Hikmetü’l-İstiâze

It is a story by Ahmed Hüsrev. My esteemed Master; A week ago I received part of the treatise "Hikmetü'l-Istiâze," and a few days ago the other part, as well as the First Maqam of the Fourteenth Lam. I have read the First Part of Hikmetü'l-Istiâze many times with my brothers. I said: O beloved Master; You are offering your devoted students such a beautiful remedy with this precious treatise that you heal our spiritual wounds so beautifully and quickly that those terrible wounds are instantly healed, our sufferings vanish at once, our hearts are filled with joy and delight. Our love for the Merciful Lord increases. And as we read, even our manners towards the Almighty Rahman become more refined, and our zeal and efforts in our duties increase. Yes, beloved Master, many times I have struggled greatly to free myself from the attacks of the devils of jinn and man, and from certain satanic temptations coming from my rebellious ego that I have not yet tamed. When the heart seeks solitude to escape such situations, the principles of the Nakshbandi heroes, such as "Abandon the world, abandon the past, abandon desire, abandon renunciation," 1 would come to my mind. But among the teachings of my beloved Master, who gives this answer, it is advised: "If a human were only a heart, this statement could be true. But in fact, a human being has intellect, soul, mystery, and ego, along with other subtle and precious qualities, which operate in a rich circle, guiding the worship of the heart under its command." Because of such luminous principles that reveal such truths like the sun, I was seeking remedies for the evil whispers of the lower self. O beloved Master, who always considers the needs of your students at every moment, who seeks solutions, prepares remedies, and teaches your students to use them effortlessly, and who commands them to express gratitude and praise to the Almighty without expecting anything in return. From the beginning, I have looked at you with the eyes of Lokman. Yes, you are indeed a Lokman. Like the healer Lokman, you listen to our inner desires.

Barla Lâhikası ·Mektup 150 ·machine translation (qwen3-32b-sre)

It is a saying of Hafız Ali. Dear Master, I have received the Second Part of "Hikmetü'l-Isti'aze" which you kindly sent this time. In the Eighth Sign, the right and truth that are proved and shown, illuminate the paths of the wandering souls in the valleys of delusion with great clarity, and with your permission and excellence, you present a great issue, showing them both what they are doing and the road of truth. In the Ninth Sign, all the believers, especially your students who strive to understand the true goal of human nature through the treatise of "Envar," as they proceed spiritually toward the future, this matter expands into a vast circle. It makes one think deeply about the defeat and tragic events of all the Prophets of the Divine since Hazrat Adam against the people of delusion, and it deeply affects the heart. 1 Praise be to Allah, this is the grace of my Lord. This vast circle is so clearly explained that within it, from the Master to Hazrat Adam, all the difficulties are conquered with the sword of right and truth, and reason and heart affirm, "In truth and in reality." While writing the Tenth Sign, I put down my pen and read it aloud to those present. I realized that within it, the example is not just representation but actual truth, and that such a truth can be seen through the names of the Wise, the Light, and the Artisan. I imagined it in my mind and understood that it is a very correct foundation, and I thanked the Almighty. The revealed divine power shown in the Eleventh Sign is the product of the universe's field, the output of its machine, and the human species. Since all beings serve this species with their own essences, you show that human nobility and virtue reduce this great worldly goal to nothing, and that the great wheels of the universal elements move against humanity, and that one can only escape from this heavy responsibility by entering the sacred circle of the Holy Qur'an and following Fahrü'l-Mürselîn. The truths contained in the Twelfth Sign and the answers to the four questions make one reflect on the self, and those who want to work for their own account, who see an existence in themselves with a little choice, who look toward ownership and fame and h...

