Original subtitles

THE JOURNEY OF LOVE

-Peace be upon you -And upon you.

You seem to have lost sleep because of your excitement.

I saw it in my dream last night. You passed the approval exam...

and became a qadi in a big city.

They say that dreams mean the opposite.

If you’re afraid of Siraceddin Hazrat...

I'll take the approval exam for you in disguise.

Ah, well, then! Perform the prayer for me in disguise, too.

Let's see if you will be this witty before the exam committee.

Come on, then. After you.

Peace be upon you and God’s blessings.

Peace be upon you and God’s blessings.

"O God, You are the Peace, and You are the Source of Peace...

You are Blessed, O Possessor of Glory and Honor."

O Lord, help this humble servant of Yours...

with the tests that he'll take and grant him success.

Praise be to God, the Lord of the Universe. Al-Fatiha.

This is your last exam in Karatay Madrasa, Yunus!

Your many years of education...

during which you've been taught by Hodja Rukneddin Mazderani...

our Master Semsettin Mardini and humbly me, have come to an end...

as of today.

In fact, it’s the education that determines your test results.

It’s not up to these humble teachers...

me included, to evaluate the results.

Evaluating the result is the epitome of knowledge.

Knowledge is the Sirat...

with heaven on one side and hell on the other.

One side is the future, the promise, the authority, the position...

and on the other one, one is all by oneself.

Yunus, you know the Six Canonical Books of Hadith.

Kutub-i Sitte. Tell us.

Out of those six hadith books, which one are we to rely on the most?

The answer is in you, my Sultan.

Tell us the answer, then. So we shall know too.

Maybe someday, there will be such a fire in the world...

which will burn down every living creature, including humankind...

that's why we memorise the Noble Quran and Sahih-i Bukhari.

Thanks to which we shall be saved from the fire and fly away.

If Al-Bukhari's work is enough, then why do we need Imam Muslim?

Burn his work away. What do you say, Sultan?

If we remove Bukhari, five will remain.

If we burn the second one, the others will follow suit.

What's your answer to that, Yunus?

What has been agreed upon is the best of a bad bunch, Sultan.

What do you mean by 'agreed upon'?

It’s the alliance of opposing parties...

that will give us the best gift of judgment, Sultan.

If the alliance of Bukhari and Imam Muslim means the best results...

why do we need the rest of them?

The science of Hadith is a six-walled room, Sultan.

Each one of the Kutub al-Sittah represents a wall.

Would it make any difference if one of the walls is short or long?

Both the short and the long one make up the whole and complete it.

Are you a poet, Yunus?

Not at all, Sultan. I learned rhetoric from you.

Poets tell lies.

We shouldn't just talk.

We must be committed to working for and serving Muslims.

Everybody's talking about how you amazed even Siraceddin Hazrat in the exam.

You will be appointed qadi in a big city.

Then you will marry a very beautiful woman...

and forget about us.

Is it what you want for yourself or for me, Ilyas?

So what? Do you mean to remain a bachelor throughout your life?

Surely there's a beautiful girl you keep in your heart.

You're talking as if you just met me today.

This is not the day we met, but the day we bid farewell, Ilyas.

You’re right.

And you? What do you think?

You should marry Gokce soon.

We'll see what the future holds.

Let's see where we are to be appointed to.

God protect us.

The Mongols have destroyed Kirsehir.

They say that Ahi Evran and all his supporters were slaughtered.

There's fire all over the Seljuk Empire.

Let's see where we will be appointed to.

We should not wish for a big city for ourselves, Ilyas.

But for the sake of struggle and effort.

If people had followed the rules of religion...

could the Mongols have attacked us?

Whenever we ignored justice, didn't we find ourselves in trouble?

What’s the cure?

Lodges where they sing and dhikr?

Or those uneducated, good-for-nothing lodge sheikhs?

Or illiterate dervishes?

The cure is the madrasah, Ilyas.

If there's any cure other than the madrasah, they're more than welcome!

If a saying has no purpose, it’s nothing but nonsense.

Let's not waste our time on empty words, sons.

We know that justice is the basis of unity and strength.

Justice is the pole that keeps the sky above us and the ground underneath.

It's not to be brought down. Otherwise, it'll be worse than doomsday.

Sons, from this day on, each one of you is to act like Hazrat Omar.

