Mawlana Sheikh Mehmed Adil. Translations.

Sowing discord is not a good thing. Even if it seems right at first glance, discord is something bad. Some things are better left alone, even if you are in the right. It is not right to always stubbornly want to have your own way. What your Sheikh, your guide tells you – that is the true path. To give an example: When Mawlana Sheikh Nazim was on the pilgrimage in Mecca, he did not pray behind the local imams at the Kaaba. Because their schools of jurisprudence and their beliefs were flawed and incorrect. Although there are many fatwas stating that one should not normally pray behind them, however... Sheikh Baba said: "You make the intention there for the true Imam; the imam in front of you is merely the outward appearance." The value of your prayer depends on your intention. You stand there to seek the pleasure of Allah. Your intention is to perform the prayer and obey Allah's command. It is not up to you to question the imam. If you start to scrutinize this, one person accepts this imam, another rejects that one – and discord arises. One must not give room to discord. He says: Even if you are right, you must not trigger such a thing. When Mawlana Sheikh Nazim once found himself in a similar situation, his Sheikh, Mawlana Sheikh Abdullah Daghestani, said to him: "Just look at who is really leading the prayer." When he looked forward with his spiritual sight, he saw that there was another imam standing in front of this imam – and that was the true Imam. Allah showed this to our Sheikh in this way to prevent any discord. When you stand behind an imam, do not cause unrest. When it is time for prayer, just pray behind him. It is exactly the same on the Hajj: No matter where you stand, make the intention to do it for the sake of Allah. He says: "This intention is more valuable than your deed." Thus our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also said: "Niyyat al-mu'min khayrun min 'amalihi" (The intention of the believer is better than his deed). That is why we see such people not only in the country where we live, but all over the world. With statements like: "I will not pray behind him," "I will not pray with that one," or "He goes to the Friday prayer and the other does not," they only cause confusion in their own communities. They clash with others, and the result is discord. Therefore, one must neither sow discord nor give cause for it. If your intention is sincere, Allah will accept your prayer anyway. So do not rack your brain, do not worry unnecessarily, and do not lead others astray. May Allah protect us from this.

A supplication of our Prophet - sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam - is: "Allahumma khir li wakhtar li", which means: "Choose the best for me and grant it to me." This is one of the supplications of our Prophet - sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam. Man does not know whether his choice is good or bad; only Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, knows that. Therefore he says: "Choose the best for me." This is a beautiful supplication that everyone should say. Often, one desires something greatly, but it does not come true. Then one becomes sad, although there is absolutely no reason for it. For this reveals the will of Allah, the Almighty and Exalted. Even in things that do not come true, much good is often hidden. Therefore, one should always pray: "May the best happen." All sorrow disappears through this supplication. This inner unrest fades with Allah's permission. Man must be aware that he has a Creator. And the Creator knows all his life situations and circumstances. If one believes this and acts accordingly, one finds inner calm and peace. But if one rebels against everything and says: "If only it had turned out this way or that way", then one finds no more peace. One then lives constantly in worry and fear. There are always new illnesses, mental as well as physical, that only make everything worse. May Allah protect us from this and give us the best. May He treat us with His mercy. May He not impose any trials upon us that we cannot bear. May He grant us from His goodness. We too ask Him for His goodness, insha'Allah. May Allah treat everyone with His goodness, in this world and in the Hereafter, insha'Allah.

إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ لَيَتَصَدَّقُ بِالْكِسْرَةِ تَرْبُو عِنْدَ اللَّهِ حَتَّى تَكُونَ مِثْلَ أُحُدٍ Our Prophet – may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said: "If a servant gives even a piece of bread as Sadaqa (charity), it grows with Allah until it reaches the size of Mount Uhud." Even the smallest Sadaqa is accepted by Allah; therefore, one should never refrain from giving charity. إِنَّ صَدَقَةَ السِّرِّ تُطْفِئُ غَضَبَ الرَّبِّ، وَإِنَّ صِلَةَ الرَّحِمِ تَزِيدُ فِي الْعُمْرِ، وَإِنَّ صَنَائِعَ الْمَعْرُوفِ تَقِي مَصَارِعَ السُّوءِ [...] Our Prophet – may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said: "A Sadaqa given in secret appeases the wrath of the Lord." Although it is permissible to give charity publicly, doing so in secret is even more meritorious. Our Prophet – may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – explains that secret Sadaqa extinguishes the wrath of Allah. Sila-i Rahim, meaning maintaining the ties of kinship and caring for one's family, prolongs life. When one maintains contact with their own family, siblings, uncles, and other relatives, it leads to a longer life. Doing good closes the doors of evil. If you do good to your fellow human beings, the doors of misfortune close, and no harm will befall you. Saying "La ilaha illallah" closes ninety-nine doors of misfortune for the speaker – and the smallest of these afflictions is sorrow. It protects one from countless evils, of which grief is the least. Whoever falls into hardship should say "La ilaha illallah" so that these worries pass, in sha Allah. إِنَّ فِي الْمَالِ حَقًّا سِوَى الزَّكَاةِ Our Prophet – may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said: "There are other duties on wealth besides Zakat that must be fulfilled." Apart from Zakat, debts or the claims of others that burden the wealth must also be settled. Zakat is not the only claim on this wealth; if there are other obligations, these must also be strictly fulfilled. فِتْنَةُ الرَّجُلِ فِي أَهْلِهِ وَمَالِهِ وَنَفْسِهِ وَوَلَدِهِ وَجَارِهِ، يُكَفِّرُهَا الصِّيَامُ وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالصَّدَقَةُ وَالْأَمْرُ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَالنَّهْيُ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ Our Prophet – may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said: "The trials that a person goes through via their family, wealth, own ego, children, and neighbors, as well as the sins associated with them, are expiated by prayer, fasting, Sadaqa, and by enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil." Prayer, fasting, charity, and good deeds serve as expiation for these mistakes committed consciously or unconsciously. By Allah's leave, these sins are forgiven as a result. أَنْفِقْ يَا بِلَالُ، وَلَا تَخْشَ مِنْ ذِي الْعَرْشِ إِقْلَالًا Our Prophet – may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – addressed the following words to the honorable Bilal al-Habashi and thus representatively to all of us: "O Bilal, donate! Give generously and do not fear that the Lord of the Throne will plunge you into poverty." He admonishes Bilal not to be afraid of running out of money. He tells him: "Give, for Allah – the Exalted – will not diminish your wealth; wealth never decreases through Sadaqa." أَنْفِقِي وَلَا تُحْصِي فَيُحْصِيَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكِ، وَلَا تُوعِي فَيُوعِيَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكِ Our Prophet – may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said: "Donate, but do not keep count of how much you have given." He directed these words to our mother Asma, the daughter of Abu Bakr: "O Asma, donate and do not count your gifts; otherwise, Allah will also give you His provisions only in counted measure." He advises against keeping a ledger and saying, "I have given or done such and such an amount." Give generously so that Allah, in return, may provide for you boundlessly and without measure. Do not hoard your wealth, otherwise Allah will also withhold from you the blessings that go beyond your basic needs. If you are stingy and do not share, Allah – the Exalted – will give you only the bare necessities. If, however, you are generous, He will bless you all the more abundantly. بَاكِرُوا بِالصَّدَقَةِ فَإِنَّ الْبَلَاءَ لَا يَتَخَطَّى الصَّدَقَةَ Our Prophet – may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said: "Hasten with Sadaqa and give it early in the day; for calamity cannot overtake charity." As we often say: Set up a donation box and drop in your daily Sadaqa every morning before leaving the house. This is exactly the advice of our Prophet – may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – to us. No one should leave the house in the morning without first having given a Sadaqa. Excuses like "I donate several thousand Lira every week anyway" do not count; it is a daily habit. Because the word in the hadith explicitly means "to act early." تَدَارَكُوا الْغُمُومَ وَالْهُمُومَ بِالصَّدَقَاتِ يَكْشِفُ اللَّهُ ضُرَّكُمْ وَيَنْصُرْكُمْ عَلَى عَدُوِّكُمْ Our Prophet – may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said: "Drive away