When Does a Person Begin to Love?

Truly, for such a person loss is no longer in question.

Here are those four things: To become a true believer (amenu). To begin righteous deeds (Purification of the soul). To advise others toward the Truth. To advise patience.

Mehmet Akif Ersoy says: “If these four things come together in you, then loss shall never touch you again.”

The scholar who has surrendered their will to Allah, has seen the Essence of Allah, and possesses wisdom holds a position similar to that of the prophets in matters of comprehension (fıqh). However, the prophets are beyond that. They are also in charge of risalah (messengership) and nubuwwah (prophethood) and are under absolute command and control (tasarrouf) of Allah.

Who is the scholar (alim)? In the final three steps of the 28-step structure known as the post of ulûl albab (those who have wisdom or good understanding), the post of ikhlas (purity), and the post of salad (righteousness), the person becomes a possessor of wisdom. However, to go beyond wisdom, one must witness the Essence of Allah. Whoever sees the Essence of Allah is appointed and authorized by Allah Almighty for guidance, and from that point on, that person is a true scholar.

Allah's will for us is eternal happiness in both the Hereafter and this world. A person who has reached continuous dhikr has attained the fifth level of Paradise  in the Hereafter and 100% happiness in this world. From that point on, no event can disturb or sadden that person, because Satan can only influence vices. However, since there are no longer any vices remaining in the spiritual heart of the soul due to continuous dhikr, those vices have been replaced by virtues and good traits within the spirit. The aspirations that arise from these virtues align perfectly with the aspirations of the spirit. There is complete harmony between them. That person now lives in a state of eternal peace and happiness Therefore, what is required of us is to become among the learners and reach the state of continuous dhikr. (See: Step 26.)

To advise others toward the Truth means to call people to the Essence of Allah. When a person who has become one of the returned saints (awwab awliya) begins to advise toward the Truth, they say: “O people! Say Not!‘We did not hear.’ Wish to reach Allah. If you wish, the gift of Allah Almighty will be granted to you. That gift is the third level of Paradise and half the happiness of this world. We are among those who have been honored with Allah’s gift. Because we have received this gift, we now recommend it to you. We attained it by wishing to reach Allah. You too can receive this gift.”

What does the cleansing of the soul provide for a person? The cleansing of the soul enables the person’s spirit to reach the Essence of Allah, which is the first of surrenders. Within the scope of this surrender, the person becomes one of the awwab awliya (the saint who returned his spirit to Allah). The duty that Allah gives to someone who has reached this level is to become a learner. What does the person learn? They learn the spirit of the Holy Qur’an. The task of the one who learns the spirit of the Holy Qur’an is to advise others toward the Truth (Haqq). Therefore, the more they advise others toward the Truth, the more they learn the spirit of the Holy Qur’an.

Allah Almighty has guaranteed all of this based on a single wish. To those who follow their spiritual guide with favors, Allah grants seven blessings and makes them love the means orders. In this way, the steps of Nafs Al-Ammarah (The self that tempts to evil), Nafs Al-Lawamah (the self-reproaching conscience), Nafs Al-Mulhimah (the inspired self), Nafs Al-Mutmainnah (The self at peace and satisfied), Nafs Ar-Radhiyah (the soul well-pleased with Allah), Nafs Al-Mardhiyyah (the soul well-pleasing to Allah), and Nafs Al-Tazkiyah (51% cleanseded soul) are passed through one by one. At each level of cleansing, the amount of virtue formed in their hearts through the dhikr that Allah has made beloved to them increases by 7%. Over the course of seven steps, this results in a 49% accumulation of virtue in the soul’s heart. Along with an additional 2% light of mercy that is attained through awe, a total of 51% light is formed. Thus, the person’s soul becomes cleansed.

Our prophet (PBUH) said: “Whoever acts upon what they know, Allah will teach them what they do not know.”

The learner is the one who advises others toward the Truth (Haqq) and conveys the message. In order to truly learn, one must also teach.

Who is the learner (muta‘allim)? Whoever is filled with awe (khushu) and asks for their murshid (spiritual guide) through the special prayer of need (salaat al-hajat), there is a promise from Allah: He will surely show that person their murshid (spiritual guide). When that person follows the spiritual guide with favors at the 14th step, they receive seven blessings from Allah Almighty. The one who is granted these seven blessings, within the meaning of the hadith, is the one who listens. However, to truly be a learner and gain knowledge, the person must cleanse their soul through seven steps.

