The Means of Perfection and God's Nearness
In order to attain self-perfection and God's Nearness one may
resort to various means. Here we will point out some of the important means as follows:
1- God's Remembrance.
2- Nourishment of Moral Virtues.
3- Righteous Deeds.
4- Martyrdom and Struggle.
5- Benevolence and Service to Mankind.
6- Supplication and Prayer.
7- Fasting.
All of the above means shall be
described in details as separate chapters in this book.
17.1. First Means -God's
Remembrance (Dikhr)
God's-remembrance or invocation
(dhikr) could be regarded as a starting 'point for the esoteric movement
or spiritual migration, of a wayfarer towards the Nearness of the Lord of
Universe. A wayfarer through invocation gradually lift himself above the
horizons of material world stepping inside the Celestial World of beauty and
illumination, becomes complete and perfect eventually attaining the highest
exalted position of God's Nearness. God's invocation is the soul behind all the
worships as well is the greatest aim behind their explanation, because the
merit of each worship depends upon the degree of attention paid by the
worshiper towards that particular act. The Qur’anic-verses and traditions have
made plenty of recommendations about the importance of invocation. For example
the Holy Quran said:
"Oh ye who believe! Remember God-Almighty with much.
Remembrance." -the Holy- Quran (33: 41)
And said:
"(such as) Those who remember God-Almighty,
standing, sitting; reclining, and consider the creation of the heavens and the
earth (and say): Our Lord! Thou createdst not this in vain. Glory be to thee!
Preserve us from the doom of fire." -the Holy- Quran (3:191)
And said:
"He is successful who groweth, and remembereth the
Name of his Lord, so prayeth." -the Holy- Quran (87:15)
And said:
"Remember the Name of the Lord at morning and
evening." -the Holy- Quran (76:25)
And said:
"Remember thy Lord much. and praise (Him) in the
early hours of night and morning." -the Holy- Quran (3: 41)
And said:
"When ye have performed the act of worship. remember
God-Almighty standing, sitting. and reclining." -the Holy- Quran (4:103)
Imam al-Sadiq (A) said:
"Whoever offers a lot of invocation. God-Almighty
will reward him Paradise where he would live forever happily
under the shadow of His grace."
-Wasail
al-Shi’a, vol. 4. p-1182.
'Also, he said to his
companions:
"As much as it is possible do remember God-Almighty
at every hour during day and night because He has ordered His servants to offer
a lot of invocation. Whoever remembers God-Almighty is reciprocated by him.
Know that there is not a single believer who does not remember God-Almighty but
that God-Almighty too remembers him with goodness." -Wasail
al-Shi’a, vol. 4. p-1183.
Imam al-Sadiq further said:
“God-Almighty said to Moses
(A): 'to remember Him a lot throughout the day and night. During invocation be
humble, during calamity be patient, and during My Remembrance be calm and
relaxed. Worship Me alone and do not associate any partner with Me. Every body
shall have to return towards Me. Oh Moses! Regard me as your
provision of the Hereafter and deposit the treasurers of your righteous deeds
near Me." -Wasail
al-Shi’a vol. 4, p-1182.
At another place he said:
“For every thing there is a limit except God's
Remembrance which is infinite and beyond limits. There are religious mandatory
obligations which are performed in accordance to prescribed limits. e.g.: The
fasting during the month of Ramadhan is limited to thirty days, and similarly
the Hajj Pilgrimage is limited to performance of certain prescribed Hajj
rituals , but contrary to all of them God's-Remembrance does not has any limits
and He has not limited himself to a prescribed or minimum amount of invocation.
Then he recited the following verse:
"Oh ye who believe!
Remember God-Almighty with much remembrance and glorify him early, and late.”
[1] -the Holy- Quran (33: 41-42)
"In the above verse
God-Almighty has not fixed a limit for His Remembrance. Then he said: 'My
father (Imam al-Baqir A.S.) used to offer a lots of invocation, while walking
with him I found him remembering God, when we used to sit together for eating
he was still busy with invocation, and even while talking to the people he was
not negligent from invocation. I could see his tongue almost attached to his
throat while chanting: there is no god except God-Almighty (la illahi
Illallahu). After the morning prayer he used to assemble all of us together and
ordered to offer invocation until sun rise.
