Mawlana Sheikh Mehmed Adil. Translations.

And establish prayer and give zakah and bow with those who bow [in worship and obedience]. (2:43) Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, has declared prayer to be the main matter. The most important thing in Islam is performing the prayer and giving Zakah. Now, there are some people who want to practice the religion according to their own discretion. They believe they are doing good by doing so. But nothing can replace prayer. That means, nothing can take the place of the obligatory prayer. You must absolutely perform it. Whatever else you do – you cannot make up for it. You will not be able to attain its merit and its reward. If you do not perform the prayer, you will have to pray for eighty years in the Hereafter for every missed prayer time. Eighty years – that is a whole human lifetime. A human lives about eighty years. So that is the duration of the obligation. That is why some say: "I am doing Riyazat." Good, but do you pray? No. Then what use is Riyazat to you? Neither Riyazat nor Tasbihat nor Sadaqa – none of this can replace prayer. The command in Islam and from Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, the pillar of the religion – that is the prayer. If you do not perform the prayer, you can do Tasbihat for a hundred years or fast for a hundred years for all I care. Whatever you do for a hundred years, even if you stand on your head – it does not replace a single prayer. Now, some people... Some say according to their own discretion: "I will handle it my own way." Others follow the word of others, but even that brings them no benefit. Not only is it of no use, it is actually harmful – because you neglect the obligatory and busy yourself with the voluntary. Voluntary deeds and Tasbihat do have their own reward, but they do not replace prayer. That means, you must absolutely perform your prayer. You can do your Tasbihat afterwards. You can also perform the voluntary deeds afterwards – do whatever you wish. It is the same with fasting. First, you must observe the obligatory fast. Afterwards, you can fast voluntarily as much as you want. Do not say: "I do not fast in Ramadan, but at another time – that balances it out." That does not balance it out. If you make it up, the reward will not amount to even a thousandth or a millionth of what it would have been worth at the right time. But if you perform it on time, at the times Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, has determined, then you can do any voluntary deed you wish afterwards. The voluntary comes afterwards. First the obligatory, then the voluntary. What is done before the obligation does not replace it. Therefore, man should not act according to his own discretion, but follow the path that Allah has shown. After you have fulfilled the obligation, you can, as said, do what you want. Do Tasbihat all day, all year – no problem. If you want to perform Riyazat, there is a method for that as well. If you do it on your own, it brings no benefit. You must learn from a Murshid or Sheikh how it is done correctly, or obtain his permission. Otherwise, it can be dangerous to practice Riyazat on your own. May Allah not leave us to our own ego. The ego says "I want to do good" – and can thereby lead people to evil. May Allah protect us from that.

Our Prophet sall'Allahu alayhi wa sallam says: "Two units of prayer performed in the last third of the night are more valuable than the whole world and everything it contains." "If it were not too difficult for my nation, I would have made it obligatory." So that means: Just these two units of Tahajjud prayer are more precious than the entire world with everything in it. Our Prophet sall'Allahu alayhi wa sallam wished so much that his nation would perform this prayer – he even said: "Were it not so difficult, I would have made it mandatory." For our Prophet sall'Allahu alayhi wa sallam, certain obligations applied that do not apply to us – they were reserved for him alone. Our Prophet sall'Allahu alayhi wa sallam says: "The honor of the believer lies in the night prayer." This means: The believing Muslim has a high rank with Allah. His true honor reveals itself in the nightly prayer. His dignity lies in being content with what Allah has given him – without expecting anything from people. Asking nothing from people, but only from Allah – that is the true dignity of the believer. Our Prophet sall'Allahu alayhi wa sallam says: "Stand up at night and pray – even if it is only four or two units of prayer." This refers to the Tahajjud time. The night prayer before going to sleep is something else – that is not Tahajjud, but a prayer before rest. "Every household known for the night prayer is called out to by a caller: 'O inhabitants of the house, stand up for prayer!'" So Allah Azza wa Jalla sends an angel to those who regularly pray at night to wake them and call them to prayer. Our Prophet sall'Allahu alayhi wa sallam says: "The night prayer is performed in units of two." Not four at once, but speaking the greeting of peace after every two units – this is how the night prayer is performed. "If one of you fears that the time of the morning prayer is breaking, he should pray a