ÜÇÜNCÜ FEN · ÜÇÜNCÜ BÂB · İKİNCİ FASIL · Sekizinci Madde
Eighth Point
It explains the nature and results of entrustment (tafwīz) and submission (taslīm), their causes, and their values.
O esteemed one! Know that the friends of Allah have said: The example of a servant's relationship with Allah is like that of a patient with a doctor. For instance, if a patient goes to a specialist physician, knowing him to be well-versed in the subtleties of medical science, understanding that he will feel compassion for his patient and comprehend his condition, and trusting completely in the doctor’s treatment and advice without objection, then he submits himself entirely to him. He drinks any potion, bitter or sweet, that the doctor gives him, knowing that the bitter potion is better than the sweet one at that time. For the bitter potion is more beneficial according to what the doctor knows. Similarly, if a servant knows that nothing exists in the earth or the heavens except within Allah’s knowledge, and that He is aware of everything and all-bountiful, forgiving, and merciful towards all His servants, and firmly realizes that his own self is his greatest enemy – that his nafs afflicts his heart with spiritual illness, wounding his soul – and that he does not know how to cure these spiritual ailments, then this helpless servant entrusts all of his affairs to the wise, merciful, and all-knowing Allah, submitting to His decree and accepting His divine will, thus attaining salvation.
If the Exalted One favors his time and delights his heart in a state of expansion (ease), then the servant is grateful and firmly knows that the healing of his heart lies in that state at that time. Even if Allah makes the servant’s condition difficult through contraction (hardship), the servant knows that the cure and remedy for his illness lie in that very manner; the medicine for his illness is in that condition. If the Exalted One grieves him and saddens his heart with a state of constriction, he still thanks for this state, firmly knowing that the health of his heart lies in that condition; the cure for his heart lies in accepting this state.
If a servant knows himself to be skilled in his affairs and trusts in his words and himself, like a patient who has submitted to a doctor, and believes in the Creator and Sustainer through faith in the Noble Qur’an, and relies upon Allah, then he has taken a step onto the station of tawakkul. If a servant abandons his own will and measures, like a patient submitting to a doctor, and entrusts all of his affairs to his Lord, then he attains the station of tafwīz. If a servant accepts and is grateful for blessings and trials, obeying His command, relying on the wisdom and mercy of Allah, like a patient who takes bitter or sweet medicines given by a skilled and compassionate doctor without objection, then that servant has attained the station of submission (taslīm). If a person firmly knows and is completely pleased with Allah’s words and actions as being entirely good, full of wisdom and benefit, through experience and observation, and feels heartfelt delight in Him, then that servant attains the station of acceptance (riḍā).
Poem
1- What will not be, cannot be achieved by trickery.
That which is to be, shall eternally be.
2- That which is to be, will occur in its time.
The father of ignorance is hardship and sorrow.
Poem (another translation)
1- Let sorrows run their course.
May you emerge from them refreshed.
2- Before you can open and close your eyes,
The Creator transforms everything; no day is the same.
Rubāiyāt [254/a]
1- When fate arrives, what benefit is foresight? What remedy is there besides servitude, acceptance, and submission? You burn with the fear of consequence. If this matter is to be, what use is fear?
2- Every heart that grieves for what has passed,
Alas, it wastes its effort in vain.
For whatever is to be will be,
Whether you strive or simply wait.
3- Before your body is drawn toward nonexistence,
The deeds are mixed up and cannot be distinguished.
Inscribe upon the tablet of eternity: be silent and still.
What the pen has written, it shall not erase.
4- When the abode of the world was established,
Everything that was given was perfectly given.
Now what is pleasing to you and displeasing to you is not your concern;
For they have determined this time and that time without you.
5- Those who are foremost in knowledge and reason know our actions and ours.
O heart, you are a helpless thing in my hand;
I do as they do.
6- I cannot free myself from me, what can I do?
I came to see my body and soul, what can I do?
I want to find the path toward You;
How can I be guided without Your guidance?
7- If my tongue says it will not go with guidance,
And if my heart says it will not go with reason,
How long shall I desire things on my own?
For when things are in my control, they do not go.
Rubāiyāt (another translation)
1- When destiny arrives, what benefit is foresight? What remedy is there besides servitude, acceptance, and submission? You burn with the fear of consequence. If this matter is to be, what use is fear?