"Then he quoted from the
Holy Prophet (S) who said: shouldn't I inform you about your best deeds which would
bring for you more distinctions as compared to any other deed ? Which is purest
and most desirable before God-Almighty. Is much better for you as compared to
silver, and gold even is superior than the Holy crusade for the sake of
God-Almighty.’
The people asked: “Oh Prophet of
God! Please tell us.”
“Do a lots of God's
Remembrance.” Replied the Holy Prophet (S).
"Then the Imam said: A man
asked the Holy Prophet (S): “Who is the best among the believers ?” “The one
who offers a lot of invocation.” Replied the Holy Prophet (S). He further said:
“Who possesses a invocating
tongue has indeed been blessed with the goodness of this world and the
Hereafter.” -Wasail
al-Shi’a, vol. 4, p-181.
The Holy Prophet (S) said to Abu
Dhar:
"Recite the Holy Quran and do a lots of invocation,
which will became a means for your remembrance in the Heavens and will produce
illumination for you upon the earth.” -Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 93, p-154.
Imam al-Hasan [2] (A) quotes
from the Holy Prophet (S)
"Take lead towards the Gardens of Paradise.
'Which are the Gardens of the Paradise? Asked the companions ?
'The rings of invocation Replied the Holy Prophet (S)." -Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 93, p-156.
Imam al-Sadiq (A) said:
“The one who is a reciter of God's invocation among
negligent is like a crusader waging war in the battlefield alone, while the
others are fleeing away. Paradise for such a combatant is
compulsory." -Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 93, p-163.
The Holy Prophet (S) said to his
companions:
"Do utilize the gardens
of the Paradise." Which are these gardens of the Paradise
? Asked the companions.
'The assemblies of
invocation; remember God-Almighty at morning and evening. 'Whosoever wants to
know about his rank and position before God-Almighty, must see how is the
position of God in his own life. Because, 'He elevates a servant exactly to the
same position -which was assigned to God-Almighty by the servant in his own
life. Know that your best and the most purest deeds which will elevate your
rank and position before the Lord and is better than any thing else of this
universe is - God's-Remembrance, because God-Almighty had said: "Whoever
remembers me -I become his companion." -Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 93, p-163.
The above Qur’anic verses and
traditions presented here as examples of invocation show its importance
clearly. Now let us investigate what is the aim behind the invocation.
17.1.1. The Aim of Invocation
(Dikhr)
Earlier, it was clearly
demonstrated that God's Remembrance is a great worship and is one of the best
method of self-building, self-perfection and spiritual migration towards
God-Almighty. Now let us examine what is really meant with invocation whose
importance has been so much emphasized in traditions and Qur’anic verses. Does
it means simply recital of sentences like: Glory to God, All praises belong to
God and there is no god but God (subhan allahi, walhamdu lillahi, wala ilaha
illal- lahu) or is there any other aim behind this?
Do these sentences without
paying any inner attention towards their esoteric meanings could still provide
such important effect? The phrase invocation in the dictionary has been defined
in the sense of simply recital as well as in the sense of recital with heart's
presence. Similarly, is the case in traditions where this phrase has been used
with both meanings i.e. recital with tongue as well recital with heart's
presence.
In traditions it has been
narrated that Prophet Moses (A) while reciting hymns, asked God-Almighty:
"Oh God! What is the reward for some one who remembers
you by tongue and heart? 'I will place him under the shadow of My Thrown and My
Own Protection on the Day of Resurrection.” -Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 93, p-156.
Therefore, as could be seen in
the tradition the phrase invocation has been used in both senses i.e.
invocation by means of tongue as well as invocation by means of heart. Also,
there are plenty of traditions in which invocation has been used in both
meanings, but mostly it has been used in the sense of heart's presence with
esoteric attention -which is indeed true and perfect invocation.
