Mawlana Sheikh Mehmed Adil. Translations.

‎سُبۡحٰنَ الَّذِىۡۤ اَسۡرٰى بِعَبۡدِهٖ لَيۡلًا مِّنَ الۡمَسۡجِدِ الۡحَـرَامِ اِلَى الۡمَسۡجِدِ الۡاَقۡصَا الَّذِىۡ بٰرَكۡنَا حَوۡلَهٗ لِنُرِيَهٗ مِنۡ اٰيٰتِنَا​ ؕ اِنَّهٗ هُوَ السَّمِيۡعُ الۡبَصِيۡرُ‏ “Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al- Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing.” [Quran 17:1] Allah Azza wa Jalla orders on this Holy Night to praise Himself Azza wa Jalla and to praise the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam. It is a very important night; it is an extremely special event that occurred for the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam. To show the honour of his Prophethood, the whole universe received him (the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam). Allah Azza wa Jalla has no place; the mind cannot comprehend this. We must not think about how Allah Azza wa Jalla did this. He is the Creator. So, this night is a very blessed night. InshaAllah, we ask and pray to Allah Azza wa Jalla that He Azza wa Jalla makes us understand the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam and what he sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam is saying, what he sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam is ordering, and what he sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam is showing people. This implies not following one's ego. People think they are something themselves, but you must follow what the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam showed. Follow this, do not think that you are something and do as you like. If you do something that the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam is not happy with, it is not of benefit to you or others. We ask Allah Azza wa Jalla to keep us on His way, the way of the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam. We are nothing compared to him sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam; we must show respect to him sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam. We should be aware that we are unable to do anything without him sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam. What he sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam ordered, and what he sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam showed us, is the way. InshaAllah, Allah Azza wa Jalla keeps us on the way of the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam, and keeps our minds strong, our belief strong, and our bodies strong.

InshaAllah, tomorrow we will observe the blessed Night of Miraj of our Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him). These days are special; it is one of the precious days that our Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) has gifted to his community. This is an event through which Allah showed the superiority of our Prophet over all worlds, thanks be to Allah. To a place, rank, and station that no other creature could reach; there Allah brought our Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) and received him into His presence. The nature of this state is known only to Allah, no one else. What we know is—thanks be to Allah—that these are great miracles; they are gifts of grace for our Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him). May Allah always grant us a share in these gifts of grace as well. This is granted to those who believe in Him and trust in Him; the blessing of our Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) reaches them. Whoever does not believe has already become a plaything of the devil; they constantly say: "No, it was like this, no, it was different." Very well, the unbeliever may say that, but you should not resemble the unbeliever. The unbelievers back then said: "That is impossible"; but the believers of today say, thanks to their faith: "It is possible." But those who say "I am Muslim," and claim "No, it was only a dream, or this or that"—these are the ones whose faith is weak. The believing person recognizes with absolute certainty (Hakk'ul-Yakin) the rank of our Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him), believes in him, and follows his path. May Allah not divert us from this path and may He keep us steadfast, InshaAllah. Today, InshaAllah, a journey awaits us. We are visiting the places established by our Mawlana Sheikh Nazim, where our brothers in faith are located and which serve the whole world. Our brothers are there; the brothers from the past, the new ones, and the deceased... One must always be connected with them. With the intention of being eternally united both in this world and in the Hereafter, we embark on this journey, InshaAllah. May this journey, InshaAllah, lead to good; may we go in goodness and return in goodness. May it be full of blessings for us all, InshaAllah.