single unit to conclude. This makes the total number odd." This refers to the Witr prayer. In the Shafi'i school of law, it consists of a single unit of prayer. Therefore, one always prays two units, and when the morning prayer approaches, according to the Shafi'i view, one adds a single one. Our Prophet sall'Allahu alayhi wa sallam says: "The night prayer is performed in units of two – always two, always two." "If you fear that dawn is breaking, conclude with a single unit. Allah is One and He loves the odd number." Our Prophet sall'Allahu alayhi wa sallam says: "The voluntary prayers at night and during the day are performed in units of two." Furthermore, our Prophet sall'Allahu alayhi wa sallam says: "The night prayer is performed in units of two. It is best to pray it in the middle of the night." Or shortly before the morning prayer – that is precisely Tahajjud, the nightly prayer. Our Prophet sall'Allahu alayhi wa sallam says: "The night prayer is performed in units of two. But the Witr prayer is prayed as a single unit at the end of the night." This applies to other schools of law. In our school of law, the Witr prayer is often performed directly after the night prayer. One can also pray it later, but then there is the risk of oversleeping. This is handled differently depending on the school of law. Our Prophet sall'Allahu alayhi wa sallam says: "The night prayer is performed in units of two, and after every second unit, one recites the Tashahhud." This means: The Tashahhud is indispensable. In humility before Allah and with dignity, you raise your hands and ask: "O Allah, forgive me" – and you implore Him. Whoever neglects this, his prayer is incomplete. So after the prayer, one should raise one's hands and ask: "May Allah accept it." Our Prophet sall'Allahu alayhi wa sallam says: "Hold fast to the night prayer – even if it is only a single unit of prayer." Our Prophet sall'Allahu alayhi wa sallam admonishes us: "Hold fast to the night prayer." "For it was the habit of the righteous before you, and it brings you closer to Allah." So this night prayer was already common among the peoples before our Prophet sall'Allahu alayhi wa sallam – they stood up at night to serve Allah. This brings the human being closer to his Creator. It keeps one away from sins. It expiates committed transgressions and wipes out sins. And it drives diseases out of the body. So if someone who stands up at night to pray is sick, this sickness will depart from him by Allah's permission. Our Prophet sall'Allahu alayhi wa sallam says: "The superiority of the voluntary night prayer over the day prayer is like the superiority of secret charity over public charity." That means: The night prayer is – just like charity given in secret – much more meritorious. A prayer when no one is watching brings immense reward.

"And My mercy encompasses all things." (7:156) Allah, the Mighty and Exalted, says: Allah's mercy encompasses everything; it embraces all things. The gate of mercy, the gate of forgiveness, is wide open. Allah has made this gate so wide so that people can enter through it and attain His mercy. The greatest grace for mankind is the mercy of Allah. Allah has left this gate open so that people may partake in it. Until the very end, that is, until shortly before the Last Day, this gate of mercy and forgiveness remains open. No matter how sinful someone is or how much injustice they have committed: They can return to Allah and walk through this gate. This attribute of Allah is a gift to mankind; it is open to people and the Ummah of Muhammad. He gives them the opportunity to repent. But people reject this and continue to do evil. They persist in disobedience. They continue to persist in their stubbornness. And therefore, their end will be bad. Such people will not experience anything good in this world either. There are people who are even worse than the Devil. The Devil seems almost harmless beside them; that is how evil these people are, and such people actually exist. They want nothing to do with Allah or the Prophet, neither with religion nor with faith. But what do they want then? They only want their own pleasure, their fun; they only follow what their ego desires. But that brings them no benefit. They will burn eternally in this evil. They pave their own path to this destruction and a bad end. Therefore: Do not run away from the mercy of Allah. Do not flee from Allah's mercy, but flee towards Allah. Hasten to the mercy of Allah. These gates are open, make use of them. Do not consider this unimportant or insignificant. Some people look at the glitter of this world and let themselves be deceived. It is like a mirage in the desert. They mistake it for water, chase after it, but find nothing there and perish miserably. May Allah protect us from that. That a person dies because of a deception in the desert is nothing compared to the true catastrophe: letting oneself be blinded by the deception of the world and losing one's Hereafter. That is the true calamity. Allah forbid; such a person will never be able to save themselves for all eternity. May Allah guard us. Let us all become part of Allah's mercy; let us not flee from it. May Allah's mercy be upon us, Insha'Allah.

