Mawlana Sheikh Mehmed Adil. Translations.

وَلِكُلِّ قَوْمٍ هَادٍ (13:7) Allah Azza wa Jalla says that for every nation, He sent someone to show them the right way. "Hadi" means the one who shows the way. Al-Hadi is the One who guides us; so, one of His names—one of the names of Allah—is Al-Hadi. This is the meaning: Allah sent Prophets to all of humanity. Regarding Prophets, until the Prophet (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam), there were 124,000. All of these were not only in the Middle East; you could find them everywhere. Even here in Europe, or America, or Australia, or anywhere in the world, Allah sent His messengers to show people who they are, what they must do, and the purpose of their lives. So, nobody can say, "We didn't have a Prophet." Everyone had a Prophet. But of course, it wasn't like these days where everyone can see or know everything. Allah Azza wa Jal sent them specifically to places where there were populations in need of this. So, there were 124,000 Prophets (peace be upon them). Of course, the most well-known ones were in this area—the Middle East—like Makkah, Madinah, the Hijaz, Yemen, Palestine, Syria, and Turkey. Most of the known Prophets were there. But others were in other places, everywhere in the world. Even when I was in South America one or two months ago, I visited an ancient site. They said people used to worship many things, but there was one man who said, "All of this is not our Lord; our Lord is only One." This story has survived until this day. So, I think that at that time, he must have been a Prophet who taught them everything, but they only remembered this part. So, Alhamdulillah, we follow the way of the Prophet, the Seal of the Prophets. The Prophet (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said, "There is no Prophet anymore, no Messenger after me." "It ends with me; I am the finish of this message, and Prophecy ends with me." This is what the Prophet (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said in a Hadith. So, Alhamdulillah, now the whole world knows about the Prophet (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) and about Islam. So, those whom Allah gives Hidaya (guidance) are coming, and those whom Allah does not give Hidaya are leaving this mercy of Allah. May Allah keep us steadfast and give Hidaya to others also.

Wa innaka la'ala khuluqin 'azim. (68:4) Allah Azza wa Jalla describes the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). Alhamdulillah, yesterday or today was the Isra' and Mi'raj. So, alhamdulillah, we are happy with the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). Allah describes him as having the highest honor and being the best example for us. What is the best example for those following the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam)? Mawlana Sheikh Abdullah Daghestani was saying the first sohba for Mawlana Sheikh Nazim to write. Mawlana Sheikh Abdullah Daghestani was an ocean of knowledge. But he was there only for Mawlana Sheikh Nazim. Nobody understood him, and he was not looking to find murids or anyone else. He was focusing solely on Mawlana Sheikh Nazim. In his first sohba... Mawlana Sheikh Nazim wrote 7,700 sohbas from Grandsheikh Abdullah Daghestani. The first one said: "At-tariqatu kulluha adab." Tariqa means adab—good behavior. Good behavior is the Tariqa, meaning the way of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). His Sunnah. In everything you do, you must follow him. They do not have bad adab; they have only good adab. First towards Allah Azza wa Jalla and the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). They are respectful. They are not disrespectful. They have adab. As for other people who are not in Tariqa, most of them do not know adab. They think it is not an important thing. They do not think adab, or good behavior, is necessary. But it is the first requirement for a Muslim, for a Mu'min (believer), and for any human being. Good behavior is an acceptable attribute for a human being. Animals do not have adab. They can do anything, anywhere. They urinate or relieve themselves in the middle of the way, anywhere. Jumping on each other... animals do not have this understanding. You cannot say anything to them. But for a human being, adab is a very important thing. When you have adab, you think. A human being must think about what he does, what he says, and what he is doing. Why am I doing this? Why am I doing that? It is important for a human being. For this reason, Allah Azza wa Jalla praises the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) in the Holy Quran and gives teachings to people. This is very important. Wa innaka la'ala khuluqin 'azim. Allah witnesses for the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam): You have the highest adab, good behavior, and goodness in what you do. This makes people follow him and go after everything he has done. For this, it is called Sunnah. The Sunnah is very important for a Mu'min, for a believer. Therefore, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) emphasized the importance of the Sunnah. He said: "Man ahya sunnati 'inda fasadi ummati falahu ajru mi'ati shahid." Or "sab'ina shahid" (seventy martyrs)... or similar. "He who revives my Sunnah, what I have done, Allah rewards him as a hundred shahids (martyrs)." Because a shahid can make shafa'a (intercession) for seventy people. So, this is very important. People are not looking... Tariqa people, alhamdulillah, are following the Sunnah. They want to do as much as they can. But subhanAllah, we see people, especially those who are against Tariqa... There are people who have no problem with Tariqa but are not in it. But there are people against Tariqa, seeing Tariqa as an enemy. These people do not take care of the Sunnah. They do not practice the Sunnah; most of them do not even pray the Sunnah prayers. They say only four rakat is enough. There are many Sunnahs the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) insisted on doing, but they do not... as we said from the beginning, they have no adab. They do not have respect for the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). When you perform the Sunnah, it is respect for the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). And Allah is happy with you. Allah is pleased with you. When you do this, He rewards you. From ten to a thousand—thousands of rewards Allah gives you when you do what His Beloved One did. You imitate the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). You imitate him. And for each thing from the Sunnah, you get the reward of a hundred martyrs. Because we are living in a time that is very difficult. The enemy, Shaytan, first attacks to finish this religion. But Allah Azza wa Jalla protects it. So Shaytan wants to destroy it from the inside. Because from the outside... you see many forts that are very strong from the outside. But he comes from the inside and destroys it from within. This is what is happening these days. But all of this cannot destroy it. Those who are not thinking will be finished. Haqq (Truth), the right way, cannot be finished. Alhamdulillah, we are nearly 1,450 years from the time of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). Many kinds of people have come from the beginning to destroy it. But all of them were destroyed and defeated. They went to the other world in regret, asking if they could come back... but it is finished. You must think while you are in this life. For this reason, we say to these people: Ask for forgiveness from Allah Azza wa Jalla and come back to the right way. It is open for everyone. People sometimes ask... "Can we come to the dargah?" Alhamdulillah, we say the dargah door is open every time for everybody; it is not closed. As Mawlana Jalaluddin Rumi said: "Come to the dargah." "If you make a mistake once, come." "If you make it ten times, also come." "A hundred times, also come," he said. This is Tariqa. This is the mercy of the Tariqa, which comes from