In this Friday sermon, Ayberk Efendi reminds us that the way we look at the world shapes the reality we experience. He begins with reverence for Allah: the Divine is beautiful and loves beauty, and, as the texts make clear, “dislikes ugliness and what leads to it.”
Seeing Through the Lens of Divine Beauty
Our judgements about beauty and ugliness, Ayberk Efendi explains, often reflect only our own limited perspective. What one person finds repulsive, another finds attractive; beauty is not simply a quality of objects but something we project onto them. When we look with “crooked eyes”, we see crookedness; when we look with beautiful sight, we perceive beauty even in what at first seems flawed.
Every creation, animate or seemingly inert, is crafted with care by the Almighty. Even stones, which we call lifeless, have a spirit: they can bear witness, utter takbîr and convey salâvat. Recognising this hidden life invites us to let go of the idea of the “inanimate” and to see divine purpose in every part of creation.
The Danger of Hidden Disrespect
Calling something – or someone – ugly is not a harmless preference; it becomes a subtle form of kufr (disrespect) toward Allah, whose perfection underlies all existence. Such judgements can erode faith without our noticing. When we judge others by height, complexion or physical features, we overlook the divine wisdom in each unique form. Even children born with apparent “deficiencies” are part of Allah’s perfect plan, and their existence carries a hidden hikmet (wisdom) beyond our understanding.
Finding Mercy Beyond Our Limits
Human compassion is commendable, but it can never surpass the boundless mercy of the Creator. Instead of finding fault with how something was made, we should be grateful for the divine intention behind every form. When our gaze follows Allah’s perspective and sees the inherent good, our inner state changes, and with it the way we meet the world.
Ayberk Efendi closes by urging us to guard our eyes and hearts, to replace judgement with contemplation of divine beauty, and to remember that true worship begins with honouring every creation as a manifestation of Allah’s flawless artistry.
If this message resonates with you, we invite you to our live meetings, where you can learn about taking Bayʿah and walking the Sufi path, or to join our community and share reflections with fellow seekers.
