ÜÇÜNCÜ FEN · ÜÇÜNCÜ BÂB · ÜÇÜNCÜ FASIL · Altıncı Madde
Sixth Point
It explains the ways to attain patience and forbearance with numerous examples.
O esteemed one! Know that the friends of God have said: The essence of the matter is this – truly, to detach the heart from its habits through complete surrender, restraining the self from its ingrained traits; to abandon caution in affairs through complete delegation, entrusting matters to God’s knowledge of their secrets; to endure calamities with beautiful patience—even if the self does not desire it—and drinking the elixir of patience; and to face misfortune with complete acceptance, breaking every resistance of the self – this is a difficult task, a bitter medicine, a stony path, a heavy burden. Yet, acting in this manner is the strongest measure and the most sound path. And its result is filled with beauty and blessings.
Poem:
Do not miss opportunities, for delay is hardship;
Be patient with trials, for it is the key to ease.
(Modern Turkish)
Do not miss opportunities; procrastination is difficulty. Be patient with hardships, for that is the key to relief.
Poem:
Every sorrow-bearer will find joy at the end of his suffering;
Every night has an ending; it is dawn.
What would you say about a father who forbids his only son from eating fruit or delivers him to a harsh and rude teacher, saying, "You shall not be parted from him all day"? Or what do you think of the wealthy and compassionate man who has hajj performed for his son by having bloodletting done? Is forbidding his son from eating fruit due to his stinginess? Or is it that the generous person, who bestows upon everyone in every way, confines his child to the teacher’s care as a form of torment and betrayal?
Rather, this stems from his affection for his son. For he gives what he has in order that he may be secure and at peace. Or do you say that drawing blood from his son is an act of hatred and animosity?
Rather, he is his father’s light, his only child, the fruit of his heart, whom he protects from the gentle breeze. May God forbid it, how could he wish to harm him? But his father has seen that the good things his son will attain will be attained through these means. He knows that he will achieve great benefits with a little hardship.
What would a specialist say about a formidable doctor who forbids a thirsty patient from drinking a cup of water or gives him a bitter potion so bitter that his limbs tremble and he recoils from it? Or what if he prepares a paste for the patient and feeds it to him, causing the patient to vomit or have diarrhea? Would you say that the doctor’s actions are an act of torment or animosity?
No, that is not the case. On the contrary, these are right things done for the patient's benefit. For the doctor knows that the patient’s ruin will come from giving him what he desires at a fleeting moment, and that his healing and survival will be through restraining him from those cravings. And the substances that trouble the patient are expelled from the body through vomiting and diarrhea. Therefore, the specialist doctor gives the patient what is beneficial to him, not what he craves. The patient who is patient and submits finds healing.
The Lord of the Worlds and the Most Merciful of the merciful, the Wise and All-Knowing God Almighty, does not withhold from you a small piece of bread or a silver coin (dirhem), so reflect upon this – He possesses what you need and desire, and He is capable of giving it to you. And generosity and munificence are His alone. His knowledge encompasses every state of you and the condition of everything that exists. Poverty, weakness, stinginess, and ignorance are unimaginable for Him. Rather, He is independent of all creation, more powerful than all creation, more generous than all creation, and more knowledgeable than all creation. In this case, you must know with certainty that God Almighty does not withhold that piece of bread or silver coin except for your own good. Could it be anything less than for your own good and benefit when the Exalted Book says, "He has given you dominion over all on earth and in the heavens?" (Bakara, 2/29)
Why would it not be for your own good? He has bestowed upon you the knowledge of how to erase and destroy the world. In a sacred hadith, it is said, “The Merciful Shepherd prevents his camels from what is beautiful but foul-smelling, and I prevent My devotees from the pleasures of this world.” [403]
Therefore, if God Almighty afflicts you with a trial, know for certain that He is free from inflicting calamity to test you, and He knows your condition very well. He sees your weakness; therefore, He is gentle and merciful towards you. For it is said in the hadith: “God has more mercy upon His servant than a mother has upon her child.” [404] Giving you a small evil is actually for your great good. But you do not know this; He knows. As it is said in the hadith, "There is no small adversity that does not contain within it great goodness." [405] Therefore, ease follows hardship.
Poem:
When you desire ease, then hardship will follow;
Indeed, God has ordained that hardship be followed by ease.
