Mawlana Sheikh Mehmed Adil. Translations.

Tariqatuna as-suhbah, wal-khayru fil-jam‘iyyah. “Our path is companionship, and goodness lies in gathering together.” These blessed words come from Shah Bahauddin Naqshband; he repeated them at every gathering. We take him as an example and repeat his words. In our thoughts, we are still there, in those blessed places. There are so many saints and scholars there. Thanks be to Allah, we follow their wonderful path. Of course, there were differences among them—whether in their views or in how they interpreted and explained things. That is why the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Differences of opinion in my community are a mercy.” That the scholars disagree and see some things differently is a blessing for my community. There are four schools of thought, and each differs slightly from the others. What we call Uzbekistan today was called Bukhara back then. Later, Bukhara was fragmented into many parts. Actually, that entire region was Bukhara. Imam al-Bukhari came from there, Abu Hafs... There were thousands of scholars there. And of course, the saints and sheikhs as well—they all continued along the same path. From these differences, malicious people today try to sow discord: “He was like this, he was against that one, he was friends with him.” But thanks be to Allah, all of this serves to ease the religion: for one, it is like this, for another, it is regulated a bit differently. As the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) says, Allah has granted us these differences as an ease and a mercy. Their path is the path of truth. And everything has its purpose and its wisdom. Sure, sometimes someone was exiled or sent elsewhere, there were disputes—and people think it was because of this or that. But that wasn't what it was about at all. Behind it was Allah's will and His wisdom, so that people might learn a lesson from it. In Tajikistan, for example, lived the great poet Allahyar, who wrote poetry in Old Turkic and was a deeply devout man. He fell into hardship, and the ruler there exiled him to the most dangerous mountain in the area. It was swarming with venomous snakes. Everyone there knows Allahyar's poems, both then and now—just like our Yunus Emre here. When he arrived on the mountain, all the snakes left that place because of him. They simply retreated somewhere else entirely. Even animals retreat when it comes to a blessed man of Allah. These are some of the hidden wisdoms—and there are millions of them. Therefore, one should always hold the Prophet's family, the companions, the sheikhs, and the scholars in high esteem. Thanks be to Allah, the tombs of the saints there are being restored today with every effort. It is becoming beautiful; they are cleaning and caring for the entire surrounding area. People make pilgrimages there and treat these places with great respect. Whoever shows respect is also granted respect. May Allah preserve our respect, our love, and veneration for these blessed personalities. May Allah assist us all, if Allah wills. Let us not fall for discord. Today so much unrest is stirred up: “He was like this, al-Bukhari was like that, the other one was no good.” Over there, that hardly exists, but here among us, the devil is constantly trying to sow discord and speak ill of these scholars. They were recognized jurists—and as such, they derived legal rulings. They were not laymen like you and me. They knew the Quran and the Hadiths inside and out and judged soundly; they didn't just pull things out of thin air. Regarding such judgments, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) says: “Whoever passes a judgment and hits upon the truth receives a twofold reward. And whoever makes a mistake receives a single reward.” Even in the case of an error, one is still rewarded for it. Therefore, we must be vigilant and not allow ourselves to be agitated. They are the great pillars of Islam; we have all this knowledge and the traditions from them. Do not let doubts enter your hearts! May Allah protect us from the trials and divisions of this era. And may Allah guide those who have strayed from the straight path.

