ÜÇÜNCÜ FEN · İKİNCİ BÂB · ÜÇÜNCÜ FASIL · Dördüncü Madde
Dördüncü Madde
It relates that curtailing speech brings honor and prosperity, perfecting spiritual states and preserving them.
O esteemed one! Know that the friends of Allah have said: Guard your tongue as if it were gold, so that a subtle word (nukte) does not cause grief to your heart. Make your tongue a slave of your lips and teeth, so that they do not enslave you and cast you into prison. If you make your speech scarce and your silence abundant, you will enter the path of safety and security by concealing secrets. A person is hidden within their own tongue. Whoever utters every word that comes to their tongue suffers loss. The calamity of a human being lies in their tongue.
Poem
Bind, O Seeker of Truth, restrain your mouth; be silent like an oyster shell,
For the tongue is ruinous; it is surely the enemy of the soul.
In modern Turkish:
Bind your mouth, O Seeker of Truth! Be silent like an oyster shell, for the tongue is ruinous to you; it is undoubtedly the enemy of the soul.
How much useless speech is a defect upon its owner. How many tongues are enemies to their owners.
An assembly is in trust; betraying what is spoken in the assembly is treachery.
A person’s safety lies in restraining his tongue and doing good to people. First think, then speak. The intelligent person's tongue resides in his heart, while the foolish person's heart resides in his mouth. Speak truthfully so that you may find gain. Remain silent on matters that are untrue so that you may be safe. [300] Every human being is held accountable for their speech and attains all their desires through secrecy.
As it happened one night, a nightingale in a rose garden questioned a falcon with beautiful lamentations of its own state:
“We are both birds, yet why is your place the hand of a ruler, and mine the thorn bush in the rose garden? You devour the lovely partridge’s heart and kidneys, hunt every bird and attain your desire. You find value in the eyes of the ruler. You become the sultan of the birds. I, however, each night wail and lament until the dawn when the still-budded rose opens. It does not open unless I am awake. I awaken to see it opened. I cannot see it open even once. I cry out with a sigh, lamenting and groaning in thorns, bereft of my desire.”
The falcon gave him an answer so noble: “I take a thousand desires, but speak not one. You take no desire and utter a thousand. Therefore, you remain without desire and wail and groan.”
Poem
Be silent, O Seeker of Truth, for within silence there is
A thousand tongues and a thousand expressions.
In modern Turkish:
O Seeker of Truth! Be silent, for in silence there are thousands of tongues and thousands of expressions.
The most excellent speech is that which has little wording but much meaning. How many silences are the most meaningful words. How many speeches are like arrows. How many people are destroyed by their tongue. How many blessings are lost through utterance.
The fall of the tongue is more important than a fall of the foot. A tongue wound is more painful than an arrow wound. Silence, which gives you composure and safety, is better than speech, which brings regret and shame. Guarding one’s tongue is the most important element of faith. The lights of remembering Allah through excessive talk vanish from the heart. Therefore, much speaking darkens the soul. Greetings to him whose tongue is silent and whose heart remembers Allah. Greetings to him who takes care of his tongue and thanks in every situation. The tongue of an adept, a knower, becomes mute. [219/a]
Poem
Do not speak of that Most Holy Essence
There is no mention within it; be astonished at that.
In modern Turkish:
O Seeker of Truth, do not speak of that Most Holy Essence. Be amazed so that there is no mention within it.
Protecting the tongue is kindness to oneself. Concealing one’s secret is respect for one's soul. The chest of a knower is a treasure chest of secrets. Silence is concealing one’s own ignorance. The person who takes care of his tongue will be filled with regret.
The pen is also a second tongue. Whoever protects his tongue is safe. He who speaks with wisdom finds honor and dignity. Tell people what you know, do not tell them what you do not know. Do not burden them with yourself or those devoted to knowledge. Be close to people in your body and tongue, but distant from them in your heart and soul.
Poem
What does the light of the sun do for bats, O Seeker of Truth?
Do not reveal this secret of unity within multiplicity ever.
In modern Turkish:
What does the light of the sun do for bats, O Seeker of Truth! Do not ever reveal this secret of unity within multiplicity.
“I do not know” is half of knowledge. Covering up faults is the entirety of gentleness (hilm). Abandoning the words “I do not know” leads to strife and argument. The intelligent person does not explain everything he knows to people. Do not speak publicly what will be refuted. Do not reveal every wisdom you possess.
Poem
O heart, do not grind sugar in a diseased mouth
Do not tell the beauty of the sun to a blind man needlessly.
In modern Turkish:
O heart, do not grind sugar in a diseased mouth. Do not needlessly tell the beauty of the sun to a blind man.
He who reveals his secret to his wife and servants becomes their slave and begs them. He who reveals his secret to the public casts himself into torment and distress. He who reveals his poverty to people diminishes his value and worth. Be generous with your wealth, do not be miserly. Be stingy with your secrets, do not speak them. Those who are miserly with their wealth become humbled. Those who are stingy with their secrets are exalted. A fool is one who does not conceal his own secret. It is certain that another will not keep your secret. Do not tell another a secret if you have told him one, so that you do not disgrace yourself among those who know nothing.
Poem
Immediately hide the secret for safety’s sake
For the pure heart is full of secrets.
In modern Turkish:
Immediately conceal the secret for safety's sake; for the pure heart is only filled with secrets.
Do not reveal the veil of secrets to one who does not know their meaning. Do not answer every question that is asked of you. Never speak ill of anyone so that you do not hear bad replies from them. Do not tell a fool wisdom he cannot comprehend, lest he reject it. For wisdom has a right over you. The right of wisdom is to protect it from one who is not worthy of it, so that it may not be lost.
Poem
If you are aware of the secrets of eternity, O Seeker of Truth
Do not give heed to every report; do not reveal the secret.
In modern Turkish:
If you are aware of the secrets of eternity, O Seeker of Truth! Do not give heed to every report; do not reveal the secret.
The states of love are such that secrets are never revealed.
A hidden treasure is needed, it is never revealed.
Become devoted to the beloved and be detached from others.
Those words are not spoken aloud to so many outsiders.
The words of love are wisdom, they are a trust.
What is in the soul of the lover, is never revealed.
Sing of the beauty of the rose to the nightingale a thousand times,
He does not want it; its description is never uttered to thorns.
Why does that blazing flame constantly move, drawing countless circles?
Such a point is never spoken of.
The letter became a dot, then a word, then a book, becoming the world.
So much is never said about such a dot.
He sees the love-point extending beautifully in this world.
The confidant of secrets reads it; it is never uttered.
A single drop, repeated, has become an ocean.
One tree bore abundant fruit; it is never spoken of.
Those who are foolish multiplied the point of knowledge.
Truth is He—it is not spoken of among outsiders.