Faithfulness means living in accordance with the covenant one made with God in pre-eternity. When a believer declares their faith, they are, in that moment, giving their word to God. It is as though they have taken an oath and entered into a binding agreement with Him. True faithfulness lies in fulfilling the terms of this commitment to the letter, living in a way that never breaks that solemn vow.

The declaration of faith is an affirmation that there is no true one worthy of worship and no rightful recipient of devotion other than God. As a reflection of this faithfulness, one must embody this belief not only in thought and emotion but also through speech and action. While a person’s faith, contentment, submission, and trust in God reveal their inward—or theoretical—loyalty, it is through conduct, behavior, and acts of worship that practical faithfulness is made visible. In this sense, faithfulness is not merely an internal bond with God—it is also a commitment to obey His commands and refrain from what He has forbidden.

Faith is, at its core, an inner acceptance. If a person fails to translate the demands of faith into action, they fall into a state of internal contradiction. One who proclaims belief through the declaration of divine oneness yet lives in opposition to God’s commandments is not upholding the requirements of faithfulness. In fact, such behavior amounts to breaking the very promise they made—a breach of the covenant they entered into.

A believer is someone who stands by their word. Once a promise is made, it must be honored—regardless of the cost. This is the example we see in the noble Companions: they pledged unwavering support to the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him), and never deviated, even by an inch, from that promise. They upheld their word even at the cost of their lives. For salvation lies in truthfulness—in being upright in one’s state, speech, and conduct; in being completely and consistently sincere.

Human beings may be endowed with various potentials and distinctive qualities. Yet above all such attributes, the greatest honor a person can attain is servanthood to God. The very purpose of creation—for both humans and jinn—is to come to know and recognize God and to devote oneself to His worship. This purpose can also be described through its spiritual dimensions: faith, divine knowledge (ma‘rifah), love of God (mahabbah), and the joy of spiritual intimacy (dhawq rūhānī).

Throughout the Qur’an, God at times addresses humanity with the words “Yā ‘ibādī”—“O My servants.” In this address, we can sense His affection, compassion, and mercy for His creation. From another perspective, it may be understood as, “O My faithful bondsmen!” For us—weak and fallible beings who often stumble and falter in sin—such a divine call offers immense comfort and profound hope.

What is required of us, as servants of God, is to remain firmly anchored in this perspective and to reject anything that may obstruct or weaken it—just as one would cast away the accursed devil. God Almighty, who created the human being from clay, also endowed them with the capacity to ascend to the horizons of heart and spirit, to be honored with faith, spiritual knowledge, and divine love, and to attain closeness to Him. There are latent seeds within every soul—when nurtured and allowed to flourish, they enable one to become a close and intimate companion of God. This, indeed, is the station we should strive to attain.

For believers devoted to the path of faith, faithfulness holds special significance. Remaining unwavering in their loyalty to the Prophetic way—without straying even by so much as a hair’s breadth—is of the utmost importance. The truly faithful servants of God not only base their worship and devotion entirely on His command—they also tie their very existence in this world to serving His religion. So long as they have the opportunity to serve Islam, life holds value and meaning for them. But when they feel there is no longer anything more they can contribute, the light of the Hereafter begins to shine more brightly before their eyes. At that point, they can say with ease and serenity:

“O God, if my duty in this world has come to an end, then take me into Your presence.”

In saying this, they are not asking for anything that contradicts the destiny God has written for His servants. Rather, they are expressing a longing to be released from their earthly post and reunited with the Divine.

In this regard, Prophet Joseph (peace be upon him) stands as a beautiful example. At the very moment he was reunited with his parents, had become a figure of authority in Egypt, saw the religion he had shared begin to take root in people’s hearts, and witnessed consciences turning toward him—when he had reached the peak of worldly blessings and possessed all that a person might desire for happiness—he turned to God with this heartfelt plea:

“Let me die as a believer, and join me with the righteous.” (Surah Yusuf, 12:101)

If a person feels there is no meaningful duty left for them to fulfill in the service of faith, they may begin to long for release from this worldly life. This, too, is an expression of faithfulness.