the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and from Allah Azza wa Jalla. They do not turn away anybody who wants mercy and to be with them; there is no problem. They forgive. They do not have any hate for people. They only dislike the rejection of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). And still, they ask for them to come to the way of Allah, the way of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). Alhamdulillah, Mawlana Sheikh Nazim used to pray in these nights, asking for forgiveness for people, for the Ummah, and for all human beings. Asking them to come to the way of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). His whole life, alhamdulillah, he came many times to this area as well. Just for the sake of Allah. Many times we saw him tired, and we would say, "He is very old, don't get too tired." But he said: "These people want to see me, so I must see them." As the saying goes, when you look at one beloved to Allah, Allah rewards you. This nur (light) comes to you, to your heart, from Awliyaullah. Alhamdulillah, we are with Awliyaullah everywhere, every time. Here also we are gathering for the sake of Allah. Allah loves us. Waliullah means a beloved one of Allah. So, inshaAllah, all of you are Awliyaullah, alhamdulillah. Awliyaullah do not need to fly or perform miracles. They just keep their heart with Allah. Allah loves them. "Qul in kuntum tuhibbuna Allaha fattabi'uni yuhbibkumullah." In an ayah of the Quran, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) says: "If you love Allah, follow me." "If you follow me, Allah will love you." Alhamdulillah, it is very important to follow the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). As we said, follow everything he did and accept it. Do not say something is not acceptable. Everything, every movement, anything the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said is pure benefit for us. Pure benefit for human beings. Why is the world like this now? Everything is miserable. Even the seas and oceans are full of dirt, full of bad things. Because they are not following what the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said. Those who say "we are green, we are black, we are red"... this is also a trick from Shaytan. For the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was the first one to look after nature and everything. Everything the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) says must be one hundred percent beneficial for people. He said regarding water: you cannot put dirt in water. You cannot urinate in water. If you do this, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) cursed it... he said "la'natullah". This curse is for Iblis. When you pollute water, you are like Iblis. This is very important. Muslims also must know this. Muslims look for cleanliness in what we eat and what we do. Because most Muslims now have plenty of food. They eat, and then they become ill, become sick. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: When you eat, do not get one hundred percent full. You must stop eating when... it is enough. Do not leave no place for water, no place for air, so you cannot breathe when you finish eating. We give this little example to show how the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) is for all human beings, not only for Muslims—for all humanity. When he says something or does something, there must be millions of wisdoms from the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). Alhamdulillah, as we said, we are in a blessed night. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) had the Night Journey and the journey to Heaven. In all of this, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) saw everything. Every wisdom Allah Azza wa Jalla created from His creation, which we do not know about. People are still searching for science and other things... The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) saw them all in one night and he knows them. The knowledge we have now in this technology... all of this comes through the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). It cannot be; knowledge cannot come without him. Other non-believers keep trying, but if the Prophet does not give permission for it to come through him, they could never hold this technology or knowledge. And this knowledge is nothing compared to the Prophet's (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) knowledge. Nothing... not even one drop of his knowledge. Alhamdulillah, this is a big ni'ma, a big favor for us to be from his nation, to be following him. We must thank Allah Azza wa Jalla billions of times to be in this place praising the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). And may Allah shower us with His mercy. Alhamdulillah, we are very lucky. Not lucky like those running in the streets with cars or motorcycles or in bad places. They try to be happy, but Allah never gives them happiness. Happiness is in the heart, not on the outside. So alhamdulillah, we are happy to be the dust on the shoes of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). We cannot compare ourselves with the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). Whoever knows this is the truly happy one. If one is not happy to be the dust of the Prophet's (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) shoes, he will never be happy. SubhanAllah, when you go to Madinah Munawwarah, you pass by the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam)... you really feel ashamed when you go through this place. People are shouting and moving, but this is from the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). You feel ashamed... He put the police there to make people move quickly. Maybe if he did not want them, they would not be there. They are there to make people know how lucky they are to visit him, to be in front of him for even one second. It is enough for those who are there. Because a shower of mercy comes upon them. Some people think if they say "I am like this, I am like that," they will be happy. No, please do not say this. Have respect for the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), have adab, good behavior for the Prophet. Know your value. You are nothing. You are, as we said, not even the dust from the Prophet's (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) shoes, Na'l ash-Sharif. You are nothing. If you do this, Allah will be happy with you. If you say "I am a Sheikh, I am a big Awliya, I am like this and that," it will not be good for you. Allah is not happy with you. All Awliyaullah say what Mawlana Sheikh said about himself: "We are nothing, we are only Khadims (servants) for the Ummah." May Allah accept us as servants for the Ummah for the sake of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). Allah bless you. May Allah accept this night. This night... of course yesterday also was, but Allah gives according to intention. The most important thing is intention, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said. He is His most beloved one. InshaAllah, pray and make dua on this night; our gift from Allah is dua and prayer. May Allah accept it for dunya and for akhira also, inshaAllah. May Allah keep you safe from bad things and bad people. InshaAllah, be respectful to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). Be beloved to him and beloved to Allah Azza wa Jalla. May Allah make us follow his Sunnah and his way, not going out of this. And may Allah give hidayah (guidance) to these people who are cheated by Shaytan. Because alhamdulillah, many people are coming back from this wrong way and are defending the way of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), the way of Awliyaullah. It is not hopeless. Alhamdulillah, when they come back, many other people also come to the right way. May Allah give hidayah to all of them. Because as we said, a Muslim's heart does not ask for revenge, only asking for mercy for them and for all of us, for Islam, inshaAllah.

