In this heartfelt sohbet, Ayberk Efendi shares a vivid anecdote that illustrates how well‑intended schemes can collapse when they are built on false assumptions. The tale unfolds in a desert setting where a traveler arrives at a neighbor’s house only to discover that the resident is deaf. Determined to offer comfort, the visitor rehearses every possible reply—greeting with “Peace be upon you,” asking about health, offering soup, and even naming a doctor—convinced that his script will guarantee harmony.
When he finally steps inside, the exchange proceeds exactly as he imagined at first: the greetings match, polite words are exchanged, and the visitor feels pleased. Yet the conversation soon turns dark. The “patient” replies to simple questions with startlingly literal answers—claiming to drink poison instead of soup, announcing that Azrail (the Angel of Death) is on his way, and ultimately confronting the guest with a bitter rebuke: “Are you here only to turn my suffering into your own triumph?” The neighbor’s final breath comes not from illness but from the weight of being misunderstood.
Ayberk Efendi uses this story to remind us that plans rooted in ego or presumption often miss the deeper reality. Even when intentions are good, a lack of true listening and authentic presence can turn kindness into harm. In the Sufi path we learn that “the sheikh may speak correctly while the disciple misinterprets,” urging us to seek Allah’s guidance so our hearts become capable of genuine understanding. May He grant us the insight to perceive beyond rehearsed words, to respond with compassion rooted in presence rather than performance.
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