Sermon 1

O young man! Do not regard creatures in terms of survival (baqa) but view them rather in terms of annihilation (fana). Do not consider them in terms of injury and benefit, but see them rather in terms of incapacity and degradation. Affirm the Oneness of the Lord of Truth, have total trust in Him and do not talk irrationally about things He has already finished off. He has already finished off this world and everything that is visible within it. He has already finished off the creation and all the permutations therein. The heart of the believer is empty of all this, especially when he is detached from material concerns (asbab), for he is then confirmed in his spiritual state (hal). If material concerns and dependants do come to him, he will receive support in dealing with them, and be given the strength to endure the hardships they bring. Thus his heart remains free under all circumstances from everything apart from his Lord, always in the beyond (ghaiba). He never asks Him to effect change or transformation, because he knows that what He has decided is unchangeable, that the allotment has been settled and will not be increased or decreased. He therefore seeks neither increase nor reduction. He seeks neither to postpone his alloted share nor to have it come to him more quickly, because he realizes that it has a specific time appointed for it. Thus he and his peers are the sensible people, while the crazy ones are those who try to obtain increase or reduction, acceleration or postponement. If someone is content with Allah, he will comply with His wishes in all that concerns himself and others. Then He will love him, acquaint (arrafa) him with Himself, and escort him for the rest of his life along the highway of His will. He will help him to succeed, then He will draw him near and say to him: “I am your Lord” – while he is bewildered and at his wit’s end, as He said to Moses: “I am your Lord.” (Al-Quran 20:12)