your worries and your sorrow through Sadaqa." If worries or sadness plague you, free yourselves from them by giving charity. In this way, Allah the Exalted grants you foresight against impending harm and stands with you against your enemies. For this very reason, Sadaqa is of such immense importance. تَصَدَّقُوا فَسَيَأْتِي عَلَيْكُمْ زَمَانٌ يَمْشِي الرَّجُلُ بِصَدَقَتِهِ فَيَقُولُ الَّذِي يَأْتِيهِ بِهَا لَوْ جِئْتَ بِهَا بِالْأَمْسِ لَقَبِلْتُهَا فَأَمَّا الْآنَ فَلَا حَاجَةَ لِي فِيهَا، فَلَا يَجِدُ مَنْ يَقْبَلُهَا Our Prophet – may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – admonished: "Give Sadaqa." "For a time will come when a person walks around with their charity, and the one to whom they want to offer it will say: 'Had you come yesterday, I would have accepted it, but today I no longer need it.'" And he will find absolutely no one who still wants to accept his Sadaqa. A time will come when one will no longer find anyone to whom they could donate something to receive the reward for it – simply because no one will be in need anymore. Therefore, our Prophet – may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – advises us: "Give your Sadaqa immediately, as long as you still have the opportunity to do so." This time will definitely come. As our Prophet foretold, during the time of the Mahdi (peace be upon him), all the treasures and riches of the earth will come to light, and one will no longer find anyone who would accept Zakat or Sadaqa. People will simply say: "I do not want anything, I have enough myself – what else am I supposed to do with it?" This is a prophetic prediction of our Prophet about the future. And in sha Allah, these days will dawn very soon. تَصَدَّقُوا فَإِنَّ الصَّدَقَةَ فَكَاكُكُمْ مِنَ النَّارِ Our Prophet – may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said: "Give Sadaqa, for without a doubt it will contribute to your salvation from the Hellfire." By giving Sadaqa, you not only attain Paradise, but are also spared from Hell. تَصَدَّقُوا وَلَوْ بِتَمْرَةٍ فَإِنَّهَا تَسُدُّ مِنَ الْجَائِعِ وَتُطْفِئُ الْخَطِيئَةَ كَمَا يُطْفِئُ الْمَاءُ النَّارَ Our Prophet – may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said: "Give Sadaqa, even if it is just a single date." Whatever you give counts as Sadaqa – whether it is bread, a date, or a sip of water; all of this is charity. Give, even if it is only one date, because even this single date can satisfy the hunger of a person in need. And just as water extinguishes fire, Sadaqa also erases sins.

وَٱلۡفَجۡرِ (89:1) وَلَيَالٍ عَشۡرٖ (89:2) Allah swears by these ten days, the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. Allah gives great significance to these blessed days by swearing by them. There are indeed very special days and nights. They are days and nights with which Allah has gifted our Prophet and his Ummah. Allah has granted us these days to show even more mercy to His servants and to give them the opportunity to attain abundant reward. For Muslims, for believers, and for all those who know the path of truth, these days are exceedingly blessed. Thanks be to Allah, today we have the first day of Dhul-Hijjah; these blessed days continue until the tenth day. Whoever wishes may fast on these days. This is a beautiful deed for which there is great reward. Whoever has the strength to do so can fast until the ninth day. Or you can fast at least on the eighth and ninth days – you really shouldn't miss out on this. It is neither Fard (obligatory) nor Wajib, but a Sunnah – a special gift from Allah to you. You should make good use of this opportunity and appreciate its value. Some people, however, confuse Fard and Sunnah. They neglect the obligation and perform the Sunnah instead. For example, they do not fast in Ramadan, but instead in Dhul-Hijjah or Muharram. Yet a Sunnah can never replace an obligation (Fard). Therefore, you must be very careful here. You believe you are doing something good, but in reality, you are committing a sin. And this is because you neglect an obligation just to perform a Sunnah instead. This is what must be kept in mind: Fulfilling the obligation must always come first. If you perform Sunnah and voluntary (Nafl) deeds after that, you will be doubly rewarded. People convince themselves: "These days are so blessed... Allah has proclaimed their virtues in the Noble Quran, so I will simply limit myself to that." "Everything else is not as important," they tell themselves, and simply act according to their own ideas. This is exactly how Satan leads mankind astray. Even if you perform Sunnah deeds your entire life, they can never replace a single obligation (Fard). Not only can they not replace it, but you also bear the heavy responsibility of neglecting the obligation. For this, a punishment awaits in the Hereafter – may Allah protect us from it. May Allah make these days blessed and full of Barakah for us. Most pilgrims have already gradually departed, but some are still on their way. May their Hajj be accepted and made easy for them, insha'Allah. May the blessing of these days rest upon us all. And upon the entire Islamic world. May Allah protect us from such misguided paths, insha'Allah.