It is with this meaning that He confronts His most precious servants, the saints and the elect, with such circumstances. It is narrated in a hadith: “God loves a people when He favors them with trials.” [406] Whenever you see God withholding the world from you and raining down troubles upon you, know for certain that you are valuable and esteemed in His sight. You are precious to Him.
kıymetli ve şerefli makamın vardır. Çünkü O, seni sevdiği kulların
mertebesine getirmiştir ve ruhun O’nun ikram ve ihsanlarına [258/b]
kavuşmuştur.
Bu durumda sana lazım olan odur ki her halde sabredip şükretmelisin. Ta
ki sabrın acılığından rızanın tatlılığını bulasın. Tevekkül, tefvîz, sabır ve
rıza konusunda Hakîm Senâî (rahmetullahi aleyhin) aşağıdaki beyitlerini
okuyup bunları lisanına vird edinesin. Böylece tevekkül, sabır, tahammül,
teslimiyet ve rızanın hakikat ve mahiyetlerini bilesin. Ve bunlarla muttasıf
olup can u gönülden lezzet alasın.
Nazm
1-Hest Hak-râ zi-behr-i cân-ı şerîf
Ender esnâ-yı hokm-i sun’-i latîf
2-Dâned ân kes ki horde-dân bâşed
K’ânçi û kerd hayret ân bâşed
3-Nâm-ı nîkû vu zişt ez-men u tûst
Kâr-ı îzed nikû buved be-durust
4-Nîk dâned Hudây sırr-ı dilet
Z’ânki zi-evvel hod-ı û sirişt gilet
5-Hayr u şer nîst der-cihân aslâ
Nîst çîzî ez-ân nihân aslâ
6-Merg eger çend bed nikûst to-râ
Mâl u mîrashâ ez ûst to-râ
7-Herçi der halk sûzî vu sâzîst
Ender-ân mer Hudây-râ râzîst
8-Ey besâ şîr k’ân to-râ âhûst
Vey besâ derd k’ân to-râ dârûst
9-Bendegân-râ ki ez-kader hazer est
Ân ne z’îşân ki ân hem ez-kader est
10-Pîş-i dîvân-i hukm-ı hak cuz merd
Şukr-i sîylî-i hak ki dâned kerd
11-Ki koned bâ-kazâ-yı û âhî
Coz furûmâye’î vu gomrâhî
12-Bâ-kazâ mer to-râ çû nîst rızâ
Ne-şinâsî Hodây-râ be-Hodâ
13-Her belâyî ki dil numâyed ez-û
Ger yekî ger hezâr şâyed ez-û
14-Hukm u takdîr-i û belâ ne-buved
Herçi âyed be-cuz atâ ne-buved
15-Telh u şîrîn çu her du z’û bâşed
Zişt ne-buved heme nikû bâşed
16-Bâş der hukm-i sulcâneş gûy
Hem semi‘nâ vu hem ata‘nâ gûy
17-Her kocâ zikr-i û buved to kiî
Cumle teslîm kun bedü to çeî
18-Ân-i ûyî to kem sitîz ber ûy
Ger gorîzî ez-û gorîz der-ûy
19-Mâl u ten-râ be-kirdigâr sipâr
Ta derûn-i dilet beyâbî yâr
20-Cân u esbâb ez-û atâ dârî
Pes derîğeş ez-û çerâ dârî
21-Bendegî nîst coz reh-i teslîm
V’er ne-dâni be-hân to “kalbun selîm”
22-Ne-rehî ey fuzûlî-i ra‘nâ
Coz be bî-dest u pâî ez-deryâ
23-Ân ki dilhâ-yi âşinâ dârend
Dil ze çun u çerâ codâ dârend
24-Ki nebişest ber-to sûd u ziyân
Emr-i “Kul len yusîbenâ” ber hân
25-Çun zi-bâlâ belâ nihed be-to rûy
Rov to Allâh gûy âh me-gûy
26-Bâ kazâ sûd key koned hazeret
Hûn me-gerdân be-bîhude cigeret
27-Âteşî-râ hemî koned teslîm
Dâğ-ı Nemrûd u bâğ-ı İbrâhîm
28-Her çi coz Hak buved to ân me-pezîr
Dil zi-âğyâr cümlegî ber gîr [259/a]
29-Hedef-i tîr-i hokm-i û cân kon
Sadef-i durr-i aşkeş îmân kon
30-Ân şenîdî ki ân Halîl çi goft
Vakt-i âteş be Cebreîl çi goft
31-Kerd bîrûn ser ez-derîçe-i cân
K’ey berâder to dûr şov zi-miyân
