A Human can only Truly be a Human with Faith (Îmân).
Our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said in a hadith:
Yunus-45: And on that Day (Allah) shall gather them together as if they had not stayed but an hour of a day, they will recognize each other (they will get acquainted). The ones in total loss will be those who denied the meeting (surrender of spirit before death) with Allah and could not become those who reached Hidayah (could not deliver their spirits to Allah).
This hadith must be carefully considered. The Holy Qur’an is the knowledge of Allah, and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) invited all of humanity to Allah through Holy Qur’an. Moreover, he lived out the entirety of the Qur’an, with its 28 steps, 7 stages, and 4 surrenders, together with his companions 14 centuries ago. Unfortunately, 14 centuries later today, handwritten books have replaced the Qur’an, and people have been condemned to remain on the second step for a lifetime, lost in the darkness of useless knowledge. Those who do not possess the knowledge of Allah will never wish to reach Him. As a result, they will be in loss both in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah Almighty says regarding this:
âAllah does not take away knowledge by removing it from the people. Rather, He takes knowledge away by taking the lives of the scholars. When no scholar remains among them, people will take the ignorant as their leaders. They will be asked questions, and they will issue verdicts (fetwa) without knowledge. Thus, they will go astray and lead others astray as well.â (Narrated by Abdullah ibn âAmr ibn al-âAs, PBUH)
Our Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (PBUH) states that:
âHell is surrounded by things pleasing to the soul, and Paradise is surrounded by things disliked by the soul.â (S:Bukhari, Riqaq, 28; Muslim, Jannah, 1. See also: Abu Dawud, Sunnah, 22; Tirmidhi, Jannah, 21; Nasaâi, Ayman, 3)
Our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also says in another hadith:
As stated by our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in his noble hadith, since the love of the world is the root of all evil, it is absolutely necessary for us to use the demands of our soul in the direction of Allah.
In the 28-step ladder of Islam, the one who wishes to reach Allah is a person who likes Allah. The one who repents and pledges allegiance to his murshid (spiritual guide) is a person who loves Allah. When he surrenders both his spirit and physical body to Allah, he is still counted among those who love Allah. But when he attains continuous dhikr, he becomes a passionate lover of Allah, and when he goes beyond wisdom, surrenders his will, and is appointed and authorized for guidance (irshad), he reaches the highest level as one who admires Allah. To be among such admirers, it is necessary to surrender to Allah by going through the seven stages and the four surrenders (Taslim al-Kullî).
An-Nahl-107 This (the punishment) is because they love this worldâs life more than the Hereafter and because Allah does not deliver the disbelieving people to Hidayah (guidance).
If a person after returning his spirit to Allah, by wishing to reach Him, does not increase his dhikr and becomes content with worldly life, corruption begins. He withdraws from service (khidmah) and worship in the way of Allah. However, if after returning his spirit to Allah, he increases his dhikr with craving (for doing religious duties), the help of Allah Almighty comes, and he continues to progress. Falling back after attaining sainthood (to a sinner) occurs when he once again puts worldly life before the Hereafter. Allah Almighty states in Surah al-Nahl, verse 107, that the real cause of falling back to a sinner is loving worldly life more than the Hereafter.
Al-Munafiqun-3: This is because they have (formerly) believed (become ĂąmenĂ») (and reached Hidayah by wishing to reach Allah) and then (after their Hidayah) fell into disbelief (for the second time). For this reason, their hearts were permanently sealed. They will no longer be able to understand (comprehend).
If a person wishes to reach Allah, Allah Almighty covers his sins, and the remaining good deeds will surely guarantee him Paradise. As for those who do not wish to reach Allah, their good deeds are nullified by Allah Almighty and rendered void. As a result of the sins that remain, their destination will inevitably be Hell. Regarding those who do not wish to reach Him and are consent with worldly life, Allah Almighty says in 3rd verse of Surah Al-Munafiqun as follows:
At-Tawbah-23 O, you believers (ĂąmenĂ» ones)! Do not take your fathers and brothers for friends if they prefer disbelief over Belief. Whoever of you does so and return back to them, they are the wrongdoers.