Allah Azza wa Jalla says: The days of man pass quickly. Truly, Allah Azza wa Jalla is the One who creates everything in a beautiful way. The years pass by without man even noticing. Yesterday, thanks be to Allah, we traveled to Bursa again. We thought it had only been one or two years since our last visit, but it had already been four. Looking back, these four years seem so short. One thinks hardly any time has passed, and suddenly four years are over. The days pass us by unnoticed. But thanks be to Allah, the most important thing is to remain steadfast on the beautiful path of Allah Azza wa Jalla, inshaAllah. The days come and go. We pray that they are blessed and that we do not waste our lives. Thanks be to Allah, one of the miracles (Karamat) of our honorable Sheikh was being able to transcend the boundaries of space (Tayy-i Mekan). To get from one place to another, he simply said "Bismillah". He set one foot here, and the other landed in Damascus. With a "Bismillah" he traveled to Mecca al-Mukarrama, with another "Bismillah" to Medina al-Munawwara. That is exactly what Tayy-i Mekan is. For that, he did not need an airplane or anything similar; that is a miracle of the friends of Allah, Awliya. The second, even more astonishing miracle is Tayy-i Zaman – the expansion of time. Thus, they can accomplish countless things in a tiny moment. This is also a miracle of our Sheikhs. That he could be everywhere and meet so many people in such a short time would have been impossible under normal circumstances. Our honorable Sheikh, for example, lived for 92 years. Yet he filled these 92 years as if he had lived 200 or 300 years. He met countless people; he visited them, and they came to him. They sought his advice and accepted his counsel; that too is one of his miracles. Thanks be to Allah, we were allowed to witness him. Of course, we ourselves do not reach this level; such miracles are not given to us, thanks be to Allah. But miracles are not the decisive factor at all. The greatest miracle is to remain steadfast and persistently continue on one's path. Remaining constant on the path, that is of great importance. Whoever moves forward tirelessly, without giving up, steadfastly and with a sincere heart, Ikhlas, will always win in the end and reach beautiful spiritual levels. He attains the pleasure of Allah and the pleasure of our Prophet, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. May Allah count us all among these people. On this beautiful path that our Sheikh has shown us, thanks be to Allah, his miracles still reveal themselves every day even now. Wherever we go, we hear people say: "We saw Sheikh Nazim in a dream, and he told us to visit this place and stay on this path." He continues to be a means for guidance; his spiritual influence, Tasarruf, remains unbroken. The spiritual influence of the friends of Allah (Awliya) already exists during their lifetime, but after their passing, it becomes even more powerful. Therefore, they are by no means dead; they are personalities who are much more alive than we are. May Allah sanctify their secrets and elevate their spiritual ranks. And may we too, inshaAllah, remain steadfast and continue in their footsteps.

