ÜÇÜNCÜ FEN · ÜÇÜNCÜ BÂB · BİRİNCİ FASIL · İkinci Madde
Second Article
Describes the definitions, virtues, effects, and states of perfect reliance (tawakkul).
O esteemed one! Know that the friends of Allah have said:
Reliance is detaching from people and trusting completely in God. Reliance is cutting off hope from what is in the hands of people and placing value and trust in what is with God. Reliance is abandoning measures and grasping what is destined. Reliance is trusting with complete faith in the generous promise of God and abandoning preparation for the future. Reliance is trusting in God and being content with Him, and fulfilling every responsibility incumbent upon one. Reliance is staying away from ambitions (metāmi‘), which contain all honor and felicity within themselves.
Reliance is binding the body to servitude (ubudiyyah) and the heart to the attribute of nurturing (rububiyyah) of the Lord. Reliance is abandoning everything other than God (māsivā). It is not expecting anything from anyone in terms of fear and hope. Reliance is not desiring, not rejecting, and holding onto what one has.
Reliance, with respect to seeking sustenance, is preferring the Treasury-keeper, God Most High. Reliance is turning wholly towards God in every circumstance. Reliance is having the same state in a small amount as in a large heart. Reliance is taking necessary things under controlled acquisition (muāyane-i ıztırār) and abandoning those that are optional (ikhtiyārī). Reliance is the principal of capital and the peace of the heart. Reliance is the most virtuous of deeds and the most honorable of states. Reliance is preferring the Creator and beautifying character. Reliance is the foundation of faith, the nourishment of the heart, and the comfort of the soul. Therefore, it is something necessary for everyone. For God Most High has undertaken to provide sustenance in sufficient measure to everyone.
These four virtues are from the character of the saints: reliance, delegation (leaving one's affairs to God), patience, and acceptance. Blessed is he who has strengthened his faith with reliance, delegated his affairs to God and attained peace, found safety through patience, surrendered himself to God’s decree, and is pleased with Him.
The entire populace is like the household of the Exalted One (iyal) and the Lord of the worlds, God, has guaranteed provision for His household. Therefore, the duty of one who relies on God is not despair but hope in God. Those who are devoted to reliance attain the grace of God’s help and become independent of people. Whoever relies on God becomes rich with God and is independent of everyone. For those who rely on God, means are prepared; difficulties become easy. All hardships are resolved, and needs are met. A person who possesses reliance becomes free, insightful, and intelligent. It is appropriate for him to behave arrogantly towards the people of this world.
Ibrahim (peace be upon him) most beautifully exemplified perfect reliance and lived it within his own self. Indeed, when he was thrown into the fire, the angel asked him, “Do you have any desire?” He replied, "I have a desire, but not from you." Then, when the angel said, "Then ask of Him," he said, "My state is sufficient for me.” Ibrahim (peace be upon him)’s not seeing anyone other than Him even in that condition was the perfection of reliance and the essence of oneness. Thus, the fire of Nimrod became like a garden for him and he was delivered from it.
Reliance is neither chasing after work and gain nor abandoning work and effort. Perhaps reliance is attaining peace with God Most High and binding the heart to Him.
Reliance is a sublime secret between the servant and his Lord, and to convey this secret to other people would be unbecoming of nobility and not appropriate. God Most High has said in the Noble Qur’an: “And if anyone relies upon Allah, then He suffices as a protector.” (Talak 65/3), thereby announcing the degree of preciousness and honor of reliance. It is narrated in a sacred hadith: "O grateful one, your increase in blessings is for you. O rememberer, your nearness to Me is for you. And O one who relies upon Me, I am with you and sufficient for you.”
Verses (Nazm)
1-I am sufficient – abandoning myself – to you, all good
Without cause, without intermediary, the grace of another.
2-I am sufficient, without bread, I give you satiety.
I grant you kingship, without army or legions.
3-I am sufficient, without medicine, I give you remedy.
I turn graves and wells into fields.
The person who relies (mütevekkil) is solitary and friendless among people (garib), close to God (karib). The state of the one who relies on God’s power is like the state of the washer of a corpse. Reliance is finding strength and power by trusting in God. It is freedom from fear of sultans and enemies. The person who relies does not seek help from anyone, just as a small child knows his mother. Similarly, the person who relies turns to his Lord in every condition and seeks refuge only in Him. Reliance is making the self like dust through humility and purifying the heart from māsivā.
Reliance is severing connection with means and attaining the generosity of the Lord of lords (rabbü’l-erbab). Reliance is finding everything from God and expecting help only from Him. Reliance is abandoning the whims of the self and driving out everything other than God (māsivā) from the heart. Reliance is a light that illuminates the heart, distances it from māsivā, brings it to peace, and delights it. Reliance is turning away from everyone and going to the owner of all things.
Reliance is attaining freedom, erasing māsivā from the heart.
Reliance is abandoning preference; delegation is abandoning objection.
Okay, here's the translation of the provided text, aiming for faithfulness and preservation of meaning within a classical Islamic/Sufi context:
Reliance (Tawakkul)
Reliance is to cleanse the heart from worldly desires and affections; it is to surrender all actions and intentions to God Most High.
The person who relies upon God (al-mutawakkil) understands that every event, every occurrence, originates from Him. In his eyes, praise and blame, joy and sorrow, honor and disgrace, profit and loss—all are equal. Therefore, he abandons anger and endures hardship with patience.
It was said: "Reliance is a state of being, not merely words."
Poetry:
1- We have placed our reliance upon the Lord of the Heavens,
And surrendered to the causes of Divine Decree.
2- The palaces of kings are veiled in restriction,
While the Gate of God is open unto annihilation (fanā).
(Translation of the poetry)
1- Who is he who does not yield his opinion to acceptance?
Who is he who does not become intoxicated with the vision of your countenance?
2- Who is he whose heart is not in your hand?
Who is he who will not sacrifice his soul for you?
3- Who is he who is not within your training?
Who is he who has not received a gift from you?
4- The two worlds are like two hands of yours;
What would the hand give if it did not receive generosity from you?
5- The heedless one considers oppression to come from people,
While people are in his hand like a staff.
6- Every staff draws its power from you;
From you reaches every ailment and cure.
7- The master inflicts hardship; who is he that becomes the tree?
Who is he who does not submit to Divine Decree?
8- He who strikes at the staff is a dog with bad manners;
He did not understand that the blow was his own punishment.
9- Do not contend with fate, hasten to align yourself!
Welcome hardship and sorrow; be free from grief.
The Shaykh Ismail [Tillovi] (may God have mercy upon him) instructed his son:
"O Ibrahim, place your reliance upon God and entrust your affairs to Him. That which He does is the best. He is the One who tests His servants and provides assistance, the Most Merciful of the merciful."