In this sohbet Sheikh Bahauddin Efendi reminds us that true rule belongs to Allah alone, Al-Wahid al-Qahhar. He illustrates this with the kingdom of Prophet Sulaiman, describing seven degrees of authority, the highest of which surpasses any earthly throne. Even a king cannot command a dog that runs before him; worldly power is only the lowest degree compared with the Divine decree.
The story continues with the Angel of Death, Azrael (alayhis salam), who appears in Sulaiman’s prison and confronts a frightened soul. The king, moved by compassion, asks that the man be sent to India – and even this shows that the greatest earthly authority acts only within Allah’s will. From this Sheikh Bahauddin Efendi calls us to surrender completely to the Creator: “Ya Rabbi, I am surrendering to You.” By setting our own desires aside and trusting the path appointed for us, we are freed from the illusion of worldly aura and find true paradise here and now.
To deepen this understanding, explore the Society’s publications and our library for further reflections on surrender, divine sovereignty and the Sufi path.
