Key Concepts in the Practice of Sufism

Emerald Hills of the Heart: Key Concepts in the Practice of Sufism

by M. Fethullah Gülen, Ali Ünal (Translator)

• The origin of Sufism
• Self criticism
• Reflection
• Privacy and seclusion
• Heart
• Hope or expectation
• Asceticism

People follow the Sufi path when they sense that Islam has a deeper dimension. The resulting self-purification leads to this inner dimension of Islamic rituals, a deeper understanding of the Divine acts, and a greater knowledge and love of Him. After this, God draws the novice to Himself. With the help of a spiritual guide, the novice begins the life-long journey back to God.

This continual process of spiritual development along a path of the innate human poverty, helplessness, and powerlessness before God is undertaken in the knowledge that everything comes from God. Each novice does what is necessary to grow spiritually, and God bestows the appropriate blessings and stations.

"The highest aim of creation and its most sublime result is belief in God. The most exalted rank of humanity is knowledge of God. The most radiant happiness and sweetest bounty for jinn and humanity is love of God contained within the knowledge of God; the purest joy for the human spirit and the purest delight for the human heart is spiritual ecstasy contained within the love of God. Indeed, all true happiness, pure joy, sweet bounties, and unclouded pleasure are contained within the knowledge and love of God." And Sufism is the school where people can realize the highest aim of creation.

179 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Muhammed Fethullah Gülen was a Turkish Muslim scholar, preacher, and leader of the Gülen movement who as of 2016 had millions of followers. Gülen was an influential neo-Ottomanist, Anatolian panethnicist, Islamic poet, writer, social critic, and activist–dissident developing a Nursian theological perspective that embraces democratic modernity. Gülen was a local state imam from 1959 to 1981 and he was a citizen of Turkey until his denaturalization by the Turkish government in 2017. Over the years, Gülen became a centrist political figure in Turkey prior to his being there as a fugitive. From 1999 until his death in 2024, Gülen lived in self-exile in the United States near Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania.
Gülen said his social criticisms are focused upon individuals' faith and morality and a lesser extent toward political ends, and self described as rejecting an Islamist political philosophy, advocating instead for full participation within professions, society, and political life by religious and secular individuals who profess high moral or ethical principles and who wholly support secular rule, within Muslim-majority countries and elsewhere. Gülen was described in the English-language media as an imam "who promoted a tolerant Islam which emphasises altruism, hard work, and education" and as "one of the world's most important Muslim figures".
In 2003, a number of Gülen movement participants allied with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's right wing Justice and Development Party (AKP), providing the AKP political and sorely-needed administrative support. This political alliance worked together to weaken left-of-center Kemalist factions, but fractured in 2011. Turkish prosecutors accused Gülen of attempts to overthrow the government by allegedly directing politically motivated corruption investigations by Gülen-linked investigators then in the judiciary, who illegally wiretapped the executive office of the Turkish president, and Gülen's alleged instigations of the 2016 coup attempt. Gülen denied the accusations.
A Turkish criminal court issued an arrest warrant for Gülen in 2016, and Turkey demanded his extradition from the United States. U.S. government officials did not believe he was associated with any terrorist activity, and requested evidence to be provided by the Turkish government to substantiate the allegations in the warrant requesting extradition, frequently rejecting Turkish calls for his extradition.
Gülen was wanted as a terrorist leader in Turkey and Pakistan, as well as by the OIC and GCC.

Reviews

[Pita Gabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

In "Key Concepts in the Practice of Sufism," M. Fethullah Gülen acts as a guide, leading us on a journey to unveil the path of the heart within the mystical tradition of Sufism. This first volume of the "Emerald Hills of the Heart" series lays a foundation for understanding Sufism as a practice dedicated to self-purification and cultivating a deeper connection with the divine.

Gülen's writing is clear and accessible, making profound explanations without succumbing to complex terminology. He emphasizes the importance of introspection, self-awareness, and fostering a sincere heart. Readers seeking a practical guide on the spiritual journey will find this book particularly valuable. Gülen explores concepts like self-supervision (muhasaba) and sacred acts (ibada) with a focus on integrating them into daily life. The book encourages readers to cultivate virtues like humility, gratitude and a profound love for God.

Overall, this book is an excellent starting point for anyone curious about exploring the world of Sufism. Gülen offers valuable insights into the core principles and practices of this mystical tradition, ultimately providing a path for spiritual growth and self-discovery.