وَأَحْسِنُوَاْ إِنَّ اللّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ (2:195) "Do everything in the best way," it is said. Allah, the Exalted, loves those who do good. The Tariqa teaches us the most beautiful aspects of Islam. Whoever follows the path of our Prophet, the path of the Tariqa, becomes a good person, and a good community emerges. This path is characterized by good manners (Adab). In the past, people learned good manners everywhere – in school, on the street. Today, people are rather taught disrespect. This was called "Adab-ı Muaşeret" (etiquette), and there were even specific classes for it. People learned how to behave, what to do, and how to conduct themselves in society. Today, this hardly exists anymore. Such things are mostly only found in the Tariqa. And even there, it is often incomplete; people still just do whatever they want. You simply have to know how to interact with people, what you should and shouldn't do... How to behave properly, how to present yourself somewhere, whether to ask for permission first... Allah, the Exalted, taught all of this to our Prophet. And he passed it on to his Ummah. This beautiful path is not just about acts of worship, but also about one's own behavior. When our behavior and our actions correspond to the Sunnah of our Prophet, a beautiful coexistence emerges, and Allah rewards us for it. It brings good reward and blessings. Today, people speak of "Kibarlık" (politeness). The word originally comes from "greatness". When someone behaves politely and nobly, they elevate their own rank and become great in the sight of Allah. However, if there is a lack of decency, if you don't pay attention to your behavior and just do whatever you want, then no one will respect you. People feel uncomfortable around such a person, do not like them, and may even despise them. Therefore, one must pay close attention to this. Good manners are nothing to be ashamed of. However, people today consider it almost embarrassing. People are told: "Behave however you want, don't be considerate of anything or anyone." They say: "Do not show respect to anyone, do not submit to anyone, just do whatever pleases you." That is how people are taught. But those are not manners, that is simply disrespect. Disrespect is not a good trait. May Allah protect us from it. People today have changed significantly... The people of the past simply do not exist anymore. In the past, there was still respect, affection, and familial cohesion. Today, hardly anyone knows these values anymore. And not only that – they often do the exact opposite. That is why there is no longer any peace or tranquility. The love and affection between people are being lost. This creates a very unpleasant way of living. Yet, with decency, good manners, and friendly interactions, one could build a wonderful society. May Allah grant guidance to humanity. Insha'Allah, they will still learn these beautiful things. One attains all these beautiful traits, Insha'Allah, on the path of the Tariqa. May Allah support us all.

وَٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ ٱلۡأَوَّلُونَ (9:100) Allah the Almighty says: The foremost Sahaba in the first place, the first brothers, the first believers – they are the ones who remained steadfast and persevered. Allah the Almighty praises them. He bestows His favor upon them. For people who remain steadfast are loved by Allah. Allah has blessed them with His grace. And so they persistently continued on this path. Many people embark on this path, but then worldly obligations or other things get in the way, and they do not stick with it. Remaining consistent is a great honor and a grace from Allah. Because this path is not always easy; sometimes it is even very difficult. Sometimes things happen where, out of so many trials, one would prefer to just drop everything and run away. All sorts of things can happen to a person. That is exactly why the one who remains persistent and steadfast emerges as the winner. What matters is consistency. Even if one does not do all that much: just performing the five obligatory prayers, fulfilling one's obligations, and consistently continuing on the path is a massive achievement – and by no means easy. Sometimes people ask: "We have now joined the Tariqa, what should we do now?" In the Tariqa, there is actually nothing else to do; it is fundamentally identical to the Sharia. The Tariqa is the heart of Islam. On this path, you will progress step by step. The days and years pass by. If you depart from this world in exactly this state, you will have made a huge gain. However, if you give in to your ego (Nafs) and leave this path, you will gradually give up the prayer as well. And so you stray completely off the path. Such a person is not among the winners – in the end, they lose everything. That is why it is so important to remain steadfast and hold firmly to this path. By this we mean: One should perform their daily practices (Wird), their Dhikr, and their tasks as best as they possibly can. One should attend a Dhikr gathering at least every three weeks. If that is not possible, one can also do it at home with the family. That is completely sufficient to stay on the path. Actually, nothing more is needed. For it brings no benefit to burden oneself with too much and then later give everything up again. Some start highly motivated, then realize that they cannot manage it, and immediately drop everything. That is not necessary. As the saying goes: Ajallu'l-karamat, dawamu't-tawfiq. The greatest miracle is consistency. The greatest miracle (Karamat) is when a person remains consistent. Consistency is enormously important; it is a praiseworthy quality and a deed that Allah loves. Exactly for this reason, we will continue, insha'Allah. May Allah make His blessings upon us consistent. May we be among those who remain permanently steadfast on this path, insha'Allah.