Our Prophet (Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) says: "In the end times, the Fitna will be like pitch-black nights." This means: Even in broad daylight, there is darkness like at night. This is how our Prophet (Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) describes it. "What will you do in this time?" he asks. In that time, one should stay at home and not go out unnecessarily. One should perform one's acts of worship at home, be with one's family, and take care of them. Nowadays, people only look out for themselves; hardly anyone thinks of others. They say: "First me, then the others, and only then the family." Therefore, they do not want to take responsibility for the family; everyone just wants to be free. But freedom does not work that way; everything has its order and its propriety. The world attracts people, drags them into ruin, and distances them from Allah, the Mighty and Exalted. That is why people ask: "What is our duty? What do you advise us?" Watch over your family. In this time, this is very important; it is crucial to protect the family. For—may Allah protect us—many come to us; the children have become addicted, they want to get away from it, but they cannot manage to. And for that, they ask for supplications. Therefore, one must be extremely cautious in every respect. Through the devices in their hand, via the telephone and other things, they drip poison into them. That means Satan and his soldiers set traps and use poisons that one can hardly imagine; they attack from all sides. Gambling is another plague. For a few days now, I have seen that such messages are even reaching us. May Allah protect us! Therefore we warn against it; one must pay close attention to this. They say: "We have credited you with 5000 Lira, start playing with it." O Allah, where does this come from? Who just gives away 5000 Lira just like that? The soldiers of Satan bait you with 5000 Lira, then plunge you into 500 million in debt and take everything you possess. How do these things work? Exactly these are the many types of Fitna of the end times, the poisons of the end times. A person must watch out for himself, for his children, and his family. One must be mindful so that Allah protects us, so that Allah helps us. Our time is the end times. Never before has one seen so much evil in the world as in this time. The worst of all times is our time, the end times. But in return, there is also the greatest blessing, the greatest reward, and Allah's gifts in this time. Whoever protects himself and stays on the right path, whoever helps himself, his family, his relatives, and his society, for him there is a tremendous reward. As compensation for these difficulties and this evil, Allah has promised great rewards. That is exactly what is called Jihad; that is the true Jihad. To protect oneself against one's own ego and against evil, and also to preserve others. May Allah assist us all. May Allah protect us from this situation and from evil. May Allah protect us from the evil of Satan and his following.

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: بُنِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ: شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللهِ، وَإِقَامِ الصَّلَاةِ، وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ، وَحَجِّ الْبَيْتِ، وَصَوْمِ رَمَضَانَ. Our Prophet – Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said: Islam is built on five pillars. This means these are the fundamental conditions of Islam. These are: To bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah – that is, to pronounce the Declaration of Faith (Kelime-i Şehadet). Second: to perform the prayer. Third: to pay Zakat. Fourth: to perform Hajj (pilgrimage). And fasting in Ramadan. These are the foundations of Islam; none of them may be omitted. Although Zakat and Hajj are intended for those who are financially capable, they are still obligatory acts and belong to the foundations of Islam. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: إِنَّ لِلْإِسْلَامِ صُوًى وَمَنَارًا كَمَنَارِ الطَّرِيقِ، رَأْسُهُ وَجِمَاعُهُ شَهَادَةُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، وَإِقَامُ الصَّلَاةِ، وَإِيتَاءُ الزَّكَاةِ، وَتَمَامُ الْوُضُوءِ. Our Prophet – Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said: Islam possesses landmarks and lighthouses, similar to the markings on a road. Just as a lighthouse shows the way to people at sea or on land, Islam also has signs that make it recognizable. The head and core of this is: The testimony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. That is the entry into Islam. After that, to perform the prayer properly, to pay Zakat, and to perform the ablution (Wudu) completely. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: أَيُّمَا مَالٍ أَدَّيْتَ زَكَاتَهُ فَلَيْسَ بِكَنْزٍ. Our Prophet – Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said: Wealth for which Zakat has been paid is not 'Kenz', meaning not merely a hoarded treasure. This wealth is halal and pure. 