DÖRDÜNCÜ BÂB · BİRİNCİ FASIL · İkinci Madde
The Second Article
It explains that knowing the self is a means to knowing God Most High.
Beloved! It should be known that the friends of Allah have said: Whoever knows his own self, surely he also knows his Lord. He who knows himself attains all knowledge and insight. Knowing oneself brings one close to Allah, finding felicity. And one who lacks self-knowledge remains far from the Presence of the Real. He who knows his own self possesses the knowledge of the Real. But he who does not know himself perishes in misguidance (dalal). A person’s knowledge of his own self is the most precious and beneficial of all knowledge. For he who knows himself becomes aware of the secrets of the universe.
Whoever knows his own self, his aspiration is effective in this transient world. There is great salvation for one who knows himself. For he who knows himself possesses virtue. He who does not know himself remains heedless of God. Whoever knows his own self has escaped from heedlessness and being cut off from Allah’s mercy. He approaches the nearness to Allah, reaching His Presence.
The most excellent faculty of reason is the knowledge that reveals a person's self. The most excellent wisdom is that which teaches a person about himself. And again, the most excellent wisdom is the knowledge that imparts closeness to God.
He who does not know his own self is ignorant of recognizing his Lord. How can he who does not even know his own self find his Lord? But he who knows his own self, how can he form connection with this transient world? The intelligent person is sorrowful and afflicted, while every gnostic is joyful and at peace. Every lover is surely beloved. So how can one who does not know himself know others? And in that case, how can he be capable of knowing Allah? It suffices for a person to know his own self, for this leads him to the knowledge of Allah. The one who knows the world becomes detached from it; the one who recognizes people distances himself from them and prefers solitude. He who knows his own self withdraws into seclusion. And he who knows his Lord affirms Him in unity (tawhid). He who knows his own self is humble towards others, for he always dwells in awareness of being present with the Real, remaining in reverence.
What is required of a person who knows himself is that he be content and strive to live with propriety and uprightness. He should lessen attachment to created things and turn toward Allah. God Most High commanded Hazrat Dawud (peace be upon him): “O Dawud! Know your own self so that you may know Me.” And he asked: "O Lord, how can I know my self and You?" Then Allah Most High responded and said: “Know that your self is weak, helpless, and transient, so that you may also know that I am powerful, mighty, and eternal. Thus, you will find Me through yourself."
Rhyme (Nazm)
1- The sun seeks, saying, "Where is the light of dawn?"
2- Water flows turning, saying, "Where is the water?"
3- Last night I asked sleep in my eyes: “O one who beholds the world! Where is sleep?”
4- The shoe searches for itself and asks the people: "Where is that which is lost and ruined?"
5- The cup passes around among the revelers; within the assembly, it says, "Where is the wine?"
6- All those entranced remain afflicted; is there ease without affliction? Where is it?
7- Everyone seeks themselves in veils. The one who knows himself says, “Where are the veils?”
8- The beloved’s beauty beholds without a veil. I say, "Where then is my covering?"
9- The opening of the heart's treasure is poverty and annihilation. What do you ask for? Where is the key to the door?
10- Behold the sun of your soul in your heart. Do not ask about God; where is the sun?
Translation into Modern Turkish:
1- Güneş arıyor, "Şafak ışığı nerededir?" diyor.
2- Su dönerek akıyor, "Su nerededir?" diyor.
3- Geçen gece gözümdeki uykuya sordum: “Ey dünyayı seyreden! Uyku nerededir?”
4- Ayakkabı kendini ararken insanlara soruyor: “O kaybolmuş ve harap olmuş nerededir?”
5- Kadeh, eğlence düşkünleri arasında dolaşıyor; toplantıda diyor ki, "Şarap nerededir?"
6- Tüm sarhoşlar sıkıntı içinde kalmış; ızdırabın olmadığı bir rahatlama var mı, nerede?
7- Herkes kendini örtülerde arıyor. Kendini bilen ârif diyor ki, “Örtüler nerede?”
8- Sevgili güzelliği perde olmadan görüyor. "O zaman benim üzerimdeki örtü nerededir?" diyor.
9- Kalbin hazinesinin açılması fakrlık ve yokluktur. O halde ne sorarsın; kapının anahtarı nerede?
10- Ruhunun güneşini kalbinde gör. Tanrıyı sorma! Güneş nerede?