At the very start of the Islamic new year 1446 AH, Ayberk Efendi addressed believers with a powerful reminder that our modern comforts must never lead us to forget the boundaries set by the Divine. Speaking in Turkish with German subtitles, he called on every heart to awaken from pride, arrogance and the illusion of control that technology and material wealth can create.
The danger of overstepping divine limits
Ayberk Efendi warned that humanity today often believes it can manipulate nature itself—stopping rain, producing abundance at will—yet we possess no true power over creation. He reminded us that Allah alone creates from nothing and also dissolves what exists. No amount of metal, wire or sophisticated devices can grant us the authority to defy Him. When people flaunt their possessions and compete with one another, they are in fact challenging God directly.
He recounted the prophetic narrative of the Night of Ascension: when the Prophet (peace be upon him) begged Allah not to send a severe punishment from the heavens, Allah responded that He would instead bring a trial from the earth. Even then, out of mercy for the beloved messenger, the severity was lessened. Yet Ayberk Efendi emphasized that the faithful community will inevitably push beyond its limits; when that happens, divine correction will come, not as an external storm but through inner fire that purifies and disciplines.
A humble entrance into the new Hijri year
The khutbah concluded with a heartfelt invitation to treat the arrival of 1446 AH as a moment of spiritual priority rather than a fleeting excitement like a football match. Ayberk Efendi urged believers to align their hearts with the purpose of the Islamic calendar, allowing the remembrance of Allah and the teachings of the Prophet to dominate our enthusiasm. He asked each person to restrain themselves from drawing God’s wrath upon themselves through arrogance or neglect.
In this spirit of renewal, the Royal Ottoman Society invites all who feel moved by these words to join our live gatherings, where we explore such teachings together and support one another on the Sufi path. You can find the schedule and register here: https://royalottomans.com/live-meetings. May this new year bring humility, awareness of our limits, and closeness to the Divine for all believers.