MashaAllah, today is a blessed day: Friday and the Night of Ascension, Isra and Mi'raj, coincide. Alhamdulillah, for the believer, this is a double blessing, a mercy, and a spiritual delight. This delight that the soul receives is of great importance. For the joy of the soul springs from worship. It comes from being obedient to Allah—the Mighty and Exalted... It comes from obeying our Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him... And it arises through good deeds: especially through performing prayer, fasting, and giving alms. These deeds fill our soul with happiness and give it a sweet taste. And this blessed day multiplies this delight, for this is a special bounty from Allah for His servant. Maulana Sheikh used to say often: Allah, the Mighty and Exalted, sends down this delight and this bliss for all of humanity. Currently, there are perhaps eight, five, or seven billion people on earth... Allah has sent this gift for them all, for every single one. But Maulana Sheikh said: Even if people ignore this, this spiritual gift is not taken back to Heaven. It is bestowed upon those who believe and accept it. Therefore, the one who is with Allah and is content with what Allah gives receives the entire spiritual fullness. This servant receives this delight and this blessing that comes from Allah. The blessing does not return; Allah is generous, He does not take back what He has given. That is precisely why unhappiness sometimes arises within people. Of course not always unhappiness, but most people are restless because they follow the wrong path. True happiness lies on this path, yet they go in the opposite direction. They chase after nothingness, while the truth lies on the other side. Thus, Allah has made this, as we said, a delight for our soul, a true taste. Other worldly things are merely waste. What one ate in the morning is forgotten four hours later—some perhaps even after an hour. Yet it usually takes five or six hours before one becomes hungry again. That means: You forget what you ate, and it is gone. But the sustenance of the soul remains for a lifetime—if Allah wills—and lasts forever. May Allah therefore grant us more of it. We praise Allah for this gift that He has graciously bestowed upon us. May Allah not separate us from His path and preserve our steadfastness. May He make us firm, insha'Allah.

‎سُبۡحٰنَ الَّذِىۡۤ اَسۡرٰى بِعَبۡدِهٖ لَيۡلًا مِّنَ الۡمَسۡجِدِ الۡحَـرَامِ اِلَى الۡمَسۡجِدِ الۡاَقۡصَا الَّذِىۡ بٰرَكۡنَا حَوۡلَهٗ لِنُرِيَهٗ مِنۡ اٰيٰتِنَا​ ؕ اِنَّهٗ هُوَ السَّمِيۡعُ الۡبَصِيۡرُ‏ “Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al- Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing.” [Quran 17:1] Allah Azza wa Jalla orders on this Holy Night to praise Himself Azza wa Jalla and to praise the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam. It is a very important night; it is an extremely special event that occurred for the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam. To show the honour of his Prophethood, the whole universe received him (the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam). Allah Azza wa Jalla has no place; the mind cannot comprehend this. We must not think about how Allah Azza wa Jalla did this. He is the Creator. So, this night is a very blessed night. InshaAllah, we ask and pray to Allah Azza wa Jalla that He Azza wa Jalla makes us understand the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam and what he sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam is saying, what he sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam is ordering, and what he sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam is showing people. This implies not following one's ego. People think they are something themselves, but you must follow what the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam showed. Follow this, do not think that you are something and do as you like. If you do something that the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam is not happy with, it is not of benefit to you or others. We ask Allah Azza wa Jalla to keep us on His way, the way of the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam. We are nothing compared to him sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam; we must show respect to him sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam. We should be aware that we are unable to do anything without him sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam. What he sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam ordered, and what he sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam showed us, is the way. InshaAllah, Allah Azza wa Jalla keeps us on the way of the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam, and keeps our minds strong, our belief strong, and our bodies strong.

"İsma'u ve'u fe izâ ve'aytum fentefi'u." This is how Sayyidina Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) used to speak when he delivered an address. Listen and grasp; and when you have grasped, act in accordance with the truth that you have understood. Do not act in contradiction to it. For years, Mawlana Sheikh has taught and held Sohbets; now these addresses are available everywhere: on YouTube, on television, and on other channels. But it is not just about listening. Some people, Alhamdulillah, obey the instruction of Mawlana and the command of the Prophet (s.a.w.), even if they do not yet fully grasp the full meaning. They do not issue commands based on their own desires or inclinations. Alhamdulillah, we have gathered here again today, with our beloved brothers, with those who are loved for the sake of Allah, the Almighty and Exalted. This is the most important matter for us and for every human being. A person should not only be a human being in outward appearance, but a true human being. Alhamdulillah, we are here again. We are happy that Allah has granted us life once more and that we were able to meet, Alhamdulillah. Insha'Allah, it is also destined for us to meet Sayyidina Mahdi (a.s.). May he appear... Sayyidina Mahdi (a.s.), together with the mighty community of that time. Alhamdulillah, tonight is a blessed night. For the first time, we are in this region, here in the north, on such a special night. Every time we came, we spent this blessed night in London, in Cyprus, or in Turkey. But this year, Alhamdulillah, it was destined for us here. Alhamdulillah, may Allah the Almighty shower His mercy upon us and make us accepted servants in His Divine Presence. That is of the utmost importance. All Friends of Allah (Awliya) and honorable Sheikhs advise people to know their limits. First of all, they should not speak words that are not good for themselves. Otherwise, they harm both themselves and others. Mawlana Sheikh, despite his spiritual greatness, used to always say: "I am a weak person, I am helpless, I have no power." He teaches us to be humble. That a person knows his limits and knows who he is. Do not look into a mirror that makes you appear bigger and more majestic than you are. Seek a mirror that perhaps shows you smaller, or a mirror that reflects the truth. When you see yourself in this mirror, you know that you must not be arrogant. The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said: "Man tawada'a lillahi rafa'ahu." Whoever practices humility for the sake of Allah, Allah raises him up. But whoever is arrogant and exalts himself, falls into the lowest depths. This point is very important. Therefore we say: Know yourself. Listen and grasp the truth that you hear. Why are we present here? We are here for the sake of Allah. To find support... so that He looks upon us with His pleasure, so that Allah is pleased with