Mawlana Sheikh Mehmed Adil. Translations.

And I do not acquit myself. Indeed, the soul is certainly a persistent inciter to evil, except for those whom my Lord has mercy upon. (12:53) This noble verse says: "And I do not acquit my ego. Truly, the ego persistently commands evil. It craves the bad. Therefore, one must restrain it. One must not give in to one's desires. When many people today say: "I struggle with my ego," this awareness alone is a good thing. Others, however, simply do what their ego demands of them. They don't even try to fight against it. Actually, families should teach their children self-control from an early age. It's not good to fulfill their every whim. One should meet their needs, but they also need to learn to appreciate what they have. They must learn to appreciate the value of things. Furthermore, they must learn that you can't have everything immediately. That requires patience. People have become strange these days. In the past, children obeyed and served their mothers and fathers. But people today serve animals instead, for example, a dog. They are at its service all day long. They only think: "What will it eat, what will it drink, where will I go with it, what does this animal want?" and completely adapt to it. They run after it. Every day they take care of its food, its water, and its vitamins. They are completely at its service. Yet the true service should be to Allah. You should serve Allah. And you should raise your children in this way. Serving one's mother and father brings great reward and is a duty. Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, commands this in the Noble Quran. If people adhere to this, righteous generations will grow up. If not, a strange generation will emerge – as we see today – in which everyone, young or old, only follows the desires of their ego. Moreover, today's laws are designed so that the punishments for those under 18 are milder. In Islam, however, a person is held accountable as soon as they reach religious maturity. So from when are they held responsible? From the time prayer becomes obligatory for them. This obligation begins with reaching puberty. When a young man or woman reaches puberty – the state in which they could have children – their sins and good deeds are recorded. An act for which Allah, the Exalted, counts a sin, cannot simply be dismissed in this world with the words: "Let him do what he wants." Acting in this way brings misfortune upon oneself. Wickedness, cruelty, and oppression are increasing everywhere. Because if you don't teach a person self-control before they reach maturity, it is all the more difficult afterwards. Therefore, children are instructed in prayer from the age of seven. At the age of ten, one becomes more insistent. When they reach puberty, i.e., between the ages of 13 and 15 – often even earlier these days due to nutrition – prayer becomes an absolute obligation. If one does not perform the prayer then, it is recorded as a sin. Before reaching puberty, it is not counted as a sin if one does not pray, although praying is of course better. It is more meritorious. But after reaching puberty, one must make up for every missed prayer. So, if the lawmakers of this world were wise, they would understand that the punishment must correspond to the deed committed by a person after reaching maturity. May Allah grant us all understanding and insight, insha'Allah. Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, clearly shows people the right path. But if they do not follow it, they get into trouble and ask themselves: "Why is this so? How can we get this under control? What should we do?" May Allah help us all, insha'Allah.

The wise say: "li kulli maqamin makal." For every occasion, there are appropriate words, a topic to be discussed. What does that mean? It means that what is said in one place is inappropriate for another. That's not good. That's unnecessary. Some people may speak with the best of intentions, but if their words don't fit the occasion, they do more harm than good. Therefore, one must know what to say where, because it is a matter of decency. Most people today have no decency anymore. They don't know what to say. And when they talk, they talk useless nonsense. It is better to be silent than to talk useless nonsense. As the ancients said: "Speech is silver, silence is golden." But people nowadays absolutely want to talk; the main thing is that they have said something. Yet in some places it would be better to remain silent. There are also crude expressions for this, but it is not appropriate to mention them here. Everything has its place. In the presence of ladies, men should watch their language. One should speak differently in the presence of children. One speaks differently again in front of scholars. In front of teachers, in front of masters... This means that there is a right place and a right time for every word. If you know that, then speak; if not, then rather remain silent. This is an important matter, but people today think it's impolite if they don't say anything. Yet with their talk, they only reveal their own ignorance. Remaining silent, on the other hand, is much more appropriate and far better. Because the angels write down everything you say. Speaking of which, we should repent for the nonsense we utter during the day and ask Allah for forgiveness in the morning and evening. For all the backbiting, slander, and lies, we must ask for forgiveness so that Allah will forgive us, insha'Allah. Today's people, as I said, consider the elders ignorant, but it was they who possessed education and decency. Today's people, on the other hand, often show no trace of this decency. May Allah improve us all, insha'Allah.