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «ابْتَغُوا الْخَيْرَ عِنْدَ حِسَانِ الْوُجُوهِ» Our Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) says: If you want to ask for something good, then seek it from people with friendly, radiant faces. That is, from people with pure faces. A sullen face naturally gives only reluctantly. Therefore, Allah grants a beautiful countenance to those who do good. For this reason, our Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) says: When you ask for something, do so from people with a friendly face. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «إِذَا ابْتَغَيْتُمُ الْمَعْرُوفَ فَاطْلُبُوهُ عِنْدَ حِسَانِ الْوُجُوهِ» Our Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) further says: When you ask for good, that is, for help and acts of kindness, turn to people with a beautiful face. Our Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) had the most beautiful face anyway; his blessed countenance was the most beautiful of all. Therefore, seek it from people who, like him, bear a beautiful, kind nature in their faces. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «اسْتَعِينُوا عَلَى إِنْجَاحِ الْحَوَائِجِ بِالْكِتْمَانِ، فَإِنَّ كُلَّ ذِي نِعْمَةٍ مَحْسُودٌ» This is also an extremely important Hadith. Most people nowadays, however, do the exact opposite. When you want to accomplish a project, seek Allah's help and success by maintaining secrecy. For everyone who is blessed attracts envy. Nowadays, people—forgive the expression—even announce going to the toilet at the top of their lungs: "I'm going there now!" Even if they go to the most insignificant place, even that is posted. If they plan anything, they share that immediately as well. And afterwards they complain: "Why does nothing ever work out for me?" Because envy comes into play; you are envied. That is why there is absolutely no reason to tell everyone about your plans. Carry out your matters quietly—in the end, you will benefit from it. Otherwise, envy will ruin you. Then you will succeed in nothing at all. That is precisely Satan's trap. Nowadays, everyone constantly has their smartphone in hand. Everything one does must be shown immediately. "I ate this, I ate tomatoes, I ate eggplants, I ran after the sacrificial animal"—everything, whether important or completely trivial, is shared. And people boast: "Look at what all I've achieved!" If you act like this, you are constantly exposed to the envy of others. And after that, nothing goes as desired anymore. That is why this principle is so immensely important. If people nowadays were to take only this to heart, it would already be entirely sufficient for them. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «اسْتَعِينُوا عَلَى إِنْجَاحِ الْحَوَائِجِ بِالْكِتْمَانِ، فَإِنَّ كُلَّ ذِي نِعْمَةٍ مَحْسُودٌ» When you want to achieve something, keep it to yourselves and seek Allah's assistance in this way. For everyone who is blessed with something is envied. This means: If you plan to do something, do it quietly. You do not have to shout it from the rooftops. If you blare it out, others might try to copy it, and you yourself will fail in the end; or even if it succeeds, you will face envy. The result: Your plans will go wrong. So heed this advice—and in return, do not constantly meddle in other people's affairs. Rather, say: "May Allah grant success to my brother." If his affairs succeed, yours will succeed too. Allah will grant you as well, indeed even more. Do not envy anyone for anything. Do not stick your nose into everything: "What are you doing? What are you working on?" Just let him be. Rather, pray: "May Allah grant him success, make him independent of anyone, and let him do good." قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «اطْلُبُوا الْحَوَائِجَ عِنْدَ ذَوِي الرَّحْمَةِ مِنْ أُمَّتِي تُرْزَقُوا وَتُنْجَحُوا، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ: رَحْمَتِي فِي ذَوِي الرَّحْمَةِ مِنْ عِبَادِي، وَلَا تَطْلُبُوا الْحَوَائِجَ عِنْدَ الْقَاسِيَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ فَلَا تُرْزَقُوا وَلَا تُنْجَحُوا، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ: إِنَّ سُخْطِي فِيهِمْ» Our Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) says: If you have a need, ask the merciful among my community for it. So if you are in need, turn to a merciful person. Do this so that you may be provided for and your need may be fulfilled. Through them you will be provided for, and their blessing will be to your benefit. For Allah, the Exalted, says: "My mercy is with the merciful among My servants." Because Allah's mercy rests upon them, needs are fulfilled through them. Do not ask for your needs from those whose hearts are hardened. So demand nothing from people with cold, unmerciful hearts. For you will receive no benefit from them. From them, neither blessing nor good will come to you. Even if they are wealthy: it is better to avoid them. Keep your distance from such people. Do not humiliate yourselves before them. You will not find what you hope for with them anyway. For Allah the Exalted says: "My wrath rests upon those with hardened hearts." Allah's wrath is upon them, and no good whatsoever is to be expected from them. