a state where he knows nothing but Him, and speaks only of Him and hears only from Him. How can such a knower be sorrowful? His heart is filled with joy, and his soul is at peace. The provision of the devout (Abidin) is water and bread; the provision of the knower is the light of gnosis. A knower knows the Real through the Real and has awareness of the world through the Light of the Real. The knower’s peace is knowledge, and his joy is love. The light of Tawhid is his truth.
A knower wanders in the gardens of the heart and swims in the pool of the soul, reciting heartfelt supplications to his Lord with his tongue. A knower is one who takes pleasure only in Allah and speaks nothing but His Word. He knows no protector other than Allah for himself. The knower’s joy is knowledge, and his intimacy is unity. He finds patience and perseverance in enduring hardship and difficulty. To him, knowledge is a river and wisdom an ocean. Those who navigate the river are scholars, while those who plunge into the ocean are masters. Gnostics travel by ships that lead to salvation. The worship of the people of gnosis is like the crown of kings. They speak only of Him when they speak, they do only what is for His sake when they act, they ask only from Him when they request, and they seek favor only in Him. These are the trustworthy and those who strive in goodness; these are the chosen and acceptable servants. The hypocrisy (riya) of a knower is more valuable than the sincerity of the masses.
A knower [267/b] pays careful attention and diligence to showing reverence for Allah. He demonstrates his reverence by fulfilling obligatory duties and avoiding prohibitions. A knower does not speak secrets he knows to those who are not worthy. He does not reveal his comfort, joy, delight, or sorrow to anyone. The sign of a knower is that when he is with his Lord, he takes pride; but when he is alone with himself, he feels shame. The devout one melts his body, while the knower melts his soul. The heart of a knower is a lamp of wisdom; its wick is knowledge, its oil love, and its light the lights of the realm of the unseen. A scholar needs adab (etiquette), a devout person needs aspiration (talab); but a knower needs delight and ecstasy (tarab). For his blessedness with Allah is perpetual. The state of the fearful is ruined; the glory of the knower is to be in delight and ecstasy. The sign of an ascetic (zahid) is abandoning the world; the sign of a knower is abandoning supplication and turning to praise (of the Creator) fittingly.
Verses
1- Those devoted to gnosis have found traces of love,
Having become unaware of themselves, they have found knowledge.
2- Like Jacob, they did not open their eyes of desire to the world,
Until they found sight through Yusuf’s garment.
3- For a time, they plunged into darkness like night,
Until finally, they found dawn within the cavity of the heart.
4- How can heads be lifted from collars?
They have found a place for their beloved in the house of the heart.
5- None who hesitates in the valley of the soul will remain deprived,
For they have found a feather from that Simurgh on Mount Kaf.
6- Love is the one who tastes pleasure with beauty and every moment from it;
Those devoted to gnosis have found the light of sight in love.
7- Truly! The polish of the mirror of the soul is love;
In body, they have found sorrow through self.
Modern Turkish Translation:
1- Those devoted to gnosis have found traces of love. Having become unaware of themselves, they have found knowledge.
2- Like Jacob, they did not open their eyes of desire to the world. Yusuf’s garment is a sign they have found.
3- For a time, they plunged into darkness like night. Finally, they found dawn within the cavity of the heart.
4- How can heads be lifted from collars? They have found a place for their beloved in the house of the heart.
5- None who hesitates in the valley of the soul will remain deprived. They have found a feather from that Simurgh on Mount Kaf.
6- Love is the one who tastes pleasure with beauty and every moment from it; those devoted to gnosis have found the light of sight in love.
7- Truly! The polish of the mirror of the soul is love; in body, they have found sorrow through self.