The great saint Sayyed Ibrahim Fasih Naksibendi (ks) said:
“The murid must not be deceived when his Murshid (spiritual guide) turns to him and gives him compliments, he must even desire this special treatment to stop, it means, the murid must not expect respect and high regards from his Murshid, because the respectful behaviors of the Murshid to the murid are actually a destructive situation for the murid, this kind of behaviour by the Murshid is caused by the murids disloyalty. If the Murshid sometimes behaves to the murid harshly it is to humiliate his nafs (ego), it is for the mercy of the murid because the Murshid has taken him under his training and is engaging with him.
In this case the murid has to be patient in this situation, everyone must not forget that everyone is in a different test”
-Ibrahim Fasih, Halidiyye Rasalesi 22
Most of the days of Cyprus, we would await Sheykh Maulana Nazim and Sheykh Abdul Kerim to come down and pray Zuhr. Before and after this time we would be involved working and helping the dergah itself. Coming from the NY Dergah, we were no strangers to being expected to do dergah work.
Some people believe being a Sufi is about meditative practices and some sort of spiritual enlightenment achieved through sitting and writing poetry.
One of the first things we learned with Sheykh Abdul Kerim Effendi is that real spirituality comes from service and hard work.
A lot of work the murids did was in the gardens around the dergah, picking fruit, planting, digging, fixing walls, cleaning toilets.
One day, Sheykh Maulana ordered us to go into the mountains, where the Naksibendi’s own some land, and dig.
So we began our long trek up the mountain.
Up there we found a tree which had to be removed to make room for proper planting and expansion.
That small hut on the side was the musjid of the mountain area. This is a closer view:
There also we found the chicken coop maintained by the dergah people.
Looking to follow Sheykhs orders we were eager to find exactly what we were supposed to dig. That is where we met Yunus.
Yunus lives in the mountains in a small hut… he knew nothing about what we were supposed to dig. But, he understood our plight and desire to follow Sheykh Maulana’s instructions and earn the barakat in them, so he told us to start throwing some stones to the side and dig up some extremely thorny weeds.
This was the rocky territory and the view from the mountain:
Later we were instructed by later arrivals that we were supposed to go higher up the mountain and plant almond trees, this we did as well alhamdulillah. I must say this work was good and hard but it was paradise compared to the work at Yunus’s hut! More about him later inshaAllah.
One of the first things we did on arrival was visit the tomb of Sheykh Maulana’s wife Hajjah Anne Aaminah Adil (ra).
From naksibendi.org:
Hajjah Anne Amina Adil ra, beloved wife of Mevlana Seyh M. Nazim al-Hakkani and mother of all his murids. Hajja Anna passed away peacefully in her home on 3 Shawal, 1425 (Nov. 16, 2004), after seeing a dream that Holy Prophet aleyhi as-salatu ve selam, was coming for her. She was buried in an Osmanli cemetary in Lefke, Cyprus.
The trip to the cemetary is a good walk, over 20 minutes, and in the process we saw much of Lefke.
Oranges were in season and they were everywhere. Little effort apparantly is necessary for the oranges here as they seemed to sprout spontaneously in peoples backyards. I was told that many oranges are destroyed because of their abundance and that during some points in the season exporting is impractical. Further the excessive amounts can lead to acidity in the soil.
On the way was a military installation, from overhead it was clear there were some military drills going on. There are thousands and thousands of soldiers on Cyprus. There are two sides to the island, one of under Greek control and the other is under Turkish Cypriot control.
The arrival to the cemetary allowed me to take in a subtle scene of quiet, graves and graves lay on the hills of this area.
Upon arrival we send our salaams, recite our prayers and seek shifaat.
Hajje Anne’s (ra) Tomb is very special in so many ways. A small path leads one to an special area and platform and enclosed gate with a floral pattern. The tomb is lush with greenery which is not found on the other graves, it attracts the eye and clearly a sign of the saintly life she lived. On the top of the gate is an Ottoman crescent. The tomb has colorful clothes tied to the gate, graced with tasbihs, and there are brooms on the side.
We take the opportunity to be of service and carefully sweep the platform.
Once ready, we again send our salaams to Hajje Anne and, without turning our backs to the grave, we step back from the platform and exit the cemetary. Back to the Lefke Dergah.
Some time ago, during the issues with the NY Times article, I pointed to the freely available audio and transcription and translation of a message from Shaykh Maulana Nazim al-Hakkani to Shaykh Effendi Abdul Kerim. This is a message recorded in audio (link) and since it was mostly in Turkish it was transcribed and translated into text. This message was delivered during Hajje Meryem’s trip to Cyprus in December of 2005. As one might imagine, things have been difficult for Shaykh Effendi to visit Turkey since he was jailed for leading zikr (news story: islamonline.net , NY Times).
I mentioned it as an aside in that response, but the other day I was reading it and Subhan’Allah I was really being moved by the message. There are so many special meanings present in this message that I thought I would share it in its entirety.
