3. Surrender | Surrender of the Nafs | Heart’s eye
The Hanif Religion, which is the only religion of Allah in the universe, is based on surrender, which is the purpose of human creation. After the surrender of the spirit and the physical body (the face), the process of Surrender of the Nafs, which is the most critical and challenging stage of spiritual evolution, begins.
When the spirit reaches Allah and surrenders (22nd step) and the physical body fulfills Allah's commands to the letter and becomes a Muhsin (25th step), there is still 19% darkness (affliction) in the heart of the nafs. Although the physical body obeys by considering these darknesses as "non-existent," for the complete surrender of the nafs, these final darknesses must also be cleansed, and the nafs must be completely illuminated through continuous dhikr.
The Gate of Surrender of the Nafs: The Station of Ulū al-Albāb
The complete surrender of the nafs to Allah is possible only when dhikr becomes uninterrupted, that is, through continuous dhikr. When a person increases their dhikr and reaches a state of remembering Allah at every moment—while standing, sitting, and lying on their side—they reach the station of Ulū al-Albāb (26th step). This station means "possessors of the treasure chests of secrets."
3/ĀLĪ IMRĀN-190: Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of the night and the day, there are signs (proofs) for the Ulū al-Albāb.
3/ĀLĪ IMRĀN-191: They (the Ulū al-Albāb, the possessors of the inner cores, the possessors of Allah's treasure chests of secrets) remember Allah (constantly) while standing, sitting, and lying on their sides. And they contemplate the creation of the heavens and the earth (and say): "Our Lord! You did not create these in vain. You are Subhan, so protect us from the torment of the fire."
Cleansing of the Nafs and Acquired Qualities
With continuous dhikr, mercy and divine light (fazl) constantly fill the heart of the nafs. Due to this intense flow of light, all afflictions in the nafs disappear. The fundamental characteristics indicating the surrender of the nafs are as follows:
- continuous dhikr: The person's heart remembers Allah at every moment.
- Disappearance of Afflictions: All negative traits in the nafs, such as hatred, jealousy, and anger, are erased.
- Opening of the Heart’s eye: Spiritual realms that the physical eye cannot see become visible.
- Opening of the Heart’s ear: The person begins to hear the voice of Allah and spiritual manifestations.
These four fundamental qualities form three important spiritual identities in the person:
- Person of goodness: Because they are in continuous dhikr, they become a person who constantly performs goodness and earns goodness.
- Ahl al-Tadhakkur: They gain the authority to negotiate every subject with Allah and to consult Him.
- Ahl al-Hikmah: When they look at the verses of The Holy Qur’ân, they perceive to which level the verses belong and their deep meaning. They attain the quality of being a judge or an arbiter who renders correct judgments.
The Station of Ikhlas and Becoming a Sincere Servant
The pinnacle of the process of the surrender of the nafs is the Station of Ikhlas. The person who sees the secrets of the ground floor at the station of Ulū al-Albāb begins to have the secrets of the heavenly floors revealed to them. The secrets of all the heavenly floors from the 1st to the 7th floor, and the Cells of destiny on the 7th floor, the Ummulkitab, the ocean of divine power, the The Praised Station (of prophet Mohammad (pbuh)), and finally the Sidrat al-Muntaha are shown.
In this process, the person's nafs has become completely purified and has become "muhlis" (utterly sincere) towards Allah. This purity of the nafs is expressed in Surah Al-Bayyinah as follows:
98/AL-BAYYINAH-5: And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, being sincere to Him in religion, as Hanifs (to make their nafs sincere), and to establish Prayer (salaat) and to give obligatory alms (zekât). And that is the correct religion (the religion that will continue until the Day of Resurrection).
When a person sees the Sidrat al-Muntaha, they have completed the station of Ikhlas. This point is the moment when the absolute surrender of the nafs to Allah is registered.
The Station of Salâh and Sincere, Irrevocable Repentance
Following the surrender of the nafs, the person is invited to sincere, irrevocable repentance in the presence of Allah. This is a definitive and irreversible repentance that cannot be broken. Sincere, irrevocable repentance in the presence of Allah is the gate between the station of Ikhlas and the station of Salâh. With the realization of this repentance, the person passes to the Station of Salâh.
66/TAHRÎM-8: O you who have attained faith (wish to reach Allah)! Repent to Allah with sincere, irrevocable repentance in the presence of Allah! It is hoped that your Lord will cover your sinful deeds and admit you into gardens beneath which rivers flow...
In the station of Salâh, in addition to the surrender of the nafs, the following spiritual gifts are given:
- The person's sinful deeds are covered.
- They are given a special "Light of Salâh."
- Their covered sinful deeds are converted into rewards (Forgiveness).
The person's heart is adorned in a total of 12 levels. At this stage, the nafs has been completely cleansed, and the will has become ready to surrender to Allah. The surrender of the nafs is the greatest cleansing process that paves the way for the surrender of the will.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the surrender of the nafs and the surrender of the face (physical body)?
When the physical body surrenders (25th step), there is still 19% darkness in the heart of the nafs; however, the physical body obeys by considering this as non-existent. In the surrender of the nafs (Ulū al-Albāb and beyond), these darknesses disappear completely, and the heart is completely filled with light.
What is continuous dhikr and why is it important?
continuous dhikr is the person's continuous remembrance of Allah while standing, sitting, and lying down. The surrender of the nafs and the cleansing of all afflictions in the heart are only possible through continuous dhikr.
Who is called Ulū al-Albāb?
Ulū al-Albāb means the possessor of the inner cores (treasure chests of secrets). It refers to people who have reached continuous dhikr, whose Heart’s eye and Heart’s ear have opened, and who have become possessors of Wisdom.
What are the signs of being a person of Wisdom?
A person of Wisdom knows the deep meanings of the verses of the Qur’an and to which level they belong. They possess the ability to render correct judgments (Judge/Arbiter) because they render judgment by asking Allah.
What happens at the Station of Ikhlas?
At the station of Ikhlas, the nafs becomes completely sincere. The secrets of the heavenly floors, the Ummulkitab, and the Sidrat al-Muntaha are shown to the person.
What does sincere, irrevocable repentance in the presence of Allah mean?
Sincere, irrevocable repentance in the presence of Allah is a definitive repentance that cannot be broken or changed again. It is the gate that carries the person from the station of Ikhlas to the station of Salâh.
What happens to sinful deeds at the Station of Salâh?
The sinful deeds of a person who passes to the station of Salâh are first covered, and then these sinful deeds are converted into rewards (conversion of sinful deeds).
Which steps does the surrender of the nafs cover?
The process of the surrender of the nafs begins with Ulū al-Albāb (26th step), reaches perfection with the Station of Ikhlas (27th step), and paves the way for the surrender of the will with the Station of Salâh.
When do the Heart’s eye and Heart’s ear open?
When a person reaches continuous dhikr and becomes Ulū al-Albāb, their Heart’s eye and Heart’s ear open absolutely because their nafs is completely cleansed.
What is the importance of the surrender of the nafs in terms of the Hanif Religion?
The Hanif Religion is a religion of "surrender." The surrender of the nafs expresses the person ending the war in their inner world and reaching a state of complete peace and tranquility (Islam) with Allah.