Abstract
Nablusî (d. 1143/1731), who played an important role in shaping of spiritual life in Syria in the age of his life (17th-18th centuries), was a scholar in material and spiritual sciences authorized by Kadiriyya Tariqa and Naqshibandiyya Tariqa. The most striking works of Nablusî, who wrote about three hundred works, are those related to mysticism. One of these books is Miftâhu'l-ma‘ıyye fı düstûri't-tarîkati'n-Nakşibendiyye. This book is an explanation of the book Tâciyye written by Tajuddin b. Zakariyya (d. 1050/1640). This article aims to reveal the viewpoint of Nablusi on the eleven principles of Naqshbandiyya by taking the mentioned book into the center. Eleven principles determined by Abdulhalik-i Gucduvani (d. 612/1220) and Bahauddin Naqshiband (d. 791/1389) are called Kelimât-i Kudsiyya. The basic goal of these principles, expressed in Persian words, is to provide spiritual development of the disciples.
The first of these eleven principles (Yâd Kerd) always advises to remember the Almighty God. The second principle (Bâz Geşt), humbly advises to return to God. The third principle (Nigâh Dâşt), advises protecting the heart against any thought. The fourth principle advises to preserve the state of return to the heart with the heart and to remember Allâh forever. The fifth principle (Hûş Der-Dem), advises taking every breath consciously. The sixth principle (Sefer Der Vatan), advises to move away from the people and to return to God; The seventh principle (Nazar Ber-Kadem), advises that you take each step carefully. The eighth principle (Halvet Der Encümen), advises to be with God among the people; the ninth principle (Vukûf-i Zamânî), proposes to spend all time consciously. The tenth principle (Vukûf-i Adedî) advises to abide by the number of dhikr; eleventh principle (Vukûf-i Kalbî), advises to keep the heart under constant control.
Summary
Nablusi who was one of the masters of spiritual life in Syria between the 17th and 18th centuries, wrote his work Miftâhu’l-Maıyye as a commentary on Tâciyye written by Tajuddin b. Zakariyya who one of the most important people of Naqshbandiyya. This study aims to reveal the perspective of Nablusi on the eleven principles of Naqshbandiyya. We can briefly summarize these eleven principles:
The first principle is Yâd Kard. This principle states that the disciple should always remember Almighty Allah by saying “lâ ilâha illallâh” every day, with his tongue and heart, as much as he is recommended to him. Making this dhikr continuously, leads to enlightening the heart. Enlighten the heart, leads to purify the heart from all existence except Almighty Allah.
The second principle is Bâz Gâsht. This principle, advises to avoid good or bad thoughts that come from spontaneous memory at the time of remembrance. According to Nablusi, the dhikr must be purified from creatures other than Allah until he becomes real dhikr.
The third principle is Nigâh Dâsht. This principle states that the heart must be protected from khawater when reading Kalima Tawhid. According to Nablusi khawater are thoughts of the kind of good and evil that comes to the heart. The prevention of these thoughts depends on the repetition of Kalima Tawhid over and over and not bringing any feelings or thoughts to mind.
The fourth principle is Yâd Dâsht. This principle, states that the disciple should always envisage himself in the presence of Almighty Allâh. According to nablusi, this concept shouldn’t be in the form of trying to imagine Allâh, but rather in the form of envisioning that it is in front of Allâh.
The fifth principle is Hûşh Dar-Dam. This principle, advises the disciple to take every breath as if it were in front of Allah. According to Nablusi, a disciple who thinks that he is in front of Allâh should give his breath consciously. The breath coming out of mouth is more important than the breath, which entered the mouth. Because the person can't control the breath that goes into his mouth, but he can control the breath that goes out of his mouth. Therefore, the disciple must consciously give every breath out of his mouth.
The sixth principle is Safar Dar-Vatan. This principle, states that the disciple should move away from the people and turn to Allâh. According to Nablusi, servant's turning to Allâh takes place by moving away from his bad qualities such as greed and miserliness in his soul and by equipping with good qualities such as tolerance and generosity.
The seventh principle is Nazar Bar-Qadam. This principle, instructs the disciple to carefully take every step he takes, to protect his eyes from haram and unnecessary things, and to bend his head and walk by looking at his feet in order not to distract him. According to Nablusi, walking by looking at the feet carries the aim of not seeing the behavior of blind people and not interested in their behavior. Because looking at those who are spiritually awake leads to spiritual alertness, and looking at those unaware leads to unawareness.
The eighth principle is Khalwat Dar Anjuman. This principle, states that the disciple should be with his heart in the front of Almighty Allah, even though he is with his body among the people. According to Nablusi, being with body among people is done with proper actions, words that do not cause sin, and acts with them in all kinds of worship. Being front of Allâh with the heart, takes place by thinking about Allâh and turning away from other beings.
The ninth principle is Wuqûf-i Zamânî. This principle, means that the disciple, must consciously spend all her time and question herself all the time. The disciple should be grateful to Allâh for every time he does good work and repent for every time he does bad work.
The tenth principle is Wuqûf-i Adadî. This principle, states that it is necessary to follow a certain number in dhikr. According to Nablusi, the determination of a certain number in the dhikr is formed to exercise the nafs into a number and to gather fragmented thoughts around a single thought. Therefore, the disciple must adhere to the recommended dhikr number.
The eleventh principle is Wuqûf-i Qalbî. This principle, states that the heart must be in the face of Allâh without any other purpose than Allâh. This happens when the disciple sees the work of Allâh in everything he looks at