In the Naqshbandi tariqah, a seeker is called to abandon four things: the world, the afterlife, the sense of self, and even the act of renunciation itself. These are known as Tark al-Dunya , Tark al-Uqba , Tark al-Hesti , and Tark al-Tark .
Renouncing the world ( Tark al-Dunya ) means distancing the heart from anything that distracts it from Allah. The heart of a dervish becomes a sanctuary for the Divine, free from the entanglements of worldly preoccupations, for the heart is none other than the house of Allah.
Renouncing the afterlife ( Tark al-Uqba ) reflects the essence of sincerity. The dervish performs acts of worship solely for Allah’s essence, not for the promise of Paradise or the fear of Hell. In the dervish’s heart, love for Allah surpasses all other emotions, purging both hopes and fears that vie for space in their innermost being.
Hesti represents the self, and its renunciation ( Tark al-Hesti ) signifies the annihilation of one’s ego, dissolving personal will into the encompassing will of Allah. The greatest asset of the dervish lies in this profound nothingness, for in nonexistence resides the fullness of Divine presence.
The final renunciation, Tark al-Tark , requires the dervish to forget even these acts of renunciation, recognizing that they are not achieved through personal effort but are Divine gifts. In doing so, the dervish sheds all claims of self and submits entirely to the sovereignty of Allah.
