"I was a hidden treasure and wanted to be found, praised and loved."

"I was a hidden treasure and wanted to be found, praised and loved," says Allah The Creator according to a tradition by the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.v.). Sufism introduces the wisdom of Islam through the role of man in creation, and thus emphasizes its message of love and peace.

Sufism and Islam - Radio 1 Interview

by Stefanie Oswalt
Sheikh Eşref Efendi | Berlin 09.07.2011

Question:

Sufis and Islam belong together. Is that right?

Sheikh Eşref Efendi:

Muslim means to be a servant devoted to God. How must a servant be or pursue his servanthood? Disciplined and loving. He must take his work seriously and love it so that he can succeed.

Sharia is an Arabic word for the basic law. Every law speaks for discipline. Discipline is Sharia and Tariqa/Sufism is love. Both must be like body and soul.

Every law is hard to take. However, tolerance and love is easy. Sharia is hard, Sufism is easy. However, only both together, produces a perfect way of life. If one or the other is missing, everything is deficient and nothing works properly.

People must know that discipline alone will not bring up a child properly.

The education of the child must always be spiced with love, otherwise the psyche suffers. Only with love, however, also. In an education must be both:

Discipline and love!

Question:

Where are the differences to the (conservative) Islam? Are there different understandings of the Koran?

Sheikh Eşref Efendi:

Islam is Islam! The groups differ in the correct understanding of the holy words and in their methods. Unfortunately, Islam is misunderstood and incompetently interpreted by most Muslims and Europeans,

Question:

How do the rites differ? What are dhikr and sohbet?

Sheikh Eşref Efendi:

Dhikr is the source of strength for the believer. Allah the Lord says, "I am with My servant as long as he remembers Me." In dhikir we recite and internalize the holy names of Allah.

In the Sohbet, we get to know the characteristics of these names and Allah better, and we interpret the holy revelations of Allah in images and parables appropriate to the times, so that we can interpret and understand everything in life correctly.

Question:

Sufism is practiced in different orders/brotherhoods. Which form does Sheikh Eşref Efendi and the Berlin/German Sufis follow?

Sheikh Eşref Efendi:

Allah says in the Holy Quran, "O My messengers! Speak to the people in a language that they also understand."

The Europeans and especially the Germans are theater lovers.

They love theater and they understand the language of theater the best. We therefore convey the truth and reality of existence in a theatrical way. So we play a serious game of spiritual chants and teachings. This is well received.

They honor us then like.... Till Eulenspiegel?

Question:

What are the differences with other branches of Sufism?

Sheikh Eşref Efendi:

There are 40 true tariqa, Sufi orders, which may differ in their methods but never in the guidelines of Islam. Naqshibandi- Rabbani Order is the oldest, largest and the only one established by the Holy Prophet Muhammad PBUH by the order of Allah Himself.

Question:

Are there any numbers about the Sufis? Worldwide? In Germany? How has the faith developed in Germany/Berlin? Who becomes Sufi here? Why is Sufism also interesting for people of western influence? How is the motto: "Sow respect - reap love" to be understood?

Sheikh Eşref Efendi:

To the best of our knowledge, the Naqshibandi Rabbani Order is the largest and most widespread Sufi Order in the world, also the most widely known in Germany.

People, especially Europeans, come to Sufism because they have had enough of materialism and egoism and are looking for true peace of mind and, because they long for love and the true Beloved.

Sufism is the path of love, of sincere charity. For only what is sincere is of permanence. Sincerity and constancy in love is what many people seek but cannot find elsewhere.

That is why we say: Sow respect, reap love. Because love has nothing to do with understanding. We said at the beginning, people persecute and deny what they cannot understand. If they would at least respect it, they could reap, even if not understanding, love. Therefore, sow respect - reap love.

Question:

I would also appreciate a few words about the biography of Sheikh Eşref Effendi.

What does it mean to live and teach oriental spirituality in the West? Did he come to Berlin specifically or was he sent?

Sheikh Eşref Efendi:

We were commissioned in 1992 by our Grand Master Sheikh Muhammed Nazım el Haqqani el Rabbani to address people in all cultural strata and nationalities and to assist them spiritually. Europe and Germany have been the priority. Of course, it is an honor and a pleasure for us to offer the Europeans delicious food from the heavenly cuisine of the Orient. We are honored.