us. That is our goal. Not to inflate our ego. Mawlana Sheikh often gave subtle examples. He used to say: If a mouse falls into a wine barrel and gets drunk, it jumps out and shouts: "Where is that cat?!" Our greatness is just as "big"... therefore be vigilant. Do not allow Shaytan to play with you. Do not allow your delusions and your imagination to drag you down to the lowest of the low. For if you ask the Prophet (s.a.w.) – these are not my words, they are his blessed words: Whoever sees himself as great, Allah humbles him. This is proclaimed by the Pride of the Universe, our Prophet (s.a.w.). And again, an important warning from our Prophet: "Whoever says something that I have not said, let him prepare for his seat in Hell." Many people talk and claim: "The Prophet said this, the Prophet commanded that." Be careful. Even when we narrate a Hadith, we say: "This is likely a Hadith, such are the narrations." We can only express it in this way. But if you say on your own accord: "The Prophet personally commanded me this and that," then that is a great danger for you. The greatness of the Prophet (s.a.w.) is present at every time and in every place. Yet this night was a very special night for our Prophet (s.a.w.). The Night of Isra'; that nocturnal journey which took place from Mecca to Jerusalem. That is the first part of the event. The second part: After he had met with the prophets in Jerusalem, he mounted Buraq and ascended into the heavens, into the seven heavens. After the seven heavens, he reached the Divine Presence of Allah, the Almighty and Exalted. Allah is free of place, He is everywhere... but this happened to show how exalted His Glory is and to demonstrate the greatness of our Prophet. No one has reached this rank, and no one can reach his ocean of spirituality. No one... The whole world is perhaps just a drop in comparison to him. If that is so, how can people then say about themselves: "I am like this, I am like that"? That does not correspond to good manners (Adab). Alhamdulillah, on this night Allah rewarded our Prophet (s.a.w.) and spoke with him, free of place... the manner is indescribable. Only Allah knows how it was. And our Prophet (s.a.w.) was allowed to witness Paradise, Hell, and everything within the entire seven heavens on this night. In every heaven there is a rank for a prophet, and our Prophet (s.a.w.) met each of them and conversed with them. If one were to try to calculate this with worldly intellect, it would take thousands of years. That means, this event was a "Tayy-i Zaman, Tayy-i Mekan" (a folding of time and space). Time expanded and the distance was manifestly overcome through the miracle of our Prophet (s.a.w.). In that time there was no technology... therefore it was very difficult, almost impossible, for the people back then to understand it. In the present time perhaps a little more... people boast: "We have technology, we have nanotechnology." They can imagine something by it. But of course, even the technology of this age is still far behind in comparison to that spiritual state. On that night, Allah blessed our Prophet (s.a.w.) and Allah showed His pleasure with him. And He blessed all of Paradise and the heavens through the presence and the blessing of our Prophet (s.a.w.). And the other prophets were also pleased with Sayyidina Muhammad (s.a.w.). As believers, hold fast to this. Who is a believer (Mu'min)? A believer is the one who follows the Prophet (s.a.w.). A believer is the one who loves the Ahl al-Bayt (Family of the Prophet) and loves the Sahaba (Companions). Because all of this belongs to faith (Iman). The conditions of faith are known. Whoever does not believe in even one of these conditions is not a believer and does not obey the Prophet (s.a.w.). Therefore we speak of the "Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah". Who are the Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah? They are the people of the Tariqa. Not the others... for even if they are not against the Tariqa, they can be toys in the hands of Shaytan... they can fall for tricks. And they can easily be deceived. For this reason, the fortress of the Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah is the people of the Tariqa. Because in the Tariqa, the first condition is to be a believer, to possess a strong faith. Faith is essential. Without faith, there is no strength for a Muslim. That is the state after the fall of the Ottomans; there was a Caliph on earth who belonged to Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah and was a man of the Tariqa. Afterwards, all these Muslims became like toys for others. Why? Because their faith became weak. Without faith, you can achieve nothing. Therefore many ask: "What is the benefit of the Tariqa?" The Tariqa gives strength to your conviction, to your faith. Unfortunately, even now there are people who claim to be Muslims or Islamic scholars... but do not accept the miracle of the Isra' and Mi'raj of our Prophet (s.a.w.). They say: "That was a dream." "It was not real, not physically experienced." If it had only been a dream, why would the Prophet (s.a.w.) then speak of it as a miracle? Anyone can dream. Sometimes people come to me and say: "I will tell you a dream." Usually, I do not like listening to dreams so much. I say: "Alright, please tell." He starts... a dream that lasts perhaps half an hour! A dream is ultimately just a dream... Do not forget, everyone dreams. That the Prophet (s.a.w.) is telling just an ordinary dream, in which he says "I was like this, I was here, I was there"... No, that is impossible. And the proof of this is established. The Prophet (s.a.w.) proclaims it and Allah confirms it in the glorious Quran. Even those who claim this without faith know inwardly that it is the truth. When these people say such deviant things, they run the risk of leaving the faith. But that is a trick of Shaitan. He attacks from all sides to destroy the spirituality that you have built. Perhaps he sometimes destroys a part of it. But Alhamdulillah, a true believer can repair it quickly. How is it repaired? Through the blessings of the Prophet (s.a.w.), through the support of the Friends of Allah, and through the prayers of the believers. For they do not leave people alone to follow their own egos. No, they bring them back quickly to the true path, otherwise they would go astray and belong to the losers. So, Alhamdulillah, of course people come and go sometimes, but ultimately Allah and His Prophet (s.a.w.) protect the believer. Believers are under divine protection everywhere. The most effective weapon for a Muslim is to be a true believer. Not tanks or rockets or other ammunition... faith (Iman) is more effective. As for the other things: Perhaps you build one, but the people of Shaitan build a thousand of them to protect themselves. You protect yourself with the shield of faith. That is the most effective weapon for a Muslim and for the whole world. If the whole world followed Islam and obeyed the command of Allah, they would Insha'Allah all be protected. Alhamdulillah, on this night we pray that Allah the Almighty protects the Muslims. That He protects everyone... We see that the Muslims are suffering. Of course they suffer, because they do not follow the truth... and because they distance themselves from the Prophet (s.a.w.). That is the most important truth. So whoever wants to be in safety should ask Allah for protection and preservation for the sake of the honor of the Prophet (s.a.w.). On this night, Allah granted the Prophet (s.a.w.) many gifts. One of them is the last two verses of Surah al-Baqarah (Amenerrasulü). This was given in the Divine Presence of Allah; Allah gave this to the Prophet (s.a.w.) without