HifsaM

Specialist Clinical Pharmacist @OUHospitals (Obs & Gynae), Crazy Traveller, Poetry Reader, Knowledge Seeker, Cake Baker (IG account: @moodies_cakery)🧁

[al-Nasafī @nasafism]

Muhyi al-Din Ibn al-‘Arabi:

“Speak to people according to their level of understanding, matching their intellectual capacity and insight.”

[/hail @selfsubsisting]

During the Ottoman era, many Sunnis, particularly among the Sufi orders, held great reverence for the Twelve Imams of Ahl al-Bayt, not as holders of Shi‘i political imamate, but as spiritual poles, saints, and inheritors of the Prophetic light.

The backbone of the Ottoman Army rested upon two elite military institutions: the Janissaries (Yeniçeri) and the Akıncı (the Raiders). Both were feared and legendary infantry forces whose skill and bravery haunted their enemies for centuries.

Despite their shared importance, the two corps differed significantly:

– The Janissaries were recruited primarily from the devşirme system and included volunteers of varied origins.
– The Akıncı, by contrast, were drawn exclusively from Turkic families and tribes.
– The Janissaries traditionally belonged to the Bektashiyya Sufi order.
– The Akıncı were predominantly affiliated with the Khalwatiyya order.
Among the most celebrated of the Akıncı was Ulubatlı Hasan (q), the standard-bearer who achieved martyrdom while planting the Ottoman flag upon the walls of Constantinople. He belonged to the Evrenesoğlu regiment, one of the Akıncı divisions.

Each Akıncı regiment was led by two key figures:
Akıncı Bey – the military commander
Akıncı Şeyh – the spiritual guide, imam, and also the regiment’s internal judge

Shaykh Abdullah Usûlî was born in Yenice-i Vardar (in present-day Greece). After completing his foundational religious education in the Hanafi madhhab, he devoted himself to the spiritual path of the Khalwatiyya order. He became a disciple of the great master Pir Shaykh Ibrahim Gulshanî (q), who died in 1534.

After entering the path of spiritual training, Shaykh Usûlî was recruited into the Akıncı, eventually rising to the esteemed position of Akıncı Şeyh and regimental imam under Evrenesoğlu Abdi Bey (q) Historical accounts describe him as Abdi Bey’s constant companion, accompanying him in campaigns until the passing of his own master, Pir Ibrahim Gulshanî.

Following his teacher’s death in 1534, Shaykh Usûlî retired from military service and continued spreading Khalwatiyya teachings across Rumelia. His branch later became known as the Khalwatiyya Gulshanîyya.

He composed a book of spiritual teachings titled Usûlî Dîvânı, in which he also expressed the Ottoman-Sunni mystical reverence for the Twelve Imams of Ahl al-Bayt. understood not in the Shi‘i doctrinal sense, but as patron saints of the Sunnī Sufi heritage. He writes:

"The wounds of the Saints are a balm for the soul—
What sorrow is there in dying after this hour?
The door of the Saints is my qiblah;
Why should I ever turn away from my Master?

My Pir’s resolve is the straight path;
He leads every seeker to God.
At every breath the Truth is unveiled—
Why should I ever turn away from my Master?
The one whose heart is stained is purified through the Pir;
The attributes of God shine forth from the Saints.
Those without a guide will be lost tomorrow—
Why should I ever turn away from my Master?

My heart is mad with love;
My soul is the servant of the Saints.
For my Pir is Muhammad and Ali—
Why should I ever turn away from my Master?
The People of the Cloak are the true Saints of Reality;
Hasan and Husayn bring purity to every soul.
And my sovereign is the Martyr of Karbala—
Why should I ever turn away from my Master?
My soul is filled with Zayn al-‘Abidin;
And my heart gazes toward Muhammad al-Baqir.
With Ja‘far al-Sadiq—is the faith of my religion—
Why should I ever turn away from my Master?
Musa al-Kazim is a divine blessing to us;
And God is pleased through Ali al-Rida.
We are lovers of Muhammad al-Taqi from pre-eternity—
Why should I ever turn away from my Master?

