Mawlana Sheikh Mehmed Adil. Translations.

قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: اتقوا النار ولو بشق تمرة۔ Our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) says: "Protect yourselves from the Hellfire, even if it is only with half a date given in charity." This means: Charity (Sadaqa) protects a person in this world from evil, illness, and disaster, and in the Hereafter from Hell. So do not say: "This is too little or too much", but simply donate. What is half a date anyway? It is hardly anything, yet even that saves you from Hell. قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: اتقوا النار ولو بشق تمرة وان لم تجدوا فبكلمة طيبة۔ Our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) says: "Protect yourselves from Hell, even if it is only with half a date. If you do not even have that, then with a good word." In the past, people often had nothing to eat at all – not even a whole or half a date. So if someone asks you for something, at least delight their heart with a kind word. قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: اجعل بينك وبين النار حجابا ولو بشق تمرة۔ Our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) further says: "Build a barrier between yourselves and Hell, even if it is only with half a date." This charity serves as a shield so that you do not fall into the fire. قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ارضخي ما استطعت ولا توعي فيوعي الله عليك۔ Our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) says: "Donate as much as you can. Do not hoard your wealth, otherwise Allah will also withhold His bounties from you." So our Prophet advises us to donate according to our own means. No one has to overexert themselves. But whoever hoards their wealth, Allah will also deny them His bounties. The more you donate, the more certainly you will receive the reward for it, and your provision will never cease. قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: اعطي ولا توكي فيوكى عليك۔ Our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) turned to Asma, the daughter of Abu Bakr, and said: "O Asma! Do not be stingy and do not hold back your wealth, lest Allah also hold back His blessings from you." The stingier you are, the less you will receive, and the blessing will cease. "If you give, more will always follow," says our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam). قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: اعلموا انه ليس منكم من احد الا مال وارثه احب اليه من ماله، مالك ما قدمت ومال وارثك ما اخرت۔ Our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) says: "Know that each of you loves the wealth of his heirs more than his own." This means: For some reason, a person is more attached to the wealth that they will leave to their heirs. Yet this wealth does not actually belong to him, but to the heirs. Nevertheless, he loves it, does not spend it, and saves it up for them. Your true wealth is what you have sent ahead to the Hereafter. Your heirs' wealth is what you leave behind in this world. Your donations for the Hereafter are therefore your true wealth, which follows you there. What you leave to your heirs stays in the world and brings you no more benefit in the Hereafter. قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ان الله تعالى يدخل بلقمة الخبز وقبضة التمر ومثله مما ينفع المسكين ثلاثة الجنة، صاحب البيت الامر به والزوجة المصلحة والخادم الذي يناوله المسكين۔ Our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) says: "Verily, Allah the Exalted admits three people into Paradise because of a bite of bread, a handful of dry dates, or something similar that benefits a needy person." Our Prophet means by this: If food, meat, water, or anything else is donated from a household as charity, three people enter Paradise because of it. First, the head of the family who orders the donation. Second, the housewife who prepares the food, and third, the helping person who delivers it to the needy. Such are the great virtues of giving charity (Sadaqa). قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ان الله يقبل الصدقة وياخذها بيمينه فيربيها لاحدكم كما يربي احدكم مهره حتى ان اللقمة لتصير مثل جبل احد۔ Our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) says: "Allah the Exalted accepts the charity and receives it with His Right Hand" – meaning with complete goodwill. Allah is, of course, free from human attributes. This is meant metaphorically and shows that He accepts the charity with the greatest pleasure. He makes the reward for this charity grow, just as someone raises their little foal. So whoever donates something, their gift is lovingly guarded and multiplied by Allah. Just as one raises a newborn foal, Allah multiplies the reward for a single bite until it reaches the size of Mount Uhud. Even the smallest charity grows immeasurably with Allah. After all, Uhud is a massive mountain in blessed Medina. قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ان الصدقة لتطفئ غضب الرب وتدفع ميتة السوء۔ Our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) says: "Giving charity extinguishes the wrath of the Lord and protects from a bad death." Giving charity is very important, because it appeases the wrath of Allah. No matter how many sins one has committed: Through these donations, Allah forgives the sins, His wrath dissipates, and He protects one from an evil end. قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ان الصدقة لتطفئ عن اهلها حر القبور وانما يستظل المؤمن يوم القيامة في ظل صدقته۔ Our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) says: "Certainly, Sadaqa extinguishes the fire of its giver in the grave." May Allah protect us, but the grave can become a pit of Hell. Yet Sadaqa extinguishes even this fire. And on the Day of Judgment, the believer will find refuge in the shade of their own charity. Because on that day, there are neither trees nor anything else that provides shade. Only those who are believers and have given charity will find protection under the shade of their Sadaqa.

