Ego Needs Disciplining

Bismi Llāhi r-Raḥmāni r-Raḥīm

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ صَفًّا كَأَنَّهُم بُنْيَانٌ مَّرْصُوصٌ

(Qur’ān 61:04)

“Inna Allāha Yuĥibbu Al-Ladhīna Yuqātilūna Fī Sabīlihi ŞaffāanKa’annahum Bunyānun Marsūs”

“Indeed, Allah loves those who fight in His cause in a row as though they are a [single] structure joined firmly.” Ṣadaqa Llāhu l-‘Aẓīm.

Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla says, those who are on the right way should be straight. Uneven rows are something that Allāh ﷻ does not like. What Allāh ﷻ loves is for people, believers to be straight and upon order and discipline. When each is according to their own mind, then the order is out of alignment. There is disorder. Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla then sends people to put them in order and discipline, so that they can do it by force.

Now Muslims – Mawlānā Shaykh Nāẓim would say, when going to ḥajj, people down there push each other and shove others when making tawāf. Some are patient, some shout. Whereas if they did it with order and discipline it would have been great. Then, with the manifestation and revelations – He was with Mawlana Sheikh ‘Abdu Llāh ad-Dāghestānī at that time. He said, “Look up.”

He looked up, there are awliyā’, angels and so on. The same manifestation is always present above the Kaaba. How many are there of these blessed ones, rows and rows, making tawāf. But they are doing such a beautiful tawāf that it’s like water. They are making dhikr of Allāh ﷻ, silently, beautifully with tasbīhat. He said, “Then look down again.” He looked down and it was the same: shouting, calling, pushing.

Therefore, Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla sends them people so that they put them straight in the way. And they do not like those people. If you are straight, Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla wouldn’t have sent them. We were in ḥajj. We came back yesterday. A person should not be ungrateful there. An ungrateful person is not a good person, not a believer, not a beautiful Muslim. Allāh ﷻ has given them there, He ﷻ has put it in their hands: Hijaz, Kaaba, Makkah, Madinah. They are what’s suitable for us. We don’t understand with goodness.

That’s why they put so many soldiers, police, etc. so that they can do it properly. If Muslims had done it properly, there would be no need for them. Everyone would have been in order. Some people find it hard on their egos. Don’t feel it’s hard. Your ego deserves more. It’s good these men are showing you the way and helping you without beating you.

That’s why, people shouldn’t look for faults in anyone. Faults and incompleteness are in yourself, in us. Faults and shame are in us. Therefore, people should not be ungrateful there. Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla has placed them there. They serve you. They do this for you. If you had done it properly, and not been selfish yourself, if you would have been straight so that your Muslim brother would benefit like you, there wouldn’t be a need for them at all. But there’s a need because when one does just for himself, everything becomes chaotic.

That’s why, to shove (discipline) the ego, Allāh ﷻ subjects some things. He puts them in service. That service becomes according to the needs of the people. As we said, those blessed ones who make tawāf up there need neither the police nor the municipal police nor the soldiers. Whereas, everything is needed for those down there.

Therefore, may Allāh ﷻ help them. May Allāh ﷻ improve them. Because it is necessary to come back without losing the rewards earned there; at least without losing some of them. There are great rewards there. Everything has a hundred thousand times more thawāb. But the sins committed there are also the same. Even if a person comes back with half of the rewards or with a little, he would’ve come back with a great gain.

May Allāh ﷻ not take those gains from us, in shā’a Llāh. May Allāh ﷻ give us wisdom. May He ﷻ give us beauty, in shā’a Llāh. Wa min Allah at-Tawfiq.

Al-Fatiha.

• Mawlana Sheikh Muhammad Adil ar-Rabbaniق

11 June 2025/ 15 Dhu l-Hijjah 1446

Fajr Prayer – Akbaba Dergah, Istanbul