'Kenz' refers to wealth with which (others') rights are mixed; as soon as Zakat is paid, it becomes pure and halal. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: بَرِئَ مِنَ الشُّحِّ مَنْ أَدَّى الزَّكَاةَ، وَقَرَى الضَّيْفَ، وَأَعْطَى فِي النَّائِبَةِ. Our Prophet – Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said: Whoever pays the Zakat on his wealth, hosts the guest, and helps the one in need, has freed himself from stinginess. This means such a person is not stingy, for he has given his Zakat, hosted the guest, and helped the needy. Whoever neglects this is stingy; whoever does it is not considered stingy. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: ثَلَاثٌ مَنْ كُنَّ فِيهِ وُقِيَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِ: مَنْ أَدَّى الزَّكَاةَ، وَقَرَى الضَّيْفَ، وَأَعْطَى فِي النَّائِبَةِ. Our Prophet – Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said: Whoever unites three qualities within himself has protected his soul from stinginess. Stinginess is a detested quality; Allah – the Mighty and Exalted – does not like it, and the Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) does not like it either. Likewise, people do not like the stingy person. Whoever fulfills these conditions is protected from stinginess. These are: First, to pay Zakat. There are many wealthy people who do not pay their Zakat due to their stinginess; there are countless examples of this. The majority are in this state: The rich possess money but cannot bring themselves to give it – that is exactly what stinginess is. Second: to host the guest. You should offer the guest whatever you can. But one need not force oneself. Offer what is in the house. Do not burden yourself; it is unnecessary to borrow money left and right and get into trouble just so people don't say: "He is stingy." The guest eats what he finds. That too is hospitality. And third: to help the one who has fallen into distress. One helps the distressed person within the limits of one's means. Allah – the Mighty and Exalted – does not place a burden on His servant that he cannot bear, and does not plunge him into difficulties. One of the Companions (Sahaba) brought the Prophet – Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – a piece of gold. Our Prophet turned his face away. The man came from the other side and said: "I found this gold. This is my entire wealth, I give it to you." Finally, the Prophet – Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – took the gold and threw it towards the man. It did not hit him. The Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) then said: "Do you give me your entire wealth and go begging afterwards? That is not the way." "Give as much as your strength allows." "Spend the rest on yourself and take care of your own well-being." So, everything has its propriety and method. Without bringing yourself into distress, you help as best you can. The Hadith says: "Help the one in need," but it is not acceptable for you to sell house and home to pay someone's debts and then become homeless yourself. Everything has an order. Help the distressed person according to your means, then you are not considered stingy. So do not be afraid of being seen as stingy. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: أَخْلِصُوا عِبَادَةَ اللهِ تَعَالَى، وَأَقِيمُوا خَمْسَكُمْ، وَأَدُّوا زَكَاةَ أَمْوَالِكُمْ طَيِّبَةً بِهَا أَنْفُسُكُمْ، وَصُومُوا شَهْرَكُمْ، وَحُجُّوا بَيْتَ رَبِّكُمْ، تَدْخُلُوا جَنَّةَ رَبِّكُمْ. Our Prophet – Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said... Here the Prophet expresses everything in the most beautiful way. The Arabic wording of the Hadith is kept in a rhymed and poetic style. Even if it is not so rhymed in the translation, the meaning is as follows: Be sincere in your worship towards Allah and perform your five prayers. First Ikhlas (sincerity): Serve Allah with sincerity and perform your five prayers. Fast your month of Ramadan. Then pay the Zakat on your wealth with a joyful heart. That means, do not be annoyed because money is leaving. If you give a lot, it means that Allah has given you a lot. If you give a hundred gold pieces in Zakat, then Allah has given you five thousand so that you can give these hundred. You should rejoice and say: "I give so much, which means Allah has gifted me much." So give your Zakat with a clear conscience. And make pilgrimage to the House of your Lord (Baytullah), so that you may enter the Paradise of your Lord. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: حَصِّنُوا أَمْوَالَكُمْ بِالزَّكَاةِ، وَدَاوُوا مَرْضَاكُمْ بِالصَّدَقَةِ، وَأَعِدُّوا لِلْبَلَاءِ الدُّعَاءَ. Our Prophet – Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said: Protect your property through Zakat. If Zakat is not paid on the wealth, the entire wealth will be lost later – may Allah protect us. Be sure to give Zakat to secure your property. Treat your sick with Sadaqa (charity). The treatment of the illness is charity. It is a stronger cure than the doctor or medicine. And prepare yourselves for trials with supplications (Dua). Pray so that calamity stays away from you. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: حَصِّنُوا أَمْوَالَكُمْ بِالزَّكَاةِ، وَدَاوُوا مَرْضَاكُمْ بِالصَّدَقَةِ، وَاسْتَعِينُوا عَلَى حَمْلِ الْبَلَاءِ بِالدُّعَاءِ وَالتَّضَرُّعِ. Our Prophet – Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said: Protect your property with Zakat. Zakat is a condition for the protection of wealth. You thereby fulfill the religious duty (Fard), protect your wealth, and acquire reward. Furthermore, you receive blessings. Treat your sick with charity; a person should absolutely give charity every day to be protected from accidents and calamity and to find healing. To ward off calamity, seek help through supplications and humble pleading. That means, plead to Allah and pray that calamity does not strike you. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: الدِّينَارُ كَنْزٌ، وَالدِّرْهَمُ كَنْزٌ، وَالْقِيرَاطُ كَنْزٌ. Our Prophet – Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said: As long as no Zakat is paid for it, the Dinar (gold) is 'Kenz', meaning hoarded treasure. The Dirham (silver) and the carat are also 'Kenz'. This means they are goods for which no Zakat has been paid. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: الزَّكَاةُ قَنْطَرَةُ الْإِسْلَامِ. Our Prophet – Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said: Zakat is the bridge of Islam. After the death of our Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him), most of those Arabs were Muslims, but they became apostates (Mürted). Why? To avoid paying Zakat. This means Zakat is truly the bridge of Islam; whoever does not give it is considered not to have fully entered Islam. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: كُلُّ مَالٍ أُدِّيَتْ زَكَاتُهُ فَلَيْسَ بِكَنْزٍ وَإِنْ كَانَ مَدْفُونًا تَحْتَ الْأَرْضِ، وَكُلُّ مَالٍ لَا تُؤَدَّى زَكَاتُهُ فَهُوَ كَنْزٌ وَإِنْ كَانَ ظَاهِرًا. Our Prophet – Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said: Wealth on which Zakat has been paid is not Kenz (hoarded goods), even if it is buried seven layers deep underground. However, wealth on which Zakat has not been paid is considered Kenz, even if it lies out in the open; it is thus considered wealth for which the due has been refused. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: لَمْ يَمْنَعْ قَوْمٌ زَكَاةَ أَمْوَالِهِمْ إِلَّا مُنِعُوا الْقَطْرَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ، وَلَوْلَا الْبَهَائِمُ لَمْ يُمْطَرُوا. Our Prophet – Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said: If a people refuses the Zakat on their wealth, rain from the sky will certainly be withheld from them. Today, water scarcity prevails everywhere in the world. We complain that it is not raining, that water is lacking... Were it not for the animals, not a single drop of rain would fall. That means Allah has mercy on the animals and insects and bestows this rain; otherwise, truly not a drop would be granted to us. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: عُرِضَ عَلَيَّ أَوَّلُ ثَلَاثَةٍ يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ، وَأَوَّلُ ثَلَاثَةٍ يَدْخُلُونَ النَّارَ. فَأَمَّا أَوَّلُ ثَلَاثَةٍ يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ: فَشَهِيدٌ، وَمَمْلُوكٌ أَحْسَنَ عِبَادَةَ رَبِّهِ وَنَصَحَ لِسَيِّدِهِ، وَعَفِيفٌ مُتَعَفِّفٌ. وَأَمَّا أَوَّلُ ثَلَاثَةٍ يَدْخُلُونَ النَّارَ: فَأَمِيرٌ مُسَلَّطٌ، وَذُو ثَرْوَةٍ مِنْ مَالٍ لَا يُؤَدِّي حَقَّ اللهِ فِي مَالِهِ، وَفَقِيرٌ فَخُورٌ. Our Prophet – Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said: I was shown the first three people who will enter Paradise, and the first three who will enter Hell. This means this was revealed to our Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him). The three people who will enter Paradise first are: The first is the martyr (Shahid). The second is the slave (servant) who performed both his worship of Allah and his service to his master well. As a reward for the hardship he suffered in this world, he belongs to the second group to enter Paradise. The third is the chaste and honorable person with a family, who is ashamed to beg. This person, who begs from no one and practices patience for the sustenance of their family, belongs to the third group in Paradise. The first three people to enter Hell are: The first is the tyrannical ruler. The second is the wealthy person who does not pay Zakat, and thus denies Allah's right to his wealth. He possesses wealth but gives no Zakat; since Allah's right lies within this wealth, this person belongs to the second group of the inhabitants of Hell. And the third is the arrogant poor person. Whoever is poor and yet arrogant belongs to the third group.