an intermediary. And furthermore, the five daily prayers. These five prayers were originally fifty. Fifty times – Allah commanded the Prophet (s.a.w.) to pray fifty times every night and every day. But Alhamdulillah, Sayyidina Musa (Moses, peace be upon him) had experience with his people. He said: "O Muhammad, they cannot manage that, ask your Lord for relief." And the Prophet (s.a.w.) asked Allah for it. And Allah reduced it to forty-five. Sayyidina Musa said again: "Too much." Forty. Too much. Thirty-five. Too much. Each time it went down by five. Thirty. Too much. Twenty-five. Too much. Twenty. Too much. Fifteen. Too much. Ten. Too much. Five. Too much. The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: "It is good so, we are bargaining too much... Your nation consists of merchants, Mashallah... but I am now ashamed before my Lord. Five times are appropriate for us." Alhamdulillah, the Prophet (s.a.w.) accepted this and Allah granted the reward of fifty times in these five times. So it is not very burdensome, Alhamdulillah. Why do we say that it is not so hard? Because people claim: "To pray five times is too great a burden for us." But how many minutes do five prayer times take in total? Each time lasts perhaps ten minutes. So throughout the whole day, fifty minutes. Let's say it is one hour. When you go to the gym, how many hours do you spend there? Perhaps at least two hours. That is the minimum. Some people perhaps spend five hours, four hours... I do not track it exactly, but that is my estimate. So prayer is very simple. It keeps you fit and in these five times, blessings and movement enter your entire body. In these five times, every door of goodness opens to you. Purifying oneself, renewing the ablution (Wudu), reciting Tasbih, standing in prayer. So that is a gift from Allah in honor of the Night of Mi'raj, Alhamdulillah. We have reached this blessed night. Allah guides the people... but Shaitan – may the curse he deserves be upon him – is a true deceiver. He really deceives people to keep them away from good deeds. Only when something bad is there, then immediately... "Wa zayyana lahumu'sh-Shaitanu a'malahum" [Shaitan made their deeds appear good to them]. He decorates it... he makes the packaging look nice so that one thinks the sin is good. So people run towards this sin. They run to the cinema, to useless things. And now the cinema operators are also complaining greatly about their situation. Why? Because a bigger Shaitan than the cinema has been invented. The people in the cinema industry complain: "No one comes to the cinema anymore." Just as they said no one came to the mosque, they now say there is no more interest in the cinema. Why? Because they have an even bigger Shaitan at home and in their hands. They are always, every minute, in front of this screen. That is why they have left the cinema. What shall we do? Do not worry, Shaitan is satisfied with the situation... perhaps the cinema operators are not happy, but Shaitan is satisfied because he has found something worse than the cinema. May Allah preserve us. Here too we warn: Be careful... I see that they are now giving these phones even to babies. Then they complain: "The child is not speaking, not walking, not developing." For in it there is... I am sure that there is an evil in it that harms people. And this is done intentionally... knowingly... not just because of the screen light or other reasons. There is something they have put inside it to harm human nature. Therefore, be vigilant, especially concerning children. Do not allow them to play with it too much. Perhaps, if they want it very much... fine, give it to them for half an hour a day or for a short time during the week. Not from early morning until deep into the night. Some do not know what sleep is. When they do not sleep, the people of Shaytan penetrate through it... they destroy their minds, finish them off, and cause their intellect to atrophy. Therefore, be careful. Open your eyes. We are living in a time of true Fitna (tribulation), in the End Times. As our Prophet (s.a.w.) said: "Fitnas like dark nights." Fitna has surrounded every place. Wherever you look... look to the right, Fitna; to the left, Fitna; above, Fitna; below, Fitna; before you and behind you, there is always Fitna. Everywhere. Therefore, you must be careful in this regard, Insha'Allah. For they are the most precious jewels to us... these little ones of ours, the babies, the youth. May Allah protect them. We are here for the youth as well. You must... do not look at the phone too much. Fine, it attracts you, but you must rein in your ego, you must control yourselves. Perhaps one hour is enough, a half hour, ten minutes a day. May Allah deliver us and protect us from the evil of our egos, from Fitna, and from Shaytan. May Allah Almighty protect and preserve us all for the sake of this blessed night. The Night of Mi'raj, in which prayers are accepted. May Allah preserve us in a good state, in health and well-being, with knowledge and righteous people—you, your families, and your children. May Allah send Sayyidina Mahdi (a.s.) to save us from this darkness. To turn this darkness into light, Insha'Allah. Ameen. May Allah grant everyone the good wishes they carry in their hearts, Insha'Allah. Beautiful thoughts... may blessed doors open, Insha'Allah. May Allah accept our prayers for the sake of the honor of this blessed night.

InshaAllah, tomorrow we will observe the blessed Night of Miraj of our Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him). These days are special; it is one of the precious days that our Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) has gifted to his community. This is an event through which Allah showed the superiority of our Prophet over all worlds, thanks be to Allah. To a place, rank, and station that no other creature could reach; there Allah brought our Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) and received him into His presence. The nature of this state is known only to Allah, no one else. What we know is—thanks be to Allah—that these are great miracles; they are gifts of grace for our Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him). May Allah always grant us a share in these gifts of grace as well. This is granted to those who believe in Him and trust in Him; the blessing of our Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) reaches them. Whoever does not believe has already become a plaything of the devil; they constantly say: "No, it was like this, no, it was different." Very well, the unbeliever may say that, but you should not resemble the unbeliever. The unbelievers back then said: "That is impossible"; but the believers of today say, thanks to their faith: "It is possible." But those who say "I am Muslim," and claim "No, it was only a dream, or this or that"—these are the ones whose faith is weak. The believing person recognizes with absolute certainty (Hakk'ul-Yakin) the rank of our Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him), believes in him, and follows his path. May Allah not divert us from this path and may He keep us steadfast, InshaAllah. Today, InshaAllah, a journey awaits us. We are visiting the places established by our Mawlana Sheikh Nazim, where our brothers in faith are located and which serve the whole world. Our brothers are there; the brothers from the past, the new ones, and the deceased... One must always be connected with them. With the intention of being eternally united both in this world and in the Hereafter, we embark on this journey, InshaAllah. May this journey, InshaAllah, lead to good; may we go in goodness and return in goodness. May it be full of blessings for us all, InshaAllah.