Unquestionably, to Allah belongs the pure religion. (39:3) Ikhlas means sincerity towards Allah... When this sincerity is present, one is no longer concerned with anything else. Everything you do must be done for the sake of Allah. Your acts of worship are for His pleasure; your good deeds are for Him; and even the good one does to people must be for Allah's pleasure. You do good to someone, but afterwards you are disappointed and say: "This person did not thank me." You do good, but if your counterpart is ungrateful, it distresses you greatly. This grief shows that your deed was not entirely for the pleasure of Allah. It becomes clear that you expected thanks, that one should be grateful to you. That is precisely not Ikhlas (sincerity). You are not doing it purely for Allah, but mixing your intention with other things. And as soon as one mixes it, it is no longer good. The benefit and reward of your deed is lost—if not entirely, then at least mostly. For if it were for Allah's pleasure, you would be completely at peace. You would say: "I did this for Allah, solely for His pleasure." Whether they thank, whether they like it, or whether they are ungrateful—that does not matter. The only important thing is that you did it purely and sincerely for the sake of Allah. You should not look back. "What happened? What came of it?" "Will this benefit me in the future? Will this man help me?" "Will people thank me? Will they be grateful to me?" You must not wait for that. If you think like that, you did not do it for Allah, but for a benefit. The intention is mixed; you have sullied this pure deed. That is why the one who does it for Allah's pleasure is inwardly calm. He expects nothing from anyone. The only thing he hopes is that he has sent his deed ahead for the Hereafter. There is no reason to spoil that. As the saying goes: "Do good and throw it into the sea." "If the fish does not know it, the Creator knows it." The Creator, that is Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, knows it. What does the fish need to know anyway? People are also like fish. Which fish do you want to catch so that it thanks you? You cannot think about: "Who bit, who didn't?" Likewise, your good deeds should always be for the pleasure of Allah, Insha'Allah. May Allah not let us follow our ego (Nafs). Humans want it; the ego demands a return for what was done. It wants a reward, even if it is only a dry "Thank you." Whether they thank or not... If they thank, they are actually thanking Allah, since you did it for His pleasure. If they don't do it, then so be it; that is unimportant. What is important is that it is for the pleasure of Allah—pure and sincere, Insha'Allah.

The believers are but brothers, so make peace between your brothers. (49:10) Allah, the Almighty and Sublime, says: Satan wants to sow enmity, evil, and hatred among people. That is Satan's task. Wherever there is something beautiful, he tries to ruin it. He wants nothing good for the children of Adam. Unfortunately, people have become a plaything in his hand; they do what he demands. Satan steers them according to his will, and people follow him constantly. Even within the family, they become enemies. The wife becomes hostile to the husband, the husband to the wife, the brother to the brother... This enmity within the family is something that Allah, the Almighty and Sublime, does not love at all. "Muslims are brothers," says Allah, the Almighty. If there are disputes between Muslims, then make peace between them so that the dispute ends. If there is a problem or a conflict, Allah and our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) love it when one turns it to good and reconciles. He wants Muslims to form a unity and not divide themselves. Their hearts should not separate, that is, no enmity should come between them. In the present time, enmity, evil, and hatred prevail among people and in families. When this is the case, the blessing vanishes. Their faith is weakened. For they do not obey the command of Allah. Allah, the Almighty and Sublime, commands: "Love one another." And our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) says: "None of you truly believes until he wishes for his brother in faith what he wishes for himself, and loves him." It is not enough to just be a Muslim; faith elevates the human being and society to a higher and more beautiful level. Among the believers, you will find every kind of goodness. No evil emanates from them. Therefore, in every dispute, one should say: "My counterpart surely has a valid reason; it is certainly a misunderstanding." One should not immediately judge the other. One must find an excuse for him. One should show forbearance and think: "He was in a bad mood, he said something bad, but he surely regretted it." One should not blow the matter out of proportion and hold a grudge by saying: "No, he said this and that to me." May Allah grant people harmonious coexistence. Siblings, families, relatives, acquaintances, neighbors—may they all lead a blessed and peaceful life, if Allah wills. May enmity disappear. Enmity is not a good thing. Only Satan loves enmity; Allah, the Almighty, does not love it. May Allah protect us.