وَنَفۡسٖ وَمَا سَوَّىٰهَا (91:7) فَأَلۡهَمَهَا فُجُورَهَا وَتَقۡوَىٰهَا (91:8) Allah created mankind with an ego. Only He knows the wisdom behind it. He wrongs no one. Every human being has an ego, something inside them, into which He has inspired both good and evil. Whoever controls his ego purifies it, says Allah. Whoever does not do so and follows his ego will lose. Whoever follows his ego will lose. The wisdom and the will of Allah exceed human understanding. He wrongs no one. There is free will; every human being possesses it. Allah has granted this free will to mankind. One can go in either direction. Whoever controls his ego will be saved. However, whoever lets himself be guided by his ego attains no salvation. His end will not be a good one. That is why some do all sorts of things and claim afterwards: "That was just our destiny, it was meant to be, that's just how it turned out." Can you perhaps read your destiny? How do you know what will happen? No, one is just trying to make excuses in their own way. If Allah wills it, a person can discipline his ego, progress on the straight path, and become someone whom Allah loves. Whoever, on the other hand, follows his ego and Satan becomes their slave. His end, too, will not be a good one. This path, the path of the ego, is not a good path. Whoever controls his ego and progresses in this way is on a beautiful path and attains salvation. Even if it is difficult... For standing against one's own ego and acting contrary to it is not easy. The ego yearns for comfort and is much more inclined towards evil. But just as a wild animal is tamed, the ego can also be disciplined. In the end, this leads to a wonderful result: a person wins both this world and the Hereafter. For people who chase after their ego achieve nothing good in this world either. They bring no benefit to their fellow human beings. People do not like them; they only see the bad in them. A person, on the other hand, who controls his ego is well-liked by his fellow human beings; he does nothing but good. May Allah make us all among those who discipline their ego, inshaAllah.

فَعَّالٞ لِّمَا يُرِيدُ (85:16) A noble Quranic verse says: "He does what He wills." Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, does not have to ask anyone what He should do or not do. He does what He wills. Therefore, it is of no use to anyone to constantly ask in the face of events: "Why did this happen, why is this happening?" It is a different matter, however, if one asks out of a good intention. One may certainly ask: "What wisdom is hidden behind this?" But asking "Why?" out of a rebellious attitude accomplishes absolutely nothing. It brings one nothing but harm. It is harmful because it becomes a habit, and one starts to object to everything. Then one no longer accepts anything at all. And this constant rejection ultimately destroys a person's faith, may Allah protect us. Allah has created everything in the best and most beautiful way. Since this world is naturally a place of testing, certain things are a blessing for the believer. For disbelievers, however, they are not a blessing. Even if someone without faith lives under the best conditions, it is ultimately not for their own good. It is merely a respite that Allah grants them; so that they become even more excessive and commit even more sins, so that... أَنَّمَا نُمۡلِي لَهُمۡ خَيۡرٞ لِّأَنفُسِهِمۡۚ إِنَّمَا نُمۡلِي لَهُمۡ لِيَزۡدَادُوٓاْ إِثۡمٗاۖ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابٞ مُّهِينٞ (3:178) ...so that an even harsher punishment and worse torments await them. Some things are therefore not a blessing for disbelievers, but rather an evil. True blessing is intended only for the believer. Everything visible and invisible is for the benefit of the believer. For someone without faith, even the seemingly best brings no benefit whatsoever. Allah gives them free rein so that they become even more excessive and commit even more injustice. This is exactly the case with the current situation in the world. One might think that everything lies in the hands of the wicked. But in truth, everything lies in the hand of Allah. Allah grants them this leeway so that they receive the full punishment for their deeds. "Just commit even more injustice and evil – your punishment will be all the harsher in the end." May Allah protect us from this. Therefore, as already mentioned: Do not become someone who constantly complains, who objects to everything, and is always against everything. One must internalize that only what Allah wills happens. A person of faith must be aware of this. May Allah grant us a true faith, Insha'Allah.

