DÖRDÜNCÜ BÂB · BEŞİNCİ FASIL · Üçüncü Madde
Third Article
This explains the second principle of the Naqshbandi path.
O beloved! Know that Shaykh Bahauddin Nakshband and his
successors, the *khwajas* (may Allah’s mercy be upon them all), said:
The second of our three principles is heartfelt concentration (*tawajjuh-i qalbî*),
which is to utter the Name of God (the Most Sublime Name – *ism al-jalal*) with the heart of remembrance, and to contemplate the unique meaning that arises from the influence of that blessed name. To preserve that meaning and direct oneself towards one’s heart—shaped like a pine cone (*qalb-i sanabari*)—with all senses and faculties. To continue this direction and to safeguard that elevated meaning even with effort. To persist in this until the burden and difficulty are removed.
If that meaning completely affects the remembrance practitioner's being before the state of attraction (*cazba*) occurs, then what is required of him is to direct it towards his own insight as a purely transcendent and perfect light encompassing all of existence, and to turn towards it with all his sensory faculties and the heart shaped like a pine cone. He must continue in this manner until the form disappears and the intended essential meaning manifests itself.
While the remembrancer continues to say “Allah” with his heart, he becomes aware that His attributes encompass every atom in the universe, and through this awareness he remembers so much that he completely transcends himself. Then from there, he reaches a station where this state becomes a characteristic of his heart. His spirit and soul are filled with this light and experience immense pleasure. While his heart is occupied with this remembrance, he is overcome by astonishment, which reveals to him the wondrous states of the unseen realm (*malakut*).
In this state, the remembrancer should set aside thought and immerse himself in that astonishment. Whatever states pertain to the world of the heart should remain within the heart. Surely, he should not reveal esoteric secrets to the people nor stray from the clear religion of Islam. When that state of astonishment departs from him, he should continue remembering. Again, when astonishment arrives, he should cease from being occupied with anything—even remembrance—because remembrance is knocking on the door of meaning; astonishment is opening the door of the Divine (*mawi*). Once the door is opened, there is no need to knock.
The silence (*sükût*) of the heart is even more excellent than all these things. This astonishment follows one another and increases day by day until the remembrancer frequently finds himself in this state. With time, he becomes so immersed in this astonishment that he completely transcends his attributes (*fana*) and remains with the aforementioned attributes. He escapes the servitude of humanity and discovers sovereignty within his own realm. In accordance with the saying, "The breast of the righteous is a graveyard of secrets," he conceals the states of his heart.
This remembrancer who falls into astonishment becomes powerful; this one who finds *fana* is a possessor of perfect felicity. Crowds are solitude and seclusion (*itikaf* and *halwat*) to him. Multiplicity is unity and withdrawal to him. His breathing is glorification and worship. His speech is pure wisdom. Every action is obedience and service to God. His manner is gentleness, courtesy, and friendship. His gaze is pure instruction. His thought is knowledge and experience. His character is clemency and compassion towards all people, for he has become intoxicated with the wine of unity. He has plunged into the sea of love. In every state, he is present in the presence of that Divine Essence. He can live with all opposites, forming friendships with them separately. Wherever he may be, he finds delight and comfort in the bliss of the heart.
His heart is not clouded by the dust of opposition; it does not grieve. His soul never separates from his beloved even for a moment. His connection does not shift outward to anything else; he relies on nothing but that. He fears no one, nor expects anything from anyone. Perhaps he finds no interest in anything pertaining to the external and internal (*ma siwa*).
When he closes his eyes, he is in the station of *fana fi Allah*. And when he opens them, he is in the station of *baqa bi Allah*.
Verses:
1- The heart is a beloved; praise be to God. His lips are on the Kevser River; praise be to God.
2- He desires neither son nor daughter, nor adornment. Neither gold nor silver is his; praise be to God.
3- The heart beholds the world with his beloved; and he is unveiled; praise be to God.
4- The heart recognizes only his friend in the world. His enemy is defeated; praise be to God.
5- If this body perishes, there is no grief; my soul is in a delightful place; praise be to God.
6- In the heart, the eye of the soul shines brightly; it is illuminated; praise be to God.
7- He drank the wine of love from eternity; he still holds that secret; praise be to God.
These states and stations, these degrees and perfections may manifest in a year, or a quarter of a year, or ten days, or one day, or even an hour, according to Divine grace and the individual’s capacity. The heart becomes connected to his friend to the extent that it turns towards him with sincerity. This is an indication of the hadith: “The paths to God are equal to the number of breaths of creation.”
If the remembrancer does not refrain from contemplating the Divine in every moment, and if he does not cease remembering God even when sleep overcomes him, then his sleep will be like being awake during the day; he will find himself in the presence of the Divine Essence while asleep. He will quickly attain the state of poverty (*faqr*) and annihilation (*fana*). For the attributes and influences of the Name of God are very numerous. These influences cannot be attained through preoccupation with His other blessed names and qualities. The remembrancer who continues to remember with this Name of Essence—that is, he repeats “Allah, Allah, Allah”—will be filled with tranquility and draw strength from Him.
1- Desire every wish from Him and find contentment, O heart. Enter in, become a king within the world, O heart. Burn with the grief of Divine love, become His servant, O heart. Do not desire anything other than the love of God, O heart. Be astonished, for that path is near to God, O heart! Plunge into the sea of love, filling it measure by measure, O heart!
2- Eat little, drink little, sleep little; practice heartfelt remembrance. Reject doubt, thought, and intellect, so that the heart may be silent. Die before dying, so that the Ever-Living One may make you alive. Be mindful in every moment, finding God and forgetting the people. Be astonished, for that path is near to God, O heart! Plunge into the sea of love, filling it measure by measure, O heart!
3- Do not place ill character within the heart, so that good character may abound. Observe the command of God, show compassion to all the people. Abandon the self, come from the heart to God, embark on a journey in the land. May solitude be found with the people through God. Be astonished, for that path is near to God, O heart! Plunge into the sea of love, filling it measure by measure, O heart!
4- Do not grieve if the people of the world are your enemies. The Most Compassionate and the Most Merciful have been your friend in every way. Whatever comes, let it be welcome, coming from God, a guest to you. If the grief of love arrives, be joyful, for He is the healer. Be astonished, for that path is near to God, O heart! Plunge into the sea of love, filling it measure by measure, O heart!
5- Plunge into the sea of love, like dust fallen into water. May that self perish within that sea, and may certainty remain. The world and humankind are all but a single soul, assuredly. If you see everyone as yourself, then never speak of it. Be astonished, for that path is near to God, O heart! Plunge into the sea of love, filling it measure by measure, O heart!
6- Whatever you behold, know it to be your own partial manifestation. Do not remain in the multiplicity of forms, but plunge into the unity of meaning. The people of realization, intoxicated with the wine of unity, taste its delight. Become a gnostic, finding bliss in poverty and annihilation, and abide within that state. Be astonished, for that path is near to God, O heart! Plunge into the sea of love, filling it measure by measure, O heart!
7- Find God within your soul, as the wave conceals the water. God is your helper with the secret of companionship at all times. He is close to you, and you are not distant, immediately. When the heart is the Kaaba, let no foreignness enter, assuredly. Be astonished, for that path is near to God, O heart! Plunge into the sea of love, filling it measure by measure, O heart!