عَسَى أَن تَكْرَهُواْ شَيْئًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ وَعَسَى أَن تُحِبُّواْ شَيْئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَّكُمْ وَاللّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ (2:216) Allah says: "You may wish for some things, but they might not be good, but rather bad for you." Things in which you see good can be bad for you and bring no good in the end. Likewise, things that appear bad to you can in truth be good for you. Man cannot grasp Allah's wisdom. One must submit to Allah's decree, for it is not in our hands. Man should make an effort, work, and strive; but success comes from Allah alone. If it is Allah's will and command, this good thing will come true for you. However, it may also be that this thing is not good, but bad. And when it does not happen, you are sad. Yet there is no good in it at all, but rather bad; this matter brings you no benefit. That is why complete submission to Allah is so important. For Muslims, and especially for the people of the Tariqa, this submission is of the utmost importance. Submission means: Of course you will work and do your best. But after that, you leave the matter to Allah and say, "Whatever Allah wills, happens." You make Dua and say: "May Allah give me the best. If it is bad, may He keep it away from me; if it is good, may He complete it, inshaAllah." Everything happens through supplications. One should always begin their affairs with the Bismillah and with supplications. The most important, of course, are our acts of worship: the duties commanded by Allah such as prayer, fasting, and the Hajj. We are currently in the Hajj period anyway; the Hajj season is just around the corner. Even if one wanted to go now—if Allah wills it, everything is possible, of course—it is very difficult under normal circumstances to travel for Hajj this year. The Hajj is also a command of Allah, an act of worship that is an obligation (Fard) for us. For people who have the financial means and health, it is a duty to perform it. Of course, the Hajj is an arduous act of worship. The Hajj is probably even the most arduous of all acts of worship. Many people believe the Hajj is easy. When we think of fasting, prayer, and Zakat... Zakat might be harder on the ego, but compared to prayer and fasting, the Hajj is quite an exhausting act of worship. In the past, people traveled to the Hajj on foot, by camel, on horseback, or by sea. Back then, there were neither cars nor airplanes. The journey often took months. As if the hardship of the journey were not enough, there were also highwaymen. They killed the pilgrims and robbed them. That was another major problem. Today, it is said that the conditions are comfortable, but there are still hardships. Even if you travel with the most luxurious means, the vehicle only takes you up to a certain point. After that, some people say, "We paid so much money, how can you drop us off here? It's still a two-hour walk!" You may have paid, but that is simply the situation; you have no other choice, no other way. You will still have to endure these hardships. For some, these hardships are minor, for others greater. But during the Hajj, there are definitely always hardships. For the pilgrims, this is a test from Allah; a favor from Him so that you attain even more reward and recompense. If you complete your Hajj without bad words and without committing sins, you thereby earn the reward for the acts of worship of your entire life. You gain far more than that in reward and recompense. As mentioned, the Hajj is exhausting. But if you tell yourself, "I am on Hajj in the venerable Mecca," but then just sit in your room and pray there, you lose out on a great deal. For a prayer at the honorable Kaaba is worth as much as a hundred thousand prayers. In an entire lifetime, you might not be able to perform a hundred thousand prayers, but there you attain this reward with a single prayer. Likewise, a prayer in the illuminated Medina is a thousand times more rewarding than your normal prayers. Therefore, one should pay very special attention to this. You do not travel there to rest or take a vacation. Perhaps you are staying in a five-star hotel, especially since the honorable Kaaba is only two steps away anyway. Others, who travel under normal circumstances, have to walk an hour to an hour and a half to get there. So go there in the morning and pray. Go back at noon, stay until the night prayer, and perform all your acts of worship there. Do not be lazy and think to yourself, "I would rather stay in the hotel, pray there, and make myself comfortable." As mentioned, the Hajj involves hardships. No matter how luxurious the conditions are, one will feel these hardships sooner or later. Precisely because of these efforts undertaken, the reward and recompense from Allah will be all the more abundant. Allah gives everyone their reward and recompense in full measure. As mentioned: For all who have the means to do so, the Hajj is of great importance. In the past, there were no such quotas and obstacles. Today, however, they exist, and one can no longer travel so easily. However, the obstacles in the past were even more severe. Under the conditions of that time, there was a danger of losing one's life on the way. Today's obstacles merely consist of being told, "Your name was not drawn, you have to wait until next year." Next year you check, and again you were not drawn. The following year, five years, ten years... and so you keep waiting. This year, many brothers and sisters in faith were only able to travel for Hajj after a 15-year waiting period. Recently, someone told me that there are people who have been waiting for 18 years and whose names have still not been drawn. If Allah has decreed it for someone, then He also grants it to them. As for those whose names were not drawn: Because of their sincere intention, Allah, inshaAllah, credits them with the reward for the Hajj every year. May Allah bestow this reward and these recompenses upon us all. Whoever has already performed the Hajj does not have to go a second time. The Hajj is an obligation only once in a lifetime; a second time is not strictly necessary. Many people perform the Umrah even before they have fulfilled their Hajj obligation. We advise against this: Do not do it this way. Make sure to save your money for the Hajj. If it is granted to you, travel there first. Set your money aside for the Hajj. When you go to the Hajj, you use this money; should there be anything left over afterward, you can use it to travel for Umrah. Under no circumstances should you do it the other way around. If you spend the Hajj money for the Umrah and are then drawn in the Hajj lottery, you will be left empty-handed. May Allah grant it to everyone who wishes for it, inshaAllah.