32-Geşte ez-mencenîk-ı hokm rehâ
Gerd-gerdân çu kûy gerd hevâ
33-Goft men bes delîl-i râh-ı toem
Cibrîl ki nîk hâh-ı toem
34-Goft her çend pâyem ey dilbend
Hest ber gerden-i za‘îf be-bend
35-İsmet-i û delîl-i men ne bes est
İlm-i û Cebreîl-i men ne bes est
36-Çun ‘inân-râ be-dest-i hokm sipord
Âteş-i sî u heft rûze be-mord
37-Çun nidây-ı hıtâb-ı Hak be-şunûd
Ber demîd ez-miyân-i âteş vurûd
38-Ebher-i ahd u sunbul-i tahkîk
Sûsen-i mihr u tevekkul-i tevfîk
39-Ârî ârî çu dûst ân bâşed
Nâr-ı Nemrûd bûstân bâşed
40-Çun Halîl ân-ı hîşten be-güzâşt
Âteş ez-fi‘l hîş dest be-dâşt
41-Bî-to ber dergeheş to hâzır şov
Çeşm ber dûz pes-i to nâzır şov
Nazm (ın tercümesi)
1-Hak Teala, şerefli can için o güzel yaratma hükmünü verirken,
2-Âlim olan şunu bilir ki, O ne yaptıysa senin hayrın içindir.
3-İyi ve kötü ad, seninle benim yaptığımız şeyler yüzündendir. Allah’ın
işi, doğrusu güzeldir.
4-Allah teala gönlünde gizli olanı iyi bilir. Çünkü önceden senin
çamurunu yoğuran O’dur.
5-Cihanda işin doğrusu, hayır ve şer yoktur. O’ndan gizli bir şey yoktur
dünyada.
6-Ölüm kötü gibi görünse de senin için iyidir. Mal ve miras sana ondan
kalmıştır.
7-İnsanlar arasında sevgi ve muhabbet, elem ve keder varsa, içinde
Allah’tan sırlar vardır.
8-Nice arslanlar vardır ki senin için ceylandır. Nice dertler de vardır ki
senin için ilaçtır.
9-Kaderden sakınan, kaçan kullar için o korku, kendilerinden değil, o da
kaderdendir.
10-Hakk’ın mahkemesinin hükmü karşısında Hak erinden başkası O’nun
cezasının şükrünü edâ edemez.
11-O’nun kazası karşısında şerefsizden ve dalâlette olandan başka kim âh
çeker?
12-Kazâya karşı senin rızan yoksa eğer, Allah’ı Allah olarak tanımıyorsun
demek
13- İster bir ister bin olsun O’ndan gelen her eza ve cefa makbuldür.
14-O’nun hükmü ve takdiri belâ olmaz. O’ndan gelen sadece iyiliktir.
15-Acı tatlı ne varsa O’ndandır. Kötü bir şey yoktur, hepsi iyidir.
16-Onun çevgânının hükmü karşısında top ol. Hem “işittik” hem “itaat
ettik” [407] de.
17-Her yerde O’nun zikri vardır, sen kimsin? Her şeyini O’na teslim et,
sen nesin ki?
18-Sen O’na aitsin, O’nunla çok çekişme. O’ndan kaçacak olursan eğer,
yine O’na kaç.
19-Malını da tenini de Hakk’a teslim et. Böylece gönlünün içinde yâri
bulursun.
20-Canı ve eşyayı o ihsan etti sana. O halde niçin O’ndan esirgisiyorsun?
21-Kulluk, ancak teslim olmakla elde edilir. Bunu bilmiyorsan “ Allah’a
selîm bir kalple gelenden başka ” [408] âyetini oku.
22-Ey kibirli ve fuzûlî (gereksiz) adam! El ve ayak çırpmadan denizden
kurtulamazsın.
23-Hakk’a âşinâ olan gönüller; niçin ve neden sorularından uzak dururlar.
24-Sana zarar ve ziyanı takdir etmiştir. Zarar ve ziyana uğradığında
“ Allah’ın bize yazdığından başkası başımıza gelmez ” [409] âyetini oku.
25-Gökten sana bir belâ eriştiğinde, “Ah” deme, “Allah” de.
26- What benefit is there for you in shunning trial? Do not needlessly stain your liver with blood, grieve not.
27- He made fire a torment for Pharaoh, but a garden for Abraham.
