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Emerald Hills of the Heart EMERALD HILLS OF THE HEART Key Concepts in the Practice of Sufism 1 EMERALD HILLS OF THE HEART Key Concepts in the Practice of Sufism 1 M. Fethullah Gülen Translated by Ali Ünal New Jersey Copyright © 2011 by Tughra Books Copyright © 2011 by Işık Yayınları Originally published in Turkish as Kalbin Zümrüt Tepeleri 1 1994 Revised edition 2004, 2011 First edition in English published 1998 Reprinted 1999 14 13 12 11 5 6 7 8 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the Publisher. Published by Tughra Books 345 Clifton Ave., Clifton, NJ, 07011, USA www.tughrabooks.com For other titles by Gülen http://fgulen.org Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data for the first edition: Gulen, M. Fethullah (Muhammed Fethullah), [Kalbin zümrüt tepelerinde. English] Key concepts in the practice of Sufism / M. Fethullah Gulen. [Virginia] : Fountain, 2000. Includes index. ISBN 1-932099-23-9 1. Sufism - - Doctrines. I. Title. BP189.3 .G8413 2000 297.4 - - dc21 00-008011 ISBN (paperback): 1-932099-23-9 ISBN (hardcover): 1-932099-24-7 Printed by Çaðlayan A.Þ. Izmir, Turkey Table of Contents About the Author ........................................................................vii Sufism and Its Origin ................................................................xiii Tawba, Awba, Inaba (Repentance, Penitence, Contrition) .......... 1 Muhasaba (Self-Criticism) .......................................................... 7 Tafakkur (Reflection) ................................................................. 11 Firar and I‘tisam (Fleeing and Taking Shelter) .........................14 Halwa and ‘Uzla (Privacy and Seclusion) .................................18 Hal and Maqam (State and Station) ...........................................22 Qalb (Heart) ..............................................................................24 Huzn (Sadness or Sorrow) ......................................................... 30 Khawf and Khashya (Fear and Reverence) ................................34 Raja (Hope or Expectation) ....................................................... 39 Zuhd (Asceticism) ...................................................................... 43 Taqwa (Piety) ............................................................................. 47 Wara’ (Abstinence) ....................................................................52 ‘Ibada, ‘Ubudiya, and ‘Ubada (Worship, Servanthood, and Deep Devotion) ....................... 55 Muraqaba (Self-Supervision) .................................................... 59 Ikhlas (Sincerity or Purity of Intention) .....................................62 Istiqama (Straightforwardness) .................................................. 65 Tawakkul, Taslim, Tafwiz, and Thiqa (Reliance, Surrender, Commitment, and Confidence) ..........69 Khuluq (Good Nature) ............................................................... 74 Tawadu (Humility) ..................................................................... 78 Emerald Hills of the Heart Futuwwa (Youth and Chivalry) ..................................................83 Sidq (Truthfulness) ..................................................................... 86 Haya (Modesty) ......................................................................... 91 Shukr (Thankfulness) ................................................................. 96 Sabr (Patience) ......................................................................... 101 Rida (Resignation) ................................................................... 106 Inbisat (Expansion) .................................................................. 117 Qast and ‘Azm (Decision and Resolution) ............................... 119 Irada, Murid, and Murad (Will, the Willing One, and the Willed One) ...................... 122 Yaqin (Certainty) ...................................................................... 125 Dhikr (Recitation of God’s Names) ......................................... 130 Ihsan (Perfect Goodness) .........................................................135 Basira and Firasa (Insight and Discernment) ......................... 138 Sakina and Itmi’nan (Serenity and Peacefulness) ....................141 Qurb and Bu‘d (Nearness and Remoteness) ............................ 145 Ma‘rifa (Spiritual Knowledge of God) ....................................148 Mahabba (Love) ...................................................................... 151 ‘Ashq (Intense, Ecstatic Love) ................................................. 155 Shawq and Ishtiyaq (Joyful Zeal and Yearning) ...................... 158 Jadhb and Injidhab (Attraction toward God) ...........................162 Dahsha and Hayra (Utter Astonishment and Amazement) ................................. 166 Qabd and Bast (Contraction and Openness) ............................169 Faqr and Ghina (Poverty and Richness) ................................. 172 A Partial Glossary of Sufi Terms ............................................. 175 Bibliography ............................................................................ 179 Index ........................................................................................ 183 About the Author orn in Erzurum, in eastern Turkey, in 1941, M. Fethullah Gülen is an Islamic scholar and thinker, and a B prolific writer and poet. He was trained in the religious sciences by several celebrated Muslim scholars and spiritual masters. Gülen also studied the principles and theories of mod- ern social and physical sciences. Based on his exceptional skills in learning and focused self-study, he soon surpassed his peers. In 1958, after attaining excellent examination results, he was awarded a state preacher’s license, and was quickly promoted to a post in Izmir, Turkey’s third largest province. It was here that Gülen started to crystallize his theme and expand his audience base. In his sermons and speeches he emphasized the pressing social issues of the times: his particular aim was to urge the younger generation to harmonize intellectual enlightenment with wise spirituality and a caring, humane activism. Gülen did not restrict himself to teaching in the inner cities. He traveled around the provinces in Anatolia and lectured not only in mosques, but also at town meetings and corner coffee houses. This enabled him to reach a more representative cross- section of the population and to attract the attention of the aca- demic community, especially the student body. The subject mat- ter of his speeches, whether formal or informal, was not restrict- ed explicitly to religious questions; he also talked about educa- tion, science, Darwinism, about the economy and social justice. It was the depth and quality of his speeches on such a wide range of topics that most impressed the academic community, and won their attention and respect. Gülen retired from formal teaching duties in 1981, having inspired a whole generation of young students. His efforts, dat- viii Emerald Hills of the Heart ing from the 1960s, especially in educational reform, have made him one of the best-known and respected figures in Turkey. From 1988 to 1991 he gave a series of sermons as preacher emeritus in some of the most famous mosques in major popula- tion centers, while continuing to deliver his message in the form of popular conferences, not only in Turkey, but also in Western Europe. Main Ideas As mentioned before, Gülen dreamed of a generation that would combine intellectual “enlightenment” with pure spirit- uality, wisdom, and continuous activism. Being notably knowl- edgeable in religious and social sciences and familiar with the principles of “material” sciences, he instructed his students in most of these areas. The first students who attended his courses in İ zmir became the vanguard of a revived generation willing to serve his ideals. Fethullah Gülen unequivocally believes and asserts that if you wish to serve people in the best way possible, simply make them thirst knowledge and equip them with love and self-sac- rifice or altruism. “One who wants to live should first try to make others live,” is one of the primary principles he follows. Dedicated to solving society’s problems, he maintains that the road to justice for all is paved with adequate universal education which aims at both intellectual and spiritual enlightenment, for only this will engender a sufficient level of understanding and dialogue in the society for the rights of others. To this end, he has encouraged society’s elite and community leaders, industri- alists, and business leaders in his community to support quality education for the needy. With donations from these sources, edu- cational trusts have been able to establish many schools, both in Turkey and abroad. Gülen is well-known for his ardent endeavor to strengthen bonds among people. He maintains that there are more bonds bringing people together than those separating them. Based on this About the Author ix belief, he works without rest for a sincere, sound dialogue and mutual understanding. He was one of the founders of the Foun- dation of Journalists and Writers, a group that promotes dialogue and understanding both in Turkey and abroad. Gülen envisions a twenty-first century in which we will see the sprouting of a spiritual dynamic that will revive the now-dormant moral values. He envisions
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