FIRST CHAPTER

 The first chapter of the book explains forty of the most important vices and their remedies. All of the following information is translated from the first chapter of the famous Islamic book Barika written by Abu Sa'id Muhammad Hadimi, may Allahu ta'ala be pleased with him. This book originally written in two volumes in Arabic was published in 1284 Hijri [1868 A.D]. in Istanbul and again was reproduced in 1411 Hijri [1991 A.D.] by Hakikat Bookstore. Muhammad Hadimi, may Allahu ta'ala be pleased with him, passed away in 1176 Hijri Qamari [1762 A.D.] in his birth place Hadim village of the city of Konya/Turkey. 

VICES AND METHODS OF CLEANSING ONE'S SELF FROM THEM

 Things that harm men in this and in the next world are due to the vices. The essence of men's spiritual loss is his having vices. Men's avoidance of vices is called piety (Taqwa). Piety is the most precious of all worships. Decorating something requires that the thing first should be cleansed from all dirt and stain. Similarly, neither any reward (Thawab) will be given nor any benefit will occur for the worships unless the man who does those worships cleanses himself from the sin. The worst of all vices is disbelief (Kufr). The good deeds of a person who does not have belief will not bear any fruit for him in the hereafter. [A disbeliever who is killed due tyranny does not become a martyr and will not go to heaven.] The foundation of all virtues is piety. One should try hard to obtain piety and advise others to do the same. Living in this world peacefully with others and obtaining the best of eternal blessings could only be accomplished through having piety. 

Vices cause disease at the heart or spirit. Any increase in this disease will cause the death [Kufr] of the spirit. Disbelief (Shirk), which is the worst of all the vices, is the deadly poison of the spirit. Some people who do not have belief claim: "My heart (spiritual) is clean. You look at my heart." Their claim is no more than empty words. A dead heart cannot be clean.

There are many types of disbelief. The worst of all is the polytheism. Often, representing every element of a species or variety is done through pointing out to the biggest element of that species or variety. Similarly, the way the word "Shirk" is used in the verses of the Holy Qur'an and sayings of our Holy Prophet, i.e., "Hadiths", it represents all sorts of disbelief. Allahu ta'ala, in the 48th and 116th verses of the Chapter Nisa of the Qur'an said that He will never forgive the polytheists (Mushriks). These verses point out that disbelievers will burn in the hell fire forever. 

["Shirk" means attributing partners to Allahu ta'ala. A person who does the attributing is called polytheis and the one who is attributed as resembling to Allahu ta'ala is called partner (Sharik). Believing that someone possesses one of the attributes of Divinity comes to mean making him partner (Sharik). The attributes possessed exclusively by Allahu ta'ala are called "Attributes of Divinity." Some Divine attributes are the following: Existing eternally, creating, all-knowing, and healing the sick. Believing that a human being or sun or a cow or any other creature possesses a divine attribute and thus paying respect or begging to that being or creature is called worshiping to him or to that creature. Those things become an idol. Saying words that come to mean as paying respect to such persons or speaking respectfully in front of statues, pictures or graves of disbelievers assumed to be possessing divine attributes comes to mean worshiping and thus it is polytheism. If one believes that a person does not possess a divine attribute but instead he is a person loved by Allahu ta’ala or alternately if one believes that he has served his nation much and thus deserves respect, paying respect to his statues or pictures is not disbelief or polytheism. Nevertheless, since paying respect to picture of any person is forbidden (Haram), anyone doing so becomes a sinner (Fasik). If he does not pay attention to its being forbidden, he will become an apostate (Murtad) just like those who become apostates due slighting a prohibited action (Haram). Since those Jews and Christians who are not "Mushriks" do not believie in the prophethood of Muhammad, peace be upon him, they are disbelievers. They are called "Disbelievers having a divine book." Presently, most of the Christians are polytheists because they attribute divinity to prophet "Isa", i.e., Jesus, peace be upon him. Those sects of the Christians who are in Barnabas and Arius Sects are "Disbelievers having a divine book" but they do not exist in our time anyway.]

 Believing in "Bidats" and practicing them is the second worst disease of the spirit after disbelief (Shirk). Then comes not abstaining from sinning. A person who dies without making repentance for small or grave sins other then disbelief may be forgiven by Allahu ta'ala either through intercession (Shafa'at) or just by His Mercy. If the small sin is not forgiven then there will be punishment in the hell. Sins that involve violating rights of other human beings will not be forgiven easily. Most likely, people who commit them will be punished more severely. For example, not giving wife's due money (Mahr) regarding the marriage contract or prohibiting human beings from learning their correct (Haqq) religion is the greatest gross violation of human rights. Rasulullah, peace be upon him, communicated the following, "A time will come such that people will not care whether they earn the money by permissible (Halal) means or not," and "A time will come such that practicing Islam will be as difficult as holding a fire ball with bare hands." Therefore, avoiding committing all prohibited actions (Harams) and strongly disliked actions (Tahrim al-Makruhs) is piety (Takwa). Not performing obligatory duties (Fards) and strongly recommended actions (Wajibs) are forbidden (Haram). According to some information, not peforming "Muakkad Sunnats," i.e., those actions carried out by our Prophet regularly, without an excuse is strongly disliked (Tahrim al-makruh.) People who do not carry out orders of Islam with respect to belief (Itiqad), ethics (Akhlaq), and deeds (Amal) will be punished. Obviously, one must avoid doing things that will cause punishment. For example, not performing five daily "Salats" and women's and girls' not covering themselves is a grave sin. It would be a strong requirement for one to abstain from the grave sin by performing the five daily "Salats." Nevertheless, in this book, we will not deal with the subject matter regarding the things that must not be avoided {i.e., performing the "Fard" should not be avoided or in other words it must be performed} instead we will communicate the things that should be avoided, i.e., prohibited actions and vices.

The things we should not do (prohibited actions) are carried out either by a particular organ or by the whole body. The following eight organs are very well known for committing sins: spiritual heart, ears, eyes, tongue, hands, stomach, sexual organs and feet. The spiritual heart (Qalb) is a spiritual substance blown upon the material heart of human beings. It is incorporeal, not made of matter, like the spirit. These organs themselves do not commit the sin. The sensing power of these organs does commit the sin. Anyone who wants to attain the happiness of this and the next worlds must stop these organs from committing sin. State of not committing sin has to become a natural state (Malaka, habit) of the spiritual heart. Anyone who can achieve this state is called Allah-fearing (Muttaqi) or pious person (Salih.) Such pious persons obtain the consent of Allahu ta'ala and become friend (Wali) of Allahu ta'ala. {"Wali" means close.} Even though, struggling and forcing one's self into not doing the forbidden (Haram) actions is piety (Takwa), that is not enough to become a friend (Wali) of Allahu ta'ala. Becoming a friend (Wali) of Allahu ta'ala requires that the state of abstaining from sins has to become the natural or regular state or habit of the spiritual heart. This state can only be obtained through cleansing the spiritual heart. Cleansing the heart requires obedience to the rules of Islam. Islam has three parts: knowledge (Ilm), practice (Amal), and sincerity (Ikhlas). (1) Learning the knowledge that pertains the commandments, i.e., Fards, Wajibs, Sunnats, and forbidden actions (Harams and Makruhs), (2) carrying out these according to this knowledge, and (3) doing these only for the sake of Allahu ta'ala. The Qur'an al-karim orders and praises all these three parts. In this book, we will only communicate those sins that are to be abstained in order to cleanse the heart. They are called vices, unethical behavior, or immoral acts.