28- Accept nothing except that which comes from Truth. Draw back your heart from those who are alien to it, do not incline towards them.
29- Direct your soul toward His decree like an arrow’s flight. Have faith in the pearl of His love's shell, surrender yourself to it.
30- Did you hear what Abraham, the Friend of God, said when he was being thrown into the fire?
31- He raised his head from the window of his soul and said, “O my brother! Withdraw yourself.”
32- Like a star’s movement in the sky, he escaped the catapult of decree.
33- Gabriel said, "I am your guide. I, Gabriel, desire your good."
34- Abraham said, "O Beloved, even if you protect and care for me as much as you can, there is a noose around my weak neck.
35- His being impeccable is not enough to be proof for me. His knowledge is not sufficient for me to be Gabriel.
36- When you surrender your reins to God’s decree, the fire that burned for thirty-seven days extinguished.
37- Upon hearing the address from Truth, roses sprouted from the midst of the fire.
38- The narcissus of time, the wheat stalk of reality, the tulip of love and compassion, the rose of success.
39- Yes, yes, that is what a friend is like. When a friend is such as this, Pharaoh’s burning fire becomes a garden.
40- When Abraham, the Friend of God, transcended his own self, the fire lost its fiery quality.
41- Present yourself in His presence with transcendence. Fix your gaze, look beyond yourself.
4- Become earth, become pure; do not see yourself at all. Let a maden like antimony emerge from your soil; *tūtiyā*.
And God Most High has said in a sacred hadith: "O Adam's son! Whoever is not pleased with My decree, does not endure patiently the trials I send him, does not give thanks for the blessings I have given him and does not accept contentment with what I have bestowed upon him, let him seek another Lord besides Me. O Adam’s son! Whoever acts with patience towards the affliction that has befallen him, he has been pleased with Me.” And our Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has said in a hadith: “O my community, faith is of two kinds; one is patience and the other is gratitude. The most excellent patience is that which is shown at the first encounter with calamity." And he has said: "Patience is the submission shown at the initial moment of affliction.” And he has said: "Patience is the foundation of every obedience and the origin of protection from all calamities.” And he has said: “Every act of worship has patience as its basis.” And he has said: “How fortunate is he who shows patience in adversity!” And he has said: “Patience comes from God, haste comes from Satan.” And he has said: "Help comes with patience, and joy accompanies sorrow." And he has said: "Whoever conceals a calamity that befalls his soul or his property and does not complain to anyone, God Most High will surely grant him the pleasure of faith, bestow upon him respect among his brethren and forgive all his sins.” And he has said: “When Prophet Job (peace and blessings be upon him) was afflicted with illness, every dawn He would inquire about his state through direct communication and say with grace and generosity: ‘My beloved Job, how are you? How are you with the sweetness of our affliction?’”
"He immediately displayed patience." And it has been said: "One who does not endure harsh words is destined to hear many more."
24 – He has decreed harm and adversity for you. When afflicted, recite the verse: “Nothing can befall us except what Allah has ordained.”
5 – Even if the soul perishes, it clearly reveals annihilation. With the annihilation of the soul, do not leave me in ignorance, O Most Beloved (al-Wadud).
Through this meaning, He has subjected His most cherished servants, the saints and the devoted, to such circumstances. As narrated in a hadith: “When Allah loves a people, He tests them with trials and tribulations.” Whenever you see that Allah is withholding the world from you, and showering you with distress and grief, know certainly that you are precious and esteemed in His sight. You have a valuable and honorable station with Him. For He has raised you to the rank of those whom He loves, and your soul has attained His favors and blessings. [258/b]
21 – Servitude is only achieved through submission. If you do not know this, recite the verse: “Let no one enter Paradise except one who comes to Allah with a pure heart.”
And it has been said: "The end of patience is victory." And it has been said: "Patience is a bitter medicine; whoever drinks it attains liberation." And it has been said: "Enduring trials leads to certainty in the Beautiful (al-Husn)." And it has been said: “No one is more patient than Allah, Most High. He provides sustenance and health to those who slander His majestic essence.” And it has been said: "The beginning of patience is bitter, its end sweet and delightful." And it has been said: "Patience is an attribute of Allah." And it has been said: “The foundation of faith is patience.” And it has been said: “Faith consists of patience and generosity.” And it has been said: "No gift is more beneficial than patience has been given to anyone." And it has been said: "Patience comes from Allah, haste from Satan." And it has been said: "Help comes with patience, joy with sorrow." And it has been said: “Whoever is afflicted by a calamity befalling his self or property and conceals it, not complaining to anyone, Allah Most High will surely grant him the delight of faith, bestow upon him respect among his brothers in religion, and forgive all his sins.” And it has been said: "When Prophet Job (peace be upon him) was afflicted with illness and tormented by vermin, every morning Allah Most High would inquire about his well-being without an intermediary, and with His favor and generosity, He would say: 'How are you, O Habib (beloved)? How are you with Our balm?'"