قُلِ ٱللَّهُمَّ مَٰلِكَ ٱلۡمُلۡكِ تُؤۡتِي ٱلۡمُلۡكَ مَن تَشَآءُ وَتَنزِعُ ٱلۡمُلۡكَ مِمَّن تَشَآءُ وَتُعِزُّ مَن تَشَآءُ وَتُذِلُّ مَن تَشَآءُۖ بِيَدِكَ ٱلۡخَيۡرُۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ قَدِيرٞ (3:26) Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, says: Dominion belongs to Him. Everything belongs to Him. Allah, the Mighty and Exalted, says: "He honors whom He wills, and humbles whom He wills." Why do we mention this? Alhamdulillah, yesterday... Years ago, as advised by Sheikh Baba, we made the intention to become neighbors of Eyüp Sultan. The intention was made to be neighbors there and to serve there. There were a few changes of location. Ten years ago, there were some people who wanted to conduct a business deal. In return for this deal, we were supposed to receive a finished building; that was their offer, at least. They were awarded the contract without having to invest their own money; that was the agreement. We were supposed to move into a finished building. But with stalling tactics of "today" and "tomorrow," it ultimately never happened. Since they did not keep their word, we looked around for other places. Finally, Alhamdulillah, the matter with the building and the land was resolved yesterday. It is progressing step by step, thanks to Allah. Why do I say this? If this property had belonged to those people... Well, Allah must not have destined it for them. Initially, we were angry and upset about it. They did not keep their word. They kept stalling us. Sometimes it moved forward, sometimes not, and so the years passed. Yesterday, however, we saw, Alhamdulillah, that the majority of the building is nearly completed, MashaAllah. Then we realized: Allah, the Exalted, evidently did not want this good to come about through them. He did not want it; no share in this property was destined for them. The property belongs to Allah. It was not granted to them. But through the small contributions of the brothers, the students, and the lovers, this service will be completed without us being dependent on them, if Allah wills. It will remain until the Day of Judgment, by Allah's permission. It is an endowment (Waqf). It is an endowment for the pleasure of Allah, until the Day of Judgment. This is the work of an endowment; whoever participates in it wins. This person gains honor (becomes 'Aziz'). However, whoever neglects it—meaning whoever promises something and does not keep it—humiliates himself (becomes 'Zalil'). No matter what he does, even if he owned the whole world: He remains humiliated. 'Zalil' means to be worthless, to have no significance. Therefore, one should not be angry. Such is the will of Allah. Whom He wills, He honors and brings close to Himself. With Allah, the Exalted, he has a high rank. 'Aziz' means: someone of high rank, dignified, honorable, and exalted. 'Zalil', on the other hand, means baseness, humiliation, and a useless state. So there is no reason for anger or sorrow. Allah willed it so. Allah determined it so; some He honored (Aziz), others He humiliated (Zalil). Therefore, one need neither be annoyed nor grieve. One must leave everything to Allah's decree. May Allah make us among the honored ones, among those who keep their word. May He make us true owners. For this is the property for the Hereafter. It is not worldly property; it belongs to Allah and is endowed for His pleasure. To whom He destines this property, that is the decisive factor. May He give us a share in the property that brings us honor, inshaAllah. May Allah be pleased. May Allah enable you all to accomplish many such endowments and good deeds, inshaAllah. May Allah be pleased. May Allah make us all accepted servants. May He make us among those who spend without fear of poverty, inshaAllah.