Al-Baqarah-202: For them there will be a share out of what (the degrees) they have earned. And Allah is Swift at reckoning.
âI am leaving you two trusts: one is the Book of Allah (knowledge), the Holy Qurâan, and the other is my Ahl al-Bayt (the treasures of knowledge, the explainers of the Qurâan, that is, the scholars endowed with wisdom).â He also said, âDo not seek light from the fire of the polytheists,â thereby warning us against those who turn us away from the path of Allah. (S:Nasaâi, Book 48, Chapter 52)
Al-Baqarah-201: And of them, whoever says: âOur Lord! Give us what is good (and beautiful) in the world and what is good (and beautiful) in the Hereafter and protect us from the torment of the Fireâ.
Therefore, it is obligatory upon all of us to implement the entirety of the Holy Qur’an in our lives. Yet, unfortunately, as the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) stated, the Islamic world has been brought to ruin by those deprived of the knowledge of Allah. Knowledge and its treasures — the explainers of the Holy Qur’an — form an inseparable whole, like flesh and bone. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said in a hadith: “A time will come when Allah will take knowledge away from the people.” To understand the content of the time when knowledge is taken away, it is sufficient to look at Surah ad-Dukhan, where Allah Almighty says:
Our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) raised his head toward the sky and looked at it, and when he lowered his head he said: “This is the time when knowledge will be taken away from people.” One of the companions asked: “O Rasul (Messenger) of Allah, we have read and are still reading the Holy Qur’an. We also make our wives and children read it. How will this knowledge be taken away from us?” Our Prophet Muahmmad (PBUH) replied: “You see the Torah in the hands of the Jews and the Bible in the hands of the Christians. They read the Torah and the Bible so much, yet is there anything left of them in their hands?”
In the 159th verse of Surah Al-Baqarah, Allah Almighty mentions those who conceal the verses of Allah and He states that the curse of Allah, the curse of angels and the curse of mankind are upon them.
Umr ibn (PBUH) said: “Whoever seeks knowledge in order to boast before the scholars, to argue with the foolish, or to attract people’s attention, Allah will admit him into Hell.” This statement draws the strongest attention to the immense responsibility carried by the scholars.
Those who do not wish to reach Allah, who are heedless of His verses, and who deny them, their destination is Hell. Today’s religious teachers have removed the wish to reach Allah from religious practice. The removal of knowledge means the complete dominance of ignorance over society. In an era when knowledge is set aside, temptation (fitnah) will inevitably emerge. Indeed, the “smoke” (dukhan) refers to this reality. Dukhan literally means smoke, but in this context, it symbolizes the torment that arises because people do not wish to reach Allah.
âMy example and your example is like that of a man who kindled a fire, and moths and insects began to fall into it. He tries to prevent them from falling into it, but I am holding on to your belts to keep you away from the fire, while you are slipping from my hand and rushing into it.â (Muslim, Fadaâil, 19)
Our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also sheds light on the importance of the Rasul (Messenger) of Allah in his hadith:
Al-An'am-48 We don't send the Messengers (for anything) but as givers of glad tidings and as Warners. Then whoever believes (wishes to reach Allah before death) and does righteous deeds (that cleanse and completely purify the soulsâ hearts), there is no fear upon them nor do they grieve.
The reason for sending the Rasul (Messenger) is stated in the 48th verse of Surah Al-An'am.
Al-Baqarah-151: Thus We have sent among you a Messenger (a Prophet) from among you so that he may read (and explain) to you Our Verses and cleanse (and purify) you (your soulsâ hearts) and teaches you the Book and Wisdom and teaches you that which you did not know (beyond Wisdom).
Allah has created all human beings, whether women or men, with a Hanif nature, and Allah has chosen only one religion for all human beings: the Hanif religion. The only source of religion is the Holy Qur'an. In the 151st verse of Surah Al-Baqarah, Allah Almighty addresses the Companions and says the following:
So if the ignorant is worshiping, but stays in ignorance and he does not wish to reach Allah, what he does has no value in the sight of Allah. However, a true scholar remains in a state of dhikr (remembrance of Allah) even while asleep. He earns 700 degrees every second, every moment. The mentioned scholar must be a wise scholar in any case. This means that it is necessary to learn knowledge from a wise scholar.