Barla Lâhikası ·Mektup 154 ·machine translation (qwen3-32b-sre)

My Esteemed and Honored Master; In the letter I received last week, you said, "Your and Mr. Sherif's expressions are brief; nothing is understood. Is it criticism or praise?" It is well known to all that we receive all your works with admiration and utmost appreciation. Indeed, we do not have the scholarly power to criticize, and it is evident that there is no such power among the scholars of Turkey. Your insistence on the Eastern scholars and then coming to Istanbul and thereby attracting the attention and respect of the scholars, is sufficient proof of this matter. Both Mr. Sherif and my other friends who read the secret of the invocation and the beginning with "Bismillah" have been overwhelmed by the spiritual joy they felt. As for me, even if I do not write anything about the words, it is itself a sign of that utmost admiration. Because I have always expressed my views to my Master about the Words and Letters that I have repeatedly read with great pleasure and have never been able to stop reading them, I cannot find any words to write. Perhaps it is due to my own helplessness. A treatise is as bright as the one who follows it is even brighter. Therefore, whatever I write, I cannot adequately express my intent. Now my life is very pleasant. I am occupied with studying the Words. In my previous readings, I could not digest them. Now I am reading them very slowly and carefully, trying to understand. Sometimes I get stuck at certain points and ask questions. I am benefiting a lot from this. Indeed, I was very confused in the First and Second Sections of the Twenty-Fourth Word. I could not understand them properly. When I meet with my Master, I will request an oral explanation of these two sections. My Honored Master; there is one point that greatly amazes me. I request an explanation of a matter from you. You explain it. In that explanation, there are also points that require further explanation. You answer with such elegant and comprehensive sentences that even to understand those sentences, questions are needed. From this, it follows that each line of your Words is so comprehensive and meaningful that it could form a book. As much explanation as desired can be given. Re'fet • • •

Barla Lâhikası ·Mektup 161 ·machine translation (qwen3-32b-sre)

It is a saying of Hâfız Ali. My beloved master; I received a piece of light bearing the noble name "The Wisdom of Seeking Help" from the Thirteenth Lemma of the Thirty-First Letter. Praise be to Allah, I succeeded in understanding it. May the Lord Most High bestow similar examples from His boundless treasure upon others. Amen, by the honor of my Master, the Messenger of Allah. My master and teacher; this treatise, which carries the sublime truth, had a very great effect upon the poor student. My mind and all my feelings and faculties spread over that sublime truth and became gathered in an indescribable state. Just as the star insect cannot describe the sun's brilliance or the things around it in its environment, so too have I become the same. Firstly: This treatise may be considered the elder brother of the great treatises on tawhid. For just as the other luminous mass showed the people in a very evident manner the beauty and perfection of the Lord Most High and His Beautiful Names in the great world; in the same way, this piece of light reveals the great means and instruments that cause the perfection and silence of the human being, who is the embodiment of the Beautiful Names in the small world and at the level of the soul of this world. Secondly: While contemplating these truths, my heart was struck with the following thought: Just as they say, "The Solomon's Ant was a means to find water in the places where the ground's water was unknown, without digging." In the same way, this treatise, like Solomon's Ant, clearly shows the heart—the abode of faith—in the body of man, which is the small world composed of elements. Just as the chemist finds the water of life by identifying the harmful and harmless weeds on the surface of the earth, I understood that this sublime work, which I could only barely grasp a thousandth of its truth, like the Koran, the Wise Book, which is the source of truth for all the people of faith and those who seek knowledge, spreads the water of life with its lights. Hâfız Ali (r.h.) • • •

Barla Lâhikası ·Mektup 149 ·machine translation (qwen3-32b-sre)

It is a poem by Osman Nuri. You are the greatest book, the Ancient Word, The mother of divine laws, the Glorious Qur'an, The father of light in sacred histories, the Ancient Word, You are the guardian of our religion, the Glorious Qur'an. You are the mother of the four divine books, only you, The entire Islamic faith is proud of you, Let hearts that wish to live without you perish, You are the first and last sun of truth. You are the sun above all beings, never to be extinguished, You are the key to all hidden and revealed things, Whoever does not know you and does not obey you, May they fall into the wrath of the Owner, may they perish. Your authority will surely remain until the Day of Judgment, Those who do not believe in you are base, contemptible, and disbelievers, You are the sun that rises above all beings, Those who do not desire you may go to Hell in this world. God forbid! Let the tongues of those who do not like you and speak ill of you be cut off, let them fall to the ground. Let Allah curse those who wish to look down on you, You are the first and last sun of truth. Osman Nuri • • •