God’s Remembrance may be defined
as a state of spirituality and discerning the truth with esoteric attention
towards the Lord of Universe, and knowing that He is the Overseer and
Supervisor of all our actions at all times. Someone who remembers God-Almighty
in such a manner, acts according to His commands, performs compulsory
obligations and sustains himself from forbidden acts. Therefore, from the point
of view of these considerations we may conclude that invocation is not an easy
thing. The Holy Prophet (S) said to Imam' Ali (A):
"There are three things
of special strength for my Ummah:
First: Fellowship and
equality with brother believer in wealth.
Second: Treading others
justly against the self
Third: God's Remembrance in
all situations.
"What is meant with
invocation is not simply recital sentences life: Glory to God; All praises
belong to God; and there is no god but God (Subhan allahi, Wal hamdu lillahi
wala ilahi illallahu), rather invocation is defined as the state of being so
much in remembrance of God-Almighty that whenever one is encountered with a
forbidden act, he should fear God-Almighty and should refrain himself from its
commitments.” -Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 93, p-151.
The Commander of the Faithful
Imam 'Ali (A) said:
"Do not engage your self
in invocation in the state of negligence and never forget God-Almighty.
Remember Him with perfection so that your tongue and hearts become synchronized
and your esoteric and exoteric affairs are in conformity with each other. One
cannot engaged himself in real invocation but to forget his self completely and
while performing deeds he should think of only God-Almighty and 'should not
notice his own existence.” -Gharar
al-Hukm, p-817.
Imam al-Sadiq (A) said:
"Whoever remembers God-Almighty truly will become
obedient; whoever is negligent of Him will certainly indulge into sins, His
obedience means guidance and sinning indicates deviation. The invocation and
negligence are the roots of obedience and transgression respectively.
Therefore, consider your heart as the worshipping point (Qibla), and keep your
tongue still without motion except by permission of heart, by approval of
wisdom, and with the consent of belief because, God-Almighty is aware of your
apparent and hidden affairs.”
"Be like some one whose
soul is being confiscated from his body or like some one who is standing before
the Lord to be questioned about his deeds. Don't let the self-engaged into any
other thing except discharging Divine obligations which are important for you.
With the tears of shame, and grief cleanse and purify the contamination of your
heart.”
"Know that God-Almighty
has remembered you therefore, you should too engage yourself in invocation,
because, He remembered you while being absolutely needless of you. Therefore,
yours remembrance by God-Almighty will make you more perfect, exalted,
acquainted, and delightful as compared to God's Remembrance by you.
Acquaintance with God's Remembrance will increase your humility, courtesy, and
decency in front of Him, resulting in your being able to witness His past
benevolence and blessings bestowed upon you. At this stage your obedience might
appear to you as more but in front of God' s favors to you, it will be
something very small.”
"Therefore, do perform your deeds strictly for the
sake of God-Almighty only. If you perceived your invocation as big it will
result in hypocrisy, egotism, ignorance, harshness, and negligence in
appreciation of Divine blessings and favors. Such invocation will not bear any
fruits except innovator's becoming farther away from the God-Almighty and with
the passage of time will not produce any positive effect except fear and
sorrow.”
"As the Holy Prophet (S)
said: 'I am helpless to hymn your praise (the way you truly deserves). Your
essence is such -the manner you praised yourself. Therefore, the Prophet (S)
did not attach any wo11h to his invocations because, he was aware of the fact
that remembrance of His servants by God-Almighty is far superior than the God's
Remembrance by His servants. Therefore, those whose rank is much lower than the
Holy Prophet (S) better consider their invocation as insignificant. Because of
these considerations some one who really wants to recite God's Invocation must
understand that unless and until God-Almighty remembers him and bestow upon him
His special grace –he would not be in a position to offer God's Invocation.” -the
Bihar al-Anwar vol. 93, p-158.
As could be seen from these
narrations that hearts attention and esoteric presence have been defined as the
real meanings of invocation. Further simply heart's attention and esoteric
presence but ineffective is not enough, rather what is required is effective
esoteric presence whose indications have been identified as obedience of
mandatory obligations and avoidance of forbidden things. But it does not mean
that only oral recital of sentences like: "There is no god but God"; "Glory
to God". And "all praises to God," (la ilahi illallahu, subhan
allahi, and al hamdu lillahi) is not the evidence of true invocation, because
these sentences in themselves reflect degrees of God's invocation.