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «اطْلُبُوا الْخَيْرَ عِنْدَ حِسَانِ الْوُجُوهِ» Our Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) further says: Seek good from people with radiant, friendly faces. Every kind of good—be it a helping hand or a supplication—ask for it from such people. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «اطْلُبُوا الْحَوَائِجَ بِعِزَّةِ الأَنْفُسِ، فَإِنَّ الأُمُورَ تَجْرِي بِالْمَقَادِيرِ» Our Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) says: Present your needs with dignity and self-respect. For all things happen as they are predestined. So if you need something, you by no means need to humiliate yourselves before others. Present your request respectfully, without being pushy. Some make themselves very small and beg subserviently—"That is entirely unnecessary," warns our Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam). Maintain your dignity when asking for something. Do not forget: Everything happens exactly as it was destined. If it is destined for you and Allah wills it, you will receive it anyway. And if Allah has not destined it, all the pleading before people is of no use. Therefore, bow before no one—supplicate solely and exclusively to Allah, says our Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam). قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «اطْلُبُوا الْفَضْلَ عِنْدَ الرُّحَمَاءِ مِنْ أُمَّتِي تَعِيشُوا فِي أَكْنَافِهِمْ فَإِنَّ فِيهِمْ رَحْمَتِي، وَلَا تَطْلُبُوا مِنَ الْقَاسِيَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ يَنْتَظِرُونَ سَخْطِي» Our Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) says: Seek bounty and good from the merciful among my community, so that you may live sheltered under their care. For Allah the Exalted says: "My mercy is with them." Whatever need you may have: Seek the proximity of these merciful people. Stick with them, for upon them rests the blessing of Allah. In their company, you too will come under the shelter of divine mercy. They are gentle, kind-hearted people. From the hard-hearted, on the other hand, do not ask for anything at all. Give them a wide berth. If you notice that someone is harsh and hard-hearted—when you ask for something, they snap at you or turn you away—then avoid them completely. For such people draw Allah's wrath upon themselves. The displeasure of Allah rests upon hardened hearts. Even if you go there, you will end up empty-handed and will have only made an effort in vain. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «اطْلُبُوا الْمَعْرُوفَ مِنْ رُحَمَاءِ أُمَّتِي تَعِيشُوا فِي أَكْنَافِهِمْ، وَلَا تَطْلُبُوهُ مِنَ الْقَاسِيَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ فَإِنَّ اللَّعْنَةَ تَنْزِلُ عَلَيْهِمْ. يَا عَلِيُّ، إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى خَلَقَ الْمَعْرُوفَ وَخَلَقَ لَهُ أَهْلًا، فَحَبَّبَهُ إِلَيْهِمْ وَحَبَّبَ إِلَيْهِمْ فِعْلَهُ، وَوَجَّهَ إِلَيْهِمْ طُلَّابَهُ كَمَا وَجَّهَ الْمَاءَ فِي الْأَرْضِ الْجَدْبَةِ لِتَحْيَا بِهِ وَيَحْيَا بِهِ أَهْلُهَا، إِنَّ أَهْلَ الْمَعْرُوفِ فِي الدُّنْيَا هُمْ أَهْلُ الْمَعْرُوفِ فِي الْآخِرَةِ» Our Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) says the following: Seek goodness from the merciful of my Ummah, so that you may live safe under their protection. If you hold on to these merciful people, you are protected from all evil under Allah's care. Never seek goodness, however, from those with hardened hearts. For damnation descends upon them. “O Ali! Allah Almighty created goodness and designated the right people for it. He endeared goodness and doing good to their hearts. Just as He directs water to barren land to grant life to it and its inhabitants, so He leads those seeking help to these benefactors. Whoever belongs to the doers of good in this worldly life will also belong to them in the Hereafter.” Whoever does good in this worldly life, their reward in the Hereafter is goodness; whoever spreads good belongs to the dwellers of Paradise. May Allah count us all among them, insha'Allah. And these benefactors are—praise be to Allah—the people of the Tariqah. You see: there are many Muslims in the world, but everyone knows very well who the truly hard-hearted ones are. May Allah protect us from them and keep us far away from them.