Bear in mind that the real authority of your office...

is Hazrat Omar.

Had it not been for him, humankind would have never known justice.

You, new qadi candidates, keep this in your mind.

Wherever you happen to be employed in the Seljuk Empire...

never stray from the path of science, justice, and sharia!

Your duty is not to do politics but to observe justice!

Ilyas, son of Mubariz.

Qadi of Elmali.

Observe justice.

Ertokus, son of Rustem.

Qadi of Divrigi.

Observe justice.

Yunus, son of Abdullah.

Qadi of Nallihan.

Observe justice.

Izzettin, son of Mehmet.

Dear God, grant me success on this path.

Whoa!

You're thirsty, too, eh?

Just hold on for a bit longer. Surely, we will find some water.

Come on.

Old man!

-Peace be upon you -And upon you.

Where are you coming from, where are you going?

I am on a never ending journey.

That is for sure though.

Well, tell me then, my horse is thirsty.

Is there a water source hereabouts?

It’s likely to rain cats and dogs soon.

Are you kidding me, old man?

Talking is free.

So is silence, son.

I asked you a question.

I asked if there's a water source nearby...

but you don’t bother to answer.

Well, to mock me further, you even claimed that it's going to rain.

It will rain very soon.

If we depend on the rain in such weather...

soon, we will die of thirst.

The weather was clear.

How did you know it was going to rain?

It's my knees, son.

Whenever it's going to rain, my knees hurt.

I thought you performed a miracle.

Can there be a better miracle than this?

How is that a miracle? Are you the one who sends down the rain?

Of course not!

No, I'm not, but it's the rain that gives me this pain in my knees.

Do you believe in such a superstition?

Not in superstition, I believe in God, son.

Whatever we are blessed with in this life it is from God.

There is nothing beyond God.

Those stones, those trees, the birds, nature...

everything has a form. And human beings are in the human form.

Now, if you have a headache, your brain knows that it's a headache.

If you step on a thorn, would your foot recognise the pain...

or your brain?

So, man is a fragment of this realm.

Yes.

We are the dust of the same flower.

Therefore, the rain hurts my knees before it begins.

So, if that’s not the real miracle, what is it, son?

That was quite impressive, old man.

Such an accurate description without scientific truths!

But our path is the Islamic jurisprudence, hadith and explanation.

Thus, sharia is possible by having knowledge of every science.

Don’t take it personally, but if those words...

were spoken by someone unwary, it would be blasphemy.

If one knows God, one wouldn't be blasphemous.

The rain has slowed down.

We need to reach an inn before sunset.

Godspeed! Safe journey, son!

Thieves and bandits are everywhere, don't you know, old man?

You shouldn't be alone on your road.

I am a poor old man. I have no money nor golden teeth.

If bandits see me, they’ll just have mercy on me. Have a good trip.

If...

I told you that the man...

you entered the cave with to take shelter from the rain...

is the new qadi of Nallihan, what would you say?

I would say I entered the cave not to take shelter from the rain...

but to perform the afternoon prayer.

Have a safe journey.

-Welcome, master. -Whoa!

-Thank you. -Please, welcome, master.

Eat something. It seems you have long been travelling.

Yes. It’s a little sweaty, don’t keep it in the wind.

Don’t worry!

This way, master.

Welcome, master. Come and take a seat.

-Peace be upon you. -And upon you.

-What can I get for you? -Bulgur pilaf with meat.

At once, sir.

May I sit here?

One is supposed to ask for permission before one takes action.

The water comes from Gok Oluk, sir. It is pure.

-Would you like anything else? -Thank you.

His food looks delicious. I want the same, innkeeper.

Of course, sir.

What do you do?

Well, I should be asking that question.

You sat at my table without permission and are calling me to account?

Tell me, what do you do?

Pretty much anything.

Any job for me?

Depends on what you do.

Innkeeper, refill!

-Here you are, sir. -May I have the bill?

One akche will be more than enough, sir.

Thank you.

Innkeeper!

I'll show you your room, sir. Please.

Ah!

Shh!

If you scream, you die.

Did you see the thief?

Stop! Hey!

What's going on, sir?

A man robbing a qadi of this country...

would readily kill its people.

Well, sooner or later, I'll catch that thief.