Apart from that even this
invocation by tongue flows from the heart's fountainhead. Someone, who recites
these invocation by tongue certainly is having some attention by heart towards
God-Almighty however small it may be, and because of this he is reciting these
sentences by his tongue. From the point of view of Islam, simply recital of
these sentences and other invocations is desirable and carries spiritual reward
subjected to it being performed with the intention of God's Nearness.
Incidentally we may mention that in case of daily prayers we are strictly obliged
to recite similar sentences by tongue and to perform other related rituals
outwardly while we know that the heart's presence and esoteric attention is the
real spirit behind the daily prayers.
17.1.2. The Degrees of
Invocation (Dhikr)
Invocation consists of various
degrees or ranks the first and lowest of them begins with the recital of
invocation by tongue, and continues till the degree of absolute perfection,
which terminates into attaining the stage of feeling being ceased to exist,
witnessing the supreme reality and becoming annihilated into His Essence (Shahood
and fana). At the very first stage, since the invocator pays heart's
attention towards God-Almighty, starts reciting special invocation by tongue
with the intention of God's Nearness, without paying any attention to their
meanings.
At the second stage, although
he, recites invocation by tongue with the intention of God's Nearness, but at
the same time also convey their meanings to his mind. At the third stage, the
tongue follows the heart, since the heart pays attention towards God-Almighty
and in his esoteric essence believes in the meanings and contents of
invocations, therefore orders the tongue for their recital.
At the fourth stage, the
wayfarer attains esoteric presence, and perfect heart's presence with respect
to God-Almighty, considers Him as an overseer of his actions and witnesses his
own existence under God's exalted presence. At this stage the experiences of
wayfarers differs widely in accordance to the degree of perfection achieved by
them. As much as they become detached from other than God, in the same
proportion they become attached to God-Almighty ultimately achieving the
highest and most exalted positions of being ceased to exist (inqata),
countenance (laqa), and annihilation (fana).
The wayfarer at this stage
-which is the most exalted position has teared off all the veils of ignorance
and falseness and has attached himself to the Supreme Source of all Blessings
and Perfection. He has removed himself from every thing including his self and
has returned towards God-Almighty by cutting all his ties with other than God
and reserving his pure love and affection for God-Almighty. He does not see any
perfection except God-Almighty so that he could become attached to him, and does
not find any companion to become intimate with him.
These purest servants of God
have made their access into the supreme Infinite Source of Grandeur, Majesty,
Perfection, Blessings and Illumination and ate able to witness the Beauty and
Illumination of God's Essence with their esoteric eyes. They are not ready to
attach their heart and pay attention towards the metaphorical phenomenon of
this world even for an instant.
Because they have reached to the
Fountain Head of Absolute Beauty and Perfection and, therefore, metaphorical
and fictitious perfection do not have any worth in their eyes. They burnt in
the love, affection and countenance of their beloved and are not ready to
exchange this pleasure even if they are offered both the worlds, and if they encounter
world's phenomenon, regards them as reflections of Divine Illumination and
signs of God's Perfect Existence.
The Commander of the Faithful
Imam Ali (A) was asked:
"Have you seen the God
to whom you worship" ?
'Woe, be upon you! I do not
worship a God who could not be seen '. Replied the Imam. ' How did you see Him'
? He was asked. 'Woe be upon you! God-Almighty could not be seen with physical
eyes rather hearts witness His existence through the reality of their faith.”
Replied the Imam." -Haqayaqe
Faiz, p-179.
Imam al-Hussein (A) [3] said:
"In order to prove Your
Existence how can a thing could be referred as an argument which in itself is
dependent upon You? Is there exist any manifestation for other than You which
You lack, so that he would make You revealed? When were You absent so that an
argument will be required? When were You away so that the indications and
circumstances of Your reappearance would be needed? Blind is the eye which does
not see You as an Overseer upon his deeds. And how unfortunate looser is your
servant, who have been deprived of Your Love." -Iqbal
al-Amal, Prayer for the Day of Arafah.