لَّقَدۡ كَانَ لَكُمۡ فِي رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُسۡوَةٌ حَسَنَةٞ (33:21) Thus speaks Allah, the Mighty and Exalted. Our Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) is your guide. Follow him, imitate his deeds, and guide yourselves by what he exemplified. Obey him and strive to the best of your ability to live his Sunnah. Our Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) is of benefit and a role model not only for Muslims but for all of humanity. Even if those who follow his path are not Muslims, his deeds are still for the welfare of humanity. Every one of his actions, everything he did, serves the benefit of the people. Sometimes it is said that there are places among non-Muslims where people do everything in the name of honesty and sincerity. The only thing they lack is the testimony of faith. Some Muslims, on the other hand, are the exact opposite; they engage in all sorts of mischief and then say: "We are Muslims." That is not how it works. Therefore, it is crucial how our Prophet lived. It is important how he ate and how he drank. What he did, how he organized his day... All these are things people should take as an example. Once, the King of Egypt sent gifts to our Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him). Along with the gifts, he also sent a doctor to examine and treat the Muslims. The doctor realized that no one was coming to him; there were no sick people. He asked: "How do you do that?" They answered: "We live according to the Sunnah of our Prophet; our eating, drinking, and actions align with it." That is why no one gets sick. Today, however, the world has turned into the exact opposite. People eat and drink all kinds of unnecessary stuff. On top of that, they take various medications and dietary supplements. Sometimes they want to lose weight, sometimes gain weight, sometimes become stronger... Muscles should stand out, something should grow here, something should grow there... They are ruining themselves. They behave as if we were created only to feed this body. Yet your body is there to serve Allah. There is a measure for that as well. When eating, you should do as our Prophet commanded. One should not overfill the stomach. Everything regarding eating and drinking must be moderate so that you feel well. So that you can also perform your acts of worship. The world is not just about thinking of the body; give the body its due. Allah created everything perfectly. Do not believe: "I have to do more myself to become someone special." Take the elephant, for example, the largest animal; in terms of stature, there is hardly anything bigger, but what good does it do you to become like an elephant? So there is no advantage in being like an elephant. Allah created animals in one way and humans in another way. That is why one must follow the Sunnah of our Prophet. To be a true human being and find peace, one must do what he did. Then you will find peace in this world and in the Hereafter as well. Otherwise, people will constantly tell you: "Take this, it is good; eat that, it helps." People have been accustomed to eating while standing, like animals. They call it "Fast Food," these snacks while standing... Eating while standing is frowned upon, makruh. Likewise drinking while standing. Some Muslims who consider themselves particularly smart say: "Look, the doctor has proven that eating and drinking while standing is harmful." Man, our Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) said this long ago, but you do not listen to him. 1400, 1500 years ago, our Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) exemplified and stated this. But only now, when a doctor or whoever confirms it, do you believe it and say: "That is true." Do you not believe our Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him), but rather the doctor? Of course, one must believe everything our Prophet said. If you do not believe fully, you look for proofs and evidence from others to be able to say: "This is true." Yet you should believe our Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) immediately. It is good to do everything he said; of course, as much as you can. May Allah forgive us all for the things we are unable to do. May Allah grant us vigilance. May Allah grant us a blessed life. One must also look after one's family and teach the children in the same way. How to eat, how to behave, how to conduct oneself... Then good children grow up, and blessed generations arise, inshaAllah. May Allah be well pleased.

