The Family of Futuwwa

As a concept, Futuwwa generally means preferring others to oneself and having a vast generosity.

Futuwwa, meaning courage, bravery and valor, has become a term in Sufi literature that encompasses altruism, generosity and compassion.

It is generally accepted that the first person to define the concept of Futuwwa was Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (ra), the great-grandfather of Hazrat Harakani. According to him, Futuwwa is more closely related to the "Isar" in the Quran than the empathy used today.

The highest degree of generosity is ISAR. Altruism means substituting the rights and interests of others for one's own, considering others (takdimüke gayreke ala nefsike), futuwwa, generosity, self-sacrifice, and renunciation. On this path, Hazrat Harakani demonstrated the highest degree of futuwwa and generosity, basing his entire life and life on this understanding, lifestyle, and behavioral ethics of ISAR. Just as there is no end or limit to the mercy and forgiveness of God Almighty, there is also no end or limit to the ISAR of those who strive towards God with their efforts.

When we look at the Isars of Abu'l-Hasan Harakani and the saints of Khorasan, we see this spiritual joy as boundless and limitless. In spreading material and spiritual, outward and inward, worldly and otherworldly goodness, and in seeking closeness to God, they preferred God above all else and withheld nothing from Him.

“Futuvvet is a world, its earth is faith, its sky is knowledge, its star is guidance, its moon is love, its cloud is reason, its rain is mercy, its garden is decency, its tree is obedience, and its fruit is wisdom.”

Hazrat Ali, who was reportedly praised by Gabriel (AS) with the words, “There is no Feta but Ali, there is no Seyfe but Zulfiqar,” was accepted as the source of Futuwwa and he himself defined Futuwwa in this way. This definition is also explained as follows: “The tree of Futuwwa grows from sincerity, from safekeeping, from generosity, from modesty, and from modesty. This is the quality of faith. Whoever lacks this quality, Allah Almighty will be displeased with him. The essence of that tree is to do good in the way of Allah, what it finds is decency and modesty, and its root is monotheism and tahlil. And its fruit is knowledge, the conversation of the saints. And the water of that tree is mercy, and with mercy water is given, and from power that water flows to the heart of the saint, that tree grows from the heart of the brave. Its branches are elevated, with light to Jalal Some great Sufis have said the following when describing Harakani: the wise man who has been granted everything necessary, who has attained the realm of discovery and certainty, then attained observation and examination, and thus obtained the authority of sheikh and leader.

In the Sufism of our Master Harakani, generosity is the meaning of his life and the reason for his existence. He states that the purpose of creation is to serve God and humanity. Those around him always address him as "civanmert" or "civanmerdan."

According to Harakani, there are three conditions for chivalry. “Chivalry is an ocean fed by three rivers: One is generosity, the second is compassion, and the third is being independent of people and dependent on God.” “This is the path of the fearless, the mad, and the enchanted. Enchantment, madness, and fearlessness are all beneficial for drawing closer to God.”

The following anecdote better describes Harakani's futuwwa. This demonstrates the highest level of belonging to the order. This trait is a rare trait among his peers mentioned in the Tezkiretü'l-Evliya. One of his friends was speaking to him in the final stages of his life and at the moment of his death. Harakani said, "If I die before you, even if thirty years have passed, I will be present with you at the moment of your death." Abu'l-Hasan Harakani, who wrote the Makamat-ı Ebu'l-Hasan Harakani and shares the same name, recounts the end of the story in the language of that disciple: At the moment of recitation, my father stood on the right and said, "Come, peace be upon you." I said, "O my father, who do you see?" He said, "Sheikh Abu'l-Hasan Harakani, who made the promise for all this time." He stands here so that I won't be afraid, and the community of young men is with him.