The removal of knowledge from people takes place when Allah seizes the spirits of the scholars. In the absence of wise scholars, the ignorant will begin to teach religion. When Allah takes the spirit of a scholar, people introduce superstitions that contradict the Qur’an into religious practice. According to Allah, a true scholar is one who possesses wisdom. How do we know this? Because our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said in another hadith: “The sleep of a scholar is better than the worship of an ignorant person.”
Religious teachers who are heedless of Allah’s verses and who fail to wish to reach Allah lead the people they instruct along the same path towards Hell. It is precisely this point that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) took into consideration when he delivered this hadith.
At present, unfortunately, the same confusion exists in the Islamic world. Because the Islam in the Holy Qur’an, equipped with 7 stages and 4 surrenders, has been removed from practice today. Religious teachers not only refrain from wishing to reach Allah themselves but also prevent others from making such a wish.
Al-Jumu'ah-5 The likeness of those who were loaded (read the obligations of Torah) with the Torah, but who subsequently did not carry it (who did not apply it to their lives) is as the likeness of a donkey which bears loads of books. How terrible is the case of the people who belie the Verses of Allah, and Allah does not deliver the tyrant ones to Hidayah (guidance).
Allah Almighty states the following in this regard:
Ad-Dukhan-10: Wait for the day when an evident smoke (of lawlessness) will cover the sky.
Al-Baqarah-200 So, when you have performed your sacred rites (concerning the pilgrimage) remember (repeat the Name of) Allah as you remember your forefathers or with a far more remembrance. But of the people, whoever says: âOur Lord! Give us in the worldâ, for him there is no share in the Hereafterâ.
The reason why our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “The root of every evil is the love of this world,” is that those who choose worldly life follow the low desires of their souls. Allah Almighty grants worldly life to whoever desires it. Those who desire the world will have no share in the Hereafter, and their destination will be Hell. But if a person wishes to reach Allah, Allah Almighty will lead him to peace and happiness in both worlds.
So, the peace and happiness that people chase after for a lifetime is not found in worldly possessions but in the hanif religion that Allah has chosen for us. At the end of the 28-step path that forms the hanif religion lies the Essence of Allah. Among those who are at the 2nd step, whoever takes the path that leads to Allah as a path —and wishes to reach Him—they are the ones who attain uninterrupted happiness.
In one of his Noble Hadiths, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH):
All of these brings us to the conclusion that if we wish to fulfill the trust, we must, without exception, wish to reach Allah; and if we wish to fulfill the covenant, we must necessarily repent and pledge allegiance to the murshid (spiritual guide) appointed for us by Allah. Not betraying Allah means returning Allah’s trust to Him. Not betraying the Rasul (Messenger) means dedicating the physical body entirely to the commands of the Rasul (Messenger) of Allah and fulfilling those commands from beginning to end. Within this design, if we do what is required of us, Allah is All-Capable (Al-Qadir).
In the practice of today's Islam, is there fulfillment of the trust (amanah) within the five pillars of Islam? No. Is there fulfillment of the covenant within the five pillars of Islam? No. In practice, there are only the five pillars of Islam. Since the wish to reach Allah is not included in practice, no one can return their spirit to the Essence of Allah through the five pillars alone. Since dhikr (repeating the name of Allah) and cleansing of the soul are not included in practice, no one can surrender their physical body to Allah through the five pillars alone. And since repentance and pledging allegiance to a murshid (spiritual guide) and dhikr are not included in practice, no one can surrender their soul to Allah through the five pillars alone.
What Allah Almighty wants from us is that after we have been cleansed, we should definitely continue our struggle (jihad al-akbar) against the devil and our soul day by day and increase our dhikr (repeating the name of Allah). The external enemy, the devil, has 100% influence on the 49% darkness in the spiritual heart of our soul. The struggle against the human devils, the external enemies, is a small struggle (jihad al saghir), but the struggle against our soul within us is the greatest struggle (jihad al-akbar). It is possible to win the great struggle by engaging in a hard struggle against both our soul and the external enemy, the devil. For this reason, the best example for us is the life of our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and his Companions.