Our Prophet (Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) says: "In the end times, the Fitna will be like pitch-black nights." This means: Even in broad daylight, there is darkness like at night. This is how our Prophet (Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) describes it. "What will you do in this time?" he asks. In that time, one should stay at home and not go out unnecessarily. One should perform one's acts of worship at home, be with one's family, and take care of them. Nowadays, people only look out for themselves; hardly anyone thinks of others. They say: "First me, then the others, and only then the family." Therefore, they do not want to take responsibility for the family; everyone just wants to be free. But freedom does not work that way; everything has its order and its propriety. The world attracts people, drags them into ruin, and distances them from Allah, the Mighty and Exalted. That is why people ask: "What is our duty? What do you advise us?" Watch over your family. In this time, this is very important; it is crucial to protect the family. For—may Allah protect us—many come to us; the children have become addicted, they want to get away from it, but they cannot manage to. And for that, they ask for supplications. Therefore, one must be extremely cautious in every respect. Through the devices in their hand, via the telephone and other things, they drip poison into them. That means Satan and his soldiers set traps and use poisons that one can hardly imagine; they attack from all sides. Gambling is another plague. For a few days now, I have seen that such messages are even reaching us. May Allah protect us! Therefore we warn against it; one must pay close attention to this. They say: "We have credited you with 5000 Lira, start playing with it." O Allah, where does this come from? Who just gives away 5000 Lira just like that? The soldiers of Satan bait you with 5000 Lira, then plunge you into 500 million in debt and take everything you possess. How do these things work? Exactly these are the many types of Fitna of the end times, the poisons of the end times. A person must watch out for himself, for his children, and his family. One must be mindful so that Allah protects us, so that Allah helps us. Our time is the end times. Never before has one seen so much evil in the world as in this time. The worst of all times is our time, the end times. But in return, there is also the greatest blessing, the greatest reward, and Allah's gifts in this time. Whoever protects himself and stays on the right path, whoever helps himself, his family, his relatives, and his society, for him there is a tremendous reward. As compensation for these difficulties and this evil, Allah has promised great rewards. That is exactly what is called Jihad; that is the true Jihad. To protect oneself against one's own ego and against evil, and also to preserve others. May Allah assist us all. May Allah protect us from this situation and from evil. May Allah protect us from the evil of Satan and his following.

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: بُنِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ: شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللهِ، وَإِقَامِ الصَّلَاةِ، وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ، وَحَجِّ الْبَيْتِ، وَصَوْمِ رَمَضَانَ. Our Prophet – Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said: Islam is built on five pillars. This means these are the fundamental conditions of Islam. These are: To bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah – that is, to pronounce the Declaration of Faith (Kelime-i Şehadet). Second: to perform the prayer. Third: to pay Zakat. Fourth: to perform Hajj (pilgrimage). And fasting in Ramadan. These are the foundations of Islam; none of them may be omitted. Although Zakat and Hajj are intended for those who are financially capable, they are still obligatory acts and belong to the foundations of Islam. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: إِنَّ لِلْإِسْلَامِ صُوًى وَمَنَارًا كَمَنَارِ الطَّرِيقِ، رَأْسُهُ وَجِمَاعُهُ شَهَادَةُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، وَإِقَامُ الصَّلَاةِ، وَإِيتَاءُ الزَّكَاةِ، وَتَمَامُ الْوُضُوءِ. Our Prophet – Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said: Islam possesses landmarks and lighthouses, similar to the markings on a road. Just as a lighthouse shows the way to people at sea or on land, Islam also has signs that make it recognizable. The head and core of this is: The testimony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. That is the entry into Islam. After that, to perform the prayer properly, to pay Zakat, and to perform the ablution (Wudu) completely. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: أَيُّمَا مَالٍ أَدَّيْتَ زَكَاتَهُ فَلَيْسَ بِكَنْزٍ. Our Prophet – Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said: Wealth for which Zakat has been paid is not 'Kenz', meaning not merely a hoarded treasure. This wealth is halal and pure. 'Kenz' refers to wealth with which (others') rights are mixed; as soon as Zakat is paid, it becomes pure and halal. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: بَرِئَ مِنَ الشُّحِّ مَنْ أَدَّى الزَّكَاةَ، وَقَرَى الضَّيْفَ، وَأَعْطَى فِي النَّائِبَةِ. Our Prophet – Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said: Whoever pays the Zakat on his wealth, hosts the guest, and helps the one in need, has freed himself from stinginess. This means such a person is not stingy, for he has given his Zakat, hosted the guest, and helped the needy. Whoever neglects this is stingy; whoever does it is not considered stingy. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: ثَلَاثٌ مَنْ كُنَّ فِيهِ وُقِيَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِ: مَنْ أَدَّى الزَّكَاةَ، وَقَرَى الضَّيْفَ، وَأَعْطَى فِي النَّائِبَةِ. Our Prophet – Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said: Whoever unites three qualities within himself has protected his soul from stinginess. Stinginess is a detested quality; Allah – the Mighty and Exalted – does not like it, and the Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) does not like it either. Likewise, people do not like the stingy person. Whoever fulfills these conditions is protected from stinginess. These are: First, to pay Zakat. There are many wealthy people who do not pay their Zakat due to their stinginess; there are countless examples of this. The majority are in this state: The rich possess money but cannot bring themselves to give it – that is exactly what stinginess is. Second: to host the guest. You should offer the guest whatever you can. But one need not force oneself. Offer what is in the house. Do not burden yourself; it is unnecessary to borrow money left and right and get into trouble just so people don't say: "He is stingy." The guest eats what he finds. That too is hospitality. And third: to help the one who has fallen into distress. One helps the distressed person within the limits of one's means. Allah – the Mighty and Exalted – does not place a burden on His servant that he cannot bear, and does not plunge him into difficulties. One of the Companions (Sahaba) brought the Prophet – Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – a piece of gold. Our Prophet turned his face away. The man came from the other side and said: "I found this gold. This is my entire wealth, I give it to you." Finally, the Prophet – Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – took the gold and threw it towards the man. It did not hit him. The Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) then said: "Do you give me your entire wealth and go begging afterwards? That is not the way." "Give as much as your strength allows." "Spend the rest on yourself and take care of your own well-being." So, everything has its propriety and method. Without bringing yourself into distress, you help as best you can. The Hadith says: "Help the one in need," but it is not acceptable for you to sell house and home to pay someone's debts and then become homeless yourself. Everything has an order. Help the distressed person according to your means, then you are not considered stingy. So do not be afraid of being seen as stingy. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: أَخْلِصُوا عِبَادَةَ اللهِ تَعَالَى، وَأَقِيمُوا خَمْسَكُمْ، وَأَدُّوا زَكَاةَ أَمْوَالِكُمْ طَيِّبَةً بِهَا أَنْفُسُكُمْ، وَصُومُوا شَهْرَكُمْ، وَحُجُّوا بَيْتَ رَبِّكُمْ، تَدْخُلُوا جَنَّةَ رَبِّكُمْ. Our Prophet – Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said... Here the Prophet expresses everything in the most beautiful way. The Arabic wording of the Hadith is kept in a rhymed and poetic style. Even if it is not so rhymed in the translation, the meaning is as follows: Be sincere in your worship towards Allah and perform your five prayers. First Ikhlas (sincerity): Serve Allah with sincerity and perform your five prayers. Fast your month of Ramadan. Then pay the Zakat on your wealth with a joyful heart. That means, do not be annoyed because money is leaving. If you give a lot, it means that Allah has given you a lot. If you give a hundred gold pieces in Zakat, then Allah has given you five thousand so that you can give these hundred. You should rejoice and say: "I give so much, which means Allah has gifted me much." So give your Zakat with a clear conscience. And make pilgrimage to the House of your Lord (Baytullah), so that you may enter the Paradise of your Lord. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: حَصِّنُوا أَمْوَالَكُمْ بِالزَّكَاةِ، وَدَاوُوا مَرْضَاكُمْ بِالصَّدَقَةِ، وَأَعِدُّوا لِلْبَلَاءِ الدُّعَاءَ. Our Prophet – Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said: Protect your property through Zakat. If Zakat is not paid on the wealth, the entire wealth will be lost later – may Allah protect us. Be sure to give Zakat to secure your property. Treat your sick with Sadaqa (charity). The treatment of the illness is charity. It is a stronger cure than the doctor or medicine. And prepare yourselves for trials with supplications (Dua). Pray so that calamity stays away from you. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: حَصِّنُوا أَمْوَالَكُمْ بِالزَّكَاةِ، وَدَاوُوا مَرْضَاكُمْ بِالصَّدَقَةِ، وَاسْتَعِينُوا عَلَى حَمْلِ الْبَلَاءِ بِالدُّعَاءِ وَالتَّضَرُّعِ. Our Prophet – Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said: Protect your property with Zakat. Zakat is a condition for the protection of wealth. You thereby fulfill the religious duty (Fard), protect your wealth, and acquire reward. Furthermore, you receive blessings. Treat your sick with charity; a person should absolutely give charity every day to be protected from accidents and calamity and to find healing. To ward off calamity, seek help through supplications and humble pleading. That means, plead to Allah and pray that calamity does not strike you. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: الدِّينَارُ كَنْزٌ، وَالدِّرْهَمُ كَنْزٌ، وَالْقِيرَاطُ كَنْزٌ. Our Prophet – Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said: As long as no Zakat is paid for it, the Dinar (gold) is 'Kenz', meaning hoarded treasure. The Dirham (silver) and the carat are also 'Kenz'. This means they are goods for which no Zakat has been paid. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: الزَّكَاةُ قَنْطَرَةُ الْإِسْلَامِ. Our Prophet – Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said: Zakat is the bridge of Islam. After the death of our Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him), most of those Arabs were Muslims, but they became apostates (Mürted). Why? To avoid paying Zakat. This means Zakat is truly the bridge of Islam; whoever does not give it is considered not to have fully entered Islam. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: كُلُّ مَالٍ أُدِّيَتْ زَكَاتُهُ فَلَيْسَ بِكَنْزٍ وَإِنْ كَانَ مَدْفُونًا تَحْتَ الْأَرْضِ، وَكُلُّ مَالٍ لَا تُؤَدَّى زَكَاتُهُ فَهُوَ كَنْزٌ وَإِنْ كَانَ ظَاهِرًا. Our Prophet – Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said: Wealth on which Zakat has been paid is not Kenz (hoarded goods), even if it is buried seven layers deep underground. However, wealth on which Zakat has not been paid is considered Kenz, even if it lies out in the open; it is thus considered wealth for which the due has been refused. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: لَمْ يَمْنَعْ قَوْمٌ زَكَاةَ أَمْوَالِهِمْ إِلَّا مُنِعُوا الْقَطْرَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ، وَلَوْلَا الْبَهَائِمُ لَمْ يُمْطَرُوا. Our Prophet – Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said: If a people refuses the Zakat on their wealth, rain from the sky will certainly be withheld from them. Today, water scarcity prevails everywhere in the world. We complain that it is not raining, that water is lacking... Were it not for the animals, not a single drop of rain would fall. That means Allah has mercy on the animals and insects and bestows this rain; otherwise, truly not a drop would be granted to us. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: عُرِضَ عَلَيَّ أَوَّلُ ثَلَاثَةٍ يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ، وَأَوَّلُ ثَلَاثَةٍ يَدْخُلُونَ النَّارَ. فَأَمَّا أَوَّلُ ثَلَاثَةٍ يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ: فَشَهِيدٌ، وَمَمْلُوكٌ أَحْسَنَ عِبَادَةَ رَبِّهِ وَنَصَحَ لِسَيِّدِهِ، وَعَفِيفٌ مُتَعَفِّفٌ. وَأَمَّا أَوَّلُ ثَلَاثَةٍ يَدْخُلُونَ النَّارَ: فَأَمِيرٌ مُسَلَّطٌ، وَذُو ثَرْوَةٍ مِنْ مَالٍ لَا يُؤَدِّي حَقَّ اللهِ فِي مَالِهِ، وَفَقِيرٌ فَخُورٌ. Our Prophet – Allah's blessings and peace be upon him – said: I was shown the first three people who will enter Paradise, and the first three who will enter Hell. This means this was revealed to our Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him). The three people who will enter Paradise first are: The first is the martyr (Shahid). The second is the slave (servant) who performed both his worship of Allah and his service to his master well. As a reward for the hardship he suffered in this world, he belongs to the second group to enter Paradise. The third is the chaste and honorable person with a family, who is ashamed to beg. This person, who begs from no one and practices patience for the sustenance of their family, belongs to the third group in Paradise. The first three people to enter Hell are: The first is the tyrannical ruler. The second is the wealthy person who does not pay Zakat, and thus denies Allah's right to his wealth. He possesses wealth but gives no Zakat; since Allah's right lies within this wealth, this person belongs to the second group of the inhabitants of Hell. And the third is the arrogant poor person. Whoever is poor and yet arrogant belongs to the third group.