I'll find him and bring him to justice!

-Forgive me, Qadi Effendi. Forgive me! -It’s not your fault.

We are helpless, Qadi Effendi!

Those thieves risk our lives every single day here.

They will all pay for the crimes they have committed.

From now on, I, the Seljuk Qadi, will serve justice in Nallihan.

There will be justice! There will be sharia!

Unless my eyes go blind, I will recognise that face.

I'll find him and make him pay for it!

We can't survive without you, Qadi Effendi.

Look after my books. I'll send you a man to get them.

Yes, sir.

Old man!

-Peace be upon you. -And upon you.

We meet again.

Well, this is it.

Take to the road, you'll reach the destination.

Stray from it, you won't.

Won't you ask me what's become of me?

Such as where my horse is and why I'm on foot.

Does anyone need a reason for walking?

I am not used to walking as much as you, old man.

Does the road know who is on it? On his horse or on foot?

Where there is no justice...

the bandits, thieves, and murderers become the qadi.

You might say that we have mayors and qadis in our country.

Meritocracy has to replace nepotism.

If an uneducated person who has never been to a madrasah...

attains a position which he doesn't merit...

the result will be this!

I am a poor old man, Qadi Effendi. How should I know?

I'm illiterate, I did not go to school or a madrasah.

You didn't go to school or madrasah...

but none of those so-called educated ones...

would be able to speak as efficiently as you do, old man.

I do not know.

Not you, old man. From now on, thieves and bandits will worry!

Recite the iqama, old man.

I've seen such things on this road...

before I become a qadi...

that I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

All kinds of people who strayed from the path of God.

A thief at the inn stole everything I had.

Including my appointment notice, inkstand, and my inkwell.

What would a thief do with inkwell and inkstand if he's not on the path of God?

I don't think this is something to joke about, old man!

A thief is a thief, and an ominous person is ominous.

I'm not a dervish. Being so naive is another form of oppression.

How would a servant know who is the victimiser or victim?

If you ask any path to me, there's one single path and it leads to God.

Hence, all creations of God walk on the path to God.

Would one find God by stealing from and oppressing the innocent?

Shall I tell you the story of Ibrahim Ethem...

who was the sultan of hearts and of the city of Rey?

If you'd like to hear it.

If you wish to tell me, then I'd like to listen.

Before walking to God and abandoning his throne and crown...

Ibrahim Ethem Hazrat would sit on his throne and think day and night.

"O Lord, open my heart's eye".

He would pray.

But he couldn't find a cure.

One day he fell asleep on his throne.

The eye was asleep, but he was awake.

He heard footsteps on the roof.

Then the footsteps of dozens of people...

filled the privy chamber of the palace.

Sultan Ibrahim Ethem was quite surprised.

He didn't even have the strength to call for his guards.

"What's this noise? Who is running on the roof of my palace?".

Then he saw a man leaning out of the window. "Who are you?" he asked him.

The man answered.

"I'm from so-and-so village."

"Well, but what are you doing on the roof of my palace?"

The man leaning out of the window answered...

"I'm looking for my lost cows."

Ibrahim Ethem was surprised.

"Are you crazy? Why would you look for the cows on the roof?"

"You are the crazy man here," the man snapped.

"You're searching for God sitting on a golden throne and believe you're sane..."

"but you think I'm crazy..."

"for I'm looking for my lost cows on the roof?"

Good story, old man.

A good story for one to learn a lesson from.

A wise saying for one to be inspired by.

By putting it out, are you intending to leave us to the mercy of wolves?

What if that 100-year-old tree...

catches fire because we're afraid of the wolves and keep it burning?

Hey!

Hey, you!

Hey, stop!

Stop, don’t run away.

Stop!

Stop!

Don’t be afraid, it's all right.

Murderer! Murderer!

A man killed someone over there.

I saw the murderer...

but I lost him.

Amen.

He ran away before I crossed the river.

Don’t worry, Qadi Effendi.

He may have escaped from you but he won't escape his fate.

But I saw his face, and I will never forget it.

If the person you saw is a murderer, fate will find him.

I said I saw him with my own eyes!

What if you had my failing eyes?

When I'm praying, I can't really tell it is rock or soil.

Are you with the qadi or with the murderer, old man?

Neither with the qadi nor with the murderer, son.

