Mawlana Sheikh Mehmed Adil. Translations.

There was a saying from Sheikh Nazim Efendi - I don't know exactly whether it was a Hadith or a meaningful word from a saint: "Allahumma qawwi da'fi fi ridaka." This means: "My Allah, strengthen my weakness in that which pleases You." Man is weak. In every respect, man is weak. If you look at all creatures, man is weak - yet Allah has given strength to those who walk on His path for His pleasure. It is completely different with those who chase after the world. There are two types of people: Some chase after the world, but nothing comes into their hands except emptiness. Or what they attain are only sins. The truly important strength is spiritual strength. Spiritual strength means striving for Allah's pleasure. Whoever strives for this, Allah certainly helps them and grants them strength. This is what we call true strength - spiritual strength. External strength, however, is of no use. With external strength you can be defeated, other things can happen - but when faith is present, these things are not significant. Only faith is important. If the victor has no faith, then his victory is also worthless. He may consider himself as strong as he wants. But there is something he cannot defeat. In the end, death comes and leads him over to the other side. There he will recognize who was strong and who was weak. May Allah grant us spiritual strength for His pleasure, insha'Allah. May we walk the path of the sheikhs, the path of Allah, insha'Allah. May Allah preserve our faith. May He also grant faith to people. People have forgotten the hereafter and are completely absorbed in the world. Incessantly, at great speed, they chase after worldly things. And certainly not slowly. They believe that something good will happen to them if they continue at this pace. They think the more they satisfy their ego, the happier they would become. Yet in truth they are weak. Whoever succumbs to their ego is weak. Whoever conquers them is strong. Therefore we ask Allah, the Almighty and Exalted: "Oh our Lord, give us strength so that we may conquer our ego, insha'Allah." May Allah protect us all. May Allah be our helper, insha'Allah.

Our Prophet, peace be upon him, said: The Israelites split into 72 sects. All but one will go to Hell. My community will split into 73 sects. Of them too, all but one will go to Hell. The companions asked: "O Messenger of Allah! Which is the one community that will be saved?" Our Prophet, peace be upon him, answered: "Those who follow my path and the path of my companions." These are the ones who will be saved - those who escape the fires of Hell. But the other 72 sects will go to Hell. Therefore, many sects have emerged that do not completely follow the Prophet and his way. Some have gone completely astray, others lead people astray. They give themselves names like community or congregation, but they do not follow the Prophet's way. They do not do what he did, and they deny parts of what he said. So there are different types of sects. The sect that escapes the fires of Hell are those who walk on the Prophet's path. These are the Ahl-i Tarikat - the people of the spiritual path. Some groups outside the Tarikat people do not fully follow the Sharia, determine at their own discretion what is allowed and forbidden, and present their own views as religion. May Allah protect us - the end of those who present things as religion that the Prophet never did will be bad. Since the time of the Prophet, probably far more than 73 sects have emerged. Each claims: "We are the true Muslims." One must be very careful with this topic. The right way is the way of our Prophet, peace be upon him. Thanks be to Allah, the way of the Tarikat people extends through the Silsila - the chain of transmission - from Sheikh to Sheikh, from Murshid to Murshid, in an unbroken line to our Prophet, peace be upon him. But the others are - Allah knows best - ways that were founded by people of yesterday. They choose a leader at will and follow him. They lead people astray with words like: "One doesn't need to read the Quran, one doesn't need to speak Salawat, one doesn't need to visit the Sheikh." Their intention is to keep people away from deeds that would bring them good and merit. This is a work of the devil. Whoever falls to the devil and pursues self-interest gets on such paths. They work for this world. But whoever works for the hereafter follows the path of our Prophet. The hereafter should be the priority for every person. One should work in this world to gain the hereafter - one should not sell the hereafter for worldly things. This is the way of our Prophet. May Allah give guidance to all people. May He also keep us steadfast on His path.

