The Key to Happiness: 7 Stages and 4 Surrenders

The Common Goal in the Holy Books: 7 Stages and 4 Surrenders

When we examine all three books, we encounter the same result: 7 stages and 4 surrenders, a design that begins with the wish to reach Allah. At the 3rd step, the human being will wish to reach Allah, and at the 14th step, they will reach their spiritual guide (murshid) and submit to them. As a result of this submission, their spirit (ruh) will reach Allah (21st step) and will be annihilated in the Essence of Allah (22nd step).

The process that begins with the wish to reach Allah culminates in the 2nd phase with submission to the spiritual guide (murshid). In the 3rd stage, the spirit (ruh) reaches Allah. The 4th stage is the surrender of the physical body to Allah. The person must increase their dhikr to a very great extent; it must exceed 18 hours a day. If they accomplish this, they will reach the 5th level from this 4th level with an easy design; they will attain continuous dhikr, meaning they will become Ulū al-Albāb (People of reflective wisdom), the owners of the inner treasures. They have now become a person who can speak with Allah at any moment, ask Him questions at any moment, and receive answers from Him.

Advanced Levels of Spiritual Evolution

One day, the person will be invited to the Tawbah an-Nasuh (the sincere repentance) and will perform it. That is when this person will become one of the muhlis (the utterly sincere ones); the 6th level. Then, they will surrender their will to Allah and begin the 7th level; as one of the righteous ones (salihler), by surrendering their will to Allah, they will be appointed and authorized for spiritual guidance (irshad).

Allah Almighty wants the soul (nafs) to be cleansed (tezkiye) first, meaning to be rid of half of the vices of the soul (nafs). Allah guarantees this, but the stage beyond the halfway point depends on personal effort.

Happiness and Love in Human Relationships

We are human beings, and we are obliged to live together with other people. Through our behavior, we must bring only happiness to people. This is the fundamental command of Allah Almighty for all people: to love people and to do everything necessary to make them happy. A happiness without love is unthinkable; a person who harbors hatred cannot be happy throughout their life. Hatred is an emotion under the dominion of satan and is one of the vices of the soul (nafs).

How much do you love people? This depends on the sacrifice you can make for them. How much do you love Allah? This also depends on the sacrifice you will make for Allah. The measure of your sacrifice with Allah is your dhikr. Because dhikr has been commanded by Allah Almighty as a 24-hour obligation.

Worship in the Footsteps of Our Master (PBUH)

The obligatory (farz) prayer is 5 times a day, but our Master (PBUH) and his companions added two more sunnahs to it: the mid-morning (duha) sunnah and the night (tahajjud) sunnah. That is to say, they were performing 7 prayers (salaat) a day. He is our prophet, our messenger. Allah establishes the laws, and our Master (PBUH) prevails within the laws established by Allah through his sunnah.

• Mid-morning (Duha) Sunnah: A prayer performed between the morning prayer and the noon prayer.
• Night (Tahajjud) Sunnah: A prayer performed in the period after 12:00 AM (01:00 AM during daylight saving time) until the morning prayer.

"There is an essential example for you in your Prophet."

The Path to Attaining Continuous Dhikr

You must not spare any effort to become an owner of continuous dhikr. Starting with 1 hour of dhikr a day, you can reach the goal of 24 hours in 4 years by increasing this duration by 1 minute each day. The variations of dhikr are as follows:

• Using your tongue to perform dhikr of the word "Allah" silently.
• Repeating the word "Allah" in your inner world.
• Placing your hand on your pulse and repeating it without even moving your tongue.

The Abundance of Sharing and Helping

As your merit increases, what Allah gives you will increase. You will give to others, thinking that a portion of what you have earned for Allah belongs to them. As you give, what Allah Almighty gives you will not decrease; it will multiply. Money will come from places you do not know.

"Give to the poor so that We may give to you."

When a person who tries to make others happy succeeds in this, they possess a happiness greater than the happiness they brought to others. Because Allah Almighty gives them double. Every person is a door of happiness for you.

Cleansing of the Soul (Nafs) and Surrender of the Spirit

When you bring the cleansing of the soul (nafs) (tezkiye) to a sufficient level, that is, when you reach your spirit (ruh) to Allah, half of the vices in the heart of your soul (nafs) will have disappeared. Within a period of 7-8 months, a person will definitely reach their spirit to Allah through Allah reaching it to Himself. This is half of happiness, and Allah Almighty grants this as a gift without any return.

We conclude our words by wishing from our exalted lord, Allah Almighty, that He may lead all of you to both the happiness of paradise and the happiness of this world. May Allah be pleased with all of you.

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