Allah Almighty grants seven discernments (furqans) to the one who wishes to reach Him. He also prepares the conditions of the heart so that the person may begin performing righteous deeds (purification of the soul). He reaches that person's heart with hidayah (guidanc). Allah turns that person's heart toward Himself and opens a path for mercy leading to the heart. The moment the person begins to do dhikr (the repetition of the name of Allah), since the conditions of the heart have been established, salawat (carrier for mercy and virtue) and mercy descends upon the chest. By following the opened path, it reaches the heart and the person becomes filled with awe (khushu). The one who is filled with awe asks Allah for their murshid (spiritual guide) through the special prayer of need (salaat  al-hajat). After that, they repent and pledge allegiance to the murshid (spiritual guide) who is shown to them. This person, who hears and comprehends the words of the murshid (spiritual guide), is the one described in the noble hadith as “the one who hears.” (See: Step 6.)

Let us recall another hadith of the Sultan of the Prophets, our Prophet (PBUH): “Either speak the truth (haqq) or remain silent.” Here, the one who speaks the truth is the one who advises others toward the Truth. The one who remains silent is the person who follows their spiritual guide with favors and listens to their spiritual guide (murshid). The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) also says: “The one who remains silent has succeeded.”

Who is the One Who Hears? In the hadith, the phrase “Or be among those who hear” refers to the person who repents and pledges allegiance to their spiritual guide (murshid).

Allah Almighty wants from us that we draw near to Him, become His saint, be closer to Him. The more we are able to draw near to Allah, the more we can become His saint and obey His commands, the love between us and our Lord will become more complete.

Yet the path that leads to Allah passes through love.

In order to enter Paradise, one must be a true believer (âmenu). But to truly become a believer (âmenu), it is absolutely necessary to wish to reach Allah. In that case, the one who loves is on the path of salvation. Unfortunately, today’s religious teachers promote a practice of religion that is based on fear.

The Sultan of the Prophets says in another noble hadith: “You cannot enter Paradise unless you truly believe (wish to reach Allah), and you cannot be a true believer unless you love one another (love the spiritual guide/murshid).”

The believer is someone who forms close bonds, gets along well with others, and is easy to get along with. There is no good in a person who does not form bonds and with whom others cannot bond. The best of people is the one who is most beneficial to others. (S: Ahmad ibn Hanbal, II, 4-5. 334.)

Our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) says that:

The gateway to the path leading to Allah is the love for Allah. One who loves draws near to the beloved. One who fears flees from what they fear. Those who accept the call are those who wish to reach Allah at the 3rd step and they are the ones who love Allah If a person does not wish to reach Allah, in the sight of Allah, they are regarded as blind, deaf, and lacking understanding. Between such a person and the post of religious guide (murshid) there exists hatred. But the moment a person wishes to reach Allah, He removes the barriers from their eyes, ears, and heart. That person then gains a nature that sees, hears, and understands. At that point a direct love forms between the person and the post of religious guide. It is Allah who places love into the heart.

The person described by the phrase “or be the one who loves” is the one who accepts the call of the Rasul (Messenger) bringing glad tidings for them. The Rasul (Messenger) is a warner to those who do not accept his call, warning them of going to Hell.

Who are the ones that are to be destroyed? The fifth group mentioned in the hadith refers to those who harbor hatred towards knowledge and the people of knowledge. The people of knowledge are those who have reached continuous dhikr, those at the level of ulul albab and beyond. Knowledge refers to the Holy Qur’an as taught to us by the people of knowledge. If they (the deniers) do not fulfill this, then they will not attain what those who do fulfill it have attained. They will not receive Allah’s gifts; and because they do not receive gifts, they will not reach surrender of the physical body, continuous dhikr, or the happiness of the Hereafter and this world. Yet Allah’s will is to lead every human being to both eternal and worldly happinesses. Allah Almighty asks each of you to live your life as a whole in this way.

Therefore, whoever has not wished to reach Allah is the one described in Surah Al-Asr as being in loss. And whoever has not wished to reach Allah is, as stated in the noble hadith of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), among those who are destroyed.