And do not die except while you are Muslims (3:102) Allah, the Mighty and Exalted, says: "Do not wish for death." When man is in despair... May Allah protect us. Nowadays, people do not just wish for death, but they actually take their own lives. This is a grave mistake, a massive error, and a great sin. The punishment for this lasts until the Day of Judgment. May Allah protect us; whoever takes their own life suffers this pain continuously until the Day of Judgment. That is why we heard from Sheikh Baba – is it a Hadith? –: To say "La Ilaha Illallah Muhammeden Rasulullah" once in a lifetime is better than a thousand years in the grave. Therefore, you must know how to appreciate the value of the life you lead. Just because one is distressed, to say: "I wish I were dead," is neither sensible nor good. The believer must know: If there is a problem, it is a test from Allah. For this, too, there is a reward, a recompense. For the believer, nothing is in vain; for him who believes in Allah, nothing is lost. But people who do not believe in Allah, do not know Him, and do not accept Him, let them live as long as they want. Let them try to stretch their lives as long as they wish; even if they prolong it through filth and oppression, it is of no use. What they do is nothing but sin upon sin, continuously sin. Their punishment is – may Allah protect us – Hell, and it will be eternal Hell. Therefore, you must know the value of this life and must not waste it. As our Sheikh Efendi said: To say "La Ilaha Illallah" once is better than lying under the earth for a thousand years. May Allah protect people from the evil of their ego. The evil of the ego and the devil is so immense that it drives man to suicide. Some let themselves be driven to it, even though they know it is a sin. May Allah protect us. May Allah not separate us from the ocean of reason, Insha'Allah.

“Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you.” (49:13) To be close to Allah, the Mighty and Exalted, and to be as He wishes, should be the greatest goal of man. If Allah is pleased with you, if He loves you – that is all that matters. People nowadays are strange: Allah created everyone equal, but we make distinctions. One person does not like the other. One views oneself as superior or inferior to others. That is the work of the devil. Yet Allah, the Mighty and Exalted, created us all equal. Who then is the most valuable? It is the person who is close to Allah, who has reverence for Him and is ashamed to commit sins. It is the one who strives not to do anything bad and not to make mistakes. The others, the people of today... Especially here among us, everyone wants to be like the Europeans. “What does Europe say about this? How does Europe view us?” “We dress like them and behave like them so that we please them.” Man, what good does it do you if you please them, and what happens if you don't? They put you on display and make you dance like a monkey. They dress you, equip you, and mold you however it suits them. They give you what they want and withhold from you what they do not want. And afterwards? Even if you stand on your head, they still won't like you. But you still desperately try to resemble them. Emulating them brings you no benefit. That has no value whatsoever with Allah. True value lies in being on the path of Allah and fearing Him. And by fear, we mean shying away from committing mistakes. It is the worry of appearing faulty before Allah. It is not about mere fear; Allah does not want to instill fear in us. Allah is the Merciful, the Gracious. No matter how many sins you have: If you ask for forgiveness, Allah forgives. There is no doubt about that. But one must have reverence for Allah, for He sees you. He knows all your transgressions. You will have to be held accountable for them. But if you fear Allah and ask for forgiveness, He will forgive you. He will cover you and conceal your shame. He forgives the committed sins and exposes you to no one. That is what really matters. But if you say: “Europe said this, America wanted that...” – people make these things much too big. Yet they don't even know where you are; what could they possibly know about you? It is the devil himself and his soldiers who instill these thoughts in you. Allah has honored you, He has created you magnificent and dignified. Neither are you better than the others, nor are they better than you. To think like that means to oppose Allah. To consider oneself inferior to others – especially compared to a non-believer – is rebellion against Allah. May Allah protect us from that. Allah has created everyone equal. Give up these thoughts. People run around today saying: “I am going to Europe, to America.” What actually happens if you go, and what if you don't? You will receive your sustenance where Allah has ordained it for you. May Allah grant the people, the Muslims, understanding and insight. Everyone should think well about this. May Allah make us all His beloved servants, insha'Allah.