Faithful servants of God never tie their worship or service to any worldly gain. They see ranks, titles, positions, and public recognition as spiritually perilous. They have no desire to be admired, to be seen everywhere, or to be fondly remembered by others. In fact, they tremble at the thought that even the slightest trace of such worldly ambition might creep into their devotion—fearing it could result in spiritual loss in the Hereafter. Their motto is simple and sincere:

“O God, if I can no longer serve Your religion, do not let me live even a moment longer!”

It is, of course, natural and desirable for a person to be remembered kindly after their death—to be known for the goodness they left behind and to be honored with prayers and supplications. Who would not wish for people to say:

“May God be eternally pleased with them—for they strove tirelessly to uphold the religion, rendered great services, raised righteous generations, and left behind ongoing charities that continue to add to their book of good deeds. May God grant them His forgiveness and mercy, gladden them with Paradise, and grant them nearness to the Prophet.”

All of this is a beautiful legacy, and we believe such remembrance will benefit a person in the Hereafter. Indeed, the Qur’an tells us that Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him), who is presented as a model for all believers, once prayed:

“Grant me a good name among later generations.” (Surah al-Shu‘arā, 26:84)

However, if someone like us, in this worldly life, grounds their servanthood in recognition and praise, it can no longer be considered sincere. Such an outlook is incompatible with true devotion, genuine servanthood, or authentic faithfulness.

In summary, a faithful believer should strive to spend every moment—every minute, every second, every breath—living for their Lord. Every matter should be connected to God, and every task carried out in His name. They must endure the burdens of this world for His sake, live for Him, sit for Him, rise for Him, and do everything solely for His sake. And if the thought of living for their own sake ever arises, they should be able to present their resignation from life itself before God.

Pursuing worldly ambitions, managing ventures for personal gain, involving oneself in activities believed to offer material or spiritual returns, or seeking public acclaim—all of this stands in direct contradiction to true faithfulness. In fact, such inclinations can rightfully be described as satanic. A person who lives for God cannot at the same time serve the aims of Satan.

If one fails to do the things that bring God’s pleasure, what value is there in receiving worldly praise or being exalted by others? If their efforts were driven by the desire for recognition, they will be held accountable in the Hereafter for those very accolades:

“Tell us—were you truly as they said you were?”

And if the answer is no, they will be cast down in disgrace.

If a person cannot be a true servant, faithful to God, then holding prominent positions, overseeing institutions, or becoming someone widely admired is not a success—it is a loss. And if, like worldly people, they internalize and embrace the praise spoken about them, they will find themselves suffering one loss after another on the path where they had hoped to win.

In 2021—the circumstances evade me now—I returned and, unusually, felt as though I had never been away. Ordinarily one would expect of such a prolonged absence at least a modicum of awkwardness, a need to settle in, acclimatise, and yet there was no need for anything of the sort. In hindsight, I attribute it to the constancy—the fidelity—of the group, for which the work of Hizmet continues regardless of who is present and who is absent. The work, in other words, is bigger than any single one of us. New Age gurus may preach the virtues of ritual and routine, but they do so without any transcendent philosophy to sustain such practices. How, then, does one begin to account for the steadfastness—and staying power—of Hizmet, despite the traumas and difficulties experienced in recent years? How does one make sense of its awesome global appeal? And to where does one trace the wellspring of humility, sincerity, and generosity that is in evidence each time one sits in a Hizmet circle? These are questions that have percolated inside me for some time now, brought once more to the fore in these recent days of shared sadness.

