Islamic Conference 1

Speech by HIH Nadine Sultana D’Osman Han

Washington DC, IIUC 98, Aug.7th, 

 

 Islamic Conference 2

 

 

SPIRITUAL DIMENSION

By

Copyright 1998 Nadine Sultana d’Osman Han

 

 

 

 

Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Raheem
As-Salaamu Alaykum.  Greetings to all my Brothers and Sisters.
 
Balzac wrote in l842 — “I write by the light of two eternal truths:  Religion and Monarchy..”— 
 
How very true are these words, for Religion and Monarchy transcends from immemorial times from the Divine Allah.  Monarchy and Spirituality are inseparable, because a Monarch is bound by Oath to obey the Will of God, for the good of the people. 
 
H.M. Abdulhamit II was both Sultan and Caliph, therefore he embodied perfectly these two truths.  The very personality of the Sultan radiated with spirituality from a very young age.  One might say that for H.M. Abdulhamit II, it was a birthright transmitted to him over thousands of years from his forebears. 
 
The genealogy called Silsilename, traces the genealogy of the Turkish Dynasties beginning with Adam and Eve, continuing with the ancients Prophets and Patriarchs, and terminating with the Ottoman’s Dynasty founded by Osman Gazi, whose title means “Warrior of the Faith”. 
 
The Ottoman Sultans did surrender to complete obedience to the Will of Allah.  They did abide by the principles of morality, honesty, and honor mentioned in the Holy Qu’ran. 
Sultan Abdulhamit II never strayed from that path, and his people could not fault his honor to integrity. 
 
H.M. Sultan Abdulhamit II became the 98th Caliph from His Exalted Highness EBUBEKIR, on the day that he was girded with the Sword of Osman Gazi at Eyup, on Friday 7, Sept l876.  At Eyup’s Tomb, the Sultan renewed his commitment to total surrender to the Will of Allah, and to the principles of spirituality in the Osmanli tradition.
 
What could be more gloriously appropriate, but for the Ottoman Caliph to start the journey of his reign from Eyup, which is the 3rd most sacred place in the Islamic World, after Mecca and Jerusalem.  This is because H.M. Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror or Fatih as he is usually known, while capturing Constantinople for Islam, found the lost tomb of Eyup Ensari.  Eyup was the friend and standard-bearer of Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon Him), and, he was among the leaders of the first Arab siege of Constantinople, in the year 674.  Eyup was killed during the unsuccessful siege, and he was buried somewhere outside the walls.
Certainly, it was the Will of Allah for such a miraculous discovery to occur, so many centuries later, and, only to the Conqueror of Constantinople for Islam.  Shortly thereafter, Allah Blessed again the Ottoman Sultans with the Caliphate.
 
Thus, after the Conquest of Constantinople, renamed Istanbul, Sultan Fatih, had a kulliye built there, named Eyup. 
Perhaps, I should explain that a kulliye is a group of buildings, which include a Mosque, hospital, and various other religious and philanthropic institutions.  The kulliye of Sultan Fatih included two tombs, one of which became the Sultan last resting-place.
 
All these facts are the very legacy that influenced the spirituality of H.M. Abdulhamit II, and it was to manifest itself at a very young age.
 
Spirituality has many different facets of expression, one of which is good manners.  Without good manners there can be no morality and therefore no civilization.  Sultan Abdulhamit was a serious, meditative and dignified child.  He never laughed loudly.  These qualities remained with the Sultan into his adulthood. 
 
Another expression of spirituality was the Sultan’s humility.  H.M. Abdulhamit II had many talents, in calligraphy, arts, cabinet-making, in which he was truly a Master, foreign languages, sports, and many more subjects in which he excelled at.  Yet the Sultan never boasted of his accomplishments.  This spiritual humility was not understood by the many foreigners, who laughed at the Sultan or criticized Him.
 
Another aspect of the spirituality of the Sultan, was his sensitivity toward the beauty of nature, and to his appreciation of tranquillity.  This spirituality, led the Sultan to reject the extravagance of Dolmabace, for the more modest small palaces set among the restful park of Yildiz, where the Soul could be refresh in closer communion with Allah.
The Sultan Abdulhamit II enjoyed simple pleasures, such as the contemplation of nature, as he sipped a cup of coffee at one of the kiosk in the park, or listening to the songs of birds.
 
The spirituality of the Sultan was also found in his gentleness towards children and animals.  Nothing could delight the Sultan more, than to listen to the inexperienced musical playing of his children.  Sultan Abdulhamit II was also very undemanding of his wives, taking great pleasure in simple relaxing small talk. 
 
Sultan Abdulhamit was very thrifty in his needs, and very conscientious of his duties.  Deeply pious and mystic, the Sultan was a loner.  He worked long hours in the interest of the people, taking no vacation during his long reign of 33 years. 
 
The Sultan was also a warrior of the Faith, not with the sword, but with spiritual energy.  The Sultan spent great energy to unite all Muslims, under the Banner of the Caliphate, for the Glory of Allah, and His Messenger Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon Him). 
 
Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon Him) encouraged the pursuit of knowledge with the words:  — “He who leaves his home in search of knowledge walks in the path of God”.— 
 
Again, Sultan Abdulhamit II brought a spiritual dimension to this task, as he greatly expanded education in all fields.  The Sultan inaugurated economic reforms and progress with the WISDOM OF PRUDENCE, which could be the envy of any ecologist today.
 
The deepest form of spirituality of H.M. Sultan Abdulhamit II, came forth when the Sultan sacrificed His Sultanate, without a moment of hesitation, when he believed, that it would accomplish the security, and orderliness of the country. 
 
Unfortunately, the ones he educated so liberally, did not live by the same high standard of morality as the Sultan.  So, once they acquired the knowledge so generously bestow on them, they turned traitor to Allah, to their Sultan and Caliph, and destroyed their very Soul in the process. 
 
I shall conclude with a few thoughts.  As Abdulkadir Dedeoglu wrote:  — “Sultans are like Spirits in their relation to their country”.—  To be sure, their spirits, carried on by their descendants, did not die with the grief of exile. 
Indeed, the mystic 90 years old, Sultan Selim Hamid*, (who is the last son of H.M. Sultan Abdulhamid II), remains steadfast on the Spiritual path of integrity and humility in tradition of Islam, while his heart and soul remain immutably linked to the Fate of Istanbul, the City of the Ottoman Caliphs, Istanbul, the Pearl of Islam as it was said, and, the Siege to the Holy Relics of Prophet Mohammed (Peace be Upon Him). 
 
I shall leave you with the words of Petrus Gyllius, who said four century ago:  — “It seems to me that while other cities are mortal, this one will endure as long as there are men on earth”.—  Insha’Allah.
 
May Allah Blessings be Upon You, Upon Islam and Turkey and upon all the suffering Nations.  Thank you.
 
 
NOTE: * Sultan Selim i-Rabi bin Hamid Han passed away on April 3rd, 1999