Alhamdulillah, thanks to Allah, this journey of ours went really very beautifully and well. We visited truly blessed figures there. We visited ten venerable figures from the circle of our Sheikhs. Besides them, there are numerous Islamic scholars and many other blessed figures there. It is a wisdom of Allah that from this region came people who were of the greatest benefit to the whole world. They taught people in the best way both worldly and spiritual sciences, as well as religion, the Sharia, and the Tariqa. For a time, this land went through the dark period of Communism. Back then, they mistakenly believed they had completely destroyed and wiped all that out. Masha'Allah, just as mown grass sprouts green again from dry earth, scholars and hafizes are growing once more, thanks to Allah, and all knowledge is being taught as before. It is precisely in this that one of the great wisdoms of Allah is revealed. Allah the Almighty Himself proclaims that His divine light will never be extinguished, but will endure. No one in this world is able to extinguish the light of Allah or prevent its continuation. For this reason, our visit there went so exceedingly well, Masha'Allah. The spiritual state and nature of our blessed brothers in faith and the local population there are simply wonderful. Even if they do not perform many acts of worship and are quite ordinary people, they harbor the deepest respect for religion, the pious, and the people of the Tariqa. Of course, the devil is never idle and always wants to cause trouble, but if Allah wills, his influence will no longer hold any sway. Insha'Allah, from now on the divine truth will endure permanently, for all blessing, all goodness, and all benefit lie in the truth alone. To tread the path of Allah means to walk on the most beautiful of all paths. This path is beautiful throughout its entire course, as well as in its blessed end. Thanks to Allah, with every visit we see how the services increase and people turn to religion and follow Allah's commandments ever more faithfully. Masha'Allah, the mosques are filled to the very last seat and are virtually overflowing with believers. Many new mosques are being built everywhere. Thanks to Allah, all these things that we see with our own eyes are truly heartwarming. The only thing that truly delights the human heart at its core is the path of Allah. What truly brings happiness to human beings in a real sense is the invaluable gift of faith and Islam that Allah grants. Whoever gives up the Hereafter, chases only after the world, and attaches importance to it alone, feels neither joy nor peace of mind, living in constant worry and distress. Yet Allah, Azza wa Jalla, has already granted you the greatest blessing of all: He gave you faith and showed you the right path. Stride persistently forward on this path so that you may attain eternal bliss. May Allah, if Allah wills, never let a single one of us stray from this beautiful path. The path of those blessed figures... Even if, looking from the outside, one sees only the graves of about 300 to 500 blessed figures there, in truth, hundreds of thousands, even millions of blessed people have emerged from this historic land. Since they naturally did everything solely and exclusively for the pleasure of Allah, they craved neither worldly fame nor any other possession. For this very reason, their entire work and the end of their lives were also full of goodness and blessings. Today, divine blessing virtually bubbles up from this soil and spreads everywhere in all directions. May Allah allow this wonderful blessing to endure forever. May all our visits and prayers be accepted by Allah, insha'Allah.

Today we set off, insha'Allah, on the journey to Central Asia – to the region of Turkestan and Turkmenistan. From this land came people who guided Allah's creation to the path of faith. Because they followed the path of our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), they were granted to bring knowledge, wisdom, beauty, mercy, and every kind of good to the world. Both in the outward and inward sciences and in the spiritual realm, they accomplished great things for Islam and humanity. Be it in the science of Hadith or in the knowledge of the Quran... At the forefront, of course, stands the spiritual path, the Tariqa – without it, such great merits would not have existed at all. For the Tariqa is nothing other than the living path of our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). From there, they carried their light to the entire world. Long before the sword, they sent ahead refined people who showed the people the way and guided them toward goodness. Therein lies the wisdom of Allah; it lies right in that place. Our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) already said: “Utruku't-Turka ma tarakukum.” “Do not attack the Turks, do not fight them, as long as they do not fight you,” that is: Leave them be. Indeed, the word “Turk” in Arabic is related to “leaving [alone]”. Thus, step by step, they found their way into this task... And then, for over a thousand years, they preserved Islam and guided countless people to the way. Praise be to Allah, we have already been blessed to be there. Twice we were able to travel there with our master, our father. The third time was about five years ago. And this is now our fourth time in these blessed places. Many friends of Allah and also companions of our Prophet rest there. Of course, we have not yet been able to visit all the shrines of the saints. Hopefully, this time we will manage to visit those we have missed, so that we may partake in their spiritual blessing. May Allah bless our journey. For there are so many kind-hearted people living there. They are already waiting for us. They know us from the broadcasts, and many wish so deeply to meet us in person. We sincerely wish to fulfill this desire for them. We simply want to come together with them for the sake of Allah. Our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said in his blessed words: “When two believers visit one another, for every step a sin is forgiven, a good deed is credited, and their rank is raised by a degree.” May this journey contribute to that and further strengthen our spiritual power. May it also be a blessing and guidance for them. Of course, there are also many there who simply do not know any better or have been deceived. Some claim: “Only this is true Islam,” and see an enemy in the Tariqa. Others, in turn, consider faith in general to be backward. Our intention is to build a bridge of guidance for all of them – may it be of benefit to both them and us, insha'Allah. May Allah bring us there and back safely and turn everything to good. We do this solely for Allah's pleasure, not for money or worldly goods. We want to bring joy to these people and touch their hearts. May we all attain Allah's pleasure, insha'Allah.