Barla Lâhikası ·Mektup 148 ·machine translation (qwen3-32b-sre)

It is a saying of Sabri. My esteemed master; the second part of Hikmetü'l-Istiâze is such a precious treasure of pure gems and a miraculous remedy for the disease of suspicion that a human being, from the moment of leaving the world of transience to the world of permanence, must carry it on the heart against the attacks of the ego and Satan. These two enemies always foam like froth, appearing as something visible on the surface, but in reality, they create deceptive and misleading doubts that are hard to grasp. These are the best defenses and finest weapons against them, and the purest coins to be spent for this purpose. For I have tested it in my own body. When I read the questions, my ego inclines toward them and pays attention. But praise be to God, afterwards, the defensive Koranic diamonds that follow quickly destroy and dry up these ego-related ailments at their roots. The fact that these luminous and Koranic wisdoms are truly appreciated by the perfect type of human being, who from the beginning of revelation until the Day of Gathering, have always shown their power and weakness, is a clear and evident proof of our claim. In short: While studying this treatise, which is one of the unparalleled rulings of the miraculous Koran of clear speech, I remained deeply amazed in the ocean of truths, and with the utmost love, I said: "O Lord, make the implementation of the rulings of this Manifest Book easy and smooth, and also make the Koranic guide, in his actions and purposes, successful. Along with all my brothers, please make this humble servant of Yours a servant of the Manifest Book until the time of my death." With this prayer, I conclude my humble request. Sabri • • •

Barla Lâhikası ·Mektup 153 ·machine translation (qwen3-32b-sre)

In the name of Him - and indeed, everything praises Him. 1 Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. 2 My dear, sincere, and devoted brother, Re'fet Bey; First of all, I congratulate you on the birth of your blessed son, which is a good omen for you. May Allah grant that the boy will not be like the girl in secret. 3 Just as Asım Bey's daughter was born to you, and since in our tradition, compassion is the most important principle, and compassionate heroes are girls, and they are the most beloved creatures, you have even more reason to be congratulated. I believe that in this time, the danger for male children is greater. May the Almighty make him a source of comfort and affection for you and a small angel for your home. Instead of the name "Rengigül," "Zeynep" would be more appropriate. Secondly, your and Mr. Şerif's statements regarding the wisdom of seeking refuge and the secrets of the noble invocation of Bismillah are brief. It is unclear whether they are criticism or appreciation. I have already said repeatedly: It is not necessary for everyone to understand every issue in every letter. As much as one understands is sufficient. Thirdly, the world of images is a middle realm between the world of spirits and the world of testimony. It resembles both in different ways. One of its faces looks toward one, and the other looks toward the other. For example, your image in the mirror resembles your physical body in form; it is as subtle as your soul in essence. That world of images is as real as the world of spirits and the world of testimony. FOOTNOTE It is the place of wonders and strange things, and the gathering place for the people of divine knowledge. Just as a small being, the human, has an imaginative power, so too does the great being, the universe, have a world of images that performs this function, and it is true. Just as the power of memory conveys information from the Preserved Tablet, the imaginative power also conveys information from the world of images. Firstly, I greet and send prayers to my brothers there, including Hüsnü, Bekir Bey, Rüşdü, Lütfü, Hafız Ahmed, Sezai, the three Hocas, the three Mühadiths, the three innocent children in your house, and the brothers there as in-laws. 4 The Everlasting is the Everlasting. Your brother, Said Nursî • • •

Barla Lâhikası ·Mektup 268 ·machine translation (qwen3-32b-sre)