2- Every heart that grieves for what has passed,
Alas, it wastes its effort in vain.
For whatever is to be will be,
Whether you strive or simply wait.
Do not release me so that I may act? I came to gaze upon the mirror, what shall I do with my body? I desire to reach You, but You are not granting yourself a path.
My body does not perform as it wishes; the soul also does not follow the inclination of the body. Until when will I act by my own volition? For my actions do not proceed by my own power.
I am not released so that I may act? What shall I do with my body? I came to gaze upon the mirror, what shall I do with my soul? I desire to reach You, but You are not granting yourself a path.
The body does not perform as it wishes; the soul also does not follow the inclination of the body. Until when will I act by my own volition? For my actions do not proceed by my own power.
“There is nothing.” "O God, no one can obstruct what You give. Nor can anyone bestow what You withhold. Once You decree, no one can alter Your judgment. There is no deity besides Allah; He is alone, without partner. Sovereignty belongs to Him, and praise is exclusively His. He gives life and causes death. All good is in His hand. He is capable of all things. To Him is the return. Power and dominion belong only to Allah, the Exalted and Majestic.”
*Tawfīz* means abstaining from objection and overlooking the faults of people. *Tawfīz* occurs before the arrival of the misfortune decreed by God, while submission occurs after its arrival. *Tawfīz* is entrusting the unknown to its originator, which is the beginning of acceptance. *Tawfīz* is abandoning measures and choice and awaiting the arrival of what is destined. *Tawfīz* is abandoning one's desires and awaiting God’s decree. It is complete submission and acceptance of whatever comes from Him at every moment. *Tawfīz* is abandoning measures and yielding to desires, seeking refuge in God in all matters.
He taught his community to entrust their affairs to Allah (*tawfīz*) and said: “What has happened has happened; the ink of the pen that writes destiny has dried.” And he said: "The summit of faith lies in two qualities: submission to Allah Most High, and acceptance of His decree." And he said: "The most excellent traits of a believer are trust (in God), *tawfīz*, submission, patience, and acceptance." And he said: “These five attributes are essential before the slave’s faith is perfected: trusting in God, entrusting all one's affairs to Him (*tawfīz*), submitting to Allah’s commands, patiently enduring what comes from Allah, and being pleased with His decree.” And he said: "Reduce the burden of measures so that what is decreed for you will find you. What is not decreed will not find you." And he said: “Five things are part of faith: trusting in God in every situation, entrusting every matter to God, submitting to all of Allah’s commands, patiently enduring when affliction first arrives, and being pleased with fate.” And he said: "Good lies only in what Allah approves and creates." And he said: "Good is that which occurs. Therefore, the one who possesses *tawfīz* has attained comfort, and the one who submits has found safety.” And he said: “What is necessary for you is to live as the weak and those without support. Do not weary yourself with measures but entrust matters to what is decreed. Surrender yourselves to Allah’s measures and disposition."
Desires are sufficient as a sin; abandon your desires, and attain comfort by releasing the heart from darkness.
O noble one! It should be known that the friends of God have said: The elixir of true felicity (the alchemy of happiness) and eternal bliss lies in completely severing hope from people, and cutting off hope for anything other than what Allah has decreed and apportioned for you with His eternal knowledge. That is to say, remove people from your heart and desire nothing from God except that which has been decreed for you from eternity. Thus, you will become the wealthiest of all people.
The Exalted Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said in his supplication: "O God, I surrender my soul to You. I have turned my face towards You. I entrust all my affairs to You. I leaned against You with fear and reverence; my desire is only for You, and I fear only You. There is no refuge or savior besides You.” O God, no one can obstruct what You give. Nor can anyone bestow what You withhold. Once You decree, no one can alter Your judgment. There is no deity besides Allah; He is alone, without partner. Sovereignty belongs to Him, and praise is exclusively His. He gives life and causes death. All good is in His hand. He is capable of all things. To Him is the return. Power and dominion belong only to Allah, the Exalted and Majestic.”