Our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) says: The human body has 360 joints. Because Allah, the Exalted, inspired it into him, our Prophet naturally knows everything about humans—down to the smallest detail. He knows things that even doctors do not know. Our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) explains that charity (Sadaqa) is due daily for every single one of these joints. He also says, “Sadaqa can, of course, be given with money.” Yet he continues, “Likewise, removing obstacles like stones, thorns, or trash from the path is also charity.” After all, not everyone can afford to give charity in money 360 times every day. That is why our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) emphasizes that all these good deeds count equally as Sadaqa. However, all of that can already be fulfilled by two units of the forenoon prayer (Duha). This prayer can be performed about twenty minutes, half an hour, or an hour after sunrise. The first two units that are prayed shortly after sunrise are called the Ishraq prayer. The Duha prayer consists of between two and twelve units. Just two of them are enough to pay the due gratitude for every single joint in the body. If you begin your day with the night or dawn prayer, do during the day what pleases Allah and benefits you, and conclude the day again with prayer—then you spend your entire life in the path of Allah. That does you good and grants your body health—for charity heals—and it simultaneously strengthens your soul. That is something truly wonderful. In this way, you become a servant whom Allah loves. Someone whom our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) also holds dear in his heart. Your affection for him will grow deeper and more alive. For living his Sunnah means being like him and becoming more and more similar to him. That is precisely what our spiritual path and the whole of Islam are about. To follow our Prophet, walk in his footsteps, and draw as close to him as possible—that is the greatest virtue and the most beautiful fulfillment for every believer. Honoring him sincerely is an equally high value. May Allah protect us from those who show him no respect. For great mischief stems from them. They keep you away from this precious reward and a fulfilled life. If you become like them, in the end, not a single word and not a single deed will benefit you anymore. May Allah protect us all from that. May He grant us, inshaAllah, to remain steadfast on His path until our last breath.

فَاسْتَقِمْ كَمَا أُمِرْتَ وَمَن تَابَ مَعَكَ (11:112) Regarding this verse, the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “It has aged me, it has made me old.” For the command is: Remain upright on the path—you and all who are by your side. One must not deviate from it; that is why it is such an immense command. People must abide by it. Above all, the believers, all Muslims, must remain true to this path and not stray. No one should lightly say: “Let us deviate just for a moment and return later.” Whoever deviates once will find it hard to return. That is why steadfastness is so crucial. People often look to those they trust. These act like guideposts, but then stray from the path themselves. And people follow them, believing: “This is the right way.” In doing so, they also mislead others and plunge them into sin. And they bring heavy guilt upon themselves. That is why uprightness is so important: Whoever remains on the right path as a believer receives Allah's support and His love. But whoever strays from the path, Allah does not love him. For he harms not only himself, but also his fellow human beings. Stay on the straight path! Don't think: “I'll just do it this way, people will like it better, then more will come. I'll deviate briefly and then carry on afterwards.” Once you have deviated, you have already lost the way. “Fa-man shadhdha shudhdha fī an-nār”—whoever strays from the path, his path leads to Hell. As it says in the hadith: “Whoever deviates, his path ends in the Hellfire.” May Allah protect us from that! There is no point in fooling oneself. Giving in to one's own ego or the whims of people and leaving the path is devastating. For the path of the Prophet is clear and unambiguous. Actually, it is not difficult at all—it is only difficult for the ego. Because the ego resists it, it also seems hard to you, and people say: “It is too hard.” They have strength for all kinds of things, but walking the path of worship steadfastly is difficult for them. That is why, as the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) said, this is a monumental task that must be fulfilled. One must not deviate a single step from it. Istiqāma means uprightness: You must be upright and truthful. Never deviate from the truth. Continue on this path undeterred, be steadfast. Without steadfastness, you lose—and you also lose everything you have already worked for. May Allah make our footsteps firm so that, inshaAllah, we never stray from the straight path. May Allah assist us.

