In this sohbet, Ayberk Efendi returns again and again to a saying of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): “A person is with those they love.” He invites us to consider the company we keep, the hearts that shape our inner compass, and how our spiritual state mirrors the people we cherish.
The saying is a simple diagnostic. To understand someone’s character, look at whom they love and admire; their beloved companions act as mirrors that reveal hidden inclinations and priorities. Ayberk Efendi notes that the Companions (Ashab‑ı Kiram) held this hadith close to their hearts and rejoiced in it. By examining their own attachments, they kept their spiritual chain – the link that connects each believer to the Prophet and through him to Allah – unbroken.
When believers gather in sincere fellowship, each link strengthens the whole; a single broken link weakens it and leaves a person open to doubt. So we are called to watch the quality of our connections:
- Choose companions whose love points upward, drawing us nearer to the Prophet’s example and through him to Allah.
- Make sure our own rope reaches toward divine truth rather than worldly attachments.
Ayberk Efendi warns against feeling safe simply because a community looks respectable from outside. Safety lies in the depth of the connections within it. He encourages us to ask whom we think about most, whose advice we seek and whose presence lifts our spirit, and to bind our hearts to teachers firmly rooted in the tradition.
If these words move you, get to know our community: Community.
May your heart always be drawn toward those who bring you closer to Allah.
