In this sohbet, the teacher, referred to in the talk as Şeyh Efendi, invites us to reflect on the principle of balance (denge) that underlies all of creation. He begins with an image: when a donkey carries an uneven load, it stumbles and tires; when the load is shared equally on both sides, it walks steadily and without strain. Our own lives, visible and hidden, must likewise be aligned with the Divine order.
The Divine Design of Balance
Balance, Şeyh Efendi reminds us, is not a human invention but a law set by Allah. Nothing exists outside it; everything, from the material world to the inner soul, was made to be in harmony. The outward body (zâhir) is visible, but an unseen soul, can or ruh, gives it life and provides the counterweight that steadies our existence. When we neglect this inner dimension, the outer form collapses under its own weight.
Material Load versus Spiritual Attire
A common mistake is to equate outward success with balance. Şeyh Efendi warns that a person who appears prosperous but lacks spiritual grounding is like a king without clothes: visible, yet exposed. He asks us to imagine changing our garments: when material concerns are set aside, what remains? The soul’s clothing of spirituality. If that clothing has been abandoned, the person stands naked before Allah, and true balance cannot be reached.
Seeking Proximity to Allah as the Axis of Balance
True balance is found not by building our own mental images of God but by drawing near to Him. When we reduce Allah to a concept in our imagination, we turn Him into an illusion and drift away from reality. Şeyh Efendi encourages us to keep our thoughts in the presence of the Divine, so that His existence becomes the axis around which both material duties and spiritual aspirations turn.
He also reminds us that even the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) did not possess complete knowledge of Allah’s essence; yet his relationship with the Creator is an ocean in which we may immerse our consciousness. By aligning ourselves with it, we receive guidance to keep our steps steady on the path of life.
Living the Balance
Three practical reminders emerge from the teaching:
- Honour the inner soul that steadies the body, nurturing it through remembrance (dhikr), prayer and sincere intention.
- Balance material responsibilities with spiritual duties, without overloading one side of the self.
- Stay close to Allah, letting His presence be the pivot around which every action turns.
Walking this path, we become keepers of balance whose lives reflect the harmony intended by the Creator.
If you would like to deepen your practice, join our online community, where seekers gather for study, reflection and mutual support: Community. May Allah grant us all the wisdom to keep our balance.
