ÜÇÜNCÜ FEN · İKİNCİ BÂB · DÖRDÜNCÜ FASIL · Dokuzuncu Madde
"Ninth Point
Concerning the aspects and states of seclusion (uzlet).
O beloved! Know that the friends of Allah have said: Separation from people leads to silence. For the one who secludes himself finds no one with whom to speak, being alone in solitude. Solitude is a means to silence.
Separation from people and withdrawal to a desolate place (uzlet) has two aspects. One is the seclusion of the seekers (murid), and the other is the seclusion of those possessing the truth (muhakkik).
The seclusion of the murid is not mixing with strangers in body. But the seclusion of those possessing the truth is turning away from this world, both inwardly and outwardly. Therefore, the heart of one who possesses the truth has no place or space for anything other than Allah.
There are three pleasures of those who seclude themselves: First, it is seclusion to be free from the evil and gossip of people. Second, it is seclusion with the intention of protecting people from one’s own evil and spiritual burden. This intention is more valuable than the first, for in the former there is suspicion of others, while in the latter there is bad opinion regarding oneself. Indeed, it is necessary to have a bad opinion of oneself, for that is the way of the righteous (ebrâr). Third, it is seclusion to prefer Allah’s conversation and that of the exalted celestial realms (mala-i a'la) over one’s own self.
Therefore, the highest form of solitude is secluding oneself from one’s own self – preferring Allah’s conversation above everything else and approaching His presence.
Whoever prefers seclusion to friendship with people and, through seclusion, brings his heart to his soul, he has surely preferred his Lord over everything else. The spiritual secrets bestowed by the Most High upon this person are known only to himself. Although separation from people and silence may be necessary for him, the silence of the heart is not necessary. For the solitary one has found in his own self, through means other than himself (masiva), what speaks of that which is beyond himself (masiva). Therefore, silence has been accepted as a principle within six principles. Whoever embraces seclusion and separates himself from people and his own self becomes aware of the secret of divine unity (wahdaniyyat al-ilahiyya).
The highest state of seclusion is solitude (halvet). The result of halvet is divine gnosis (irfan) and the secrets of the oneness of God. A characteristic of seclusion is that it imparts worldly knowledge. If a person were to abstain from food, remain awake while others sleep, become silent with Allah’s remembrance, separating himself from people and his own self – if these four qualities were gathered in him – then his humanity would transform into angelhood, servitude into lordship, the unseen into the manifest, the inner into the outer, and reason into sense perception. He would enter the company of the renegades (abdals) and attain the stations of the close ones (muqarrabin). He would become worthy of the grace of knowledge and reach the bliss of love.
Rubaiyat [quatrains]
1-Friendship with people makes the heart forgetful;
Their conversations, with heedlessness, make it rigid.
The sign of failure is to seek assistance from them;
Leave people behind and remember the remembrance of your Lord.
2-A soul that finds peace with Truth is a rose garden;
A soul remaining in heedlessness is not a dust particle (worthless).
For my soul, who falls into heedlessness, is an enemy;
Therefore, enemies and friends are veiled to me.
3-Think of the Truth so that it becomes familiar;
Leave people behind and look at the Book – that is conversation.
Eat little, sleep little, drink little – that is grace;
Find annihilation through poverty—that is true prosperity.
4-Remember the Truth—that is the true pleasure;
Withdraw from selfhood—that is true seclusion;
Do not incline or mix with people—that is true honor;
Look at the Book in solitude—that is conversation.
5-Give this world to the people, find honor;
Become independent and withdraw from people;
Instead of companions, have pleasant conversations with books;
Establish friendship in the heart moment by moment through wisdom.
6-The Truth is both your friend and your enemy;
Like water, it drinks you—then that is the time.
Though the bow releases the arrow into the embrace,
It shoots its arrow away from itself.
7-The Truth is your eternal friend – He is your Lord;
He is closer to you than parents or ancestors.
A madman is he whose qibla is Layla;
If the soul turns towards the Lord, it is most exalted.
8-The Truth is sufficient for the soul in both worlds—the Most Compassionate is enough.
Leave people behind and recite the Quran – that suffices you.
Books are your companions in solitude—they suffice you;
If not, the Beloved in your heart suffices you.
Modern Turkish Translation
1-The heart that finds companionship with people forgets (Allah). Their conversations make it rigid with heedlessness. Consider friendship with people a sign of failure. Leave people behind and remember your Lord pleasantly.
2-A soul that finds peace with Truth is like a rose garden. A soul remaining in heedlessness is not like dust, but rather worthless. For the one who leads my soul into heedlessness is an enemy. Therefore, enemies and friends are veiled to me.
3-Think of the Truth so that it becomes familiar; people should be left behind, look at the Book—that is conversation. Eat little, sleep little, drink little—that is grace. Find annihilation through poverty—that is true prosperity.
4-Remember the Truth—that is the real pleasure. Withdraw from selfhood—that is true seclusion. Do not incline or mix with people—that is true honor. Look at the Book in solitude—that is conversation.
5-Give this world to the people, find honor. Become independent and withdraw from people. Instead of companions, have pleasant conversations with books. Establish friendship in the heart moment by moment through wisdom.
6-The Truth is both your friend and your enemy. Like water, it drinks you—that is the time. Though the bow releases the arrow into the embrace, it shoots its arrow away from itself.
7-The Truth is your eternal friend – He is your Lord. He is closer to you than parents or ancestors. Foolish is he whose qibla is Layla. If the soul turns towards the Lord, it is most exalted.
8-The Truth is sufficient for the soul in both worlds—the Most Compassionate is enough. Leave people behind and recite the Quran – that suffices you. Books are your companions in solitude—they suffice you; if not, the Beloved in your heart suffices you."