Those who listen to the word, and follow the best of it. (39:18) It says: "Those who listen to the word and follow the best of it are the truly successful." The word 'Qawl', mentioned in this verse, means 'word' or 'speech'. This primarily refers to the noble Quran, and then to the Hadiths of our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. For they are truly the best words. One must follow them and obey their commands. Furthermore, if someone gives you advice or tells you something, you must examine it. Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, commands in the noble Quran to pay attention to the good in what is said and to benefit from it. This means: If someone tells you something true, you must accept it, even if you don't like it. At the same time, one cannot accept every word without examination. For if what is said contradicts the word of Allah, the Exalted, or that of our Prophet, it cannot be accepted. But in everyday matters, one hears many words that a person speaks out of their ego or about other people. One must think about it and weigh it by asking oneself: "Is it true or not?" If it corresponds to the truth, one must accept it. That is, even if it goes against one's own ego or one doesn't like it: As long as it is the truth, it is useful to follow this word. Not accepting it, on the other hand, would be wrong. That is, it brings no benefit. Even if it doesn't harm, it doesn't help either. Therefore, one must accept the truth, no matter who it comes from: whether from a child or an adult, old or young, a woman or a man. Our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Knowledge and the good word are the lost property of the believer." This means a believer should accept the true word and be happy about it, no matter who they hear it from. There is no reason to be offended or hurt. Feeling offended or hurt is a disease of the ego. The truth is beneficial and necessary for mankind. May Allah count us among those who hear the truth and accept it.

And I do not acquit myself. Indeed, the soul is a persistent inciter to evil, except for those upon whom my Lord has mercy. Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, says in this noble verse of the Quran: Do not trust your ego. The ego is not good. In this noble verse, Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, says: Truly, the ego incites man to evil. Except for those whom Allah has mercy upon. Even if there are very rare exceptions, every ego urges man towards evil. The ego is a trial in this world; it is the trial for mankind. Whoever gives in to it and does evil loses. But whoever resists it and does not do what it wants, wins. This applies to everyone. Some ask: "How can we defeat our ego?" You can defeat it, but even after that you have to keep fighting. You must not let up and proudly proclaim: "I have defeated it." Otherwise, it will immediately bring you down. It knows no mercy, it is not trustworthy. The ego is treacherous. The ego cannot be trusted. Therefore, many people, especially our brothers who join an order, think they have defeated their ego and now everything is fine. No, that is not the case. The ego accompanies you until your last breath. It is just waiting for an opportunity to lead you astray. Therefore, one must always be vigilant. May Allah protect us from the evil of our ego. The evil of the ego is even greater than that of Satan. Anyway, they always work together: the ego, the lower desires, and worldly temptations. They are all one unit; they support each other to lead you astray. By resisting them, you defeat them, but you must never become careless and say: "I have won." Because if you become careless, they know no mercy. Therefore: May Allah protect us from the evil of our ego.

We are in a blessed month. It is Rabi' al-awwal, the blessed month in which our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was born. "Rabi'" means spring. A truly beautiful time of year. Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, has bestowed upon our Prophet all beauty and the highest virtue. Whoever follows his path attains all that is beautiful and good. Whoever loves him attains the love of Allah. However, whoever does not love him is also denied the love of Allah. The greatest enemy of our Prophet is Satan. He tries with all his might to deceive people and lead them astray from his path. Our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, on the other hand, said from the moment of his birth "my Ummah" and made every sacrifice to save them. And thanks be to Allah, those who belong to his Ummah and love him attain Allah's mercy and grace. But those who oppose him are people whom Allah does not love and for whom He does not want anything good. Therefore, they are denied this virtue. This virtue is only granted to those who follow the path of our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and love him. Of course, Satan also tries to deceive those who follow Islam. They do not show our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, the due respect. They do not honor him, but even envy him. May Allah protect us from the evil of Satan and his traps. For many fall into Satan's trap and say: "I read the Quran, I perform the prayer." But in doing so, they overlook or deny the most important thing. They do not recognize the intercession and love of our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. However, whoever accepts it will be granted this grace. May Allah count us among those who accept this and strengthen us on this path, Insha'Allah.