Allah, the Exalted and Almighty, says: مَا قَدَرُواْ ٱللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدۡرِهِ (22:74) They have not duly appreciated Allah. Mankind has not comprehended the exaltedness and greatness of Allah. They did not know how to appreciate Him at all. According to their own discretion, some worshipped idols, others worshipped people, or the moon and the sun. Some, on the other hand, believed in absolutely nothing. They failed to recognize Allah's true worth and instead worshipped things they had invented themselves – they followed their desires and the devils. They have abandoned the truth and the true path. They have drifted off onto completely false paths. They said to themselves, "This was a great man, that one was insignificant; he lived a thousand or five thousand years ago," and worshipped them. Yet Allah, the Exalted, to whom alone worship is due, they did not worship. They have not served Him. The things they worship are completely useless. They neither bring benefit nor cause harm. Strictly speaking, they even harm you; for by worshipping them, you ultimately only harm yourself. Materially speaking, they simply stand there; they can neither move nor be of any use to you. The harm we are speaking of here is not of a material nature, but a massive spiritual harm. This spiritual harm plunges humanity into absolute ruin. There is absolutely nothing to justify about this. No one can fully comprehend the exaltedness of Allah, yet mankind must acknowledge and accept it as such. When things happen in the world or people are struck by a blow of fate, only very few turn to Allah. Quite the opposite: Many rebel against Allah. They rebel and ask, "Why is this happening?" They say, "Why does this happen? What is the purpose of this injustice? What is this suffering that is befalling us?" Stop interfering in Allah's affairs. In this world, you cannot even interfere in the work of a mayor, a prime minister, or a president. If this is already the case with worldly matters and your intellect is not even sufficient for that – how then can you want to interfere in the affairs of Allah, who created the entire universe? It is Allah, the Exalted, who created everything in His boundless wisdom and mercy. You have no right to question Him. Questioning Him is the greatest disrespect. It only harms yourself and brings you absolutely nothing. Just submit; "Aslim taslam", which means: Enter into Islam so that you may find peace and salvation. For the earlier prophets had already brought Islam. However, people corrupted these religions and falsely attributed things to the prophets according to their own discretion, claiming: "This prophet did this, that prophet did that." Ultimately, they rebelled against Allah and fell into disbelief. Therefore, only the Muslim finds true salvation. Everything happens exactly as Allah wills it. Nothing happens without His will. Therefore, do not rebel and do not complain. If you want to do something, then simply pray to Him. Pray so that Allah may grant you peace and salvation. May Allah soon send us that person who will deliver us, exactly as our Prophet (sallallahu aleyhi wa sallam) has proclaimed. When Hz. Mahdi (Aleyhisselam) comes, the full truth will come to light; oppression will end, and the world will be filled with beauty. Our task is to wait for him patiently. We have no reason to rebel against anything. Rebel as much as you want – who do you think will be happy about it? Only the devil will rejoice over it. The only one who loses in this is you yourself, no one else. For even if the entire universe were to unite and stand against Him, it could not harm Allah, the Exalted, in the slightest, nor affect Him in any way. Who are you anyway, to talk such nonsense, consider yourself special, and rebel against your Creator? We must be very careful about this. Nowadays, this has become a trend and a habit for many. Under the guise of justice, they ask, "Why does Allah not prevent all this evil?" Yet in everything that Allah has created lies a deeper wisdom. Every event has its predestined time and its purpose. May Allah protect us all from the evil of our own egos. May Allah protect us from such evils and from bad people, insha'Allah.