The Commander of the Faithful
Imam' Ali (A) in his hymns for the Holy Month of Shaban said:
"Oh God! Bestow upon me absolute separation from
every thing except You, enlighten the esoteric eyes of our hearts with Your
Beauty and Grandeur ,so that they could tear off the veils of light and become
attached to the Supreme Source of Absolute-Perfection. May our souls become
united with Your Holy-Essence."
-Iqbal
al-Amal, Monajat-e-Shabanyeh.
Imam al-Sajjad (A) describes
God's righteous servants as follows:
"Oh Lord! The tongues are helpless to offer Your
Praise and Adoration, worthy of Your Majesty and Splendor," the faculties
of wisdom cannot comprehend Your Beauty and Glory; the eyes are powerless to be
able to witness the manifestation of Your Beauty. For your servants, in their
search to attain the exalted position of Your Enlightenment, You have closed
all the avenues except to admit their impotence and helplessness.”
“Oh Lord of the Majesty and Splendor! Please consider us
among Your those servants in whose hearts the sapling of Your Countenance has
been planted and whose hearts are saturated with the grief and sorrow of Your Love.
Thus, they are moving towards the nest of most tender and sublime thoughts with
the hope of living in pleasure forever in the most magnanimous and splendid
garden of manifestation and nearness of their God. They drink the cups of Your
Grace from the Fountain Head of Your Love and entering the wide freeways of
fraternity and pleasure.”
“The curtains have been rolled up from their esoteric
eyes, the darkness of doubt has been removed from their beliefs and the
palpitations of contradiction have been calmed down in their hearts. Certainly
of Your Knowledge have made them as large hearted," strive to surpass
others in the race of piety, in their trade with God-Almighty, have been
rewarded with the most delicious and pleasurable drinks," In their union
with their beloved possess a clean and pure inner self while encountering
fearful situation are assured with the Divine guidance towards safety" In
their return to God-Almighty have attained the most tranquil state,. In their
journeying towards eternal prosperity and salvation have attained the stage of
certainty; In witnessing the glory of their beloved their eyes shine with joy,
because of accomplishing the cherished goal, they now possess a peaceful inner
self and have profited themselves in their bartering this world with the
Hereafter.”
"Oh God! How pleasing are the memories of
inspiration relevant to Your Invocation for the hearts! How sweet is the
journeying towards you by means of pondering about the unseen! How much
delicious is the taste of Your Love! And how much pleasurable and gratifying is
the drinking of drinks of Your Nearness !”
"Therefore, oh God! we seek Your shelter again
banishment or getting lost. And accept us among the most distinguished
gnostics, most righteous servants, most veracious obedient, and most sincere
worshippers. Oh Lord of Majesty and Splendor, and Oh God of Mercy and
Compassion we swore you of your Blessing, oh Thou Who are the Best of
Blessers.” -Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 93, p-163.
In summary, the fourth position is a position which is most
distinguished and exalted and in itself consists of various degrees and ranks
which are infinite and continue till the very Holy Essence, Self-Existent (Wajib
al- Wajood), the Source of Absolute Perfection and Infinite Beauty. In the
language of Godly people these stages are called namely: the position of
invocation (dhikr) the position of love, (uns), the position of
being, ceased to exist (inqata) the position of intense desire (shouq),
the position of pleasure (raza) the position of fear (khouf), the
position of witnessing, (shahood) the position of absolute certainty (ain
al-yaqin) the position of assurance (haq al-yaqin) and the eventual
position of becoming annihilated in God-Almighty (fana wa baqa billah).
These interpretations most probably have been inferred from traditions and
Quranic verses and each one of them requires a commenty e.g.:
When the worshipper pays attention towards the Glory, Splendor,
Majesty and Infinite Perfection of the Holy Essence of Self Existent (Wajib
al- Wajood), considers His Love, Favors, and Blessings and realizes his own
helplessness and negligence, and looks at the distance between himself and that
Holy Exalted Essence; it causes .a feeling of love, eagerness, and sorrow
within his existence which is known as the position of strong desire (shouq).