And say, "The truth is from your Lord, so whoever wills - let him believe; and whoever wills - let him disbelieve." Indeed, We have prepared for the wrongdoers a fire whose walls will surround them. And if they call for relief, they will be relieved with water like murky oil, which scalds [their] faces. Wretched is the drink, and evil is the resting place. (18:29) Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, says in the Noble Quran: This verse is exactly in the middle of the Quran. He says: "Proclaim the truth." "Speak the truth that has come to you from your Lord." Truth remains truth, wherever it may be. Nothing can contradict it, wherever it appears. Allah says: "So whoever wills - let him believe; and whoever wills - let him disbelieve." Whoever wants to, let them accept the truth and choose the path of faith, and whoever doesn't want to, let them deny it and remain in disbelief. "But you, do not hesitate to proclaim the truth." Your task is to deliver the message. Whoever wills, accepts the truth and follows the path of Allah. But whoever doesn't want to, remains in disbelief. His ultimate destination is a fire whose walls will enclose him. When they plead for water there, they will be given water like molten metal. Today everyone talks about democracy. Well, this is true democracy. Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, has given mankind free will. But He also proclaims the truth and shows the right path. "Believe in it and accept this, so that you and others may find peace." "But if you do not accept it, you will bear the consequences." This applies to those who do wrong and to the disbelievers. For it is the disbelievers who truly do wrong. Whoever rejects the truth does wrong. To whom does he do wrong? First to himself, then to his fellow human beings, and finally to Allah, the Almighty. For the greatest wrong is to deny Allah. That is the greatest wrong of all. Therefore, this entails a heavy burden and inevitably a punishment. For this reason, it is difficult to speak the truth in this world. Often it is difficult, sometimes it can even be dangerous. At best, they are offended, react angrily, become arrogant, and resist. This is the mildest reaction from those who do not want to accept the truth. Most people today only consider what they themselves think to be right and reject the truth. They follow what their ego tells them and call that the truth. But Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, says: "You shall proclaim the truth." Be ashamed of no one, fear no one, and do not hesitate. Truth always remains truth. Speak it and fulfill your duty. These words may apply to you, but I am speaking in general. This is not directed at any particular person. Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, has commanded this to everyone. Whoever seeks the truth turns away from his error and accepts it. Then Allah will turn his sins into good deeds, and this person will find salvation. May Allah grant people reason and insight so that they may accept the truth. Otherwise, their path leads to a disastrous end that will not benefit them. May Allah protect us all from this.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) teaches us how valuable it is to surround ourselves with good people and friends. Likewise, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) warns us against seeking the company of bad friends. To illustrate this, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used a parable: A good friend is like a perfume seller. Even if you come into his shop and don't buy anything, you still take some of the pleasant fragrance with you. At least the pleasant scent lingers on you, and you leave the place refreshed. So is a good friend. Because they have a good character, they will not burden you, hurt you, or wish you ill. Because of their good nature, it is easy for you to get along with them. You get along well with each other. That is why our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) compared a good friend to a perfume seller. In the company of a good friend, one experiences only good things. They guide you to good, inspire you to beauty, and show you the way to Allah. The interaction and conversations with them make you a better person even in this world. They do not cause you grief or speak hurtful words. It is a blessing to be friends with such a person. Our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) advises us: "Seek their company." In contrast, he admonishes us to stay away from bad people and compares a bad friend to a blacksmith's workshop. Even though blacksmiths are not as common today as they used to be, they were once a common sight. There, a fire burns in the forge, which is constantly being fanned with the bellows. Thick smoke fills the entire workshop. In addition to the smoke, foul odors from the processing of iron also pollute the air. Therefore, staying in a blacksmith's shop is anything but pleasant for an outsider. Either the smell of smoke and soot bothers you, or a spark that jumps from the anvil singes your clothes. So is a bad friend. If you stay near them, their bad ways will inevitably rub off on you. Therefore, our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) advises us to avoid bad company and stick to the good. Because a bad person will inevitably harm you, be it through hurtful words or through their other bad ways. For this reason, the instruction of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is clear: "Stay away from them." So, if you cannot discover anything good in a person despite all your efforts, and instead they repeatedly treat you badly, then it is best to keep your distance. This is a teaching of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). And one should strive to be like the perfume seller, so that they spread good in their surroundings, insha'Allah. This is one of the most important foundations for a good life. For a person to lead a peaceful and fulfilling life, they must surround themselves with good friends – with people who do good and have good intentions. Otherwise, one becomes one of those from whom people flee as soon as they see them. May Allah protect us from this and not make us such people, insha'Allah. May Allah grant us all good, insha'Allah.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) says:
"Man ghashshana fa laysa minna."
"Whoever deceives us, whoever cheats us, does not belong to us."
Of course, in this day and age, people cheat each other in every conceivable way.
They cheat.
Whether in big or small matters, there is hardly anyone who doesn't cheat.
They deceive people, they cheat them.
Their actions do not match their words.
They think they have an advantage when they cheat.