I never had the honour of meeting Ustadh Fethullah Gülen, but the only answer to these questions that suggests itself is this: the faithfulness of the student is surely a reflection of the immeasurably greater faithfulness of the teacher. That is to say: the devotion of Hizmet to the life of spirit and mind is a testament to Hocaefendi’s own extraordinary devotion to the life of spirit and mind. And in these polarized times in which some lives clearly matter more than others, when the things we cannot tolerate about ourselves we project onto others who become, then, the victims of our paranoid, vengeful destructiveness, Fethullah Gülen’s message of interfaith dialogue and understanding has never seemed more vital for the survival of humankind, a reliable guide for the perplexed in the twenty-first century.

In this time of great sorrow and loss, and beyond, may Hizmet continue to lead through service, committed to gentleness and compassionate understanding, a place of refuge in this malevolent age.

Faithfulness and fidelity are the hallmarks of societies that are committed to living and working together for a higher good.

Fidelity or faithfulness is a rose that grows within the friendly, warm climate of amiability. To be able to encounter it in an atmosphere of enmity is extremely rare, perhaps even impossible. Faithfulness always blows gently among and around those who share common feelings and thoughts and pursue the same vision. Grievance, hatred, and envy never allow fidelity to survive, killing it straightaway. Yes, fidelity can only flourish and branch out in in the presence of love, kindness, and generosity; but in an atmosphere of enmity, it fades away and dies.

Fidelity has also been described as being in complete unison with one’s heart and soul; an insufficient definition, but a correct one. Yet, it is very difficult to speak of faithfulness to people who are lacking in their spiritual lives. Telling only the truth while speaking, being faithful in one’s promises and oaths, which are signs of fidelity, are the fruits of spiritual awareness. Meanwhile, expecting spiritual awareness would be deceptive, just as it would be unwise to demand faithfulness from those who are hypocritical, who lie, who do not fulfill their promises, and who do not carry the burden of responsibility given to them.
One who puts his or her trust in an unfaithful person will likely end up getting burned. The one who travels the road with such a person will be stranded. The one who regards such a person as a guide and scout will always fall into despair and lose.

While I was longing for fidelity, My eyes filled with tears of sorrow, Now I am stranded and lack any remedy…

By having all the attributes of faithfulness, an individual can attain and ascend to the level of confidence and credibility. A family can remain alive and happy if it is based upon faithfulness. With this sublime feeling, a nation can reach admirable qualities and high virtues. It is only through this feeling that a state can gain respect before the eyes of its citizens. In a country where fidelity is lost, we can neither speak of mature individuals, nor marriages and families that inspire confidence, nor a stable and trustworthy government. In such a country, individuals become skeptical about each other; marriages are distressed as families become anxious and restless; meanwhile, the state treats its citizens with suspicion and disregard. In such a country, neighbors become strangers, as if they were little more than lifeless rocks. Faithfulness can blend and fuse individuals to each other. Thanks to fidelity, particles combine into a whole, and separate parts unite and become one; through faithfulness, scarcity transforms into abundance. When the beams of faithfulness among these earthlings reach the eternal heavens, rays from heaven will begin to illuminate their path and clear all hindrances in front of them, as long as society matures with the feeling of faithfulness and submits to the combining and unifying arms of fidelity. Did you set your heart on a thought? Did you bond yourself to an ideal? Did you begin a friendship with someone? You may have to sacrifice your life, or lose all your wealth for the sake of this; but remain faithful! This is because faithfulness and faithful people are esteemed to be the highest by both the Creator and the created.

“I received a calling from the Lord, saying
Come, O lover, you have intimacy with Us!
This is the place of intimacy;
I have seen you as a faithful one!” (Nasimi)

With the secret key of faithfulness, Prophet Adam, peace be upon him, one by one, opened all the doors that had been closed to him and reached the refreshing fountain of God’s forgiveness. Faced with the same trial, the devil threw himself into the pitfall of unfaithfulness, and drowned. Noah (peace be upon him), the Prophet of the Flood, also lived a very long life full of suffering and sorrow, but was always faithful. His centuries of warnings and words of advice were not recognized by most of his people, but this disappointment never pushed him towards unfaithfulness towards his Lord. And it was this faithfulness that became an ark of salvation at a time when both the heavens and the earth were streaming down their fury over mankind.

