1 - Endless Bliss - Hüseyin Hilmi Işık

For the sake of the Master of this and the next worlds (’alaihi wa
alâ âlihissalawâtu wattaslîmât) may He let you attain the
blessings of this and the next worlds!
Worldly pleasures and pains are of two sorts: those of the
body and and those of the soul. Everything that gives pleasure
to the body, gives pain to the soul. Everything that hurts the
body, tastes sweet to the soul. It is understood that the soul and
the body are opposites of each other. In this world, however,
the soul has fallen down to the grade of the body, united with
the body and given itself up to the body. The soul, taking the
shape of the body, has begun to take pleasure from the things
that give pleasure to the body, and to feel pain at the things that
are painful to the body. Common people are in this state. The
âyat “We then demoted it (the soul) to the lowest grade” in
Sûrat-u-Wa-t-tîn indicates their state. If a person’s soul does not
get rid of this slavery, this dependence, if it does not go back up
to its own grade and reach its own native land, shame upon him
thousands of times!
Of all creatures, man is in the highest rank
But he also remains deprived of it, to be frank;
If he doesn’t turn back and follow the road hinted.
Who else could ever be more disappointed?
Thus one of the illnesses of the soul is that it supposes the
things that harm it to be a blessing and the things that aid it to
be a disadvantage. This state of the soul is similar to that of a
person with a sick stomach; this person tastes what is sweet as
bitter because his bile is unhealthy. At is it necessary to cure
this person, so it is necessary to save the soul from this
disease. The soul, being cured, should take pleasure from the
inconveniences and pain given to the body.
To attain this pleasure and delight
Until you die, work hard day and night.
By thinking and observing well, it can be understood that
were it not for the cares and disasters in the world, the world
would have no value. Tragic events and misfortunes do away
with the darkness and dullness of the world. The bitterness of
cares and sorrows is like the bitterness of useful medicine that
will cure a disease. I, this poor person, understand that at some
banquets given with wicked intentions or for ostentation or for
some advantages, the offence given to the host by finding fault
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