وَفَوۡقَ كُلِّ ذِي عِلۡمٍ عَلِيمٞ (12:76) Above every knower stands one who knows even more. And naturally, above them all stands Allah, the Mighty and Sublime. The knowledge of Allah, the Most High, is infinite. Today, man claims: "We have achieved something." They imagine they possess the greatest knowledge of this time – indeed, of all history. But that is a mistake. Knowledge is limitless. The knowledge they have attained is not even a dot. Compared to the knowledge of Allah, it is nothing at all. Be it artificial intelligence or whatever... They have even given machines intelligence. People marvel at it and say: "How is that possible? How magnificent!" Yet, it is insignificant. Next to the knowledge of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, it is less than a speck of dust. If it were even just a speck of dust, that would already be a lot. But measured against Allah's knowledge, everything they produce is not even a dot. The greatness of Allah knows no limits. People believe they have accomplished something great with their earthly inventions. They consider it important. But in truth, it has no value whatsoever. One cannot draw a comparison with Allah anyway. It is impossible to say: "Allah is so much greater and we are so much smaller." Such a comparison does not exist. For His existence is the only true existence. Our existence is nil; it is actually non-existent. The only One who truly exists is Allah, the Mighty and Sublime. One must bow to His greatness and power. One must submit humbly. It is said "Aslim Taslam": "Submit, so that you may find safety." Otherwise, it is pointless for man to boast arrogantly: "I am a great scholar, I have knowledge, we are so advanced." All of that is of use only if one submits to the knowledge, power, and greatness of Allah. Otherwise, all of that is worth nothing. One should not let oneself be blinded by these worldly sciences. True knowledge means recognizing Allah. If one does not know Him, all other things are meaningless. Whoever attains the grace of Allah in their final breath has triumphed. But these so-called super-intelligent people, these scholars... In the end, they often have neither intellect nor anything else left; may Allah protect us. What has this intelligence availed them? Nothing. What truly brings benefit is submission to Allah's greatness and entering Islam, inshaAllah. May Allah grant people this beauty, inshaAllah.

وَلَقَدۡ أَضَلَّ مِنكُمۡ جِبِلّٗا كَثِيرً (36:62) Allah tells us in this verse that Satan has led people onto the wrong path. "Dalalah" means going astray and bad deeds. Satan commands evil and points the way to it. With ruses and all kinds of games, he deceives people and leads them astray from the right path. And they consider the path they take to be the right one. They even force others to do the same. Although their actions are evil, they consider them to be something good. What is this all about? This is Satan's deception and his betrayal of mankind. He leads them astray while they believe they are doing something significant. Yet, an evil end awaits those who walk this path: a bad life, a bad death, and a bad Hereafter. Of course, this misguidance—Dalalet—also has various levels. Some have gone completely astray; they are Kafir (disbelievers). A Kafir is one who does not believe in Allah and does not acknowledge Him. Or those outside the "People of the Book" who worship idols or other beings; they too count as disbelievers. Then, among the "People of the Book," there are those who do not follow the path of the true prophets. Satan has deceived them as well by whispering to them: "You are on the right path," and enticing them into all sorts of deeds. And then there are those who are indeed Muslims and have not left the religion, but spread Fitna, discord, among the Muslims. These are people who kill, massacre, or torture Muslims. These people also claim: "We are Muslims," yet they cause harm to Muslims. They, too, are on the wrong path. Punishment awaits them, too, in the Hereafter. All their actions are preserved and recorded with Allah. Nothing remains hidden; in the Hereafter, they too will have to pay for their deeds. Allah has given humans intellect and reason so that they do not fall for Satan's tricks. If you allow yourselves to be deceived, you will certainly receive your punishment. The path is clear; the path of Allah is distinct. There are two paths: The path of Satan or the path of Allah. People must choose the path of Allah, for He has given them intellect. Some Muslims who are in this error even misinterpret the concept of "intellect." What is the foundation of faith? They say: "The Quran and the intellect." The Quran is correct; but what "intellect" means here is the standards that our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) demonstrated and explained. The Quran alone is not enough... The Quran is there, but the true intellect is the Sunnah, the intellect of our Prophet. It is not our own intellect. Our intellect is not sufficient for that. If everyone acts only according to their own mind, utter chaos ensues. The word "Adalla" mentioned in the verse comes from Dalalah; this means Satan has led them astray. And although they have been deceived, they pose as scholars. Satan plays with them like a toy. May Allah protect us from the evil of Satan and from treading this path of error. May He not let us stray from the right path, inshaAllah.

