DÖRDÜNCÜ BÂB · İKİNCİ FASIL · On sekizinci Madde
The Eighth Article
The leaves of the tree of love signify eagerness (shawq) and longing (ishtiyak). O beloved!
It is known that the friends of Allah have said: The leaf of the tree of love is eagerness, and love is its fruit. Perhaps eagerness is the consequence of love, for eagerness arises from love itself.
Therefore, eagerness is the reality of love. For he who feels love for his Lord in his heart will surely be eager to attain Him. The highest degree of eagerness is to sever one’s limbs from desires (shahaawat) and to love feeling eagerness for the Lord.
Eagerness is the essence of love, and love is the life of eagerness and love. Eagerness is the quickening of the heart when the beloved is mentioned. Eagerness is like the wick in a lamp, and love is like the oil in that lamp. The heart of the lover is illuminated only by the light of God. To such an extent that when the lover becomes ecstatic and stirs up eagerness, that light shines between the heavens and the earth.
Poem:
The soul which creates pleasure and peace is one of eagerness and love;
That hidden realm of unity overflows with light and joy.
Rabia al-Adawiyya (may Allah have mercy upon her) said: “By God, I do not obey Him out of fear of Hell, nor do I worship Him out of hope for Paradise. Perhaps I only worship Him through my love and eagerness.”
Eagerness is a fire that burns the soul, causing it to tremble. How can the fire of eagerness burn one who has a heart consumed by the fire of hell?
All of existence marvels at him who yearns for the Lord. Whoever yearns for his Lord will surely find peace only in His friendship (uns). The perfected person among the friends of Allah was told, “Do you yearn for your Lord?” He responded, "I do not yearn for Him;
for eagerness is only possible in absence; when the absent becomes present, there is no longer a matter of eagerness. There one speaks of witnessing.” The one who yearns for the Lord calls upon Him with his heart and beseeches him with his secret.
Poem:
1. Eagerness burned me, astonished me;
It separated me between abundance and lack.
2. Eagerness brought me closer, drowned me;
Eagerness saddened me, terrified me.
The difference between eagerness (shawq) and longing (ishtiyak) is that eagerness finds rest when seeing the beloved. Whereas, the longing of the one who longs increases when he meets his beloved.
Eagerness is the state of the holy ones; longing is specific to the most special of the special. One who reaches the station of longing becomes so thirsty that its trace disappears.
The gnostics possess many lights; among them are the light of reason, the light of the heart, the light of oneness (tawhid), the light of knowledge (ma’rifa), the light of eagerness, the light of love, the light of passion (ishq), and the light of ecstasy and states.
A perfected person was asked, “Do you yearn for the Houris?” He replied, "I yearn for Him who created them; for the light on their faces is but a reflection of His light.”
Quatrain:
1. If the Exalted has given you eagerness,
Then come immediately from the path of wonder to the heart’s abode.
2. Detach yourself from all else, forget yourself,
So that Divine love may remain in your soul.
3. A gnostic said, “Woe is me! He sees me, but I do not see Him.”
The sign of one who yearns is that he expects no return from the beloved, nor does he ask anything of him; rather, he desires only his pleasure. Night and day, he implores and desires to attain him. The yearning one knows nothing but God; he knows only Him. The high stations of the people of truth were to sever connection with all of creation and yearn for Allah, who brings forth everything from nothingness.
“Am I not your Lord?” (Al-A’raf 7:172) – In the assembly where this covenant was made, all the souls descended from the lineage of Adam received the unique delight of God's call. Therefore, a person is thrilled and finds pleasure when he hears a beautiful sound; he hopes to hear Allah’s invitation again.
Rubai:
Without Your face, I cannot find peace;
I cannot count Your blessings.
If every hair on my body were to speak,
I could not perform even one thousandth of thanks.
What can the yearning heart do with its body and soul? It abandons all details and desires to return to its origin.
Verses:
1. Abandon separation and come to your origin;
Leave behind others, come to your kin and family.
Come to the end of the summary, come to the original of the original.
Let go of the separation of the ending for the attainment of the beginning.
2. With heedlessness, you become like a stray;
You become free from the bonds of the trap.
You remain with the beloved perpetually.
Come to the original of the original.
Let go of the separation of the ending for the attainment of the beginning.
3. Though your body is the earth,
You are the thread of a precious jewel.
Since you are trustworthy in the secret of love,
Come to the original of the original.
Let go of the separation of the ending for the attainment of the beginning.
4. In form, you are a prisoner of exile;
Bound to the continuation of suffering.
In essence, you are like a prince of state.
Come to the original of the original.
Let go of the separation of the ending for the attainment of the beginning.
5. You open your eyes to this inferior world;
Alas, you flee from the true origin.
You are helpless in this worldly realm.
Come to the original of the original.
Let go of the separation of the ending for the attainment of the beginning.
6. In outward appearance, you are an illusion of body and soul;
Inwardly, you are a hidden treasure.
Open your heart’s eye and see what you are!
Come to the original of the original.
Let go of the separation of the ending for the attainment of the beginning.
7. To speak of God is not appropriate for one who possesses states;
You are fortunate and well-guided by destiny.
Since you are a child of the ray of beauty,
Return from manifestation to the Essence of Essence.
From the chapter of separation, arrive at the chapter of union.
1. Abandon severance, return to your origin. Discard this world; go to your kin, your lineage. Do not be content with summary; delve into detail. Pass through detail, and return to the Essence of Essence. Abandon separation, and enter the chapter of union.
2. If you are obedient without selfhood, you will escape all snares, ever abiding in the presence of the Beloved. Pass through detail, and return to the Essence of Essence. Abandon separation, and enter the chapter of union.
3. Though with your form you appear as earth, you are a spark of the jewel of certainty. Now that you are assured of the secret of love, pass through detail, and return to the Essence of Essence. Abandon separation, and enter the chapter of union.
4. In appearance, you seem a captive in exile. You have entangled your foot in the trap of tribulation. Yet, in reality, you are the treasure of fortune. Pass through detail, and return to the Essence of Essence. Abandon separation, and enter the chapter of union.
5. You open your eyes to this base world. Alas, you flee from your origin. Perhaps you are helpless within the realm of the body. Pass through detail, and return to the Essence of Essence. Abandon separation, and enter the chapter of union.
6. In outwardness, you are an enigma of the soul-body. In inwardness, you are a hidden treasure. Open the eye of your soul and see how precious you are. Pass through detail, and return to the Essence of Essence. Abandon separation, and enter the chapter of union.
7. O True One! It is not fitting that you be told, "You are one of the people of state; your fortune is blessed, and you are fortunate." Now that you are a child of that sun of beauty, pass through detail, and return to the Essence of Essence. Abandon separation, and enter the chapter of union.