âThe intelligent person is the one who controls his soul and works for what comes after death. The weak person is the one who follows the desires and wishes of his soul, yet still expects goodness from Allah.â (S: Tirmidhi, Sifat al-Qiyamah, 25)
Our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also says in this direction:
Allah’s Rasuls (Messengers), who come with the divine books of the law (sharia) from Allah’s Presence, convey hidayah (guidance) and seek us to activate our will in a positive direction. An offer of hidayah (guidance) is made, and the recipient of the offer is a person with free will. If the person, who is the recipient of the offer, chooses hidayah (guidance) by his own free will, then Allah gives the guarantee: “I will return your spirit to Myself.” In the process of spirit's reaching to Allah's Essence, our Lord establishes the balance once again. During our spirit's journey (Sayr Wa Suluk) towards Allah, He also cleanses our soul's heart within 7 steps. Thus, in our physical body, there remains only our soul, but this time spiritual heart of our soul is 51% enlightened (51% noor accumulated) and 49% remains in darkness. That is to say, from the 51% enlightenment, positive demands reach the intellect, which governs the physical body. From the 49% darkness, negative demands reach the intellect under the influence of Satan. The intellect will then choose to fulfill either the demands that come from the noor (light) or those that come from the darkness.
Allah Almighty has created a balance between the soul and the spirit in the body. The physical body is the abode of the spirit and the soul. The spirit has a nature that obeys 100% of Allah's orders from A to Z and does not commit any act forbidden by Allah. On the contrary, the soul has a nature that rebels against all of Allah's commands and must commit the acts forbidden by Allah.
Al-Ma'arij-33: And they are the ones who stand firm in their testimonies.
Al-Ma'arij-32: And they are the ones who comply with their trusts and their covenants.
Al-Mu'minun-8: And those who are the keepers (loyal ones) of their trusts (the three bodies and the will) and their covenants.
An-Nisa-58: Surely Allah commands you to render back the trusts (i.e. the spirit, the physical body, the soul and the free will) to their Owner (to Allah) and that when you judge between people you judge with justice. Surely Allah admonishes you with what is excellent; surely Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.
When the spirit reaches the Essence of Allah, in turn the physical body becomes a trust (amanah). The soul continues to remain as a pledge. When the physical body is surrendered to Allah, then the soul becomes a trust. And when the soul is surrendered to Allah, the will itself becomes a trust. Whoever wishes to reach Allah is the one who fulfills the trust. About this, Allah Almighty says:
For the soul to have faith, a person must wish to reach Allah. For the physical body to be saved from being a servant of Satan, a person must wish to reach Allah. The most honorable being, the human being, is endowed with three bodies and a free will. One of these bodies does not truly belong to us. The spirit within us is a trust—it is the Spirit of Allah. Since the spirit is Allah’s Spirit, entrusted to us, and we are required to fulfill this trust, it is obligatory for us to return our spirit to Allah.
In his book "The Words" (Sözler), Said Nursi describes faith in the following way: “Faith makes a human truly a human. Indeed, it may even make him a sultan.” Thus, everyone is created as a human at the beginning, but becoming truly a human is only possible with faith. When a person does not possess faith, even though he was created as a human, according to the Holy Qur’an he is like the animals, and even lower than them.
âWhoever narrows a place, blocks a path, or causes harm to a believer, his jihad is null.â (S:Abu Dawud, Jihad, 88/2629; Ahmad, III, 441)
Thus, there is a complete causal link between the verses of Allah and the hadiths of the Rasul (Messenger) of Allah. Moreover, no one has the authority to add to or take away from the Holy Qur’an. For according to verse 9 of Surah al-Hijr, the Holy Qur’an is under the protection of Allah. However, the same is not the case for hadiths. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “A time will come when my hadiths will be disputed. When they are disputed, refer to the Holy Qur’an.” Therefore, the authenticity of a hadith can only be determined by its conformity to the Holy Qur’an.
