In this sohbet we gathered to celebrate the blessings of the holy month. Sheikh Bahauddin opened with the greeting “Esselamu Aleykum ve Rahmetullahi ve Berekatuhu” and asked Allah’s mercy for all members of the Royal Ottoman Society, their families and the wider ummah. From there the talk turned to patience, gratitude and the true spirit of Ramadan.
Ramadan as a Season of Patience
Sheikh Bahauddin noted that one quarter of the month had already passed and we were moving towards its middle. In many busy cities, he observed, fasting can become routine instead of a conscious exercise in sabr (patience). Going without food and drink is not only physical; it is an opportunity to turn the heart towards gratitude for even the simplest sustenance.
He contrasted today’s abundance with the modest lives of earlier generations. Endless production turns blessings into mere commodities, and we forget the effort behind a single loaf or a glass of water. Fasting reminds us of the true value of these gifts and of the humility needed to receive them.
The Lesson of Simple Bread
Sheikh Bahauddin told a story from the life of the Prophet (peace be upon him). A wealthy companion spent six months preparing an elaborate feast for the Prophet’s visit. When the Prophet entered, he hesitated, feeling that such splendour did not befit his modest station.
Later, a poor old man invited the Prophet to share “the finest of blessings”: a piece of dry bread softened with water and salt. The Prophet accepted gladly and praised the simple food as a great gift from Allah. Sheikh Bahauddin stressed that when we look down on humble provision, its baraka (blessing) diminishes, and when we honour it, its blessing returns.
From History to Contemporary Life
The sohbet then turned to the present. Sheikh Bahauddin recalled the years after the Second World War, when the struggle to survive sharpened people’s appreciation of basic needs. He then spoke of today’s consumer culture, in which even royalty might order exotic fruits that arrive spoiled, an image of our own spoiled appetites.
He urged us to revive the prophetic outlook: all wealth ultimately belongs to Allah, and we are only its custodians. The Prophet’s teaching that “the true possession is only the seat upon which you sit” reminds us that material things pass, while the contentment of the soul endures.
Practical Guidance for the Rest of Ramadan
Sheikh Bahauddin closed with gentle advice for living the spirit of the month:
- Cultivate patience: see each hour of fasting as training in inner resilience.
- Value water and food: remember their divine source every time you break your fast.
- Show compassion to those in need: increase sadaqah, for generosity multiplies Allah’s blessings.
- Deepen worship: increase prayer, dhikr, istighfar and gratitude, so that the month’s light (nur) and baraka grow.
Lived in this way, Ramadan becomes more than a date in the calendar: a source of mercy, light and blessing for the whole year.
We hope this reflection accompanies you through the remaining days of Ramadan. For further Sufi teachings and literature, visit our digital library.
Selamun Aleyküm. May Allah keep you in His protection.