When the wayfarer thinks in
retrospective about his gnostic spiritual journey and discovers the spiritual
stations and perfection attained by him -this revelation makes him happy and
pleased, which is known as the position of affection or love (uns). When
the wayfarer pays attention towards the Splendor, Majesty, Glory, and Absolute
Perfection of God's Essence and opposite to that realizes his own helplessness
and shortness for attaining the Nearness of that Supreme-Reality -his hearts
trembles with fear. The agony and grief overtakes his entire existence, whereby
he cries bitterly and sheds tears. This stage is known as the position of fear
(khouf), and similar is the case with other positions.
It would be better if this God's
servant -the prisoner of self’s passions, captive of darkness of materialism,
deprived of attaining higher spiritual stations -does not put his feet inside
this profound and infinite ocean, and let the explanation of these sublime
spiritual stations be left for these who have reached there. Because, so for
one has not tasted the deliciousness of God's Love, Affection, and Countenance,
he is helpless and powerless to explain them.
"Oh God! I do like the righteous ones, although, I
myself is not one of them, Oh God! Bless me with the sweetness of your
invocation and please do include me among them! "
Let us hear the words of those
who are qualified to speak in this field. The great philosopher and divine
gnostic Sadrudin Shirazi writes:
"If a ray of Divine illumination falls upon a
servant, makes him awakened from the sleep of ignorance and nature, thus, his
becoming aware of the fact that apart from this perceptible world there also
exists another world, and higher than the animalistic pleasures there also
exist other satisfactions. With this realization he refrains himself from
indulging into false and worthless amusements and returns towards God-Almighty
by offering repentance for his past omissions. Thus, he starts pondering about
Quranic verses, listening Divine admonitions, deliberating upon the Prophet's
(S) traditions and performing deeds in accordance with Divine commands.”
"In order to attain the eternal perfection he
restrains himself from following the worldly allurements such as wealth, power,
and positions. If he is lucky to receive further Divine Guidance and Blessings
– decides seriously to disassociate himself from other than God, starts
journeying towards Him and leaving the habitat of self, his whimsical
attractions ascends towards God-Almighty. At this stage, a ray of Divine
illumination enlightens his horizons; a door from the unseen world opens for
him and gradually the pages from the Holy Kingdom
become apparent for him enabling him to witness the affairs of unseen.”
"When he tastes these special pleasures of the
unseen affairs, starts liking seclusion and engages himself into invocation
continuously. His hearts becomes detached from material involvement and pays
absolute attention towards God-Almighty with his entire existence. At this
juncture mystical knowledge is gradually bestowed upon him and spiritual
illuminations become occasionally manifested for him, until he attains absolute
certainty in his search discovering the Supreme Reality whereby, all
contradictions, doubts are vanished and a special tranquility engulfs his
entire existence.”
"At this stage he enters
into the Celestial Kingdom and after witnessing the
existence of "Ten-wisdoms.” [4] (Uqool-Mufarqeh) becomes united
with their Celestial Lights and, thus, become enlightened. Eventually, the
Glorious Illumination of the Lord of Majesty and Splendor becomes manifested
upon him, thus, making his existence and egotism shattered and he surrenders in
front of the Glory and Exaltedness of the Lord of the Heavenly Kingdom. This
stage is known as the position of Monotheism (Towheed) in which any thing other
than God-Almighty becomes amortized in the wayfarer's eyes and he listen to the
sound of:
"Whose is the
sovereignty this Day? It is God's the One, the Al-mighty.” [5] -Mafateeh
al-Ghaib, p-54.
The most famous and eminent
gnostic late Faiz-e-Kashani writes: "The way for acquiring God's Love
and its further strengthening to be worthy of witnessing His Manifestation and
Countenance is -to attain enlightenment, (marefah) and its further
strengthening. The way of acquiring enlightenment consists of purifying hearts
from worldly occupations and being attached to its allurements through paying
absolute attention towards God-Almighty by means of invocations and pondering,
and cleansing of heart's dwellings from all sort of attachment towards other
than God. Because, the heart is like a pot, which if filled with water
completely would not have any space left to be filled with vinegar. In order to
fill this pot with vinegar first it must be emptied with water. God-Almighty
has not created anyone with dual heart.”
"Perfection in love
demands that one must love God-Almighty with the entire existence of his heart,
because so for as the heart continues to pay attention towards other things at
least a part of it shall remain occupied with other than the God-Almighty.
