DÖRDÜNCÜ BÂB · DÖRDÜNCÜ FASIL · Dokuzuncu Madde
**Article Nine**
Reveals the attributes of the Saints as transient, their essence eternal, and their station as the ultimate degree.
Beloved! It is known that the Friends of Allah have said: "When a servant transcends his human attributes, he becomes eternal with the attributes of the Divine." In this state, one clings to the command “Take on the character traits of Allah,” and is adorned with the beautiful Names and Attributes of the Most High.
*Fana* in Allah is to act according to the desires of the soul that opposes the self and loves transcendence. To pass beyond the self is to be eternal with Reality. To renounce the people is to be eternal with Reality. To be annihilated in Allah is to renounce everything other than Allah. To abide eternally in Allah is to abide eternally in Him. To be annihilated in Allah is, simultaneously, to abide eternally in Allah. The beginning of truths regarding eternity lies in transcending the created order (*ma-siva*). Thus, one cannot know Reality except that Reality knows him. One cannot see Him except when the self sees. And one cannot attain Him except when the self attains.
**Poem**
1. You are the sun of eternity, and everything else is shadow.
Everything besides You is nothing in essence.
2. Proximity to You is impossible for the possible.
Unless the expanse of possibility is removed.
3. This existence is a handful of clay from Your workshop.
Assist with the creation through Your powerful hand.
4. A soul cannot be a companion of love unless it transcends its existence.
5. Though love kills the lovers, a breath revives hearts.
6. The world is filled with the wine of love.
Every vessel is His, in that gathering.
7. Abandon selfhood, O Reality! So that the breaths of love may arrive gradually.
There are three kinds of annihilation and three kinds of eternal abiding. The first type of *fana* is when a servant loves so intensely that he loses all pleasure pertaining to his own self. The second is shame in desiring Him for the sake of the self. The third is shame in seeking anything other than Allah from Allah. It is this degree to which a person reaches, and within the tremor of being a friend and close one of Allah, he departs with wonder.
The first kind of eternal abiding is abiding eternally through the knowledge of Reality (*ma'rifa*). The second is abiding eternally through the love of Reality (*mahabbah*). And the third is abiding eternally through familiarity with Reality (*unsiyyah*). Thus, *fana* is the complete disappearance of servile attributes. Eternal abiding is the replacement of those annihilated servile attributes with the Attributes of Allah.
A perfect person has said: "Annihilate yourself so completely in the Divine that there remains nothing of you, from you, for you."
Thus, the ultimate limit of the Saints' stations is *fana* and eternal abiding. The end of the path of gnosis is to be annihilated through love. The ultimate annihilation is to abide eternally with the Beloved. The result of eternal abiding is attainment of friendship. And it is an everlasting ascent in the degrees of spirituality.
**Poem**
1. We are Sufis of the sofa of purity.
We are beneath the domes of the Most Exalted.
2. We cannot contain ourselves within this earth or sky, for we are the essence of the unseen world.
3. We are intoxicated with the wine of "Elest."
Therefore, we seek to witness eternal abiding.
4. We have renounced the world, we are free.
Yet, we are bound by this body.
5. Those possessing intellect always desire existence.
We, however, seek annihilation through poverty.
6. We are very close to the Presence of Allah.
Do not think that we are distant from Him.
7. When the veil of the body is lifted, behold Allah!
Observe how moon-like we are.
Transience is an attribute of created beings. Eternity is an attribute of the Creator who creates these things. As Allah proclaims in the Noble Qur'an: "Every living being on earth dies" (Rahman, 55:26), thus announcing the transience of all creation; and with the verse, “But the Lord of Glory and Majesty shall abide” (Rahman, 55:27), He announces His eternity.
The state of *vecd* is a state of peace for the heart, a state of unity. Losing oneself in humanity is dispersion. But states of peace and unity are the most fruitful spiritual stations. Dispersion and ignorance are the most severe afflictions. As the saying goes: "There is no greater blessing than unity, nor greater torment than discord." The condition of a servant who has attained the station of *fana* is that he knows the Lord of the worlds along with his self and all else. He sees them as arising from Him, abiding in Him, and returning to Him.
**Poem**
1. The great ones devoted to religion are our beloveds.
Be close to their path.
2. Serve this community with propriety.
Your work is the work of the Lord.
3. A group that is annihilated from the self,
Are mirrors of the Divine attributes.
4. Speech, hearing, and sight are all a manifestation of the glory of the Lord of creation.
5. What can I say about those who have attained perfection?
Their states cannot be expressed in words.
6. They abandon everything other than Him.
They never remain separated from their own Self.