He taught his community to entrust their affairs to Allah (*tawfīz*) and said: “What has happened has happened; the ink of the pen that writes destiny has dried.” And he said: "The summit of faith lies in two qualities: submission to Allah Most High, and acceptance of His decree." And he said: "The most excellent traits of a believer are trust (in God), *tawfīz*, submission, patience, and acceptance." And he said: “These five attributes are essential before the slave’s faith is perfected: trusting in God, entrusting all one's affairs to Him (*tawfīz*), submitting to Allah’s commands, patiently enduring what comes from Allah, and being pleased with His decree.” And he said: "Reduce the burden of measures so that what is decreed for you will find you. What is not decreed will not find you." And he said: “Five things are part of faith: trusting in God in every situation, entrusting every matter to God, submitting to all of Allah’s commands, patiently enduring when affliction first arrives, and being pleased with fate.” And he said: "Good lies only in what Allah approves and creates." And he said: "Good is that which occurs. Therefore, the one who possesses *tawfīz* has attained comfort, and the one who submits has found safety.” And he said: “What is necessary for you is to live as the weak and those without support. Do not weary yourself with measures but entrust matters to what is decreed. Surrender yourselves to Allah’s measures and disposition."
He taught his community to entrust their affairs to Allah (*tawfīz*) and said: “What has happened has happened; the ink of the pen that writes destiny has dried.” And he said: "The summit of faith lies in two qualities: submission to Allah Most High, and acceptance of His decree." And he said: "The most excellent traits of a believer are trust (in God), *tawfīz*, submission, patience, and acceptance." And he said: “These five attributes are essential before the slave’s faith is perfected: trusting in God, entrusting all one's affairs to Him (*tawfīz*), submitting to Allah’s commands, patiently enduring what comes from Allah, and being pleased with His decree.”
First, know with certainty that merely taking measures and making choices to perform a task is not sufficient or appropriate. To know all things in their entirety belongs only to the All-Knowing Creator, for He knows every matter in its entirety, its inner and outer aspects, its present state and its outcome, how it will be, what will be spoiled, what will be destroyed, its goodness and benefit. Otherwise, a person cannot be safe from preferring evil and ruin over good and beneficial actions.
He taught his community to entrust matters to God (tefviz) and said: “What has happened has happened, and when you encounter it, the ink of the pen that writes destiny has dried.” And he said: "The peak of faith is linked to two qualities: submission to the Exalted God, and acceptance of His decree." And he said: "The best characteristics of a believer are trust (tawakkul), entrustment (tefviz), submission, patience, and contentment." And he said: “Five things are part of faith: trusting in Allah in every situation, entrusting all matters to Him (tefviz), submitting to all the commands of Allah, patiently enduring what comes from Allah, and being content with His decree.” And he said: "Goodness is in that which Allah approves and creates." And he said: “That which occurs is good. Therefore, one who possesses entrustment (tefviz) has found ease, and one who submits has attained safety.” And he said: "What is necessary for you is to live according to the way of the weak and helpless. Do not tire yourself with measures but entrust matters to what is decreed. Submit yourselves to Allah’s measure and providence."
Firstly, know this firmly that merely taking measures and making choices to perform a task is not sufficient or appropriate. To know all things in their entirety belongs only to the All-Knowing Creator, for He knows every matter in its entirety, its inner and outer aspects, its present state and its outcome, how it will be, what will be spoiled, what will be destroyed, its goodness and benefit. Otherwise, a person cannot be safe from preferring evil and ruin over good and beneficial actions.
He taught his community to entrust matters to God (tefviz) and said: “What has happened has happened, and when you encounter it, the ink of the pen that writes destiny has dried.” And he said: "The peak of faith is linked to two qualities: submission to the Exalted God, and acceptance of His decree." And he said: "The best characteristics of a believer are trust (tawakkul), entrustment (tefviz), submission, patience, and contentment." And he said: “Five things are part of faith: trusting in Allah in every situation, entrusting all matters to Him (tefviz), submitting to all the commands of Allah, patiently enduring what comes from Allah, and being content with His decree.” And he said: "Reduce the burden of measures so that what is decreed for you will find you. That which is not decreed will not find you." And he said: “Five things are part of faith: trusting in Allah in every situation, entrusting all matters to Him (tefviz), submitting to all the commands of Allah, patiently enduring what comes from Allah, and being content with His decree.” And he said: "Goodness is in that which Allah approves and creates." And he said: “That which occurs is good. Therefore, one who possesses entrustment (tefviz) has found ease, and one who submits has attained safety.” And he said: "What is necessary for you is to live according to the way of the weak and helpless. Do not tire yourself with measures but entrust matters to what is decreed. Submit yourselves to Allah’s measure and providence."