How faithful was Abraham (peace be upon him), the friend of God and the father of Prophets, while he was bearing the brunt of Nimrod’s fire? When his cries of “God is enough for me, God is sufficient” united with the showering blessings and grace of God, the core of the hell-like flames became “cool and peaceful.”

The one at the forefront of all holy ones, Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, reached beyond the heavens, an ascension which none had been able to attain before him, by virtue of the deep faithful feelings in his soul. Yes, he even surpassed angels and all mortal souls by virtue of faithfulness. Then, he left that realm of felicity – full of fascinating beauties that no eye has ever seen, nor anyone can imagine, and which dazzle the eyes and mesmerize hearts – and returned to his people. With them, he was going to struggle in the face of many dangers and confront many challenges, all in the hopes of elevating his community to that lofty abode.

It was his faithfulness towards his companions that made him forget all about Paradise and its dazzling beauties. It was a promise to be faithful that made him leave all those sublime honors and rewards and return to this world of sorrows and deprivation! The book of good deeds of all these elevated souls ended with faithfulness and was sealed with fidelity. The books of ugly deeds of those stranded on the way were all branded with unfaithfulness. Yes, those who bear a responsibility but exhibit unfaithfulness on the first few steps are humiliated and marked with lowliness; they are pushed to the most inferior status. Those who could not burden the sacred load and holy travel, and who eluded their responsibilities, have become a flock of voyeurs who have lost the right path and have been led astray. Eventually, when our turn of bearing the sacred ordeal came, we took over this huge responsibility by a solid oath of fidelity. We were vibrant and excited, resolved and determined.

But alas! An unexpected giant blocked our way and we broke all our oaths. And then, once again, everywhere was deserted; all our chivalry faded and died away. Roses were replaced by thorns; all our moons and suns set, one after the other, and everywhere was covered with dreary and miserable clouds; all of our gardens collapsed and decayed, and the gardeners died; “honeycombs crumbled and no honey was left.” And the youth of this unfortunate generation, who were subjected to a period of scarcity in well-versed individuals, began to glorify and bow down in front of dead souls who did not have even a speck of trustworthiness or faithfulness. They praised and applauded unrefined and crude individuals, saying, “What a clever person, and what a gentleman he is!” And the words below, from Mehmet Akif, were the last utterance of disappointment and moaning from within the heart of our people during that sad period of time:

“There is no fidelity, neither is there respect for promises… Trust is just a word with no action;
Lying prevails, betrayal, favoritism are routine, Right is something unknown!
How dreadful is all that, oh Lord! What a terrible and drastic revolution has occurred,
Neither religion remains, nor faith; Religion is in ruins and faith is a mirage.”

At this stage, every place was raided by pompous liars who broke their promises, reneged on their oaths, and lacked any notion of fidelity! They were cursed by those on earth and those in the heavens. People wondered: where did all these false, wicked men come from? Which traitor adopted these foul men? Which unfortunate parents raised them? And which accursed mouths welcomed them in?
Oh faithfulness, where have you been? We are fed up with those who break their promises, time after time, day after day. We are fed up with those whose every word is an exaggeration, whose every deed is artificial, and who are stripped of all faithfulness! Where are our faithful friends, who have waited for days at the place you promised just for the sake of faithfulness? Where are the real heroic souls who have become one with the feeling of faithfulness? Where are the innocent and honest people of a very blessed period of time who did not care about losing everything just for the sake of faithfulness?

Come and invigorate our imaginations and flood us with all that you know about faithfulness! Rise up; rise and enter our souls! Enter our souls, which have forgotten resolution, austerity, and fidelity. Come and lead us to the fountain of revival! Come, come, and save these few faithful people, who walk about here and there, from despair and disappointment! With the hope that our generation, who are thirsty for faithfulness, will preserve the feeling of fidelity…

Ikhlas requires that one pursue nothing worldly while worshipping and obeying God, that one fulfills the duty of servanthood only because God orders it, and that one remains silent concerning any personal experiences of God’s special treatment and special gifts and seek only His approval and pleasure.