7. They say, "How should one strike the eye?"
It is not wrong to make the eye see.
8. Like a nightingale to a garden of the world, constantly
They recite the remembrance of God with joy.
9. Like a circle, they appear silent in thought
They open the doors of contemplation through remembrance.
10. They appear outwardly as dust of sorrow,
But inwardly they are banished from existence.
1-Behold those who are devoted to the esteemed ones, heart and soul. Be humble in their presence.
2-Serve this assembly with grace. Know that what they do is the work of the Divine.
3-These communities are mirrors reflecting the Divine character.
4-Their speech, hearing, and sight are lanterns of the Light of the Lord of the Worlds.
5-What can I say about those possessing perfection? Their states cannot be expressed in words.
6-Forgetfulness is their failing; they do not remain separate from God for even a moment.
7-When they speak, they utter wisdom. When they close their eyes, it is not to be questioned.
8-Like nightingales in the garden of existence, they sing the remembrance of God with joy.
9-When they are silent, they enter into contemplation; they open the doors of remembrance through reflection.
10-They appear sorrowful, yet they have traversed both worlds.
11-Were these people not in the world, not even a single drop of rain would fall from the sky.
12-Their pure hearts are cleansed of desire and longing. Their will is always God’s will.
13-When seen, they evoke remembrance of God; there are no seekers besides Him.
14-The wisdom of these people is abundant. No one knows them except through Divine recognition.
15-They have abandoned pride and hypocrisy. Thus, the shade of majesty resides over them.
16-Their actions and attributes lie upon the path of God. They follow the footsteps of the exemplary Prophet Muhammad.
17-Their bread comes from the table of felicity. The crumbs of their table are acts of grace.
18-They abide in love, alive through Divine unity. They see nothing but the Beloved.
19-In the sight of God, their worth is immense. Their stations transcend description.
20-Their prayers are a cure for every ailment; they bestow healing upon the sick at every moment.
21-If one desires from among them, the dead will be resurrected by the Exalted Creator.
22-Should their hearts become angered, with a single command, they would cause the living to die.
23-Their call reaches, without sound, at times. They constantly affirm and glorify God.
24-“Are We not?” has been in their ears since eternity. The reply, “Yes, indeed,” is in their passionate cries.
25-With a single sigh, they would cleave a city asunder. With a single stride, they would move a mountain from its place.
26-Whoever becomes acquainted with them will surely be delivered from the torment of God.
27-One who remains estranged from them will inevitably go to perdition.
28-They endure harshness and suffering from people. They bear the burdens of both good and evil.
29-The thorns of disbelief pierce their feet. They treat the lowborn with gentleness—this is their way.
30-Whatever they desire becomes so; whatever they say comes to pass as they speak it.
31-You too, draw the burden, do not be a burden-layer! For this is more acceptable.
32-Draw the burden that you may also draw yours. Do not become angry, lest you be brought into servitude.
33-Turn away from the faults of people so that God may turn away from your own faults.
34-Patience is the adornment of the gnostics. The sign of intelligence, the description of those with heartfelt devotion.
35-From this character, let the common folk be absent; only the complete and chosen are endowed with these qualities.
In this verse, the “wali” refers to the true friends and protectors of the Ka’bah. Indeed, this word is translated in Quranic renderings as "guardian, protector, and steward."
This word appears in the printed text as "nâmızca.”
*Kabz*: A state of constriction with God. When the servant acts inappropriately while being overwhelmed, his heart is subjected to *kabz* and he is held accountable. *Bast*: The opposite of the state of constriction; mental clarity. Heartfelt supplication and entreaty.
2. Our Lord created Adam in His own image. To be created upon the most perfect proportions is our honor.
1. Our aspiration surpasses that which every seeker desires; our way differs from the way of everyone else.
8. *Kabz* and *bast* are breaths from that ocean. From it arises both harshness and kindness.
"Allah is the protector of those who believe, leading them out of darkness into light." (Bakara 2/257) "Know that there is no fear for those who believe; they will have cause for joy.” (Yunus 10/62) “The friends of this one [the Ka’bah] are only the righteous.” (Enfal 8/34) “Allah is the protector of the righteous.” (Casieh 45/19) "Friendship is solely with Allah." (Shura 42/9) "You are my master in this world and the hereafter. Kill me as a Muslim and join me among Your righteous servants.” (Yusuf 12/101) “The devoted servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth with humility, and when the ignorant mock them, they return greeting." (Furqan 25/63-64) "They are those whom neither commerce nor worldly gain distracts from remembrance of Allah.” (Nur 24/37)
2. Proximity to the Possible is impossible, unless the veil of existence is lifted.