ÜÇÜNCÜ FEN · İKİNCİ BÂB · DÖRDÜNCÜ FASIL · Yedinci Madde
Seventh Point
It states that seclusion is remembrance and reflection, aiding in turning towards the Real, and being a cause of complete tranquility and nearness.
O esteemed one! Know that the friends of Allah have said: For the traveler on the path of gnosis, separation from people is necessary for two reasons. The first reason is that people distract the person seeking knowledge of the Divine from their remembrance and reflection, preventing them from turning towards the Real.
As a knower once recounted: I saw a gathering of people in a courtyard. They were shooting arrows. A person was sitting apart from them. I wanted to speak with him. But he said to me, “Your speech is less sweet than Allah’s remembrance.” I said, "You are alone here." He replied, "My Lord is with me." I asked, "Who is foremost?" He said, "He who leaves the people and turns towards the presence of the Real," and then left me.
Thus, people distract those seeking knowledge of Allah (the seeker of gnosis) from remembrance and reflection; they even lead them to evil and destruction.
Verse:
Flee from the attacks of the people, seek solitude;
For the friend of the secluded is immediately the Sustainer.
[Modern Turkish Translation: Flee from the assaults of people like Satan; withdraw into seclusion, for the Lord is the dearest friend of those in solitude.]
The Exalted Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) explained the time of seclusion, the characteristics of those who seclude themselves, and the qualities of those who observe seclusion properly, commanding separation from people during that time (the blessed era). However, that Merciful One was a more effective advisor to our souls than we ourselves were.
For He knew our affairs better than we did, so His time of solitude had arrived. It was necessary for us to obey His command and accept His advice. The qualities mentioned above are related in the renowned narration [310]. The Exalted Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “When you see people breaking promises, betraying trusts, and being hostile to one another, then that is a time of tribulation.”
The Companions asked: "What should those who believe do during that time?" He, the Divine Physician, replied: "Those who have faith in that time should not interfere in the affairs of people. They should guard their tongues from speaking. They should try to remain at home. They should embrace what religion deems good (maruf), and abandon what it forbids (münker). But they should go out of their homes only for their own needs.”
Subsequently, the righteous predecessors warned their friends in their times, and all advised their children and those around them to seclude themselves and avoid mixing with people. Surely they were more knowledgeable and insightful than we are. This time, however, is not good, but evil, even the most harmful and painful of times.
Hazrat Omar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "There is ease in solitude from a bad companion. So it is necessary to reduce familiarity with people as much as possible, for escaping from people is very difficult.”
A perfect one has said: “This time is a time to refrain from attachment, to remain where you are, to flee from people like one flees from a lion, to stay at home, and to be content with what slips away from your hands.” Another perfect one has said: "For the sake of Allah, it is permissible to avoid people in this time." Someone who heard these words two hundred years later said: “Separation from people was permissible then; now it is obligatory.”
The second reason for secluding oneself from people is that they disturb the state of tranquility of the traveler on the path of gnosis. For those who associate with people, even the knower of reality, are subject to suggestions of showing off and embellishment by the people, and their heart’s tranquility disappears. As it has been said, “The sight of people is a veil for showing off.”
A group of people went to the door of a knower and said: "Grant us your visitation and company." The knower replied from within to those who came to his door: “It is more beneficial to bestow upon you through prayer in absence (ghiyāban) than through visitation and companionship. For visitation and seeing can give rise to showing off and embellishment. Prayer in absence, being close to sincerity, is accepted.”
Most of the righteous predecessors abandoned visitation and meetings out of fear of hypocrisy, finding safety in seclusion, contenting themselves with a small amount of food sufficient to sustain life, and filling their hearts with the delight of unity. They became annihilated in the tranquility of nearness to the Real and attained eternal existence with Allah Most High.
Rhyme:
1-Know the value of poverty, become annihilated; do not be close to the sultan, never.
2-Fakr is the essence of peace of mind, do not be distraught, never.
3-Abandoning pleasure and bodily delights is easy indeed; but if you are a man, do not seek them in the self, never.
4-Leave the cloak, prayer rug, turban, and rosary; do not be a plaything of Satan’s illusions, never.
5-Protecting outward appearances leads immediately to neglect of the inner being; protect beautiful character and guard the body, never.
6-If you are blessed with honor and esteem, many jealous ones will arise; do not fall into the trap of your brothers like Joseph, never.
7-If you desire felicity, come to solitude, forget the people; find the intimacy of Allah, conceal regret, never [224/b]
[Modern Turkish Translation: 1-Know the value of poverty, become annihilated; do not be close to a sultan, ever. The essence of peace of mind is in poverty; do not be distraught, ever. 2-This is for hunting people; a smiling face, sweet words. But you must not be an arrow hunter, be cheerful and joyful, never. 3-Abandoning pleasure and bodily delights is easy indeed. If you are a man, do not seek delight in the self, ever. 4-Leave the cloak, prayer rug, turban, and rosary; do not be a plaything on the stage of illusions, never. 5-Protecting outward appearances immediately leads to neglect of the inner being; protect beautiful character and guard the body, never. 6-If you are blessed with honor and esteem, many jealous ones will arise. Do not fall into the trap of your brothers like Joseph, never. 7-If you desire felicity, come to solitude, forget the people; find the intimacy of Allah, conceal regret, never.]
Here's a faithful translation of the provided text, preserving meaning and intended tone:
If you are among the people of felicity (blessedness), then when opportunity arises, withdraw; let the world forget you. Truly! Seek the friendship of Truth; conceal your condition, and never regret it.