Sincerity is one of the most significant qualities of those most faithful or loyal to God; loyalty is regarded as a source, and sincerity as a sweet water originating from it. The most eloquent of humanity, Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, declared that one who drinks uninterruptedly from this water for forty days will find channels of wisdom opened from his or her heart to his or her tongue, and that such a person will always speak wisdom.

Loyalty or faithfulness is the primary attribute of Prophethood, and sincerity is its most lustrous dimension. Sincerity is innate in the Prophets; all other people try to obtain it during their lifetime. Among them, for example, the Qur’an describes the Prophet Moses as one made sincere (19:51).

Faithfulness and sincerity were as intrinsic and essential to the Prophets as air and water are to the lives of those who communicate the Prophets’ message to others in every age. In addition, they were the Prophets’ most important sources of power. The Prophets were convinced that they could not take one step forward without sincerity, and the representatives of the cause of Prophethood must believe that they will be able to achieve nothing without it. Faithfulness and sincerity are two wings or two deep oceans extending from Divine Favor and Grace to an individual’s heart. One who can sail in these oceans or fly with these wings will reach the destination, for they are under God’s protection. God values that which is done to please Him, regardless of its apparent size or importance, not the quantity of deeds. Therefore, He values a small deed done with sincerity over many deeds done without sincerity.

Sincerity is an attitude of the heart, and God views an individual according to his or her heart’s inclination. The Prophet, upon him be peace and blessings, declares: “Assuredly, God does not consider your bodies, nor your appearances. Rather, He considers your hearts.” Sincerity is a mysterious Divine credit granted to those who are purehearted in order to increase what is little and to deepen what is shallow, and to give finite (limited) worship infinite reward. One can use it to purchase the most valuable things in the markets of this world and the next, for it is esteemed, welcomed, and respected where others suffer great misery. This mysterious power of sincerity caused God’s Messenger, upon him be peace and blessings, to declare: “Be sincere in your religion; little work (with sincerity) is enough for you,” and: “Be sincere in your deeds, for God only accepts what is done with sincerity.”

If we consider a deed to be a body, sincerity is its soul. If a deed represents one wing of pair of wings, sincerity is the other. A body without soul is of no worth, and nothing can fly with only one wing. How fine are Mawlana Jalal al-Din al-Rumi’s words:

You should be sincere in all your deeds,
So that the Majestic Lord may accept them.
Sincerity is the wing of the bird of the acts of obedience.
Without a wing, how can you fly to the abode of prosperity?

The following words of Bayazid al-Bistami are also very apt:

I worshipped my Lord for thirty years with all my strength. Then I heard a voice saying: “O Bayazid! The treasures of God Almighty are full of acts of worship. If you intend to reach Him, see yourself as small at the door of God and be sincere in your deeds.”

For some, sincerity involves hiding from others when performing supererogatory deeds and avoiding all show and ostentation. For others, it means that whether one is or is not seen while performing religious deeds is not important. Still for others, it means being so involved in worship or religious deeds in consideration of God’s pleasure that one does not even remember whether one should be sincere or not.

Self-supervision is an essential dimension of sincerity, and a truly sincere person does not consider any possible spiritual pleasure that may be derived, or speculate upon whether it will ensure entrance to Paradise. Sincerity is a mystery between God and a servant, and God puts it in the hearts of those He loves. One whose heart is awakened to sincerity does not worry about being praised or accused, exalted or debased, aware or unaware of deeds, or being rewarded. Such a person does not change, and behaves in the same way in public and in private.

Notes

1. Muslim, Birr, 33; Ibn Maja, Zuhd, 9.
2. ‘Abd al-Ra’uf Munawi, Fayd al-Qadir, 6 vols. (Beirut 1093 ah / 1682 ce) 1:216.
3. Ibid., 1:217.