Our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) says the following:
âThe root of every evil is the love of this world.â (S:Ibn Abi al-Dunya and al-Bayhaqi, Ihya Ulum al-Din, al-Ghazali, Vol. 3, p. 454)
Al Imran-14 The lust (extreme desire) towards women and children, of hoarded treasures of gold and silver, of branded beautiful horses and cattle and well-tilled land, is made to seem beautiful to people. These are the enjoyments of the life of this world; and Allah is the best Refuge in His presence.
In worldly life, there are children, wealth, spouses, brothers, trade, and so on. Allah Almighty clearly states that if worldly life is more beloved to a person than Allah and His Rasul (Messenger), that person cannot attain guidance (hidayah). Allah Almighty also says in 14th verse of Surah Al Imran:
At-Tawbah-24 Say: âIf your fathers and your sons and your brothers and your spouses and your tribe and the wealth that you have acquired, and the trade which you fear to decline and dwellings in which you delight are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and striving hard (Jihad) in His Way, then wait till Allah brings about His Commandâ. And Allah does not allow the Al-Fasiqun (the rebellious, disobedient to Allah) to attain Hidayah (Guidance).
Allah Almighty explains in surah At-Tawbah, verse 24 what the life of this world is about.
âAllah Almighty gave His servant the free will to choose between this world and meeting Him. The servant who wished for Paradise had chosen to meet Him.â (S:Jamiâ al-Saghir)
Our Prophet (PBUH) also states the following regarding the fact that there is no compulsion in religion:
Al-Baqarah-256 There is no compulsion in the Religion; The true Way (the Way of Hidayah, the way that delivers to Allah, to paradise) is clearly differed from the the Way to being astray (the Way that leads to Satan, and Hell) therefore, whoever denies âTĂągĂ»tâ (Satan and the Way leading to Satan) and believes in Allah (be amenĂ» and choose the true way), then he has grasped the firmest handhold (hand of religious guide), which will not break off, and Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
Al-Baqarah-159 Surely those who conceal the clear evidence and the Hidayah (reach of the spirit to Allah before death) after We have made them clear in the Book for them, they are the ones whom Allah will curse and those who curse shall curse them (too),
Allah Almighty has left the decision to us. His consent is, indeed for us, in the direction of wishing to reach Him. Yet, human beings possess free will. If a person does not wish (by himself), Allah Almighty does not force him to wish to reach Allah, for there is no compulsion in religion.
Yunus-7: Surely they do not wish to reach Us (they do not wish their spirits to reach Us before death). They are pleased with the life of the world and are satisfied with it, and those are the ones who are heedless of Our Verses.
Evil deeds originate from human beings who possess free will. All of the demands that arise from the 19 vices present in the spiritual heart of the soul are directed towards worldly life. Every desire of the soul is oriented towards this worldly life. When the hadith, “The root of every evil is the love of this world,” is compared with verses 7 and 8 of Surah Yunus, it becomes clear that evil originates from the human soul.
Allah Almighty created everyone with the hanif nature and chose the hanif religion so that all may attain both the happiness of the Hereafter and the happiness of this world. He placed all the principles and details of the hanif religion in the Holy Qur’an, which the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), left to us as a legacy.
Al-Baqarah-202: For them there will be a share out of what (the degrees) they have earned. And Allah is Swift at reckoning.
Al-Baqarah-201: And of them, whoever says: âOur Lord! Give us what is good (and beautiful) in the world and what is good (and beautiful) in the Hereafter and protect us from the torment of the Fireâ.
Allah Almighty says that:
As stated in this hadith, people have been overtaken by the love of this world and have completely forgotten Allah.
Yunus-8: As for those, their abode is the Fire for what they have earned (negative degrees).
Thus, in the end times, the removal of Allah’s knowledge takes place through the seizing of the spirits of the scholars (by death). Since Allah Almighty does not appoint new ones in their place, people begin to choose ignorant individuals as their leaders and ask them about matters they do not know. These ignorant ones then issue verdicts (fetwa) in ignorance, causing both themselves and those who follow them to deviate from the path of Allah.