THE EARS ARE FULL AND THE EYES ARE HUNGRY

Fethullah Gulen

Issue 40

12/24/2016

If the servant combines “what he says with the situation,” his status will be elevated with his master, and
whoever’s status is high with his master, his status will rise in souls, and what he says will have an impact
on hearts. “The words and the situation” are two parts of “one tongue” that have the same importance
in elevating the truth, representing it, and communicating it... and if this tongue cracks with the truth, it
will shake hearts.

IF THE SERVANT UNITES “THE WORD AND THE SITUATION,” HIS STATUS WILL BE ELEVATED WITH HIS
MASTER, AND WHOEVER’S STATUS IS HIGH WITH HIS MASTER, HIS STATUS WILL BE ELEVATED IN SOULS.

This is the case with those who combine the adverb and the saying and do not separate them; His words
leave an indelible impact on hearts and are destined for eternity. In the narration, God revealed to Jesus,
son of Mary: “Exhort yourself with my wisdom, and if it benefits you, then preach to the people.
Otherwise, be ashamed of me.” In this, the clearest explanation of the secret behind believing the word
in action.

A person must, then, do what he believes in first, then go out to reveal - with detachment, annihilation,
and turning away from the self - the feelings that came from his chest, the echoes that resonated deep
within him, and the ideas that came to his mind as a result of doing what he believed in. Indeed, let him
be ashamed of the one who preaches - for example - about tahajjud and standing while he is one of the
heedless and asleep during his night, and likewise the one who preaches about humility and submission
while in his prayer he is heedless and distracted and does not adhere to the proper etiquette and
reverence before God, and does not say a word about “a vow of a lifetime to others.” He had no “heart
for others.” Yes, the Creator’s wisdom has decreed that the effect of a statement depends on its
penetration into the one who said it and his implementation of it. He said warningly: “O you who have
believed, why do you say what you do not do? (Al-Saff: 2-3).

Let no one be under the illusion that when the verse warns the believers and denounces them in the
form of a question, it says to them: “Stop saying what you do not do.” Rather, it says to them: “You have
become an interpreter of the truth with your words, so why do you not translate your words into actions
as well?” Speech separated from action is one of the greatest things that attracts the wrath and loathing
of the tyrant.” So, what is meant is not to prevent a person from saying what he did not do, but rather to
encourage him to do what he says... Action is worship and speech is worship, so if he abandons both of
them together, he has committed two sins and is deprived of “influence” in two ways, and whoever
abandons one of them has committed one sin and is deprived of “influence” in two ways. One.

WHAT MANY ELOQUENT SPEECHES AND UNIQUE WORDS I HAVE HEARD TO DATE. OUR EARS ARE FULL,
AND OUR EYES ARE HUNGRY.
Yes, your saying why you did not do, or rather your neglecting to do what you say, brings divine wrath,
extinguishes the flame of your words, undermines people’s confidence in you, and turns your
expressions into dry vocabulary that will be destined by the ears for a long time, and then destined to be
forgotten forever.

I have known people who were characterized by silence, who only spoke sparingly, and when necessary,
their speech - often - was either an explanation of the meanings that were evident in their authentic
behavior, or a detail of deep feelings that lacked explanation, or a facilitation of facts that were difficult
to understand for those whose insight was blinded. How people stood amazed and amazed as they
listened to their silent speeches, that is, the speeches of the mouthpiece. Oh God, how deep they have
reached in their situation and heart, to the point that everyone who sits in front of them and listens to
them, how easy it is to understand them even if he does not know their language, and thus increases his
respect and appreciation for them. When we attended their gatherings, we used to say: “We witnessed,
we understood, we imbibed,” not “we heard, we learned, we believed.” Their words were wisdom. If
they remain silent, you will feel arrows in your depths being shot by glances from them that you will see
as God watching over them.

Yes, there are many springs and abundant springs that I passed by! But - alas - I could not fill my bucket,
so fooling around was my craft. Isn’t my disheveled condition evidence of my homelessness and loss?! To
this day, I still feel the impact of the silence of these divine people, who if they spoke, their words were
“wisdom,” and if they were silent, they filled with thought and contemplation.