DÖRDÜNCÜ BÂB · İKİNCİ FASIL · Beşinci Madde
Fifth Article
Concerning some signs and blessings of the love of the Divine.
O beloved! Know that the friends of God have said: The love of God is a bird of fortune which, when it alights upon someone, makes that person a sultan possessing throne and crown in both worlds. And it is a fountain of felicity; whoever its waters enter his heart becomes independent and self-sufficient in both realms, needing nothing from anyone. Everyone is dependent upon it.
If the sprout of divine love does not germinate within one’s heart and remains covered, then that person is like a corpse, unaware of life. Although all rational beings claim to be devoted to this path and say, "We sacrifice our lives for love," there are seven signs of the love of God; whoever possesses them is known as a sincere Muslim in their faith.
The first sign is that the lover of his Divine Beloved does not fear death nor shrink from it, but remains constantly ready and dedicated to Him. He awaits death at every moment, for only the lover attains his beloved, the seeker his sought-after object, and the wayfarer his homeland through death. Therefore, if there is still attachment and concern for this world, then the sign of divine love is not seen in that heart. Even though fear of death may prevent one from desiring it, striving night and day to attain Him is itself a manifestation of the love of God.
The second sign is that whatever the lover loves in this world, he loves it because of his love for the Divine Beloved. And likewise, he exerts himself in His path, for His sake. Whatever distracts his heart from the Divine Beloved, he abandons it and comes before God, acting according to His will. If one cannot act in every circumstance with God’s pleasure and acceptance, then this indicates a deficiency in the love of God, because divine love does not manifest itself perfectly in every heart; imperfections may arise in some hearts.
The third sign is that the lover of his Divine Beloved does not refrain from remembering and reflecting upon Him, night or day. For the lover remembers and mentions what he loves as much as he loves it—he recounts the attributes of his beloved, praising him constantly. If his love is complete, he never forgets Him. And if someone says, "I love both the Exalted God and something from this world," then one must examine their actions; for that which they mention most frequently is what they truly love, because the love of that which is much remembered prevails in the heart. And that which prevails gradually destroys that which is subdued.
The fourth sign is that the lover of his Divine Beloved respects His Eternal Word, and honors the prophets and friends who are His servants, following their path. Perhaps he shows affection and compassion to all creation, speaking gentle words and conversing sweetly with them. Thus, whoever attains the station of love, arrogance, envy, hatred, animosity, malice, and sorrow vanish from him; thoughts of self disappear. He views all beings with insight and wisdom, considering everyone a friend and getting along well with everyone.
The fifth sign is that the lover of his Divine Beloved prefers solitude and seclusion from people. He eagerly awaits the night, so that he may remove worldly attachments and affections from his heart and remain alone with his ancient beloved, the Divine, praising Him to his heart’s content and supplicating Him. As God Most High said to Prophet David (peace be upon him):
"O David! Whoever lies, claiming devotion to Me, yet sleeps through the nights, oblivious of Me? For does not a friend desire to see his friend and converse with him? Whoever seeks Me finds Me. Whoever finds Me no longer forms attachments to anything else; he finds no stability in any object besides Me.”
The sixth sign is that worship becomes easy for the lover of the Divine Beloved. He rushes into service with pleasure and zeal, perhaps knowing the worship as the nourishment of the soul and deriving great delight from it.
The seventh sign is that those who attain the station of divine love love God’s friends for God's sake, considering them their own friends. And they consider God’s enemies to be their enemies, covering their faults with compassion and kindness, even treating them gently.
Poem:
1- The lover of God seeks no refuge in a dwelling,
And does not find shame in any place.
2- He cares not for sustenance in the world,
And dislikes possessing anything.
The three blessings of Divine Love are that one is generous like an ocean, second, compassionate like the sun, and third, humble like the earth. For all goodness originates from the presence of love. Perhaps the very purpose of creation is love itself. The results of the love of the Divine also culminate in these three things: fasting frequently, reviving the nights with much worship and obedience, and speaking little. To attain the truth of complete love is to abandon companionship and association. The body of the lover who is sincere in his faith is distant from people, while his heart is attached to the heavens. His nature is spiritual, his aspiration divine, and his countenance luminous.
Nazm:
1- The soul is carefree in the passion of love, my friend;
To love you is a wondrous infatuation, my friend.
2- This meaning knows no animosity, always;
The lover’s heart is a refuge to you, my friend.
3- All things desire your beauty;
The world is full of noise and conflict, my friend.
4- The veil of duality has been lifted from the heart;
The soul is solitary from the world, my friend.
5- For no worldly concerns enter the mind;
The soul is passionate and intoxicated, my friend.
6- Though the rank of reason has become elevated,
The station of love is even higher, my friend.
7- I have found the pleasures of the world as honeyed sweets,
But your love is the wine of eternity, my friend.
8- That soul traverses the world with an eye of love;
It sees with a vision of love, my friend.
9- For you are the first and last, the secret and the manifest;
This truth is hidden and non-existent, my friend.
In modern Turkish
1. Through the garden of longing, I wander, a captive to your grace, O Beloved!
2. The world perceives not this meaning, for the lover's heart dwells perpetually in your presence, O friend!
3. All creation yearns for your beauty; the world is embroiled in conflict because of it, O friend!
4. The veil of duality has lifted from the heart. The heart transcends both worlds, O friend!
5. Caution against outsiders never enters the mind. The heart wails and laments in anguish, O friend!
6. Though reason holds the highest rank among ranks, the station of love surpasses it, O friend!
7. Though I found the pleasures of the world as sweet as honeyed pastries, the companionship of love is sweeter than all, O friend!
8. That soul observes the manifestations in the universe, perceiving that they are built with the eye of love, O friend!
9. Since you are the first, the last, the hidden and the manifest, this Truth holds sway over everything, O friend!