"And say: Work, for Allah will see your work, and His Messenger" (9:105) Allah, the Exalted and Almighty, says: "Do good, perform good deeds." "Do not remain idle." Whatever you do is seen by Allah, the Exalted and Almighty, and our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Whatever we do in this world is preserved and kept with Allah. Therefore, one need not worry. Don't think: "How did I do that? What have I done?" If you have formed your intention for Allah's pleasure, it will surely be accepted. This applies to both worldly and otherworldly matters. Worldly work is also important. Some people remain idle. Although they have many tasks, they do not pursue them. They believe they are working for the afterlife. But this is of no benefit to the afterlife either. The Mashaykh say: "Himmat ar-rijāl taqla' al-jibāl". This means: The zeal of great personalities, their work without idleness, moves mountains. That's how it is. But if one says 'Others take care of me' and does nothing oneself, that won't work. We say "he won't even put his hand from warm into cold water" - such people are not accepted. One must also deal with worldly affairs, at least complete the work of one's own household. People who say "I have withdrawn from the world" are something different. The friends of God, although they live this way, still have their duties. They also have worldly duties. What we call worldly work is also a service performed for Allah's pleasure and is not in vain. This brings reward and recompense, just like performing worship. Therefore, man must think and distinguish good from bad. What we call good is to work and make effort. This is good for both this world and the afterlife in every respect. The bad thing is laziness. Laziness is what the devil whispers to man. The lazy person doesn't work, and regarding worship he says: "This is difficult for me." Is it difficult? Masha'Allah, you are strong like a lion, your limbs function, you can work. Yet people who are much weaker, sick and disabled than you make effort, perform their worship and strive to complete their work. Allah, the Exalted and Almighty, has given you hands, feet and strength, and you say: "It's difficult for me, pray for me." We pray, may Allah give ease; but don't take this as an excuse and leave neither prayer nor work. If you do that, you have surrendered to the devil. And then the devil directs you as he wishes. May Allah protect us. Allah loves His working servants. But He does not love the lazy ones. Because laziness also transfers to worship. This person also does not perform his worship. May Allah protect us from the evils of our ego, insha'Allah.

"And say: My Lord, increase me in knowledge" (20:114) Strive for knowledge. Reading is different from possessing knowledge. In these days, children are finishing their school years. The school time is over. People constantly bring their children so they can be promoted to the next grade: "Study so our child passes the exam." "So it passes this test," they say. They want to have their children taught. Knowledge is limitless. Both children and everyone else need true knowledge. Without true knowledge, reading is useless. When true knowledge is present, then everything is beneficial. Otherwise, you have only read. One often encounters people in whom reading increases not the good, but the bad. "I have studied, I have achieved this, I have accomplished that" - so they become arrogant and like nothing anymore. Moreover, the things they have studied for years are of no use. After graduation, he realizes that there are thousands, hundreds of thousands of people like him. Among these hundreds of thousands, those who study for Allah's pleasure become successful. Have we studied? Yes, we have studied. But do you act according to what you have learned? No. What remains? A piece of paper. This diploma is needed to find work. Of course - if he finds work. If he doesn't find any, he has studied in vain. But if the intention is at least to learn for Allah's pleasure from the sciences He has granted, then these efforts were not in vain. Allah also opens a door for him. He opens a blessed door. Therefore, people should instill the following in their children during these days: "My son, my daughter, you will study, but direct your intention toward Allah's pleasure." "I am not learning this knowledge in vain - not only for this world, but also for my afterlife." "May the knowledge I will learn benefit both my present life and my afterlife." "May this knowledge save us both in this world and in the hereafter." For what is important is the hereafter. "Let us win the hereafter" - so they should instill it. It is a child, it doesn't understand. If it doesn't understand, then why do you let it study? You let it study, but it doesn't understand. If it doesn't understand, don't let it study at all. This studying is not necessary. That is, you spend so much, you apply so much effort. If it doesn't understand, it is both a torment for you and for the child. These unnecessary expenses are a burden for both the state and the nation. May Allah protect from this. A blessed generation arises through blessed knowledge. At the beginning of every matter is intention - the most important thing is intention. For this reason, say to your children in these days: "You will study." "May your intention be for Allah's pleasure, so that Allah is pleased with you and your affairs go well." Otherwise - if Allah is not pleased - it has no value, even if you win all the universities in the world. May Allah grant blessed knowledge to both our children and us, insha'Allah. For knowledge is limitless. The children are now only striving to "pass the grade, achieve something." But that is not the essential thing. For us, knowledge applies "from the cradle to the grave." Therefore, may all our knowledge be for Allah's pleasure, insha'Allah.

Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, says: أَيَّامٗا مَّعۡدُودَٰتٖۚ (2:184) They are numbered days. Everything is measured. In good and in bad - everything is counted. Fasting too is measured, so speaks Allah, the Almighty and Exalted. The pilgrimage Hajj to be performed in this month is also measured. Look, a month ago all those who wanted to go to Hajj were full of excitement. "How will it be? What will we do?" they asked themselves. That too has passed with blessing. In these counted days, whoever is able to gain, gains. These are not days when one can draw from abundance. People who waste these days without recognizing their value are the losers. The most precious thing is human life. And the most precious thing in one's life is time. For it is uncertain how much time remains, when it will end - Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, says "counted days". Therefore, man must absolutely recognize their value. Whoever recognizes the value of what is given, wins. Whoever does not recognize it can gain nothing and regrets later. "I have wasted something so precious without appreciating it, without honoring it," he says then. Even most people today say: "I'm killing time." They say "We're killing time" - but when you kill time, you destroy yourself. You have thrown jewels into the trash, into the garbage. So these blessed days have come and gone. People should also pay attention to the coming days. They should recognize the value of time. Everyone has their time, their hour. May we recognize the value of time before this hour comes, insha'Allah. May Allah make us all among those who recognize value, who do not waste their time, insha'Allah.

We are in the month of Dhul-Hijjah, the month of pilgrimage. The first ten days of this month are especially blessed with their days and nights. Now our pilgrims are also returning, many have already returned. The pilgrimage is a worship that Allah the Almighty has given to Muslims. Whoever performs this worship, that is, undertakes the pilgrimage and returns, all sins are forgiven. Of course, debts to fellow human beings are excluded from this - these must be settled separately. But Allah the Almighty hopefully also forgives debts to people through the prayers in Muzdalifah. Therefore, a person returns from pilgrimage like newborn, without any sin. For them it is said: "Hajji mabrur, sa'yi mashkur, dhanbi maghfur." This means: "May the pilgrimage be accepted, the effort rewarded, and the sin forgiven." This is the true pilgrimage that Allah has given to Muslims. Others, that is non-Muslims, can call their own journeys "pilgrimage." Neither their days nor their places of worship are like ours. They regard their visits to places they themselves have designated as pilgrimage. But pilgrimage is a worship that Allah the Almighty has determined. Whoever performs this worship returns freed from all sins. But whoever performs a freely invented pilgrimage commits not only no good deed, but an even greater sin. Non-Muslims claim to become "pilgrims" through their self-invented visits. But the wisdom of pilgrimage lies in the fact that it takes place at a location determined by Allah and only once a year. That means one cannot simply become a pilgrim at will. If one goes outside the pilgrimage time, this worship is called Umrah. But pilgrimage is something different. That it represents great grace and great blessing makes it something special, something unique. Everything has its value. The most valuable among people is our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Likewise, places also have their special values: Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem - these blessed cities are special places that Allah has determined. For example, visiting Jerusalem is also a great grace of Allah. A prayer performed there equals a thousand prayers performed elsewhere. Our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, says: "Travel there." Of course, it is currently difficult to travel there. Whoever cannot go should serve by sending olive oil there. This is also advice from our Prophet; whoever can, should do it. But the matter of pilgrimage is different. When pilgrimage is fulfilled as an obligation once in a lifetime, this obligation falls away from the person. The person is thereby both cleansed of their sins and completely forgiven. This is one of the most beautiful worships of Islam. It is difficult, but the more difficult it is, the greater the reward. May Allah also grant going to those who cannot go. May Allah accept the pilgrimage of those who go, insha'Allah. May Allah also accept and bless the pilgrimage of those who set out but do not arrive, insha'Allah.

And those who believe in Allah and His messengers - those are the truthful ones and the martyrs with their Lord. They will have their reward and their light. (57:19) Allah, the Almighty, says the following about the believers: With their Lord awaits their reward - their recompense and their light. Allah certainly grants light to those who believe and practice Islam. The more faithfully they follow Allah's commandments, the more both their reward and their light grow. Therefore, the unbeliever possesses no light. He strives very hard and makes great effort to become more beautiful. But without light, there can be no true beauty. There is only darkness - pure darkness. For the light to come, man must believe in Allah and acknowledge His existence. For this light is a secret that reveals itself only through faith. Unbelievers, atheists - whoever does not believe in Allah - they all have no light. Obtaining the light would actually be quite simple, but Satan does not let people rest. With the tongue only two words: "La ilaha illallah, Muhammadun Rasulullah" - and this light comes to you. Our Prophet - peace and blessings be upon him - says: Two words light on the tongue, heavy on the scale They are two words that one can say quite easily over the lips, but they weigh heavily on the scale - on the scale of the Day of Judgment. These words have great weight on the scale and lead man to Paradise. Whoever does not speak these words, he can say what he wants - "I am this, I am that" - and chase after meaningless things, it brings him absolutely nothing. Therefore, Satan tries with all his might to deprive people of this grace. He devotes all his time to this. Unfortunately, most people follow him. May Allah protect us. Whoever desires light - the more he prays, the more his light increases. Without faith, there is no light. This light that Allah has created is a grace reserved only for believers - the unbelievers have no share in it. Already in this world they are disadvantaged, and in the hereafter their condition will be much worse. May Allah protect us all. May Allah give strength to our faith, insha'Allah.