Reading this reminds me of the time when I saw Shaykh Maulana Nazim over 10 years ago during his visits in the states. During that time I saw Shaykh Effendi Abdul Kerim by his side at all times. Shaykh Maulana Nazim always turned to him for whatever he requested. Wherever you turned, and you saw Shaykh Maulana you saw Shaykh Abdul Kerim. Helping him up stairs, taking his jubbah, sitting with him… Shaykh Abdul Kerim was always with Shaykh Maulana.
So some time ago I quoted a small portion of this as a chance to view and listen to a reconfirmation of a true ijazaat given to Shaykh Effendi some time ago.
But much more importantly, it is a rare glimpse for a reader and student into the long and close relationship between Shaykh Maulana Nazim and Shaykh Abdul Kerim.
===
BismillahirRahmanirRahim
This document accompanies the audio file
20051216_1426-ThulQada-14_MSN_Message_to_SAK.wma
That audio file is a conversation in Turkish and English between Mevlana Seyh Muhammad Nazim al-Hakkani al-Kibrisi Hazretleri and Sheykh Abdul Kerim’s wife Meryem. The conversation occurred in Cyprus on December 16, 2005. Seyh Mevlana recorded a message for Sheykh Abdul Kerim. This document contains the translation of Turkish to English.
Begin translation:
Es-Selam aleykum Sheykh Abdul Kerim ‘Sheykhzehumullah’ [A secret title from Sultanul Awliya to Sheykh Abdul Kerim Efendi]. This is addressing you. Selam aleykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatahu. Selam to you and those who walk behind you. Salatu selam to our Efendi [saws]. Highest praises to our Creator, Janab Maula.
[Referring to Hajja Meryem] She has come, our relative has come. Hajja Meryem has come. She has completed everything fully. We thank you. May Allah increase the baraka of your pocket. May He give health to your body. May He walk you to the presence of the “Muddallahs” behind the Mountain of Kaf. May you travel the world well.
Sheykh Abdul Kerim how is it? What is happening? While you are eating lamb, here Sheykh Efendi Hazretleri likes the tender side of the meat, meat with eggs, roasted kebab with pita, and piyaz with parsley and onions. Let us see. Do not forget this. Eh, we can do them here but you think on it. Think on it and you will receive the reward and at least I will get the smell. [To others present] Abdul Kerim’s murids are eating kebab. Do you see it, Ya Hu? [Sultanul Awliya impersonating Sheykh Abdul Kerim Efendi] “What can I do Sheykh Efendi? I am working with these crazy ones here and snow came, we are freezing… my Sheykh, may you enter into this soil.”
Wear fox fur. Or Abdul Kerim do you know what to do? Take it out like a sack, that big ram’s skin, take it off just like a sack, salt it, make it beautiful, then make arms for it and wear it over yourself. The cold will not affect you at all that way. Oh, and for a headcover use the head of a wolf. Take it and when you go outside in that cold you will have on your back the ram’s skin, the head of the wolf on your head, and a stick in your hand. With your cane you will go patrolling towards the evening. Do not bring problems to our head by going out during the night, because the other ones [the jinns] will come to accompany you. You know there are so many that love you. There are so many on those parts. At your appearance they will flee. Therefore, have roosters at the house- seven roosters. One of them to be a gulidik [a type of rooster in Cyprus]. If there is a white rooster that would be very preferable. And where those roosters crow, the other ones will not come, they will not stay, they will run away. If you see one of the other ones there, appear to them like this. Say to them, “I am freezing here in the cold. Bring us wood. With the wood bring us other gifts. Along with the gifts bring us some gold, silver, and buhur. There is a need for those things, there are many poor humble ones here.� Therefore, may those ones serve you.
This is a good instruction for you. Then your duty is to be a friendly companion to your ikhwan that come and go. Be in friendly companionship. May their hearts be in comfort. You are a man with a frowning face. You are not to stay with a long face like that Abdul Kerim. Smile a little. What is it? Did your ships sink in the Black Sea? No, no such sinking. So then nicely welcome those who come and go with a smiling face. If you can not welcome them with a smiling face, then wear a fake moustache. Then put ornaments on your beard. Brush part of your beard; make part of it red, and another part green. Then when you go out with your cane like that, those who see you will laugh and when they laugh you will laugh also. If you like, I can send Emperor Huseyin Efendi to you. Emperor Huseyin Efendi is fearless. But, he has fallen to whisperings and says he has high blood sugar but there is no truth to this. [Huseyin is Sheykh Abdul Kerim's cousin. Huseyin serves Sheykh Mevlana 24 hours a day, overseeing his animals and groves. He spends much of the day with Sheykh Mevlana, staying with him until everyone leaves and then helping him up the stairs at the end of the night.]
-[Sultanul Awliya impersonating Huseyin Efendi] “There is no money Sheykh Efendi. We need money. We want money. Then we will get some barley. Since I am driving the tractor, we will get some seeds. We will get also get a donkey and a horse.