-I am on the side of the truth. -If he's not a murderer, why did he escape?

Do you think you might have scared him away?

It’s my duty!

Your duty is to serve as a qadi. Perhaps his duty is to escape.

You speak well. Perfect rhetoric.

And if you were well-educated...

you would become the Chief Mudarris in Karatay.

We part here, Qadi Effendi.

So this time we part for good, right?

Even if we part, the path is one.

Indeed! I’ve experienced it.

I will find that murderer as soon as I take office.

Time to bid farewell then.

May God bless you. May God grant you success in your duty.

Amen.

During the reign of Sultan Izzettin the Second...

there was a Greek priest here.

The priest would tell the community...

"Your sheikh is an impostor."

"Have you ever seen him perform a miracle?"

One day, he gathered the community...

and came to the dervish lodge.

When they appeared before the sheikh, he was holding...

the wooden sword of Demirci Bayram.

Well, Demirci Bayram was just a child at that time.

The community was surprised. Our Sheikh was fighting with invisible enemies.

The priest stood up and said...

"That's your sheikh!"

"Obviously, he is not right in the head."

"If we asked him, he would say that he was fighting with non-believers..."

"and you would believe that."

Do you know what the response of our sheikh was?

He took off his robe...

and his holy body was covered in blood.

Glory be to God!

At that time, Sari Saltuk Hazrat was in a holy war in Bulgaria.

An army of heathens was attacking our fighters.

The fighters were desperate.

But, of course, our sheikh presaged it.

How about the priest? What did he do when he saw this?

What could he possibly do? He recited the shahadah there.

If you don't believe me, ask Doctor Mikel.

That priest is Doctor Mikel's flesh and blood uncle.

Our Sheikh is coming!

Bismillahirrahmanirrahm.

Bismillahirrahmanirrahm.

-Peace be upon you. -And upon you.

Welcome, my sheikh.

Welcome, my sheikh.

Welcome, master.

Thank you, wife. Please, no.

We have been waiting for you for so long.

I brought you greetings from our Sister Fatma.

And to all the dervishes here.

How was your journey? Did you have a companion?

Yes, I did.

I had a very good companion.

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

All praise is for God, Lord of all worlds...

All praise is for God, Lord of all worlds...

-the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful... -the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful...

Hey, people! Hear ye! Hear ye!

Emir Rukneddin...

wishes the caravans to be ready to set off for the Yabanli Bazaar.

Hear ye! Hear ye!

Emir Rukneddin...

wishes the caravans to be ready to set off for the Yabanli Bazaar.

As if there were any goods to take to the Yabanli Bazaar!

Same here, Bayram Aga.

We are already burdened by taxes. We have no goods for the bazaar.

Hear ye! Hear ye!

The Mongol Commander Baycu Noyan has destroyed Sivas.

Baba Sinan Khalifa of Ahi Evran and all his followers...

including children have been put to the sword.

Hear ye! Hear ye!

-May you be as blessed as this water. -May it heal you.

What’s done is done! The dead are dead!

What’s done is done! The dead are dead!

What’s done is done! The dead are dead!

What’s done is done! The dead are dead!

What’s done is done! The dead are dead!

What’s done is done! The dead are dead!

We're here, Qadi Effendi. Your flat is upstairs.

Before you, Qadi Himmet Effendi of Burdur resided here.

Thank you, Hasan Aga.

After the morning prayer, you all should be ready in the hall.

Very well, Qadi Effendi.

Please. Lighting the candles will do. We've prepared everything in your room.

If you need anything else, just command it.

-Thank you. -Good night.

-Peace be upon you. -And upon you.

It’s our duty and only aim...

to balance the scales of justice.

Well, how can we keep the scales balanced?

Whoever commits fraud or confiscates one's property...

or makes an attempt on one's life must know that he'll be brought to justice.

Let everyone know...

that if I, Qadi Yunus, commit a crime...

the law will be applied.

Let each child playing in the streets of Nallihan know...

that the source of law is not the qadi but sharia!

-Subashi Hasan Aga. -Yes, Qadi Effendi.

Has the Ahi Organisation been informed?

Yes, it has, Qadi Effendi. They are ready whenever you wish.

Good.

Take four officers along with you.

Let's inspect the streets of Nallihan.