#derga

[life-in-the-freefall]

The view from the Sufi lodge in Beykoz, Akbaba, Istanbul. The area was named Akbaba, After Akbaba Sultan Whos real name is Akmehmet Efendi. He is believed to have heralded the victory to Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror before his conquest of Istanbul. His tomb is said to be the most visited place in Beykoz after the tomb of Prophet Yusha (Alayhi Salaam).

[life-in-the-freefall]

There are many doors for the one who is looking for doors, but there is no door like this door. - Shaykh Bahauddin Effendi (may Allah bless him.)

[life-in-the-freefall]

The Dergah does not require background checks or a squeaky clean cv. The Dergah welcomes those that society shuns. The Dergah is for those who no longer yearn for middle class respectability, but only desire the Divine experience. The Dergah is the hospital for the downtrodden and broken. The Dergah welcomes those who are familiar with their own foolishness. The Dergah is the most important educational institution known to man. The Dergah does not offer participation certificates or belts. The Dergah accepts you as you are, with the intention of helping you become what you were created to be. The Dergah detests insincerity.

[life-in-the-freefall]

Finding my happiness in a simple life.

[life-in-the-freefall]

The function of the dergah is fundamentally distinct to that of the university. The university presents a repository of historical information related to our faith tradition. The dergah aims to bring souls to life. Al Fatiha.

[life-in-the-freefall]

Man is in need of training; therefore, Allah is giving him parents to teach him as a baby and child. But the training of Prophets is most important. Others teach you to give the ego its desires. Prophets teach to save us from our ego’s desires, because they are endless, asking more and more and still more, without limit. Following the ego’s desires, we tire and die tired. Prophets teach to stop within a limit, keeping one’s self from endless work and tiring. They teach us the purpose of life, showing us our destinations. Whoever follows this way has good personality; because the Prophets’ training is good manners for everyone. Now the Prophets are gone but their deputies can be found if one is searching for them. They teach people to save themselves from the assaults of their egos. -Mawlana Shaykh Nazim Adil Al Haqqani QaddassAllahu Sirrahu

[life-in-the-freefall]

The doors of the dergah are open to all. The sins of others are not our concern. However one's life has been lived, he will find solace and forgiveness amongst the dervishes. The dergah is the home of compassion and mercy. But know that the dervishes never compromise their principles or the rights of Allah Almighty.

[life-in-the-freefall]

The purpose of schooling is to 'civilise'. The purpose of the dergah is to awaken. These are fundamentally different objectives.