Therefore, as much as one is attached to other than God -his love towards Him
will be decreased in the same proportion, except where, this attention towards
other than God is related to a situation, whereby " an act of God and His
created being " are reflections of one of the manifestations of God's
sacred names and Characteristics.”
God-Almighty in the following
verse of Holy Quran, has pointed out about the same meanings:
"Say God: Then leave
them", an stage which is achieved as a result of strong desire where a
human being strives that whatever have been revealed for him should become
further clearly manifested. While he should remain anxious towards what have
not yet been accomplished, because, the strong desire is related to a thing
which partly have been perceived from some aspects. but from other dimensions
it has not yet been comprehended, and in between these two, there exists the
reality, which is beyond the limits and infinite.
"Because, the degree and ranks of comprehension of
what have been achieved -is infinite. Similarly, whatever magnification has
been left from God' s Splendor and Beauty is also infinite and having attained
the real union with the sweetheart, one still desires strongly that pleasurable
event which is free from all sort of pains. Therefore, desire never rests at
any stage especially when he witnesses so many ranks and positions beyond the
imagination of human intellect.”
"There light will run
before them and on their right hands: They will say: our Lord! Perfect our
light for us.” [6] -Haqaiq,
p-181.
Footnotes:
[1] The Holy Quran (33: 41- 42)
[2] Imam al-Hasan ibn 'Ali: The
eldest son of Imam' Ali and Hadhrat Fatimah was born on Tuesday, 15 Ramadhan 3
AH in Madina. When the Holy Prophet received the happy news of the birth of his
grandson, he came to the house of his beloved daughter, took the newly born
child in his arms, recited adhan and iqamah in his right and left ears
respectively, and in compliance with Divine command named him al-Hasan.
The martyrdom of his father Imam
'Ali (A) on the 21st Ramadhan marked the inception of Imam Hasan' s imamate.
The majority of Muslims pledged their allegiance to him and finalized the
formality of oath of allegiance (bayah). No sooner had he taken the
reins of leadership into his hands then he had to meet the challenge of
Mu'awiyah the Governor of Syria who declared war against him. In compliance of
Divine will and in order not to refrain from bloodshed of Muslims he entered
into a piece treaty with Mu'awiyah whose terms were not respected and carried
out by Mu'awiyah.
Mu'awiyah's malice against Imam
Hasan led him to conspire with Imams wife Ja'dah the daughter of Ash'ath. She
was made give the Imam some poison which affected his liver. Imam Hasan, thus,
succumbed to Mu'awiyah's total mischief and attained his martyrdom on 28th
(Safar) 50 A.H. His funeral was attended by Imam al-Hussein and the members of
Hashimite family. His bier while being taken for burial to the Holy Prophet's
tomb was shot at with arrows by his enemies, (under the direct supervision and
consent of A'ishah), and it had to be diverted for burial to Jannatu'l-Baqi' at
Madina.
[3] Imam al-Hussein: The
younger son of Ali by Fatimah was born in Medina on Thursday 3rd Sha'ban 4 A.H;
like his brother he lived most of his life quietly in Medina under the watchful
eyes of the caliph's officials and spies. When Mu'awiyah's son Yazid became
caliph, he demanded allegiance from al-Husayn, who refused to give it. Finally
al-Husayn felt it necessary to go into battle against Yazid to protest against
the injustices which were being carried out in the name of Islam. He and a
small group of followers including most of his immediate family were cruelly
massacred at Karbala. The day of his martyrdom l0th Muharram ' A.H.(Ashura) has
become the most solemn day of the Islamic calendar, marked by processions and
universal mourning. He is buried in Karbala in Iraq [Tr].
[4] Ten-Wisdoms (Uqool
Mufarqheh):
Sardar al-Mutalihin and other Islamic philosophers,
regarding the creation of universe, have confirmed the existence of Ten-Wisdoms
(Uqool-Mufarqeh) before the creation of natural world. And the Divine
blessings upon the material world are bestowed through their means [Author].
[5] The Holy Quran (40:16) [Tr]
[6] The Holy Quran (66:8) [Tr]