Our Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) says: "Min ḥusni islāmi ’l-mar’i tarkuhū mā lā yaʿnīh." The Messenger of Allah has spoken the truth in what he said, or however he said it. Our Prophet said: "Part of a person's good Islam is leaving that which does not concern him." That he keeps away from things that do not affect him. One should go one's own way, look after oneself, and work on one's own condition. Only when others ask for advice or help, or ask for your opinion, should you speak. But to interfere unasked and say: "You have to do it this way, I don't like that, do this differently" – that is not proper. Our Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) teaches us that this behavior is unbecoming. Malayani – that is, interfering in unnecessary matters, occupying oneself with trivialities – that too is not right. Do that which is of benefit. Take care of your own affairs, take care of your family. And regarding friends or acquaintances: If they ask you something or ask for help, then help them. But if we look around today: Everyone interferes in everything. Everyone adds their two cents to everything, whether small or big. People insult one person, curse another; that doesn't fit, this isn't pleasing. Look at yourself first. How is your own state? Are you perhaps better than them? You must work on yourself; that is the important thing. If everyone would first improve themselves, everything would be good. As long as you yourself are full of faults, you should not look at the faults of others. Pay attention to your own shortcomings first, remedy them, and become a good person. Everything that goes beyond that is none of your business. If everyone would look to themselves and improve themselves, a good community, a healthy society would emerge. Therefore, the words of our Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) are like jewels – they are so precious. This is a short Hadith, but it is sufficient to change the whole society for the better. Today, however, often exactly the opposite is the case; everyone tries to expose the shortcomings and faults of others. May Allah improve us all and not let us stray from the right path.

Our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, has praised this island on which we live. Thanks be to Allah, this is a place that has been honored by Muslims since the beginnings of Islam. These places are blessed sites that Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, has chosen. Islam and especially most of the Prophets have emerged from this region. From areas like the Hejaz, Sham, and Yemen. Of course, Allah has sent prophets to all parts of the world and to all peoples. But since most of the prophets emerged from these lands, these are blessed places. Since they are places where the prophets traveled and proclaimed their message, they are blessed. This is the birthplace of Islam and of humanity. Of course, Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, created Adam, peace be upon him, in Paradise. He dwelled in Paradise. And when he was sent down to Earth, most of the prophets who descended from him also lived in these lands. Their blessed sites and honorable graves are numerous in these lands. Visiting them brings blessings to the visitor and serves to attain the intercession of the prophets. Likewise, visiting the graves of the Companions, the Ahl al-Bayt, the saints, and the righteous bestows blessings and mercy upon the Muslim. For mercy will descend upon the places where they rest until the Day of Judgment. That is why this visit is also beneficial for the believer. Do not listen to these foolish people of today. They say things like: 'You are worshipping graves.' No, why should we worship a grave? When we pray, we know very well to whom we must direct our prayers. Not at your command; we worship Allah, the Almighty and Exalted. We pray in the direction of the Qibla. We follow the path that our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, has shown, thanks be to Allah. Also on our island, there are blessed Companions and saints. The resting places of some of them are known, while those of others are unknown. Even the honorable grave of Barnabas, one of the apostles of Jesus, peace be upon him, who wrote the true Gospel, is located here and is visited. That is to say, he has nothing to do with today's Christianity, which worships idols or wood. The Gospel that he composed is the true Gospel. They keep it under lock and key; but that is another story. The honorable Barnabas was at his side during the travels of Jesus, peace be upon him. What he wrote is the true Gospel. That Gospel is the work that explains that Jesus is a prophet. Christians also know Barnabas, but only by name; they know nothing more about him. They do not know that he wrote a Gospel. And if this Gospel were to come to light, of course, the whole deception of these liars would be exposed. Their religion would no longer stand, and they would all inevitably have to become Muslims. But that is precisely what they do not want. Because of worldly advantages, power, and the like, they hide it. Just so that the will of the devil is done and they end up with him. For this reason, these visits are important. Visiting the graves is not for worship, but to partake in their blessings and mercy. To draw a lesson from it is a very important and beautiful thing: to see how exemplarily these people lived, how they served Islam, obeyed Allah, and showed the way. The same is true for visiting the graves of the righteous and the prophets. First and foremost is the visit to the honorable grave of our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, who is the crown on our head and the light in our eyes. After that, one visits the great personalities like the Companions and the Ahl al-Bayt. With Allah's permission, one partakes of their blessings. There are many people who want to lead the believers astray. Do not listen to them. They neither know what they are saying, nor understand what they read, nor do they let go of their stubbornness. They are not important. What is important is that Allah has created us in these beautiful places and has guided us to this beautiful path. May Allah make us firm on this path, so that we may remain on it forever, insha'Allah.