وَقُلِ ٱلۡحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكُمۡۖ فَمَن شَآءَ فَلۡيُؤۡمِن وَمَن شَآءَ فَلۡيَكۡفُرۡۚ (18:29) Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, commands us to speak the truth. He says: "Whoever wills, let him believe; and whoever wills, let him disbelieve." This is a wisdom of Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, for mankind. His wisdom must not be questioned. Our knowledge cannot be compared with His. The limits of our knowledge are known, but we cannot reach the knowledge of Allah. Even our Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—who holds the highest rank: It is impossible for us to attain his wisdom and his knowledge. Therefore, Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, spoke to our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: "Proclaim this; speak the truth." "Whoever wishes to believe, let him believe; whoever does not wish to, decides for himself." But the reckoning for those who do not believe will be severe. Faith is a great blessing; as we always say, it is a great honor. It is a gain—indeed, the greatest gain of all. For in this world, one wins or loses; one scrapes by somehow. Until one dies... But once one has died, there is no turning back. A return is impossible. As soon as the soul has left the body, its place is different, and that of the body is different. The two are no longer united. And when that happens, nothing is of any use anymore. Therefore, you should speak the truth, but force no one. Whoever wills, let him believe. To use compulsion is not your right anyway. We live in a time when faith is very weak. So do not say, "I must force this or that," but simply speak the truth. Whoever speaks the truth need not fear anyone. This is the word of truth. Since there is no compulsion, I say: Whoever accepts it, accepts it; whoever does not, decides for himself. Faith cannot be forced with violence or beatings; that does not work. That would only harm you. That is why this word of Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, is so wonderful; that is the right way. Speak the truth: Whoever wishes, let him accept it; whoever does not wish to, let him leave it. Whether you say "I believe" or "I do not believe": If you believe, you win. If you do not believe, it will be a tremendous loss for you. A loss that cannot be repaired. When one takes their last breath and departs without faith—may Allah protect us—there is no longer any salvation. In this world, turning back is still possible; you can repent and ask for forgiveness, and Allah forgives. But once the last breath has escaped, it is too late. Therefore, one must stand by the truth, speak it, and accept it, insha'Allah. May Allah include us among those who accept the truth.

مِّنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ رِجَالٞ صَدَقُواْ مَا عَٰهَدُواْ ٱللَّهَ عَلَيۡهِۖ فَمِنۡهُم مَّن قَضَىٰ نَحۡبَهُۥ وَمِنۡهُم مَّن يَنتَظِرُۖ (33:23) Allah, the Mighty and Exalted, says: "These are people who have kept their promise to Allah and have not deviated from their word." Allah describes them as "Men" (Rijal). Being a "man" does not just mean being male; if a woman possesses this quality, she also reaches the rank of manhood. But whoever considers himself a man yet does not keep his word is neither man nor woman; that is how one must understand it. This is not about the distinction between man and woman; Allah praises, as a quality, those who keep their word. What does He say? Those who are on Allah's path and remain steadfast are valuable people; they are the winners. They are those who do not deviate from their word and are accepted by Allah. When their time has come, they die on this path. As long as they live, they continue on the same path, faithful to their given word. Exactly with this quality... A brother of German origin, who was honored with Islam during the time of Mawlana Sheikh Nazim—may Allah have mercy on him—passed away yesterday. He became Muslim over forty years ago in the presence of Mawlana Sheikh Nazim. He was a philosophy professor. Philosophy is something built upon doubt and skepticism. Nevertheless, through the miracle of Mawlana Sheikh Nazim, thanks be to Allah, he became Muslim. For over forty years, he served both himself and the people around him on this path. Many people found guidance through him. Not only non-Muslims... Sometimes Muslims can also stray from the path. He brought them back to this true path as well. Finally, he departed from this world as a beloved servant of Allah. That is what counts: For what were we created in this world and what have we done? Allah tells you why you were created; but you run around like a headless chicken and do not understand it. People who understand know: When one finds the truth, one must hold fast to the truth. With this truth you will pass over into the other world, and with this truth, by Allah's leave, you will step before the Truth, Allah. May Allah make us all steadfast on this path. There are some who fall away from the path. While they run from here to there saying, "I like this, I don't like that," they suddenly see that they have departed from this world without having found anything. May Allah not count us among them and make us steadfast. Until we find our Lord; until we meet our Prophet and our Sheikhs there, may He make us all steadfast, inshaAllah.