ISLAMIC PUBLISHING

He Ney (flute) that is mentioned is Rûmî s stories in fact represents the perfect man (Insan-i Kâmil). The stages a reed goes through from the reed bed to becoming a ney portrays the maturation of a human being, a representation of the steps of purifying the nafs (lower self) and refining the heart. In the same way that the ney is severed from the reed bed and this separation causes it to lament in pain, the perfect man, who has come from the realm of souls and enters a body made out of clay, known as the cage made of flesh, yearns for the original realm. Through this yearning a human being goes through ascetic discipline (riyâda), meditation (murâqaba), reflection (tafakkur), Divine love and tribulations until he reaches maturity and finds perfection.

The most important things that give one s life a meaning are taqwâ (piety) and sincerity. Taqwâ is to curb one s fleshly desires and to strengthen the spiritual potential through prayers to God and doing good deeds for humanity. Hence taqwâ is required in every field of life, in our belief, worship, in our dealings with others, even in our every breath.

Islam: Spirit and Form, which throws light on the basic principles of Islam from the spiritual perspective, is a reference book in all regards. The book talks about the three important steps that take a human being to the presence of the Divine. Islam, the first of these steps, is to surrender. The second is submission, the state of mind that finds its true meaning once crowned with faith or iman.

The greatest fruit of the blessing of faith is to look at creation with the eyes of the Creator and to approach all creatures with love. This elevates the life of a human being to higher levels and causes him or her to enter a world of forgiveness, mercy and love. One can then spread love and mercy to all creation. Mercy is a fire that is never extinguished in the heart of a Muslim. In this world, it is the distinguishing essence of being human which leads us through the heart to union with our Lord…. A believer is always on the first line of every struggle which bestows peace to the hearts of others.

Such a mercy he was that his compassion and beneficence surrounded all humanity, even all creation. Such a mercy he was that he was granted to all souls and minds as a fountain of life, love and wisdom, knowledge, and learning adorned with endless blessing. Such a mercy he was that the Quran, a guide to the true path, was endowed through him. Such a mercy he was that he became unique among messengers in that he was the dearest to Allah and was granted with the spiritual night journey to heavens. Such a mercy he was that without him, all worlds would turn to a desolate desert. Such a mercy he was that the origin of creation emerged with his glorious being. All previous messengers came to know his glorious and blessed being. Such a mercy he was that all beauties bear reflections from him. No flower blossoms without having a piece from his light. None would exist without him.

Islam is a divine cast that shapes a person’s faith and practice but it also moulds his morals and social interactions.
A Muslim who therefor allows Islam to enter in his heart and soul and so in his life has values principles and direction. The thought of embracing the cold and callous commercial ways of capitalism does not even cross his mind. Capitalism urges him to recognize no other standard than his own self-interests.
What marks Islam out is the line it draws between Halal (legitimate) and Haram (prohibited).
This book based on a conversation between Altınoluk revue and the Cheikh Osman Nuri Topbaş, aims to warn against the most common mistakes made in today’s commercial life and advise a right way out.

Our every breath consists of an exhalation and an inhalation, each succeeding the other without pause. This process occurs naturally and most often without any consciousness on our part. Every breath is essential to our continuation; with each one our life is prolonged. Yet one day this will stop; at that time, at the moment of our final breath, what will be the state of our hearts? In this elegantly written book, Ustadh Osman Nuri Topbas provides us with an important reminder of the necessity of preparing for death. Every living creature will die, even the most dogmatic sceptic will concede this. Yet not every creature will have spent its life in preparation for the final moment, for the last breath.

Altruism is the greatest sign of real love. Depending on level of his love, the lover regards the sacrifice for the sake of his beloved as pleasure and inevitable duty. For this reason, it is required for a believing heart to encompass and mercifully embrace all of the creation out of respect for the Creator. A serious campaign of infāq and service is needed in the contemporary world in which brotherhood sentiments have weakened, peace and tranquility in the society have been lost, and hate and enmity have intensified. In addition to these ills of contemporary society, the ever present social and economic crises and the submission of individuals to the material world hinder financial sacrifices, one of the most neglected aspects of our faith. In this regard, the first subjects to address are our duties through zakāt, infāq, and social institutions of mercy such as waqfs or endowments.

Hülefa-i Raşidin The most exceptional era in human history in terms of virtue, justice, altruism, and ethics was the era of the golden age of Islam. It is called a golden age because Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu a. s), whose inward spirit many Muslims understand as the original cause of creation, was alive in the world during that time. The spiritual power of the Prophet shaped the era in which he lived. And it was then possible for great numbers of ordinary people to encounter him regularly and to get to know him well. The people of that honored age emerged out of the darkness of violent ignorance and made their way to the civilization of peaceful virtue. Then they climbed the peaks of knowledge of Allah. Members of this community are therefore called the Venerable Companions of the Prophet. They were faithful to the Prophet in all matters.

In order for us to attain to the superior virtues that will make us acceptable to Allah, we must nourish heartfelt love for the friends of Allah and the Blessed Prophet to whom they are devoted. And it is him that we must follow. For this reason it is hoped that, as we become truly acquainted with the Prophet and take as our model his superior characteristics, which have been praised by Allah, we will have the honour of being amongst those brothers that the Prophet gave glad tidings of. If we recognize him today, he will recognize us tomorrow in that great gathering on the last Day. If we reach a state in which we see him in reality then he will see us. If we listen to him and do as he says, then he will hear our cries and take us by the hand. In this way we will become for others, an exhibition of his beautiful example. This is the greatest virtue of all!

Since the friends of God are the heirs to the Prophets, they continue to practice the prophetic guidance and moral perfection for the rest of human beings. In other words, the friends of God are highly respected personalities for those who did not see the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad , with respect to taking lessons from their exemplary actions. The guidance and advice coming from the tongues of the friends of God breathe new life into the hearts of others through a language of mercy and in effect these counsels spring from the prophetic instructions. The friends of Allah are a means of blessing and mercy for their neighborhood. They are arms of mercy and compassion embracing to all the segments of the community. They are also like magnets attracting the believers, for Allah the Almighty loved these righteous servants and have people love them. This is why the friends of Allah are not forgotten after their death and continue to live in the hearts of those who love them.

Humanity has never been able to remain independent from religion due to their inherent predisposition to belief. They have always been in search for the truth and the true religion. Academic research has shown that a belief in Allah, in one way or another, and remnants of true religion were unfailingly present in every tribe and society. Islam, since the day it was born, has been the religion speaking the needs of all humanity and again been the only true religion that is acceptable and recognized in the presence of Allah. This book introduces the religion of Islam in the light of the verses of the Qur’an, authentic sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, and the examples from the lives of the Muslim scholars.