Ali al-Naqi is the Imam of divine serenity;
Hasan al-Askari is the sword against the enemy.
And Muhammad al-Mahdi is the secret of divine guidance—
Why should I ever turn away from my Master?
I, Usûlî, came to the door of God;
With all my heart I became a servant of the Saints.
At the threshold of the Pirs I found the Truth—
Why should I ever turn away from my Master?"

The Akıncı and Janissaries often carried symbols expressing this layered veneration, such as:

“Yā Allah – Yā Muhammad – Yā Ali” inscriptions on war flags

The Dhul-Fiqar sword emblem

The Pençe-i Âl-i Abâ, the five-fingered symbol representing the Ahl al-Kisā’

[HifsaM @hifsam3]

@PharmerBecky @OUHospitals Thank you Rebecca 🥰🥰!

[HifsaM @hifsam3]

Super duper excited to see the proposed solutions to come to fruition. A much needed attempt at bringing about change in alignment @OUHospitals trustwide strategy and vision!

[HifsaM @hifsam3]

Thank you @obstetricmedic for being an amazing mentor, colleague and friend. It was an honour to work with you on this case 🥰

[Charlotte Frise @obstetricmedic]

Pregnancy in women with extreme short stature, think about:
1. Circulating blood volume - much smaller than your average adult!
2. Drug doses - standard doses of obstetric meds will b too high, so involve your specialist pharmacy colleagues

Great job #JoeOSullivan and @hifsam3

[HifsaM @hifsam3]

Freudian Slip 😳😳😳

[Sahil Kapur @sahilkapur]

Former President George W. Bush: “The decision of one man to launch a wholly unjustified and brutal invasion of Iraq. I mean of Ukraine.”

[Mindset Machine  @mindsetmachine]

If you want to become a better “you”, read this:

[Brenda Kelly @KellyB_Oxford]

There is no 'me'.
There is no 'you'.
I am in you.
You are in me.
There is only 'we'.

Ní Saoirse go Saoirse na mBan.
#InternationalWomensDay2022.

[HifsaM @hifsam3]

😩😩😩😩

[Harshhh! 🇮🇳 @Harsh_humour]

Stock market today. #RussiaUkraineConflict #StockMarketindia

[HifsaM @hifsam3]

👀🤣

[Ajay Sehrawat @IamAjaySehrawat]

Russia-Ukraine Crisis explained.😄
#RussiaUkraineConflict

[Gurwinder @G_S_Bhogal]

My friends, a new MEGATHREAD has arrived!

In 40 tweets I’ll explain 40 useful concepts you should know.

Reading time: ~7 minutes.
Value: potentially a lifetime!

Thread:

[HifsaM @hifsam3]

@deepasanthosh My sister was born on 22/2/2002 at 22:22. The midwife looking after my mum said, I guess 2 is her lucky number 🤍🤍🤍 Right @amiiii_m ? 🤪🤪🤪

[HifsaM @hifsam3]

😍

[Wisdom @Sufi_Path]

This world is like a mountain.Your echo depends on you. If you scream good things, the world will give it back.If you scream bad things, the world will give it back. Even if someone says badly about you, speak well about him. Change your heart to change the world.

~Shams Tabrizi

[HifsaM @hifsam3]

May the next year bring peace, prosperity, success and happiness. May we find the confidence to choose ourselves over and over again. May growth be the fuel in our pursuit of happiness! (3/3)

[HifsaM @hifsam3]

A little late… but helllooooo 2022!
What a year 2021 has been, and for those that know my struggles and my achievements, I thank you and I am forever grateful for your support, kindness and love. (1/3)

[HifsaM @hifsam3]

Life is way too short, so chase your dreams, find your tribe, let go of negativity, find freedom and be true to yourself.
I have decided: I choose me, I choose peace and I am WORTH it! (2/3)

[Naval @naval]

What free trade did to blue collar jobs, remote work will do to white collar jobs.

[HifsaM @hifsam3]

@RanaAjaj5 Well done boo! 🤍🤍

[HifsaM @hifsam3]

Obstetrics, ethereum & inclusivity. All in one! 😂😂 The future 🎉🎉