And Allah Most High has said in a sacred hadith: “O Adam’s son! Whoever is not pleased with My decree, does not endure trials against Me, does not give thanks for the blessings I have given him, and does not accept contentment with what I have bestowed upon him, let him seek another Lord besides Me. O Adam’s son! Whoever acts patiently against the hardship I have given him, he has become pleased with Me.” And the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has said in his hadith: “O my community, faith is of two kinds: one is patience, and the other is gratitude.” "The most excellent patience is that which is shown at the first encounter with a calamity." And it has been said: "Patience is submission displayed at the initial moment of adversity." And it has been said: "Patience is the foundation of every act of obedience and the root of protection from all calamities." And it has been said: “Patience is the essence of every act of worship.” And it has been said: "Blessed is he who displays patience in times of trial." And it has been said: "One who does not endure harsh words is destined to hear many more."
5 – Patience unlocks the knot of every affair.
Therefore, if Allah afflicts you with a severe ordeal, know certainly that He is free from bestowing trials except for testing, and He knows your condition perfectly well. He sees your weakness, therefore He is gentle and merciful towards you. For it has been narrated in a hadith: “Allah is more compassionate to His servant than a mother is to her child.” Giving you a small adversity is actually for your great good. But you do not know this; He knows. As narrated in a hadith: "There is no small hardship that does not contain within it a great benefit." Therefore, with difficulty comes ease.
And it has been said: "The end of patience is victory." And it has been said: "Patience is a bitter medicine; whoever drinks it attains liberation." And it has been said: "Enduring trials leads to certainty in the Beautiful (al-Husn)." And it has been said: “No one is more patient than Allah, Most High. He provides sustenance and health to those who slander His majestic essence.” And it has been said: "The beginning of patience is bitter, its end sweet and delightful." And it has been said: "Patience is an attribute of Allah." And it has been said: “The foundation of faith is patience.” And it has been said: “Faith consists of patience and generosity.” And it has been said: "No gift is more beneficial than patience has been given to anyone." And it has been said: "Patience comes from Allah, haste from Satan." And it has been said: "Help comes with patience, joy with sorrow." And it has been said: “Whoever is afflicted by a calamity befalling his self or property and conceals it, not complaining to anyone, Allah Most High will surely grant him the delight of faith, bestow upon him respect among his brothers in religion, and forgive all his sins.” And it has been said: "When Prophet Job (peace be upon him) was afflicted with illness and tormented by vermin, every morning Allah Most High would inquire about his well-being without an intermediary, and with His favor and generosity, He would say: 'How are you, O Habib (beloved)? How are you with Our balm?'"
16 – Be a ball in the face of its decree. Say "We have heard and obeyed."
And Allah Most High has declared in a sacred hadith: “O son of Adam! Whoever is not pleased with My decrees, does not persevere through My trials, does not give thanks for the blessings I have given him, and does not content himself with what I have bestowed upon him, let him seek another Lord besides Me.” And our Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has declared in a hadith: “O my community, faith is of two kinds: one is patience, and the other is gratitude." "The best patience is that which is shown at the first encounter with calamity.” And he said: "Patience is the submission shown at the initial moment of affliction." And he said: "Patience is the beginning of every obedience and the foundation for protection from all calamities.” And he said: “It is the foundation of every act of worship.” And he said: "Blessed is he who shows patience in times of tribulation." And he said: "He who does not persevere against a harsh word will hear many harsh words.”
Therefore, if Allah Most High afflicts you with a hardship, know certainly that He is free from afflicting you with trials and knows your condition very well. He sees your weakness, so He is gentle and merciful towards you. For in the hadith it is said: “Allah is more merciful to His servant than a mother is to her child.” He gives you a small evil actually for your great good. But you do not know this; He knows. As in the hadith: "There is no minor adversity that does not contain within it a great benefit." Thus, with hardship comes ease.
6 – If the soul burns in the fire of love, it will be safe from Sakar. If it attains to poverty and annihilation, it will find the state of eternity.