Volume Three
It is said that Bilal, known for his truthful tongue, would pronounce “Hayyı alessela, Hayyı alelfelah – Haydin namaza, Haydi felaha” during the call to prayer, rendering the words “Hayyı-haydin” as “Heyyi.” Eventually, someone approached the Prophet and remarked, “O Messenger of Allah, a new building is being constructed. This error is not right at all.”
“O Messenger of Allah, O Messenger of God, O sole rider of God’s arena, bring a more eloquent muezzin! The religion is newly established, truth and order are just beginning to manifest themselves; it is shameful to mispronounce ‘Hayyı alelfelah.’” The Prophet’s countenance flared with displeasure. He revealed a few veiled insights and said:
“O worthless people, in the sight of God, Bilal’s ‘Heyyi’ is better than hundreds of errors, hundreds of falsehoods! Do not complicate matters so much, or I will not reveal your secrets, nor speak of your beginnings and ends.” If you do not possess a beautiful breath in every prayer, seek supplication from those brothers whose words are true!
God said to Moses, “Seek refuge with Me, pray with a tongue that has not spoken falsehoods or uttered harsh words.” When Moses replied, “I do not have such a tongue,” God responded, “Pray with the tongue of another; how can you sin with the tongue of another? Call upon your Lord with the tongue of another.” You too should act in such a way that tongues may constantly pray for you day and night.
A faultless tongue is the tongue that seeks excuses for others, or cleanse your own tongue and bring your soul to swiftness. For God’s name is pure; when purity arrives, filth gathers its belongings and departs. Opposites flee from opposites. When light shines, darkness vanishes. With a pure utterance entering the mouth, neither impurity nor sorrows remain.
One person would constantly say “Allah,” and this remembrance would sweeten his tongue, bringing him joy. Satan said, “O much-talker, where is your ‘Lebbeyk’ in response to all of your saying ‘Allah’? No answer comes from the Throne of God. Until when will you persist in saying ‘Allah’ without shame or embarrassment?”
The man’s heart was wounded; he lowered his head and lay down. In a dream, he saw Hızır dressed in green. Hızır said, “Come to your senses! Why have you abandoned remembrance? How have you grown weary of the Name you call upon? How have you regretted your remembrance?” The man replied, “The sound of ‘Lebbeyk’ does not come; I fear being driven away.”
Hızır said, “Your saying ‘Allah’ is our saying ‘Lebbeyk.’ Your yearning and suffering are our messenger herald. Your falling into deception and seeking solutions are how we draw you to ourselves, freeing your feet. Guard yourself, for love is also within Our snare.”
“Every time you say ‘Yarabbi,’ it is We who say, ‘My Lord,’ welcome,” he said. This knowledge is far from the ignorant person. For he is not permitted to say “Yarabbi!” His mouth and heart are locked so that he does not complain to God when afflicted with harm or loss. His mouth is bound, his heart as well.
He gave Pharaoh hundreds of riches and possessions; eventually, he began to claim greatness and superiority. That man, born with a wicked nature, did not experience even a headache throughout his life so that he would not complain to God. God granted him all the world’s dominion but withheld pain, sorrow, and grief. Suffering is more precious than all the world’s wealth because it leads you to secretly call upon God.
A sufferingless prayer is cold; it serves no purpose. A prayer and supplication born of suffering comes from the heart, from love. Is that secret yearning of yours, that remembrance with a beginning and an end – is that not what constitutes pure, sincere, and sorrowful prayer? It is saying, ‘O God, O One who reaches my cry, O my helper!’ Even the voice of a dog on the path of God is filled with divine ecstasy. For everyone who turns to God is a prisoner of a barrier-breaker.
Like the dog of the Cave Dwellers, he was freed from impurity and sat at the king’s table. For eternity, he will eat and drink the bread and water of mercy without provision or baggage, like an enlightened one. There are countless individuals disguised as dogs who do not remain sober behind the veil.
O son, give your life for this wine! Can there be victory without war, without patience? Therefore, patience is not a difficult thing. Be patient; patience is the key to hardships and difficulties. No one has escaped without patience and foresight. Patience is the hand and foot of foresight. Exercise caution; do not eat this poisonous herb.
Foresight is the light of the prophets’ strength. It is sand that dances in every wind. Does a mountain pay attention to any wind? Every side calls you, “Brother, if you seek a path, it is right here.” A companion will show you the way and be your companion. This subtle path has a guide for you.
But what a guide that is, and how little he knows of the road! Yusuf warned that man, saying,