BEŞİNCİ BAB · DÖRDÜNCÜ FASIL · Beşinci Madde
The Fifth Article
Concerning the order and discipline of the worldly affairs of the esteemed saints and blessed shaikhs.
O beloved! [386/a] Know that Hasan-i Basri, the sole scholar of his time, instructed Habib-i Acemi (may he be sanctified) in matters pertaining to his external world and beautiful customs, saying: “O Habib! Just as you speak with everyone according to their intellectual level, so too treat them according to their station. In all your affairs, act with gentleness, proceed with deliberation and dignity, and follow the middle way.
Mix with every class of people from this world and the hereafter according to their character, speaking sweet and gentle words. By enduring harm from those of frivolous nature, you shall be profitable, escaping ten harms and gaining ten benefits. Honor and respect the Muslims. Thus, you have honored God Most High. Train your tongue in virtuous speech (La ilaha illallah Muhammadun rasulullah), always speaking well to gain abundant reward. Towards all people, harbor good thoughts and wish them well, looking upon everyone with compassion. Have a good opinion of everyone, considering everyone more important and superior to yourself. Give away your wealth, honor, [291] and blood for God’s sake to your servants, being content with all. Desire nothing from anyone in either world, and thus you shall have attained the most beautiful character.
If something falls from you while traveling, whether it be a book, garment, or one thousand dinars of money, if you have passed its place, proceed onward without looking back; neither return yourself nor send someone to retrieve it. Rather, forget about it. Do not look back while walking the road. If you must turn back, do so with your entire body. Do not respond to anyone who calls you from behind.
Avoid seeking ill omen (teşe’üm) in places, times, and animals, but rather interpret everything as good and auspicious (tefe’ül), considering it a sign of good fortune. Prefer the poor over the rich. Consider those of the world inferior to those of the hereafter. In all your affairs, base yourself upon the adab of religion and be well-mannered. Converse with scholars who act according to their knowledge. Derive great pleasure and delight from reading and listening to the sciences of Hadith, Tafsir, and Fiqh.
Avoid ignorant Sufis and guard against their company. Perform your prayers in congregation and attend sermons. However, do not aspire to be a muezzin, imam, preacher, or sheikh. Do not attach yourself to any position or rank, nor seek fame through it. Do not sign your name on letters and petitions. Do not go to courtrooms (to testify) and bring trouble upon yourself. Be no one’s representative, trustee, caretaker, or guarantor.
Be friendly with the wealthy and rulers, lest you remain in calamity and affliction. Avoid conversing with women and children so as not to be disgraced among people. Do not enjoy oneself in lodges and fall under suspicion. Desire nothing from anyone, nor accept any trust. Employ no one in your service. [292]
Do not go into the service of the people of this world. Do not reach out for anything that is certainly forbidden, and do not sell your religion to the world. Live in your own home, free from owing anything to anyone. Occupy yourself with the dissemination and explanation of religious sciences. Deal justly with your wife and children, and when you educate them, speak sweet words gently. In your dealings with God’s creation, always be among those who swallow their anger. So that you may receive reward from the Lord who created and governs them.
Suppress your anger [386/b] and strive in controlling your nafs so as to gain the pleasure of friendship from hearts. Indeed, the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) commanded us to approach one another with love and affection, and announced that suppressing anger is the most important cause of fostering love.
Therefore, whatever treatment you desire from God Most High, apply the same to His creation, degree by degree. Do not speak of anyone – whether in your presence or absence – in a way they dislike. Do not rejoice at any person falling into an undesirable situation. Clear the reputation of one who curses and wrongs you, overlooking their fault. Be humble towards the humble and indifferent toward the arrogant.
There are ten signs of the humble:
Sitting with servants at the same table to eat.
Walking with a staff.
Removing things that cause harm to people on the roads.
Greeting children with a smile.
Walking alone on foot.
Sitting in the gatherings of the poor, observing and caring for them.
Bringing household needs from the marketplace.
Milking and tending the goats one keeps for milking.
Caring for the needs of the mount one rides.
Performing services when neighbors have something that has fallen or is needed.
Poetry
For the people of truth, the qualities of the noble are always beauty: tranquility, poverty, and humility.
Honor those who are greater than you and show respect to scholars. Help the weak. Visit those older than you and show compassion to those younger than you. Accept gifts with respect from those given to you and give a more abundant return. Give food and fruit to orphans, gently stroking their heads and inquiring about their well-being. Provide sustenance to beggars and treat visitors with generosity; perform every service yourself. If a visitor refuses hospitality, accept it kindly. As the esteemed companions used to embrace one another when they met, and bid farewell by shaking hands. And if they were to meet daily, they would still embrace and shake hands as they parted.
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