There is a deep wisdom in everything that Allah has created; His most perfect creation, however, is man. He has granted him an outstanding position. Physically, man is indeed weaker than many other creatures, but through the intellect that Allah has given him, he can overcome anything. Therefore, nothing is safe from man. Although he may physically be the weakest, he is vastly superior to all other creatures and dominates them. For exactly this reason, Allah, in His wisdom, has entrusted us with this body. Man does well to pay attention to his diet and lead a healthy life. This is also in accordance with the commandments of Allah. The instruction of our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) also goes in this direction: "Stay healthy and take care of your health." Our health naturally depends heavily on what we eat and drink. At the same time, however, it is essential to actively protect oneself against diseases. Our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) particularly recommended two methods of treatment: On the one hand, cauterization, and on the other hand, cupping (Hijama). Cauterization worked like this: in the past, when someone was wounded, a hot iron was pressed onto the wound to seal it. Furthermore, there used to be healers who applied this method for all kinds of diseases. Today, however, such experts hardly exist anymore. No matter what the disease was, they would burn the affected area with a hot object, whereupon the disease would disappear. But even if this knowledge still exists somewhere today, it has become extremely rare. Hardly anyone still masters it. The second method is cupping (Hijama). In cupping, the impure blood in the body is drawn outward through slight heating and the negative pressure of a glass. This method has become a veritable trend recently. It has spread widely; everyone is using it, regardless of whether they really know about it or not. Yet blood is something very valuable. It is vital for life, but it can also be impure. By "impure" it is meant: if blood comes out, one must wash and purify oneself. If it gets on clothing, it must be washed. This so-called "impure blood" is ritually impure (Najis), meaning dirty, as it contains all kinds of pathogens. One must be extremely careful that no diseases are transmitted from one person to another. There are numerous blood-borne diseases. Excreted blood is therefore not considered pure, but rather impure. Moreover, the human body cannot completely cleanse this blood on its own. As soon as a person has passed 30 – whether at 30, 40, or 50 – it is recommended to have Hijama done once a year. Nowadays, everyone just takes a pump in their hand, claims "I do Hijama", and gets to work. However, this does not work with a simple pump, because it sucks out all the blood, regardless of whether it is clean or impure. Blood is extremely precious. Just think about how much nourishment the body has to take in to produce even a single drop of blood. Therefore, caution is required. It is about specifically drawing out only the settled, impure blood. This is achieved through a vacuum and heat, not through mere pumping. True Hijama experts know this. Unfortunately, laziness has crept in today: people simply apply the pump and then boast, "Look how much impure blood came out!" This is a completely wrong method. There is also a right time for this treatment. The optimal seasons for it are spring and autumn. There are specific collection points for blood on the back and on the head; it is extracted from there. This requires trained masters. There are specific days and times for it; not just anyone should perform this treatment. One should never let blood be drawn by people one does not know and whose skills one does not trust. One must be extremely vigilant. Especially nowadays, bacteria and diseases are swarming everywhere. Out of the desire to get healthy, one ends up making everything worse. Our body is, after all, an entrusted good (Amanah) to us, a loan from Allah. Every blood extraction must therefore be carried out carefully and under hygienic conditions so that it truly brings healing to the person. Otherwise, it causes more harm than good – may Allah protect us from this. As I said, the best times for cupping are spring and autumn. By spring we do not necessarily mean March or April, but rather May, June; and in autumn, months like October or November. It should be done once a year. Only in case of urgent need can it be done a second time. Lately, however, there is also a trend to have cupping done once a month... That is not good. If such amounts of blood are extracted every month, one will soon suffer from anemia. And anemia is definitely not healthy. Blood is formed deep in the bones, in the marrow... The perfect creation of man by Allah is simply incomprehensible. There is a right approach for everything. If one pays attention to the right days and times – insha'Allah – one will also find healing and health. May Allah grant us all a life in the best of health and faith, insha'Allah.