قُلِ ٱللَّهُمَّ مَٰلِكَ ٱلۡمُلۡكِ تُؤۡتِي ٱلۡمُلۡكَ مَن تَشَآءُ وَتَنزِعُ ٱلۡمُلۡكَ مِمَّن تَشَآءُ وَتُعِزُّ مَن تَشَآءُ وَتُذِلُّ مَن تَشَآءُۖ بِيَدِكَ ٱلۡخَيۡرُۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ قَدِيرٞ (3:26) Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, says: Dominion belongs to Him. Everything belongs to Him. Allah, the Mighty and Exalted, says: "He honors whom He wills, and humbles whom He wills." Why do we mention this? Alhamdulillah, yesterday... Years ago, as advised by Sheikh Baba, we made the intention to become neighbors of Eyüp Sultan. The intention was made to be neighbors there and to serve there. There were a few changes of location. Ten years ago, there were some people who wanted to conduct a business deal. In return for this deal, we were supposed to receive a finished building; that was their offer, at least. They were awarded the contract without having to invest their own money; that was the agreement. We were supposed to move into a finished building. But with stalling tactics of "today" and "tomorrow," it ultimately never happened. Since they did not keep their word, we looked around for other places. Finally, Alhamdulillah, the matter with the building and the land was resolved yesterday. It is progressing step by step, thanks to Allah. Why do I say this? If this property had belonged to those people... Well, Allah must not have destined it for them. Initially, we were angry and upset about it. They did not keep their word. They kept stalling us. Sometimes it moved forward, sometimes not, and so the years passed. Yesterday, however, we saw, Alhamdulillah, that the majority of the building is nearly completed, MashaAllah. Then we realized: Allah, the Exalted, evidently did not want this good to come about through them. He did not want it; no share in this property was destined for them. The property belongs to Allah. It was not granted to them. But through the small contributions of the brothers, the students, and the lovers, this service will be completed without us being dependent on them, if Allah wills. It will remain until the Day of Judgment, by Allah's permission. It is an endowment (Waqf). It is an endowment for the pleasure of Allah, until the Day of Judgment. This is the work of an endowment; whoever participates in it wins. This person gains honor (becomes 'Aziz'). However, whoever neglects it—meaning whoever promises something and does not keep it—humiliates himself (becomes 'Zalil'). No matter what he does, even if he owned the whole world: He remains humiliated. 'Zalil' means to be worthless, to have no significance. Therefore, one should not be angry. Such is the will of Allah. Whom He wills, He honors and brings close to Himself. With Allah, the Exalted, he has a high rank. 'Aziz' means: someone of high rank, dignified, honorable, and exalted. 'Zalil', on the other hand, means baseness, humiliation, and a useless state. So there is no reason for anger or sorrow. Allah willed it so. Allah determined it so; some He honored (Aziz), others He humiliated (Zalil). Therefore, one need neither be annoyed nor grieve. One must leave everything to Allah's decree. May Allah make us among the honored ones, among those who keep their word. May He make us true owners. For this is the property for the Hereafter. It is not worldly property; it belongs to Allah and is endowed for His pleasure. To whom He destines this property, that is the decisive factor. May He give us a share in the property that brings us honor, inshaAllah. May Allah be pleased. May Allah enable you all to accomplish many such endowments and good deeds, inshaAllah. May Allah be pleased. May Allah make us all accepted servants. May He make us among those who spend without fear of poverty, inshaAllah.

لَّقَدۡ كَانَ لَكُمۡ فِي رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُسۡوَةٌ حَسَنَةٞ (33:21) Thus speaks Allah, the Mighty and Exalted. Our Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) is your guide. Follow him, imitate his deeds, and guide yourselves by what he exemplified. Obey him and strive to the best of your ability to live his Sunnah. Our Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) is of benefit and a role model not only for Muslims but for all of humanity. Even if those who follow his path are not Muslims, his deeds are still for the welfare of humanity. Every one of his actions, everything he did, serves the benefit of the people. Sometimes it is said that there are places among non-Muslims where people do everything in the name of honesty and sincerity. The only thing they lack is the testimony of faith. Some Muslims, on the other hand, are the exact opposite; they engage in all sorts of mischief and then say: "We are Muslims." That is not how it works. Therefore, it is crucial how our Prophet lived. It is important how he ate and how he drank. What he did, how he organized his day... All these are things people should take as an example. Once, the King of Egypt sent gifts to our Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him). Along with the gifts, he also sent a doctor to examine and treat the Muslims. The doctor realized that no one was coming to him; there were no sick people. He asked: "How do you do that?" They answered: "We live according to the Sunnah of our Prophet; our eating, drinking, and actions align with it." That is why no one gets sick. Today, however, the world has turned into the exact opposite. People eat and drink all kinds of unnecessary stuff. On top of that, they take various medications and dietary supplements. Sometimes they want to lose weight, sometimes gain weight, sometimes become stronger... Muscles should stand out, something should grow here, something should grow there... They are ruining themselves. They behave as if we were created only to feed this body. Yet your body is there to serve Allah. There is a measure for that as well. When eating, you should do as our Prophet commanded. One should not overfill the stomach. Everything regarding eating and drinking must be moderate so that you feel well. So that you can also perform your acts of worship. The world is not just about thinking of the body; give the body its due. Allah created everything perfectly. Do not believe: "I have to do more myself to become someone special." Take the elephant, for example, the largest animal; in terms of stature, there is hardly anything bigger, but what good does it do you to become like an elephant? So there is no advantage in being like an elephant. Allah created animals in one way and humans in another way. That is why one must follow the Sunnah of our Prophet. To be a true human being and find peace, one must do what he did. Then you will find peace in this world and in the Hereafter as well. Otherwise, people will constantly tell you: "Take this, it is good; eat that, it helps." People have been accustomed to eating while standing, like animals. They call it "Fast Food," these snacks while standing... Eating while standing is frowned upon, makruh. Likewise drinking while standing. Some Muslims who consider themselves particularly smart say: "Look, the doctor has proven that eating and drinking while standing is harmful." Man, our Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) said this long ago, but you do not listen to him. 1400, 1500 years ago, our Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) exemplified and stated this. But only now, when a doctor or whoever confirms it, do you believe it and say: "That is true." Do you not believe our Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him), but rather the doctor? Of course, one must believe everything our Prophet said. If you do not believe fully, you look for proofs and evidence from others to be able to say: "This is true." Yet you should believe our Prophet (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) immediately. It is good to do everything he said; of course, as much as you can. May Allah forgive us all for the things we are unable to do. May Allah grant us vigilance. May Allah grant us a blessed life. One must also look after one's family and teach the children in the same way. How to eat, how to behave, how to conduct oneself... Then good children grow up, and blessed generations arise, inshaAllah. May Allah be well pleased.