In Part 3 of the 2018 Ottoman Sufi Night, we gathered around Sheikh Bahauddin Adil to contemplate the boundless mercy that flows from the Creator. The sohbet wove together reflections, stories from Rumi’s Masnavi and moments of gentle humour – all reminding us that spirituality is a living river springing from Allah’s generosity.
Mercy in Every Breath
Sheikh Bahauddin Adil began with the gift we most often overlook: the air we breathe. Every breath, he explained, is an expression of Allah’s unconditional mercy – free and abundant, unlike hospital oxygen, which is withheld when no one pays. Seeing breath as divine bounty invites us to honour our bodies: to eat in moderation, avoid excess fat and stay away from harmful habits such as smoking. Caring for our health thus becomes an act of gratitude towards the Creator.
When Civil Law Echoes Spiritual Guidance
The talk then turned to worldly rules and spiritual counsel. Fines for smoking, often several hundred euros, act as a tangible deterrent, whereas the Qur’anic prohibition rests on Allah’s wish for our well-being. Many, the Sheikh observed, obey civil rules for fear of worldly punishment while neglecting the higher commands that promise forgiveness and lasting health. The invitation is to align outward obedience with inner conviction.
Rumi’s Tale of the Two Cats and the Monkey Judge
To show how the ego distorts justice, Sheikh Bahauddin Adil told a parable from Jalal al-Din Rumi’s Masnavi. Two cats steal a piece of cheese; the larger claims the bigger share, the smaller insists on equal halves because both took the same risk. Unable to agree, they go to a monkey judge, who keeps biting off pieces until nothing is left, and then declares “justice” because the scales are even. The story warns that seeking outside arbitration while clinging to selfish desire destroys the very thing we hope to protect.
Ego, Saints and Modern Distractions
The Sheikh went on to call the ego the chief adversary on the Sufi path. In earlier centuries people were better at subduing self-interest, and so there were many saints; today constant material temptation makes mastering the ego harder. Humility and vigilance are therefore essential: taming the ego opens the door to sainthood and brings us closer to the Ocean of Mercy.
Mulla Nasruddin’s Coat
A lighter moment came with the anecdote of Mulla Nasruddin’s coat. Asked why a falling coat made such a clatter, Nasruddin replied that he had been inside it at the time – a humorous picture of how we confuse our identity with outward appearance. Sheikh Bahauddin Adil used it to stress that our true self is the soul, not the body weighed down by “heavy works.” When those burdens pile up, a psychiatrist may seem the only way out; Sufism, however, offers an inner “time-out” in which the soul can breathe and recover.
Spiritual Rest Through Song
The evening closed with communal chanting – simple, repetitive verses meant to settle in heart and mind. As the Sheikh explained, such practice is a balm for the weary soul, a pause from the noise of material life. The easily remembered melodies become a constant reminder that we belong to the Divine Ocean of Mercy.
We are grateful for the wisdom shared on this night. May the Ocean of Mercy rise within each of us and guide our steps towards health, humility and nearness to the Divine.
The texts mentioned in this sohbet can be studied in our digital library.