Allah has entrusted Islam to mankind as a gift. It is the greatest of all gifts. The beauty of Islam is that it accompanies every single minute of a person's life. Without it, life lacks true beauty. Because firm order and structure are crucial. The most important thing in the morning, when beginning worship, is purity: clean clothes, complete ritual purity, and finally the ablution. After all, without ablution, no prayer is valid. First and foremost the morning prayer: whoever does not make it for Tahajjud at least gets up for it—and whoever wakes up only after that begins their day immediately with ablution. And this ablution—as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Everywhere the water moistened the face, hands, head, and feet, there will be bright light on the Day of Resurrection. Through the blessing of this ablution, the believers will shine in full radiance among all people. Others, on the other hand, will stand in darkness and without light; but the face of the believer will shine—every spot touched by water will become light. And so it continues throughout the day: if you begin the day pure and with prayer, this blessing lasts until the next prayer. Throughout the entire day—a full twenty-four hours—one remains in this way in the presence of Allah. Not a single moment is detached from it. Praise be to Allah, we did our military service back then, over forty years ago. For twenty-four hours, you literally had not a minute to yourself. When you sleep, when you eat, when you walk, and when you line up—everything was strictly regulated. Back then, we only did the shortened service for one month, but during that time under their command, there was not a single minute of personal freedom. That is exactly the principle in Islam. Military service is a good parable that makes one realize: Life is not meaningless. There is simply no such thing as wasting time. Every minute counts. That is why it starts in the morning: whether you get up for Tahajjud or only at the call to prayer—and if you missed it, you simply start as soon as you are awake, and hold fast to your duties until you go to sleep. That is also how you do it in the evening: before going to sleep, you pray and perform ablution. One goes to sleep with ritual ablution (Wudu), or one prays two Rakat and sleeps like that, and in this way performs Qiyam al-Layl (the night vigil). In this way, you have spent the entire twenty-four hours in service and obedience to Allah. Then life is truly fulfilled. Sometimes people among us ask: “What is the point of all this? What is the meaning of life?”—This right here is the meaning of life! After all, you did not come into this world simply on your own whim. Allah placed you here and told you exactly what your task is. That is what you are supposed to do. Nothing more is demanded of you. Allah provides your sustenance and guides your steps in everything you do. Simply do the best within your power and live according to Allah's commandments until the end. If you depart from this world in this state, that is the greatest success of all—your life was not in vain. Otherwise, the phrase one hears so often today comes true: “He lost his life.” Many people actually squander their lives. They let it slip by completely unused. So let us not waste our time, but use our lives meaningfully, insha'Allah. May Allah help us all with this. May He also guide those who do not yet know, so that they too may recognize the true value of their lives, insha'Allah.

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «أَفْضَلُ الصَّدَقَةِ جُهْدُ الْمُقِلِّ، وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ» The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) says: “The best charity is that which someone gives despite limited means, through their own sacrifice.” This means: when a person in need donates what he himself can barely spare. And he adds: “Start with those you must provide for.” Even someone who has little and wishes to give charity should consider his own family first. For whatever one spends on them already counts as charity. He says that this is precisely the most valuable charity. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «أَفْضَلُ الصَّدَقَةِ مَا كَانَ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى، وَالْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى، وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ» The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) says: “The best charity comes from surplus—that is, from what one can spare.” “The giving hand is better than the receiving hand.” And he says: “Start giving first to your dependents, whose upkeep you must provide for.” Charity should therefore come from what exceeds one's own living needs. First, one covers their own basic needs; whatever is left over after that, one gives in charity. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) emphasizes: “The giving hand is better than the receiving hand.” قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «أَفْضَلُ الصَّدَقَةِ الصَّدَقَةُ عَلَى ذِي الرَّحِمِ الْكَاشِحِ» The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) says: “The best charity is that given to a relative who harbors ill feelings toward you.” May Allah reform us—today, unfortunately, there are many who harm their relatives instead of standing by them. Nevertheless, overlooking this resentment and helping such a relative anyway is of great merit. One overcomes their own pride and helps him simply because he is in need. That is precisely among the most valuable and sincere deeds in the sight of Allah. