God cannot recognize His friends!

According to their followers, what didn't the “friends of God” do? We call them Sheikhs; in some places, there are those who call them 'gavs' (helpers) or 'kutup' (poles). They spoke with animals, for instance; they could be in many places at the same time, and they traveled distances at the speed of light. Moreover, they chatted with the dead and even resurrected them; according to legends, there were even those who claimed to speak with God. In short, according to believers, they possessed superhuman qualities, and precisely for this reason, their followers chose the rank of “friendship” for them within the quota of God.

However, an event we are experiencing these days has, to some extent, confused people. I say this not from the perspective of those looking at the issue from the outside, but from the perspective of those clustered around the circle. For those looking at the sects from the outside, the situation is already clear enough.

Let us come to the issue that is the subject of our article: The incidents occurring in the Menzil and İsmailağa communities, which come from the Naqshbandi sect tradition, seem to have cast a shadow over the issue of friendship. The divisions occurring between the Sheikhs or leaders have brought with them questions about what the followers will attach themselves to and how. The Menzil community has split into three. In İsmailağa, Cübbeli Ahmet and a group accompanying him announced that they were attached to another name. It seems the sect square, if not the marketplace, was in turmoil.

What was going to happen now?

If one of the names being followed comes from the circle of friends of God, what would be the status of the other claimant? Had he set his sights on this rank even though he did not deserve it, or had someone tried to cross out the other friend of God in order to bestow this title upon him? Since it is out of the question for two people to be in the same position at the same time, one of the situations we have tried to express above must have occurred. For these were the words implicitly spoken in the disputes arising between the followers of the Sheikhs.

Another side of the issue was related to the selection of the newly chosen caliph/leader. Because some names objecting to the situation were stating that dynamics such as the 'shura' (council), consultation, or in other words, deliberation were not taken into account during the selection, and that the appointment or election made was not correct. When I expressed this situation on my social media account, Nuri Osman Yılmaz joined the discussion from a strong position with these words: “Didn't God choose His own friends Himself? Are friends of God chosen through democratic means?” What can we say, “God's Democracy”? Perhaps it is so!..

Let us move on; these discussions can hold a lot of water, but I must add this note in passing: Those who talk about merit, competence, shura, and consultation today have never looked at history this way. From the early periods, they have always chosen to cover up and hide the fights and power struggles that took place in Islamic lands. Moreover, they accused those who tried to reveal history in all its simplicity of causing “fitna” (strife) and pitting Muslims against each other. What can we say, these labels they carry around in their hands now appear on themselves. May God not let one go astray!

By the way, from now on, I will try to take my place on the pages of 12punto with my articles on the agenda and history. My aim is to trace both the current and historical traces of the reality that extends from human to life, and from there to religion and the sacred. What can we say, I am glad to be here.

News Source: 12punto