Praise be to Allah, through the blessings of Mawlana Sheikh Nazim, the dergahs are barely enough for the many people anymore. We have to constantly expand them. May Allah enlarge them even further, may the community continue to grow, and may people benefit from it, insha'Allah. Mawlana Sheikh Nazim always said: "My constant and highest intention is to bring down disbelief." Allah the Exalted gives to everyone according to their intention. This disbelief will fall, insha'Allah this will happen one day. Already now, Allah has granted the reward according to the intention of Mawlana Sheikh Nazim. All his students benefit from this reward. Mawlana Sheikh Nazim does not keep this reward for himself; he shares it with everyone. And his reward does not become any less because of it. It is not like material possessions or money: if you give some of it away, it becomes less, and if you give something to someone else, it shrinks further. The reward and blessing from Allah the Exalted, however, works differently. When it is shared, the other person receives exactly the same reward and blessing. Therefore, it is said in the noble verse that we heard in the Jumu'ah khutbah: "Wa la tansawul fadla baynakum." (2:237) Do not forget goodness; do not forget generosity. The verse means: If someone does good to you, then never forget it. The nature of man is inherently untamed; this wild nature must be purified and cultivated so that something beautiful emerges from it. One of these human traits is ingratitude. Man is strongly inclined towards ingratitude. Only through education and character building does a good person emerge. This happens by following the path of the spiritual masters. Therefore: Never forget the one who has done good to you, and remember him. The greatest blessing is when someone brings you onto the true path, the path of Allah and the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam). And this happens through a spiritual guide. We have such a guide at our head, do not forget his virtues. Sometimes people tend to forget that. Even if it is just a friend who invited you to a beautiful gathering and you found this path through him: do not forget him. Tell yourself: "Through him I came to this path." You might object now: "He brought me onto the path, but he strayed from it himself." Even if he has strayed, I continue to pray for him: "May Allah grant him guidance." Because he showed me this path. Allah may not have predestined for him to stay, but he was the means that led me to the straight path. Because he brought me onto the right path, I constantly pray for him: May Allah bring him back to this path as well. To say the other person is "this way or that way" – people simply have their quirks and moods. Therefore, one should not pay too much attention to that. It is the command of Allah the Exalted; He is the One who commands us to do all that is good. "This person was the reason for my guidance, he was the means to it; I must never forget him." Even if he has done strange things, followed his ego or the devil, left this path, or even turned against it: one must still pray for him. One simply must never forget the person who brought them onto the path. The same applies: if you bring someone onto the path, that person does not become your property. Do not cause him any harm. You brought him onto the path, he is walking it, and he has not strayed from it. Just because you brought him here, you did not buy him; he has not become your slave. You guided him onto the path, and you receive the same reward as he does. However, if you behave badly, you still get the reward, but at the same time you burden yourself with sins. Because if you slander this person or think badly of him, you are committing an injustice. One must be very careful about this. So be mindful of both the one who guided you and those whom you have guided. If the people you have brought onto the path continue on but do not stay with you, it does not matter at all. As long as they are on the path of Allah, no matter where – they have left the path of the devil. And that is your great reward and your merit. As long as they do not take a wrong path, your reward and blessing remain great. Allah the Exalted will grant you reward and blessing accordingly. A hadith of the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) says: Whoever shows a person the right path will be credited with exactly as much reward as that person himself. If he has done this for two people, he receives the reward for two. Whether ten, a thousand, or a hundred thousand people – all their reward benefits you as well. But if you lead someone astray, set a bad example, and others copy you, then their sins will also weigh on your shoulders. Therefore, one must be very careful. If someone has entered this path and remains on the path of Allah, then thank and praise Allah; that is wonderful, after all. Praise be to Allah, he is walking this path; that is the most important thing. Because the devil goes to great lengths and thinks to himself: "I cannot lead them astray, so I will at least reduce their reward. I will make them enemies so that they do not like each other. For if they do not love one another, neither Allah nor the Prophet will be pleased with them." Do not fall for this game. As long as someone is on the path of Allah, let him walk this path undisturbed. Do not worry about it. Other people will come to you, Allah will grant it to you, and insha'Allah your reward will be even greater. Just because someone goes elsewhere, your reward does not end; it continues. May Allah grant us all goodness and let us appreciate the good. Let us not be led astray by our egos and let us not give in to our desires. May Allah not lead us astray from the straight path, insha'Allah.

