In this teaching, Ayberk Efendi reminds us that a clean sicil – the personal record of our deeds and character – is examined wherever we seek trust or responsibility. Whether someone applies for a job, enrols in a course or is considered for a spiritual role, the examiner looks beyond age, height or status to the inner ledger of honesty, reliability and conduct.
The universal demand for a clean record
Ayberk Efendi compares the sicil to a school report that follows a person from childhood into adult life. Teachers note every absence, illness, conflict or misbehaviour, and parents are called in when patterns appear. The same holds in professional and spiritual life:
- Employers ask for references on punctuality, integrity and teamwork.
- Schools and universities review attendance, grades and conduct before admitting a student.
- Spiritual communities look at whether a prospective leader has cultivated humility, honesty and restraint.
If a record shows repeated truancy, dishonesty or aggression, the door may stay closed. A record of steady effort, repentance and improvement opens it.
The role of the sheikh
A true sheikh, Ayberk Efendi emphasises, is not a mere observer like a shopkeeper or an official. He sees with “the eyes of the heart,” beyond outward actions to the hidden motives and spiritual health of each seeker. Where a merchant may miss the dark stains on a record, the sheikh discerns them, looking with the perspective of Allah and the Prophet (peace be upon him).
Trusting a leader who has neglected his own sicil is therefore dangerous. The sheikh’s responsibility includes:
- Identifying hidden blemishes – lies, betrayals or selfishness that others may not see.
- Guiding the cleansing – through sincere repentance (tawbah), steady zikr and ethical conduct.
- Ensuring accountability – a life built on falsehood will collapse, like a building on sand.
A call to personal vigilance
Each of us must regularly examine our own sicil, acknowledge its black spots and work to remove them. This is not paperwork but a spiritual discipline that protects our relationship with God and the trust of the community.
By facing our shortcomings – lies, theft, slander or negligence – we follow the prophetic principle that “deeds are judged by their intentions.” A clean record is both a sign of growth and a precondition for any responsibility, within the Royal Ottoman Society or beyond.
If you would like to deepen this practice under guidance, join our live meetings, where seekers take Bayʿah (spiritual allegiance) and are supported on the path: Live meetings.
May your heart be illuminated, your record purified and your service sincere.