Nonsense I say. When I pull some out and give it to him I ask him, “How are you Huseyin?” “Very good Ya Hu, Hazret. Sheykh Efendi Hazretleri very good” he says….”Of course I am an emperor. Look there is money in my pocket.” Then that other Bilal comes and snatches it from his pocket. Huseyin does not even know. His pockets are greasy. Why, because you can find everything in his pocket. I had one of his pockets made from leather so he can put watery food in it. Huseyin is good now. I have provided a fez for him. When he wears the fez those who see him think he is a pasha. They say, “Huseyin Bey you have progressed, if you were in the time of the Padishah he would make you grand vizier.” [Bilal is one of Seyh Mevlana's men who works on the land also. Seyh Mevlana takes care of him. He takes money from Huseyin's pocket, and Huseyin pretends not to notice.]
“Of course he would make me. What did you think you so and so’s. What I can not be a vizier? Of course I can be a vizier. But we have fallen to the times of you upstarts, we are in a dump.”
[Talking to his son] Are you in a rush Mehmet? Come, come sit down. Right now we were giving instructions to the New Moon. To the Risen Moon. [Referring to Sheykh Abdul Kerim.]
[Talking again to Sheykh Abdul Kerim] This will be enough for you. So many people who are lacking intelligence have arrived, so we have to address to them. You have lots of intelligence. Say selam, continue the zikir, say Allah. When you say Allah, may you shake the earth and sky. I gave you permission. May Janabi Hakk dress you with majesty. When the bird sees you, may it come sit on your head [a big blessing], and when the wolf sees you, may it run away. I am pleased with the service you have done, well done. The awliyas’ divine look is on you. For what reason? Your father is very connected with us. His father, Mehmet Dayi, is very connected with us. Those above him in your family chain there were pure awliyas that lived on that mountain. They were Allah’s humble servants. They were in worship and prayer and they were those who were not rebellious to Allah. All of them had the medal of sainthood. For that reason it has come to you. [Sheykh Mevlana is referring to the mountain village of Alifotos in Cyprus. This was Sheykh Abdul Kerim's family village until they were forced to move north during the civil war in which Sheykh Abdul Kerim bacame mujahid. Sheykh Mevlana and his wife HaciAnne visited Alifotos many times. Four generations of Sheykh Abdul Kerim's extended family served Sheykh Mevlana there.]
The service that you do is beautiful, with their baraka continue that service. Bringing a person to Islam, iman, tarika is more valuable and rewarding than acquiring all of America in your hands. Continue it. Do not look at what people say. May you have no business with gossip. You are with permission, look at your job. If someone interferes then I will interfere. I have given you the permission. Gather as much as you can gather. May your service be accepted, may your body be with health, may your table always be full, may your door be open to guests. May good servants come to the place you are. May the evil of sheytan, the evil of the enemy, the evil of government be distant from you. May your sustenance not end. May your Nur/Light increase and never decrease. May your line not be cut off. May your future be good and selam aleykum wa rahmetullahi wa barakatahu.
-[Hajja Meryem] Thank you very much.
This is a statement that I never give to anyone, like this statement.
He never laughing or smiling. But [after he] is going to hear to listen to this my statement he never leave to smile or to laugh.
I am very happy with him. [Sheykh Mevlana became very emotional at this point.]
We remember, Sheykh Abdul Kerim.
-[Hajja Meryem says] Sheykh Mevlana, I am very happy with him too. Thank you for putting us together.
Allah putting this.
-[Hajja Meryem says] Thank you for facilitating!
Allah jalla jallallahu leaves this sort of unnecessary duties to take care of to a man like me. For that there is no damage. [Here Sheykh Mevlana is humbling himself. He does this often, but too many people take this at face value and do not recognize his true station.] Allah jalla jallallahu…Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar…what glory He is at, what a glory. Is He to look to Cyprus or Turkey? What value does it have, not even a dot. Nothing…he is to command over us. From us he appoints a servant. Janab Hakk has them execute His command. That is why we must stay away from opposing Janab Hakk. We must hold on to His command. Ya Rabb you know.
Fatiha.
[Some discussion about gifts ...]
-[Hajja Meryem says] Sheykh Mevlana thank you. A wonderful week mashAllah, very full. Hajja Rukiyye, thank you for your hospitality. Thank you so much and to all your murids who help you here.
This lady’s heart is very pure. She is a person like gold.
Thank you for visiting. Everything. Allah gives you much more. Health and wealth. Safety to be protected here and hereafter and to reach eternity, eternal life. For the honor of the most honored servant in Divine Presence, Seyyidina Muhammed sas.
Fatiha.
Did you see it? [Sultanul Awliya is displaying pictures of Sheykh Abdul Kerim Efendi's dergah in New York to his son] Sheykh Efendi [Sheykh Abdul Kerim Efendi] has made the makam very beautiful. Our people can not do so.
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