O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you (4:59) Obey Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, our Prophet, and those in command. Here "uli'l-amr" means the commanders, those who govern the land. It is said: Also obey those who rule over the Muslims. As long as they do not give commands that contradict Allah's commandments, it is obligatory to obey them. This is a commandment from Allah. Sometimes our leaders are good, but sometimes - may Allah protect us - they are not so good. But in order not to stray from the right path, obey them all. For sometimes it is a test, sometimes a blessing. If it is a blessing, man must appreciate its value. A person who knows how to appreciate value is always accepted. By whom is he accepted? A person who finds favor with Allah the Almighty and Exalted always does well and his end will be good. But if a person is not loved by Allah, then it benefits him nothing, even if he possessed the whole world, indeed even ten times that. For his end will not be good. We pray: "May Allah grant our affairs a good end." Therefore it is necessary to thank Allah for these gifts that He has granted us. Allah has given everyone a position and characteristic; each should take care of his own affairs. He should not judge according to his own discretion and say: "This is so, that is so." When he believes he knows something correctly, he often errs. Not everything is as it appears at first glance. The matter also has a hidden side. May Allah protect us. We thank Allah according to our intention for having shown us this grace. Allah gave us permission to serve Him, and did not grant us the lot of worshipping other things. Allah led us to this path. Therefore it is necessary to look at our path and thank Allah. For Satan has come upon the people of this time; they like nothing, they recognize no goodness. Whatever you do, they regard you as bad. Whatever you do, they say: "That's no good, that's not beautiful." Ingratitude is not beautiful. It is something that Allah the Almighty and Exalted does not love. What Allah loves is gratitude and praise for the gifts granted. May Allah count us among those who are grateful and praise Him.

Indeed, Satan is your enemy, so take him as an enemy. (35:6) Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, says: "Satan is your enemy." See him for what he is - your enemy. Do not befriend him. It is impossible to be friends with an enemy. Whoever befriends Satan will suffer great harm. In the end, he will share his fate with him. A friend leads his friend - either to Paradise or to Hell. Therefore, stay away from Satan. Avoid his company. His friendship brings only misfortune. His friendship is a curse, is pure evil - it carries all that is bad within it. Therefore, stay away from Satan. Do not follow his whispers. But how do we recognize what Satan wants from us? He tempts toward evil. He leads to what is forbidden. If you listen to him, you become his allies. To be his ally means to walk his path and share his fate. But Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, says: "Consider him an enemy." If you resist him, you will be saved. Your end will be blessed. And your place will be in Paradise. May Allah protect us. May Allah protect us all from making Satan our friend, insha'Allah.

Praise and thanks be to Allah for all the beauty He has given us in these days. Sheikh Baba, Sheikh Nazim Hazretleri, said: 'Yawmun jadid, rizqun jadid' - 'Every new day brings new gifts.' We should be grateful for every breath we are allowed to take. We should be grateful that we are allowed to walk on Allah's path, the Almighty and Exalted. There is no greater mercy, yet people are not aware of this. They grieve over insignificant things, they despair at bad events. Yet everything is mercy and goodness from Allah, the Almighty and Exalted. Therefore, the grace of faith stands above all else. It is not necessary to worry about other things. This world has been a place of trial since its creation. The true test is to be content with Allah's decree, the Almighty and Exalted. People say - may Allah protect us from this - "we are tired of life." Some take their own lives, some fall into hopelessness and believe they can save themselves this way. No, it is not so. That is not salvation. Salvation comes only through gratitude for what Allah gives us, and through contentment with His will. If you are content with what Allah gives you, then Allah is also content with you. But if you are not content, then distress and torment come upon you. Evil turns toward you. Therefore, the most important thing is to be content with Allah's decree, the Almighty and Exalted. May Allah grant us all contentment and gratitude, insha'Allah. May He protect us from following our ego. Our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, says: تفكر ساعة خير من عبادة مائة سنة "One hour of reflection is better than a hundred years of worship." You can perform worship for a hundred years and still not be content with Allah. But if you sit for one hour and reflect: "What is the wisdom in these things, what is not?" and understand this wisdom, then you accomplish something that is more valuable than a hundred years of worship. May Allah, through the honor of this blessed Friday, make us all His content servants, insha'Allah.