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَٰتِ كَانَتۡ لَهُمۡ جَنَّـٰتُ ٱلۡفِرۡدَوۡسِ نُزُلًا (18:107) خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا لَا يَبۡغُونَ عَنۡهَا حِوَلٗا (18:108) Allah Azza wa Jalla says about those who believe and are beneficial to people, His beloved servants: "They will be together in Paradise forever." Surely, the promise of Allah Azza wa Jalla is the truth. People who act accordingly in this world and follow his footsteps will also be united in Paradise. Even if there is separation in this world, there is none in the Hereafter. We will be united forever in the gardens of Paradise, surrounded by beauty. The longing will come to an end; there will be no more pain of separation. Therefore, there are many who, through the love and blessings of Mawlana Sheikh Nazim – may his rank be exalted – have undertaken the long journey here. There are, of course, many more people who could not come. However, since they have remained true to their promise, their visit and their connection with us are considered accepted. They are united with us forever. With Allah's permission, there will be no more such things as sorrow, agony, suffering, or grief. Mawlana Sheikh Nazim always showed us the path of our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam). This path is beautiful; it is the path of bliss and beauty. Mawlana Sheikh Nazim taught us to remain steadfast on this path. Insha'Allah, He will make us all firm together on this path. Although many people have never seen Mawlana Sheikh Nazim, his spiritual power reaches them, no matter where we go. And they say to themselves: "We were not able to get to know him anymore, so let us at least visit you." That we are visited personally is not that important. The crucial thing is to be on this path. A person who remains true to his covenant, his promise, and his word is a good person. Whoever breaks his word is of no use for this world or the Hereafter anyway. This promise was made for the sake of Allah on the Day of the Primordial Covenant, "Alastu bi Rabbikum, qalu bala" (7:172). Thanks be to Allah, by Allah's grace and mercy we have made it steadfastly up to here. Insha'Allah, we will continue to remain firmly rooted on this path in the future through Allah's grace and mercy. Of course, sometimes discord (Fitna) sneaks into a person's heart. There are many trials; they are unavoidable. So sometimes there are complaints like: "He did this, he did that." Do not let this divert you from your path. Some say, Allah forbid: "He did this and that." You live in this world after all; you are not in the Hereafter yet. In this world, not everything is rosy; there are also thorns and pain. But do not deviate from your path. Continue undeterred. If you listen to the talk of others, you will fare like in the proverb: Breaking one's own fast out of anger at the priest. The priest will only be happy that you have neglected your worship. Therefore, although this path is beautiful, it sometimes also brings difficulties with it. There can be things that are extremely difficult for one's own ego (Nafs). Sometimes it seems almost unbearable. But the more you break your ego, the greater your gain. Then you will not regret it later. However, if you do not break your ego, regret comes later. But Allah forbid, sometimes it is already too late then, and there is no going back. May Allah protect us from the evil of our egos. Let us hold fast to the beauty of this path. Thanks be to Allah! True friends of Allah (Awliya) like Mawlana Sheikh Nazim have emerged very rarely in the last century. Although there have been many saints and scholars, Mawlana Sheikh Nazim is one of these rare exceptions. Therefore, you should be infinitely grateful to Allah. Because through gratitude, the blessings are not only preserved, but they multiply, insha'Allah. May Allah be pleased with you all. May your visit be accepted, and may it also count as the visit of those who could not come. Of course, not everyone can come here; it is not that easy at all. Praise be to Allah, how wonderfully He arranges everything. For if everyone came at the same time, we would neither have enough accommodations, nor would everyone even fit in here. Therefore, Allah Azza wa Jalla arranges everything in the best possible way. Even after the passing of Mawlana Sheikh Nazim, his spiritual work continues; we ourselves achieve nothing. Through his work, everyone who comes is satisfied, and so is everyone who leaves. May Allah be pleased with you all.

The foundation of the Tariqa is good manners (Adab) and love (Muhabba). Good manners are important. When good manners are mentioned, it means having good manners towards Allah, the Exalted and Almighty. That is the essence of a human being; Islam teaches these good manners. The religion of Islam is the religion of all Prophets. But those who consider things other than Islam as their religion have done so according to their own ideas. Therefore, the religion of Islam is a religion of good manners. One never rebels against Allah, and one also does not rebel against our Prophet (sallallahu aleyhi wa sallam). The second is love. What is love? It is the love for Allah, the Exalted and Almighty, and for our Prophet (sallallahu aleyhi wa sallam). Our Prophet (sallallahu aleyhi wa sallam) says: "Al-mar'u ma'a man ahab." A person is with the one he loves – that means, love saves a person. You should love Allah, the Exalted and Almighty; you should love our Prophet (sallallahu aleyhi wa sallam), his family (Ahl al-Bayt), the lovers of Allah, and the servants loved by Allah. These servants are the Awliyaullah (the friends of Allah). To be a Wali of Allah means to be a person whom Allah loves. Whether you perform miracles or not – if Allah loves you, you too are a Wali. It is often asked: "How do I become a saint, what should we do, how should we proceed?" Love Allah, love our Prophet (sallallahu aleyhi wa sallam), then you too will become a beloved servant of Allah. This love saves you both in this world and in the Hereafter, you will find salvation. Because love brings peace to a person; resentment, hatred, and enmity, on the other hand, darken a person's inner self. They bring no benefit; on the contrary, they only cause harm. Therefore, we will be saved through this love, insha'Allah. May Allah make this love last forever, insha'Allah. Today, an aunt of ours, filled with the love of Allah, has been called to the Hereafter; she passed away. May Allah have mercy on her, her rank is high. People look at the exterior, but it is not about the exterior, but about her inner world, masha'Allah. Many testify that during Hajj, she wonderfully performed acts of worship that men with beards and turbans could not perform, even though she seemingly had no outward knowledge. May Allah be pleased with her, may her rank be exalted. She is with those whom she loves. Tomorrow is the anniversary of the passing of Mawlana Sheikh Nazim. This woman also passed away at almost the same time due to her love for him. May Allah grant us all the love that was in her heart, and bestow it upon us all.

وَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡأَسۡمَآءُ ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰ فَٱدۡعُوهُ بِهَاۖ 7:180 Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, has very many names. He has bestowed different names upon every prophet. The power and greatness of Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, are infinite. There are ninety-nine names granted to the Ummah of Muhammad, and additionally the Greatest Name (Ism al-Azam). Benefit is drawn from these; some are recited as dhikr and tasbih. Some names are exclusively reserved for Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, and are therefore given to no one else. Some can also be used by ordinary people and prophets, but some are completely exclusive. Therefore, we naturally do not know all the names that were given to other prophets. Because since Adam (peace be upon him), thousands of different names have been given to each of them. The ninety-nine names allocated to the Ummah of Muhammad are all a blessing. But as with all things, Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, has granted the greatest, most honorable, and most beautiful names to our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as a gift. For this reason, the dhikr of some names is naturally performed only with permission, while others can be recited by anyone. Only the name "Allah" can be pronounced in dhikr by anyone as often as they wish. If people recite the dhikr, which is performed a specific number of times in certain tariqahs, without permission, it can become somewhat burdensome for them. Therefore, the dhikr should be performed with permission and the prescribed number strictly observed. There are also those who recite for themselves; may Allah accept their dhikr too and forgive them. But as said, the dhikr of the blessed, majestic word (Lafz al-Jalal) of Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, "Allah, Allah", is performed in our tariqah with both the tongue and the heart. When this dhikr is done with both the tongue and the heart, the person is constantly in a state of remembrance. Even when the tongue is silent, the person is unconsciously in a constant dhikr, as the heart continuously says "Allah, Allah". This means the person performs dhikr throughout their entire life. The blessing of the blessed name of Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, gives strength to a person's faith and body; through this name, light (nur) descends into a person's heart and body. May Allah not deprive us of this light and make it constant, insha'Allah. May this dhikr also be constant in our hearts, insha'Allah.

قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: اتق الله يا أبا الوليد، لا تأتي يوم القيامة ببعير تحمله وله رغاء، أو بقرة لها خوار، أو شاة لها ثؤاج۔ Our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) said: "Fear Allah, oh Abu al-Walid." "Do not appear on the Day of Resurrection, after having embezzled the Zakat property, carrying a grunting camel, a mooing cow, or a bleating sheep on your neck." That means, animals for which no Zakat was paid will come in the Hereafter crying out, wrapped around the neck of this person. Therefore, our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) says: "Give your Zakat as long as you are in this world." قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: أرضوا مصدقيكم۔ Our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) said: "Satisfy the Zakat collector." The Zakat collector is the person who collects the Zakat. His wage is also covered by the Zakat property. Therefore, our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) advises us to satisfy him as well. "Give him his right too," he says. قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: إن رجالا يتخوضون في مال الله بغير حق، فلهم النار يوم القيامة۔ Our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) said: "Some men unjustly dispose of the wealth that Allah has designated for the benefit of the Muslims, even though they have no right to it." "For them is the Fire on the Day of Resurrection." This means that if a person who has no right to it spends the given Zakat on themselves or on unnecessary things, they become worthy of Hell on the Day of Resurrection, since this property is an entrusted trust (Amana). قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: إن الله تعالى لم يرض بحكم نبي ولا غيره في الصدقات، حتى حكم فيها هو، فجزأها ثمانية أجزاء۔ Our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) said: "Regarding the distribution of Zakat, Allah the Exalted was not satisfied with the judgment of a prophet or anyone else; He passed the judgment Himself and divided the recipients of Zakat into eight categories." This means Zakat is given not only from gold and silver, but also from crops, animals, and similar goods. Allah (Azza wa Jalla) Himself made Zakat obligatory and divided it into eight categories. This division was made neither by prophets nor by anyone else. This is the direct judgment of Allah (Azza wa Jalla). One must not oppose the judgment and justice of Allah, the Most Just of all judges (Ahkam al-Hakimin). قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: الخازن المسلم الأمين الذي يعطي ما أمر به كاملا موفرا، طيبة به نفسه، فيدفعه إلى الذي أمر له به، أحد المتصدقين۔ Our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) said: "The Muslim, trustworthy treasurer..." That means the trustworthy treasurer who manages the entrusted goods, or the person who guards this treasure, receives the same reward as the one who gives the Sadaqah, if he hands over the commanded Sadaqah willingly, completely, and exactly to the commanded person. So, when taking this Sadaqah property and handing it over as an entrusted trust to the rightful recipient, this must be done willingly. Sometimes one might start to doubt and think: "How are we supposed to give so much money there?" Whoever fulfills this duty without harboring such a feeling within themselves receives the same wage and the same reward as the actual owner who gives this Sadaqah and Zakat. قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: إذا أنفقت المرأة من بيت زوجها غير مفسدة، كان لها أجرها بما أنفقت، ولزوجها أجره بما كسب، وللخازن مثل ذلك، لا ينقص بعضهم من أجر بعض شيئا۔ Our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) said: "If a woman spends (does good) from her husband's household without wasting, she will be rewarded for what she has spent." This means that a woman who performs charitable deeds with her husband's wealth without wasting it and without harming her husband will be rewarded for it. Her husband also receives the same reward because he earned this wealth. Likewise, the treasurer who protects and guards this property receives a similar reward. That means the reward of the Zakat collector, or the person who takes this Sadaqah and delivers it to those entitled, is the same. Our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) said: "The reward that these three persons receive does not decrease the reward of the others by anything." They are all involved in the same good deed; that one is rewarded does not diminish the reward of the other, all receive the same reward. قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: إنما أنا مبلغ والله يهدي، وإنما أنا قاسم والله يعطي۔ Our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) said: "Verily, I am only a conveyor." This means he has the duty to convey Allah's commands to the people. However, the One who guides is Allah. Our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) only conveys the message; the resulting guidance comes from Allah Himself and reaches those to whom He grants it. "I am only the distributor (Qasim)." But the true Giver is Allah. This means that if you do something good with the wealth in your hands, you are, as our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) said, only an intermediary. The actual Giver is Allah, He has only used you as a means for this, and you receive a reward for this mediation. So when you give, Allah has granted you this beautiful deed and you have thereby attained the reward. قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: أنا أبو القاسم، الله يعطي وأنا أقسم۔ The epithet (Kunya) of our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) is also Abu al-Qasim. He said: "I am Abu al-Qasim." Abu al-Qasim means: The one who divides and distributes. Our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) said: "Allah gives the Zakat property or the spoils of war, and I distribute it among you." قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ما أعطيكم من شيء ولا أمنعكموه، إن أنا إلا خازن أضع حيث أمرت۔ Our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) said: "I can neither give you anything of my own accord, nor can I withhold it from you." "I am only a treasurer who acts as he has been commanded." In fact, our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) never hoarded goods in his hands. He did not save anything for the next day, but distributed and gave everything to the rightful recipients. قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: العامل بالحق على الصدقة كالغازي في سبيل الله عز وجل حتى يرجع إلى بيته۔ Our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) said: "The reward of a Zakat collector who performs his work justly is like the reward of a person who fights in the path of Allah (Jihad) until he returns home." In the past, there were special officials who traveled around to collect Sadaqah and Zakat. Even though such officials do not exist in the strict sense nowadays, we have trustworthy people who consider the given Zakat as an entrusted trust and deliver it to those entitled. In the time of our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) and the subsequent caliphs, officials were dispatched with the words: "You will go to this land and, as a Zakat collector, collect the Zakat and bring it back." Our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) explained that from the moment of their departure, this person is rewarded as if they had gone to Jihad. قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: المعتدي في الصدقة كمانعها۔ Our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) said: "Whoever commits injustice in matters of Zakat is like someone who does not give it at all." This means that whoever prevents the Zakat from reaching its rightful recipient is considered as someone who has not paid their Zakat. Thus, he also burdens himself with guilt. قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: لا إسعاد في الإسلام، ولا عقر، ولا شغار في الإسلام، ولا جلب في الإسلام، ولا جنب، ومن انتهب فليس منا۔ Our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) said: "In Islam, there is no wailing over the dead, no sacrificing on a grave, no Shighar (exchange marriage without a dowry), no bringing of the Zakat goods to the Zakat collector (Jalab), and no taking far away and hiding the Zakat goods from the Zakat collector (Janab)." "Whoever loots does not belong to us." That is to say, everything has its own method and etiquette, especially the worship of Zakat. For this reason, wailing over a deceased person is not considered appropriate in Islam. Similarly, it is not permissible (Ja'iz) to slaughter a sacrificial animal on a grave. There are also specific methods for the execution of the duties of the Zakat collector and the collection of Zakat. قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: لا جلب ولا جنب ولا شغار في الإسلام۔ Our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) said: "In Islam, there is neither bringing the Zakat goods to the collector (Jalab), nor gathering all the Zakat goods in a distant place from the collector (Janab), and no Shighar." These are fine fiqhi (jurisprudential) details. Nowadays, such practices hardly exist anyway. These were practices of past eras. Nowadays, everyone who wants to give their Zakat gives it; to those who do not give it, may Allah, inshaAllah, grant understanding, insight, and guidance.

وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ حِجُّ ٱلۡبَيۡتِ مَنِ ٱسۡتَطَاعَ إِلَيۡهِ سَبِيلٗاۚ (3:97) The blessed months of Hajj have begun. Allah has made Hajj an obligation as one of the pillars of Islam for all those who are physically and financially able to do so. It may look easy, but it certainly comes with difficulties. Furthermore, one can only travel there with an official permit. The number of pilgrims who are allowed to travel is therefore limited. Therefore, anyone who is healthy and has the financial means should undertake this journey. After all, it is an absolute obligation (Fard). If one keeps postponing this obligation, it is uncertain whether they will even have the opportunity to do it later. But if you make a firm intention right now and take the first step, Allah will accept this according to your intention, and the burden will be lifted from your shoulders. However, if you say, "I will do it later anyway, I do not need to make an intention now," then you are not fulfilling your obligation and are missing out on a great reward. Even a single prayer performed there brings as much reward as the prayers of an entire lifetime. Fasting might be difficult there anyway, but you perform the obligatory prayers directly at the Kaaba. You will pray in the mosque of our Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam), the Prophet's Mosque. All of this is—both in a spiritual and a worldly sense—worth an entire lifetime. Therefore, it is only to the believer's advantage to fulfill this obligation and meet their duties. But even more than just gaining reward: You are complying with Allah's command and becoming His guest. May Allah make it possible for all of us to travel there. And may He grant ease to those who cannot yet travel. Most people would love to go on pilgrimage, but there are often various obstacles. All sorts of hurdles can stand in the way. That is exactly why it is so important to at least make a firm intention. One should say: "I make the intention to perform the Hajj for the sake of Allah's pleasure, and as soon as I find the opportunity and time to do so, I will embark on the journey." This way, at least the burden of this obligation is lifted from your shoulders. This applies especially to men. For women, different circumstances, rules, and conditions apply anyway. For them, there are more facilitations from the very beginning. Therefore, men especially should make this intention. May Allah forgive us all through this intention, insha'Allah.

Yassiru wala tuassiru. Make it easy and do not make it difficult. Make things easy, both in worldly matters and for the hereafter, so that religion does not become a burden to people. What one perceives as difficult is actually easy, but it simply seems difficult to them. Acts of worship feel difficult, doing good feels difficult. On the other hand, it is easy to forgo acts of worship, simply act according to one's own mind, and only do whatever one feels like doing. Many people simply think to themselves: "That's fine, there is no need to do more." Hardships keep people away from good. It is exactly the same with worldly matters. When you tackle something, do it in a simple way that is familiar to you. In your interactions with people, you should speak to them in a way that matches their understanding. If you speak about things they cannot comprehend, they will hardly understand you. If it becomes too complicated for them, they will turn away and just do whatever they want. Therefore, one should approach everything with ease. In business life, too, one should be uncomplicated. Likewise, one should not make things difficult within the family. Of course, one sometimes has to show their children boundaries and teach them what is right. But in other moments, one should be more lenient and gentle. Our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said regarding prayer: "When the child turns seven years old, tell them to pray. When they turn ten, they should definitely pray." That is not true harshness. This way, the child learns it step by step and will adhere to this path and to prayer for their entire life. It is exactly the same with fasting. This applies to all acts of worship. Getting along well with others, not lying, not bullying or deceiving anyone – all of these are good qualities that make life easier. The opposite of this – bullying people, abusing trust, and the like – means causing harm and making things unnecessarily difficult. Not returning something borrowed is one such difficulty. Constant arguing in the family makes life equally difficult. Everything should be done in goodness and in a peaceful manner; this is what Allah the Exalted and our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) teach us. Our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is a role model for all people; not only for Muslims, but for all of humanity. His path is a wonderful path. It is the path of humanity and the path to true happiness. May Allah never lead any of us astray from this path, insha'Allah.