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «أَفْضَلُ الصَّدَقَةِ مَا تَصَدَّقْتَ بِهِ عَلَى مَمْلُوكٍ عِنْدَ مَالِكِ سُوءٍ» The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) says: “The best charity is that given to a servant or slave who is at the mercy of an unjust master.” Although slavery no longer exists today, there are certainly dependent workers in precarious conditions. Standing by these people, who toil for influential employers and have to worry about getting their fair wages, is especially meritorious. For often, such bosses squander their money wastefully while withholding the bare necessities from their ordinary employees. Whoever lends a helping hand to such people performs one of the best forms of charity. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «أَفْضَلُ الصَّدَقَةِ سِرٌّ إِلَى فَقِيرٍ، وَجُهْدٌ مِنْ مُقِلِّ» The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) says: “The best charity is given in secret—or by someone who gives all they can despite limited means.” This means: whoever gives charity secretly preserves the dignity of the recipient and does not humiliate him. Likewise, help given by people who can barely make ends meet themselves is among the noblest of deeds. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «أَرْبَعٌ لَا يُقْبَلْنَ فِي أَرْبَعٍ: نَفَقَةٌ مِنْ خِيَانَةٍ، أَوْ سَرِقَةٍ، أَوْ غُلُولٍ، أَوْ مَالِ يَتِيمٍ؛ فِي حَجٍّ، وَلَا عُمْرَةٍ، وَلَا جِهَادٍ، وَلَا صَدَقَةٍ» The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) says: “Four kinds of unlawfully acquired wealth are not accepted in four kinds of good deeds.” Acts of worship or good deeds financed with money from these four forbidden (haram) sources are worthless: First: money from a breach of trust—that is, when one has abused the trust of others and unlawfully enriched oneself. Second: money from theft—simply what has been stolen. Third: money from the embezzlement of public property—today this corresponds to state funds or communal assets that one has secretly pocketed. Fourth: money from the inheritance or property of orphans—that is, when one has violated their rights. No good deed funded with such money will be accepted. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) lists the most important of them: Hajj: Whoever has stolen, embezzled orphans' funds, and committed injustice need not even set out on the pilgrimage with it—it will not be accepted. Umrah: The same applies to the minor pilgrimage. Jihad: In the past, people bought weapons and equipment for it; however, no service for Allah can be performed with illicit money. Giving charity: One cannot give alms from stolen goods. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) makes it clear that none of it is valid. Therefore, do not hope for any reward from Allah when you donate such money. The only thing that counts is: return it to its rightful owners to absolve yourselves of the guilt. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «عَجِبْتُ لِمَنْ يَشْتَرِي الْمَمَالِيكَ بِمَالِهِ ثُمَّ يُعْتِقُهُمْ، كَيْفَ لَا يَشْتَرِي الْأَحْرَارَ بِمَعْرُوفِهِ فَهُوَ أَعْظَمُ ثَوَابًا؟!» The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) says: “I wonder at those who buy slaves with their own money only to free them.” At that time, slavery was a reality, and some would buy slaves to free them. Yet the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) says: “I wonder at them.” “Why do they not instead win the hearts of free people through acts of kindness—when the reward for that would be far greater?!” Freeing slaves was good, but when you help fellow free human beings, you bind them to yourself from the heart out of genuine gratitude. In return for the kindness shown, they grant you deep affection and loyalty. This is a lesson for the future: slavery no longer exists, but the needy certainly do. Help them with kindness—their sincere gratitude and love will be assured to you. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «كُلُّ نَفَقَةٍ يُنْفِقُهَا الْمُسْلِمُ يُؤْجَرُ فِيهَا: عَلَى نَفْسِهِ، وَعَلَى عِيَالِهِ، وَعَلَى صَدِيقِهِ، وَعَلَى بَهِيمَتِهِ؛ إِلَّا فِي بِنَاءٍ، إِلَّا فِي بِنَاءِ مَسْجِدٍ يَبْتَغِي بِهِ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ» The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) says: “For everything a Muslim spends, he is rewarded: on himself, on his family, on his friend, and even on his animal.” For all of that, he receives a reward from Allah. “Except, however, for the money he puts into building his own house; there is no reward for that.” Because one's own home serves personal residential needs, this does not count as charity. “Unless one donates toward building a mosque, sincerely seeking thereby the pleasure of Allah.” Thus, whoever builds a house for their own luxury earns no reward for it—but whoever supports the construction of a house of Allah will be richly rewarded.

The Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, says in a noble Hadith: "Addabani Rabbi fa-ahsana ta'dibi." "Allah disciplined me with the best manners, He taught me the best conduct." The most perfect manners are found in the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. We sometimes make mistakes, but Prophets make no mistakes. Their attributes are the most perfect attributes. Among all human beings, the attributes of the Prophets are the most sublime. There can be no flaw or imperfection in them whatsoever. However, some things happen so that people may learn a lesson from them, in order to instruct them. As with the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, in the Surah we recite: Abasa wa Tawalla... He said in meaning: "Allah, Azza wa Jalla, admonished me because of an action of mine." For when the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, was conveying the message, he turned to a disbeliever, and he frowned and turned away. He says: "You turn to him, while a blind man comes to you seeking to learn." And that was Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum; he was the second muezzin, just as Bilal al-Habashi was one of the excellent muezzins of the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam... He comes to you, and He instructs him: "Do not act like this"—this occurred to teach the community. One must show appreciation to every human being. One must not turn away from the one who seeks it. To the one who does not want it, you convey the message; if he comes, he comes, if not, it is his decision. That means it was not destined for him. Therefore, as already stated, all Prophets possess the most sublime attributes. Goodness is with them, beauty is with them, strength and generosity; all noble attributes are found in the Prophets. Yet unfortunately nowadays, some people say, in order to alienate people from the Prophets or to strip them of reverence for them: "They were just human beings like us, after all." That is not so. Of course they were human beings, but had they been human beings like you and me, neither their name nor their memory would have endured to this day. Their attributes are immense. Recently, a child, our grandchild, had an exam, and they asked about the attributes of Musa (Moses), alayhis-salam. Among these attributes they asked: "Is this correct?", and mixed in one attribute: mercy. When the child marked "mercy", they marked it as wrong. They deceived the child and said: "That is a mistake." Unbelievable, such a thing must not be true! Musa, alayhis-salam, also belongs to the Ulu l-'Azm (the Prophets of highest resolve). There are 313 Messengers who were bearers of a divine message. Seven of them belong to the greatest of all, the so-called Ulu l-'Azm. To deny him this attribute is absolutely unacceptable. This means sowing poison into the minds of children; they make people grow up without holding any respect. They say: "Musa, alayhis-salam, belongs to the Jews." Is he Jewish? No! They are all our Prophets. From Adam, alayhis-salam, until today, all Prophets without exception are Prophets of Islam, they are our Prophets. No distinction is made between them. Yet their true intention is ultimately to be able to claim: "Prophets have flaws." That is their real goal. That is the work of Satan. There are devils among men and followers of the devil; they are even worse than Satan himself. Of the devil, it is known that he is the devil; but this other one says: "I am a Muslim, I am a scholar, this and that, a great professor, graduated from several universities," and does such a thing. After that, he has no value whatsoever anymore. There are matters in which one must make no concessions at all. None of the Prophets exhibits any flaw. If you make concessions, you become like the Christians of today, who corrupted the true religion. Their main belief today is: "Adam, alayhis-salam, sinned, and we bear the punishment for it; had he not done so, we would be living carefree." They lack all reason. And then they still want to give advice to people, as if they were wise. They can keep their intellect to themselves. May they repent and return to the straight path. These blessed personalities are human beings chosen and sent individually out of billions. Allah sent them and endowed them with the finest attributes. May Allah protect our children and descendants. May no discord be sown into their hearts, and may no one tamper with their faith, insha'Allah. May Allah strengthen our faith, insha'Allah.

أَلَا إِنَّ أَوْلِيَاءَ اللَّهِ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ (10:62) Allah, the Exalted, and His friends... A friend of Allah is someone who is obedient to Allah. Someone whom Allah loves. Anyone can become a friend of Allah. It is not something unattainable. Whoever desires it, obeys Allah, and follows His commandments is a servant beloved by Him—that is precisely what a friend of Allah means. Some people therefore mistakenly think that there are no longer any friends of Allah today. Yet, they do exist: with His support, anyone who follows Him can belong to these beloved servants. Such people harm no one. They hurt no one's feelings. They walk their path with Allah in peace. Yet their enemies—the ego, the devil, desires, and worldly temptations—are numerous. As long as they walk this path, they find inner peace. Only the devil is restless—such people disturb him. He does everything he can to lead them astray. He incites adversaries against them. Yet because they know Allah is by their side, they fear nothing. Allah holds His protective hand over them. That is how one should be. One often wonders, “How does one become a friend of Allah?”—just like that. He does not engage in any dispute. He does not react to attacks. Allah stands by him. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) narrates: “Whoever wrongs him or speaks ill of him, I have declared war upon him,” says Allah, the Almighty. Therefore, the friends of Allah do not need to justify themselves or argue in the first place. No matter what others plot against them, their protector is Allah. Whoever attacks them or opposes them always comes out on the losing end. After all, no one can win against Allah. These are the blessed words of our Prophet. Therefore, unfortunately, there are always people who thoughtlessly talk nonsense. May Allah guide them so that they are not harmed by His punishment. For in essence, they have declared war on Allah. They can never win this battle—they will always lose. We must be very careful about this. For we live in a time full of confusion and discord. The temptations are great. People even try to lead the good among us astray from the right path. Often, people harbor evil suspicions completely without reason. They speculate wildly and speak ill—and with every word, they burden themselves with sin. In doing so, they oppose Allah. May Allah protect us from this. One really has to be vigilant here. We should hold on to sincere people. To those people who are close to Allah and whom He loves, insha'Allah. May He count us all among them. May Allah protect us. So that we do not lose ourselves in discord, insha'Allah.