ÜÇÜNCÜ FEN · İKİNCİ BÂB · BEŞİNCİ FASIL · Üçüncü Madde
Third Article
Concerning the Superiority and Benefits of Constant Remembrance (Remembrance of God – Zikr-i Müdâm).
O beloved! Know that the friends of Allah have said: Remembrance of Allah is the fundamental condition of the path of gnosis (irfan). It necessitates nearness to the Divine. It brings about the soul and heart’s union with the Beloved. Remembrance of Allah is the most powerful act, and the most effective word. It is knocking on the door of the Exalted One, God. The remembrance of Allah is the sign of hearts, and the mark of faith. It is the essence of worship and the key to the gate of gnosis.
The most valuable remembrance is repeatedly uttering the phrase "La ilaha illallah" with minimal sound and a tranquil heart. Remembrance of Allah is the light of hearts and the tranquility of souls. Remembrance of Allah is the delight of bodies and the sustenance of spirits. Remembrance of Allah is the polish of eyes and the light of secrets. Remembrance of Allah is a friend to the soul, and bestows upon it spiritual knowledge (irfan).
The habit of one who possesses gnosis, recognizing Allah, is remembering Him and forgetting everything else besides Him. Remembrance of Allah is the polish of hearts and the light of minds. Remembrance of Allah is the life of hearts and union with the Beloved.
Remembrance of Allah is not a habit or thought of the tongue. Rather, it is a reality that arises from both the one being remembered (Allah) and the one who remembers. Being occupied with the remembrance of Allah is the foundation of heart and soul purification. Staying awake at night with the remembrance of Allah is the most excellent of deeds and the most beautiful of states. If the Exalted One makes you preoccupied with remembrance and reflection, then rejoice! For He loves you and has brought you close to Himself. Remembrance of Allah is joy and delight in the heart. Its fruit is nearness to and tranquility from God. Constant remembrance of Allah is the enlightenment of the heart and soul. It is security and steadfastness of faith. Remembrance of Allah is a sincere friend and the most valuable companion. Remembrance of Allah is the fragrance of bodies and the sustenance of souls. Remembrance of Allah is the light of eyes and the joy of hearts. With the remembrance of Allah, the heart is cleansed of all ugliness and impurity, and the Face of God becomes visible to it. Those whose hearts are perfectly purified through constant remembrance have beautiful deeds and character, and their spirits are joyful.
Remembrance of Allah is light and favor for the heart, steadfastness and guidance on the right path for the soul. Remembrance of Allah is a cure for every ailment; remembrance of anything else is calamity. Whoever remembers Allah, Allah remembers him. Remembrance of Allah is the light of the eye of insight (basirat) and the spoils of war for the soul. Being occupied with the remembrance of Allah beautifies states. The heart of one who forgets God remains in darkness. [331] From the heart of one who frequently remembers God, all that is other than Him (mâsivâ) vanishes. The heart of one who constantly remembers does not sleep. Because the thought of one whose remembrance is of Allah is also of Allah, his heart remains awake (aware). Continuing in the remembrance of Allah is the habit of the friends of Allah. It is the sustenance of souls and spirits.
Do not abandon God and fall into frivolous games and amusements; and if you do remember Him, do so without falsehood or error. Let your heart correspond with your tongue. Thus, your remembrance of Allah will be perfected within you. The reality of remembering God is forgetting everything else besides Him. Remembrance of Allah is capital for knowledge and love. It is the cure for prosperity and felicity. Constant remembrance of Allah increases the love of God, and the soul abandons all things and loves only Him.
Remembrance of Allah is always necessary for everyone. The friends of God (ehlullâh) have considered it essential to themselves. The difficulty of the gnostic is being distant from the remembrance of Allah. It has been commanded that every servant should be preoccupied with the remembrance of Allah at all times. [229/b]
Remembrance of Allah can occur through the tongue, the heart, or the soul. When the remembrance of Allah reaches from the tongue to the heart and then to the soul, that person becomes among the special qualities (havâss) of the friends of God (evliyâ), constantly remembering with all his faculties and attaining the aforementioned spiritual nearness. He becomes one of the foremost of the havâss. When the remembrance of Allah passes from the tongue to the heart, the organs of the body are spiritually awakened and find peace. Remembrance of Allah is the spoils of war for the saints. “La ilaha illallah” is the unity of God. The most excellent remembrance is remembering "La ilaha illallah" secretly with tranquility. As it has been narrated in a hadith: “The most virtuous remembrance is La ilaha illallah.” Whoever perseveres in this phrase seeks refuge in the fortress of God. For he will be safe from punishment and danger in this world. Because, in a sacred hadith, it is said: "La ilaha illallah is My pen. He who takes refuge in it is safe from My torment." Therefore, whoever protects himself within the fortress of “La ilaha illallah” has certainly attained eternal bliss. Conversely, he who neglects to protect himself in this strong fortress has gone astray on a path of endless misery and punishment.
"O God! Lead us to Your protected and strong fortress (hisn-ı metîn)."
Nazm
1-It is not fitting for me to offer praise and glorification to You.
It is fitting that You bestow praise upon Yourself.
2-I utter "La," opening my mouth in the declaration of oneness.
One morsel transformed both worlds into a dragon.
3-For Your light became manifest from the foundation of “Illâ.”
The face of the universe was veiled by the curtain of "Lâ."
4-With You, the Necessary Existent, all possibilities were annihilated.
You are that sun whose atoms comprise all else besides You.
5-What is my worth? Who am I? What is my laziness and obedience?
You are always my guarantor and protector.
6-Do not place selfhood in me; liberate me from the veils of nonexistence.
May the tongue be free from a single breath separate from You.
7-Open the door to the house of love for this heart.
Attract the servant with God, make him familiar with love.
In Modern Turkish:
1-It is not fitting for me to offer praise and glorification to You. It is fitting that You bestow praise upon Yourself.
2-I utter "La," opening my mouth in the declaration of oneness. One morsel transformed both worlds into a dragon.
3-For Your light became manifest from the foundation of “Illâ.” The face of the universe was veiled by the curtain of "Lâ."
4-With You, the Necessary Existent, all possibilities were annihilated. You are that sun whose atoms comprise all else besides You.
5-What is my worth? Who am I? What is my laziness and obedience? You are always my guarantor and protector.
6-Do not place selfhood in me; liberate me from the veils of nonexistence. May the tongue be free from a single breath separate from You.
7-Open the door to the house of love for this heart. Attract the servant with God, make him familiar with love.
Here's a translation of the provided text, aiming for faithfulness and preserving meaning within a classical Sufi context:
"This heart’s gate, release me from itself; deliver me from slumber and illusion. Until the soul departs not from you in any breath.
7 – Open this heart’s door to the realm of love. Draw the servant close with attraction, make him familiar with love."