But that is a purely external, worldly deception.
That's not the most important thing.
Let's say someone stole your money, took your car or your house.
These are worldly goods.
They are not the decisive factor.
What matters is the Hereafter.
Truly dangerous is the one who cheats you out of your Hereafter.
That is the worst danger.
Someone who deceives people by outwardly appearing as a venerable, blessed person, but then cheats them in matters of religion and Tariqat – that is precisely the kind of person the Prophet was referring to when he said: "He does not belong to us."
For the way of the Prophet is clear.
It consists of showing the good and warning against the bad.
It means that the outer corresponds to the inner, that one is internally and externally one.
There is no other way.
To present oneself as someone from the Tariqat, masha'Allah, with a robe, a turban as big as a tray and a beard two spans long...
...and then claim "I follow the Sheikh," but disregard the instructions and words of his Sheikh, not even implementing what one preaches oneself... That is deception.
Such a person deceives people.
Whoever deceives others actually deceives and cheats themselves first and foremost.
That is why the Prophet says about such people: "They do not belong to us."
That is the characteristic of a hypocrite.
Such people have no faith at all.
If he had faith, he would not deceive people.
He deceives people in religious matters for personal gain.
Those who cheat, who practice "Ghish" (deception), do not belong to us, says the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
The way of Sheikh Efendi is clear.
Many deceivers have emerged after Sheikh Efendi.
Therefore, we want to remind our brothers not just once, not twice, but again and again.
Don't assume everyone with a turban is a Sheikh or a saint.
Although it is said: "Consider everyone you see as Khidr," one should still not consider everyone with a turban a saint.
Because often he only deceives people with this turban.
With his beard, he makes people think, "what a blessed man," and they fall for it.
And in the end, they lead people away from Islam with their deeds.
People then say: "So that's what a Muslim is like? Look at him, with a turban and robe, and in the end he cheated us."
That is the worst of all.
To deceive people in religious matters.
And as I said, there are people among the murids who claim: "I am this and that," although in reality they are nothing. The moment someone says "I," they are already worthless anyway.
You also have to pay attention to that.
The murids are often gullible and can easily fall for someone.
Therefore, they should be careful and not follow such people.
They are everywhere, all over the world.
They appear from everywhere.
"We are the Caliphs of Sheikh Efendi."
Or they invoke Grandsheikh Abdullah... There are people who simply skip Sheikh Baba and Sheikh Nazim and claim: "We are the murids of Grandsheikh Abdullah Dagistani."
You didn't even know Grandsheikh Abdullah. Who are you to understand Him?
Nothing but empty words... That is the biggest deception.
There are many such people.
May Allah protect us.
May Allah protect us from their evil.
For they will find no guidance.
Satan has taken such possession of them that guidance no longer reaches them.
Therefore, it is already a salvation for a person to stay away from them.
If one approaches them, they only cause confusion and sow doubt in the heart.
May Allah protect us from that. Some gullible people consider these people to be something special, follow them and waste their lives chasing after them in vain.
May Allah protect us from their evil and that of Satan.

O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. (49:13) Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, has created us. Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, created mankind in different peoples, tribes, and communities, and with different skin colors. And He populated the world with them. All of this happened by the command and will of Allah, the Almighty and Exalted. What people must understand, however, is that they should use their intellect. They should use their intellect to recognize why they were created. They must recognize what is best for themselves. For the best among all these people is the most God-fearing. That is, whoever fears Allah and obeys His commandments is the most virtuous and noble person. No one else. Saying: "You are white, I am yellow, one is red and the other is black" – this is nothing to be proud of. It's nothing to brag about. It's also pointless. Because skin color, status, or belonging to a certain people will not benefit you. The moment you close your eyes, you may also turn to dust a month later. The black, the white, the red, and the yellow will all be the same under the earth. Therefore, all of this ultimately has no value. These are temporary things. The essential thing is piety (Taqwa). The greatest benefit for mankind lies in obeying the commandments of Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, and attaining His pleasure. That is the true gain. Nothing else is of value. Therefore, Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, has given mankind intellect. And He has given them free will so that they may use this intellect. Scholars give various explanations on these topics, such as the Divine Will behind all things or personal free will. But the important thing is that Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, has given mankind intellect. If a person uses this intellect, it is good for them. Whoever does not use their intellect, it will not benefit them. Saying: "I have used my intellect and become a doctor, engineer, or bank director, I have achieved this and that" – all these are things that bring no lasting benefit. If these positions are used to attain Allah's pleasure, then they have value. But if you use them only for your own ego, they will not benefit you. True intellect, therefore, manifests itself in a person's submission to Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, and obedience to His commands. Nothing more. Intellect shows a person this right path. Whoever does not direct their intellect in this direction, their intellect is incomplete. Because intellect always shows the best and most correct path. As long as it does not reveal this truth, it is not true intellect. No one should consider themselves particularly clever. A person who is on the path of Allah should be grateful for this gift. Whether they are considered clever in the eyes of people or not is irrelevant – they are the truly clever ones. This means: A person who follows the commandments of Allah is on the right path – the path of true intellect – even if others reject them and call them "crazy" or "stupid". But look at the others: Even if the whole world obeyed them, do they truly have intellect? Judge for yourselves. They lack true intellect. As long as they have no fear of God, all their possessions will not benefit them. Their end will be bad – may Allah protect us from that. May Allah never take this true intellect from you. Intellect is a gift, a jewel that adorns a person. If a person does not use this jewel correctly, it only shows that they do not appreciate its value. May Allah protect us from that.

Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, says that He sent the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) from among yourselves. Indeed, there has come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you and to the believers is kind and merciful. (9:128) Allah says: "I have sent the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) from among you." Not from another species, but from humankind. He sent him as a human like you. But the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is different. Many ignorant people say: "He is just a human, and we are also humans." Whoever says such a thing is not an honorable person. For a person who does not appreciate the value of others is worthless themselves. A person who appreciates value gains value themselves. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is invaluable. He is that precious Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) who is a mercy for his Ummah, guiding them and protecting them from the Hellfire. A Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) who supplicates to Allah so that his Ummah is not lost. Who constantly invites them to the right path, to Paradise... That was the greatest desire of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). When he graced the world, immediately after his birth he prostrated and said: "My Ummah, my Ummah." Normally, children cry when they are born. But the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when he came into the world, already thought of his Ummah with his first breath and said: "My Ummah!" Until his last breath, he guided his Ummah, prayed for them, and will continue to intercede for them. Even on the Day of Resurrection, he will implore Allah to intercede for his Ummah. Of course, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) desires that his Ummah benefits from this and is among the servants loved by Allah. That is his wish and his goal. He wants to guide humanity to the right path and that Allah grants them His favor and His reward. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is a Nabi, a Prophet. Prophethood (Nubuwwah) refers to a person who reports about the future. All Prophets are by definition people who report about future events. In a noble Hadith, he says: "My Ummah will fall into decay." My Ummah will stray from the path." So that they do not stray from the path, people must adhere to his (peace and blessings be upon him) Sunnah. The more they adhere to the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), the stronger their faith becomes. On the other hand, whoever neglects the Sunnah, their faith can dwindle. As the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, Islam then remains only on their tongues, it does not go beyond their throats. It remains only on the tongue. Therefore, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) says in a noble Hadith: "At the time of the decline of my Ummah, whoever revives one of my Sunan will receive the reward of one hundred martyrs." It is not easy to be a martyr, nor to attain their reward. But we are living right now in a time when the Ummah has strayed furthest from the path and is furthest from the truth. Therefore, for every Sunnah that we practice, we receive from Allah the reward of one hundred martyrs. And what are these Sunan? The Sunan of ritual ablution, the Sunan of clothing... How our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) behaved, what he did – all of that is the Sunnah. There are thousands of Sunan. Practice as many as you can, as many as you can think of... Most of them are not difficult things. Practicing the Sunan is very easy. For every single Sunnah that you practice, Allah gives you the reward of 100 martyrs. If you practice a thousand of them, you will receive this reward for each one. Allah's treasures are infinite, inexhaustible. Allah is generous. He gives and He does not break His word. Allah is not like the people of today who say: "I will give it to you," and then when you come, they deny it and claim: "I never said that." Allah does not fear that His treasures might run out. The entire universe is in His hand. He gives to you without hesitation. Therefore, the Sunnah is so important. As we said, the intercession of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is very important. The faith of those who practice the Sunnah is strengthened. But where faith is weak – may Allah protect us from that – the danger of straying from the path and not having a good end increases. That is precisely why Satan does everything in his power to prevent people from practicing the Sunnah. With all kinds of whispers. May Allah protect us from their evil. May Allah grant us the intercession of our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), Insha'Allah. The prayer for rain that we performed in these blessed days is also one of his Sunan. It is a Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). We have now performed these, may Allah accept them, Insha'Allah. May He also grant us blessed rain, Insha'Allah.