In this sohbet, Ayberk Efendi reminds us that true oneness belongs to Allah alone, and that human beings are made for companionship—in the mosque, within families and in the wider community of believers. Drawing on Qur’anic verses, prophetic traditions and everyday examples, he shows why isolation weakens both spirit and body, while mutual support restores balance, blessing and purpose.
Ayberk Efendi begins by warning that anyone who distances himself from the communal circle walks with one foot already in the pit of Hell. He cites hadiths stating that charity, zakat, fasting and prayer performed within the community shield the soul from spiritual peril. Whoever tries to live alone—on a mountain, on an island like Robinson Crusoe, or simply inside his own thoughts—soon discovers that even the most self‑sufficient mind finds no peace without another soul to talk to, to share burdens with and to celebrate joys with.
“From unity springs power; from solitude springs weakness,” Ayberk Efendi declares, echoing the Ottoman principle that a well‑ordered society flourishes when its members support one another. In a true community we find helpers for moving house, teachers for spiritual learning, craftsmen for daily needs and companions for prayer. A dergah or zaviye becomes a living remedy—a place where the teachings of Sufism are embodied through mutual aid.
Turning to the present day, Ayberk Efendi warns against treating marriage as a passing adventure rather than a sacred covenant. High divorce rates, he observes, reflect a shift toward individual gratification at the expense of lasting unity. When two people part, each returns to the solitude they once fled, and the effects reach families, children and neighborhoods. Marriage is therefore a serious responsibility: a union that carries the solidarity of the community into a shared household, where love is nurtured by patience, consultation and the example of those who have sustained long, healthy marriages.
He also stresses psychological insight. Understanding one’s own emotions—and those of a future spouse—prevents many misunderstandings that lead to separation. By seeking the counsel of elders who have been married for forty years and more, young people can anticipate challenges and build homes that reflect divine partnership.
Throughout the talk, Ayberk Efendi returns to the central truth: “Allah is One; He alone possesses power and majesty.” Human beings, by contrast, are “nothing without Him.” Our need for one another is therefore not a weakness but a divine design that joins our limited capacities in shared service. In the company of believers we find the means to worship, to give and to grow toward the Light.
Ayberk Efendi closes with prayers for blessing, abundance and hearts illuminated by divine light, reminding us that the community is a source of mercy, strength and movement, and that those who stay connected will find their path eased by Allah’s grace.
For further reflections on unity, companionship and spiritual practice, we invite you to explore our library, where many such teachings are gathered for study and contemplation.
— The Royal Ottoman Society Team