Our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, has praised this island on which we live. Thanks be to Allah, this is a place that has been honored by Muslims since the beginnings of Islam. These places are blessed sites that Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, has chosen. Islam and especially most of the Prophets have emerged from this region. From areas like the Hejaz, Sham, and Yemen. Of course, Allah has sent prophets to all parts of the world and to all peoples. But since most of the prophets emerged from these lands, these are blessed places. Since they are places where the prophets traveled and proclaimed their message, they are blessed. This is the birthplace of Islam and of humanity. Of course, Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, created Adam, peace be upon him, in Paradise. He dwelled in Paradise. And when he was sent down to Earth, most of the prophets who descended from him also lived in these lands. Their blessed sites and honorable graves are numerous in these lands. Visiting them brings blessings to the visitor and serves to attain the intercession of the prophets. Likewise, visiting the graves of the Companions, the Ahl al-Bayt, the saints, and the righteous bestows blessings and mercy upon the Muslim. For mercy will descend upon the places where they rest until the Day of Judgment. That is why this visit is also beneficial for the believer. Do not listen to these foolish people of today. They say things like: 'You are worshipping graves.' No, why should we worship a grave? When we pray, we know very well to whom we must direct our prayers. Not at your command; we worship Allah, the Almighty and Exalted. We pray in the direction of the Qibla. We follow the path that our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, has shown, thanks be to Allah. Also on our island, there are blessed Companions and saints. The resting places of some of them are known, while those of others are unknown. Even the honorable grave of Barnabas, one of the apostles of Jesus, peace be upon him, who wrote the true Gospel, is located here and is visited. That is to say, he has nothing to do with today's Christianity, which worships idols or wood. The Gospel that he composed is the true Gospel. They keep it under lock and key; but that is another story. The honorable Barnabas was at his side during the travels of Jesus, peace be upon him. What he wrote is the true Gospel. That Gospel is the work that explains that Jesus is a prophet. Christians also know Barnabas, but only by name; they know nothing more about him. They do not know that he wrote a Gospel. And if this Gospel were to come to light, of course, the whole deception of these liars would be exposed. Their religion would no longer stand, and they would all inevitably have to become Muslims. But that is precisely what they do not want. Because of worldly advantages, power, and the like, they hide it. Just so that the will of the devil is done and they end up with him. For this reason, these visits are important. Visiting the graves is not for worship, but to partake in their blessings and mercy. To draw a lesson from it is a very important and beautiful thing: to see how exemplarily these people lived, how they served Islam, obeyed Allah, and showed the way. The same is true for visiting the graves of the righteous and the prophets. First and foremost is the visit to the honorable grave of our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, who is the crown on our head and the light in our eyes. After that, one visits the great personalities like the Companions and the Ahl al-Bayt. With Allah's permission, one partakes of their blessings. There are many people who want to lead the believers astray. Do not listen to them. They neither know what they are saying, nor understand what they read, nor do they let go of their stubbornness. They are not important. What is important is that Allah has created us in these beautiful places and has guided us to this beautiful path. May Allah make us firm on this path, so that we may remain on it forever, insha'Allah.