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THE    AWARIFU-L-MA'ARIF. 


From  the  perfume  of  (His  wine-)  dregs,  wise  this  one  becometh  ; 
From  its  pure  colour,  a  traditionist  that  one  becometh : 

From  half  a  draught,  pure  this  one  becometh  ; 
From  (drinking)  a  goblet,  a  lover  that  one  becometh : 

At  one  draught,  another  swalloweth— 

The  jar,  the  wine-house,  the  Saki,  and  the  wine-drinker: 

All  swallowed, —yet  open  remaineth  his  mouth  ! 
0  ocean-heart,  mighty  drinker !    well  done  I 

GuIshan-i-Raz,  c.  832-836  (ans.  14). 


rj!^,   a  uU\^'^_jfiU^J-tx/\JiC 


THE     AWARIFU-L-MA'ARIF, 
WRITTEN  IN  THE  THIRTEENTH  CENTURY 


c 

S/KtJTch  Shahabu-d-Din  'Umar  bin  Muhammad-i-Sa/n-trrrdl, 

translated  (otit  of  the  Arabic  into  Persian)  by 

Mahtnud  bin  'AIT  al  Kashanl, 


Companion  in  Su/T,ism  to  the  I>ivan-i-Khuaia  Hafiz. 


TRANSLATED   FOR    THE   FIRST   TIME   OUT   OF   THE    PERSIAN    INTO    ENGLISH, 


Lieut.. Col.  H.  WILBERFORCE  CLARKE, 

ROYAL  (late  Bengal)  engineers, 

LIFE-MEHBEK    OF   THE    ROYAL   ASIATIC    SOCIETY   OF    GREAT    BRITAIN   AND    IRELAND;    MEMBER   OF   THE 

ASIATIC    SOCIETY   OF   BENGAL. 

AUTHOR   OF    "THE    PERSIAN    MANUAL;"    FIRST   TRANSL.\TOR    (OUT   OF   THE    PERSIAN)  OF   "THE    BUSTAN-I-Sa'u!  ; 

OF  "the  sikandar  nama-i-nizami";  anu  of  "the  divaN-i-hafiz."    author  of  "notes  on 

ElEPHANTS";   OF   "THE   SEXTANT;"   OF   "LO.VGITUUE    BY    LUNAR    DISTANCES;"   AND 
OF   "the    TRANSVERSE    STRENGTH    OF    A    RAILWAY-RAIL." 


AU  rights  reserred. 


9i?  11820 


CALCUTTA : 

GOVERNMENT  OF  TNDIA  CENTRAL   PRINTING  OFFICE, 

S,    HASTINGS   STREET, 


T"! 


PREFACE. 


HE  sources,  whence  this  note  on  sufl.ism  has  been  derived  are  : — 

The  introduction  (pp.  i  — 13). 
(a)  Disquisition  on  sufi.ism  by  Sir  W.  Jones. 
(d)   "Soofies"  (History  of  Persia)  by  jMalcolm. 
(c)  The  Gulshan-i-Raz. 
{(i)   Other  sources, 
ii.  The  definition  of  sixty-nine  terms  used  in  sufi,ism  (pp.  14 — 158). 
The  Misbahu-1-Hidayat 

by 
Mahmud  bin  'All  al  Kashani, 

being  a  translation  (in  Persian)  of  the  Arabic  work — 
'Awarif-u-l-Ma'arif* 

by 
Shaikh  Shahabu-d-Din  'Umar  bin  Muhammad-i-Sahrwardi  {6.  1 1451 
d.  1234). 

iii.  The  performances  of  darvishes  (pp.  159 — 168), 
The  Darvishes  by  Brown. 


2.  Neither  the  Misbahu-1-Hidayat  (in  Persian),  nor  the  'Awarifu-I-Ma'arif  (in 
Arabic), — has  ever  before  been  translated  into  English.  What  is  here  given  to 
the  Reader  comprises  more  than  a  halft  of  the  Misbahu-1-Hidayat.  Shaikh  Shahabu- 
d-Din  Muhammad-i-Sahrwardi  {b.  1145,  d.  1234),  the  son  of  Abu  Najib,  was  born 
at  Sharward  ;  and  he  died  at  Baghdad. 

He  was  a  pious  Shaikh,  assiduous  in  spiritual  exercises  and  in  the  practice  of 
devotion.     He  is  author  of 

the  'Awarifu-1-Ma'arif-)  .      ... 
TT1       i    1   »     -       <■  in  Arabic. 
,,    Hikmatu-l-Assar    ) 

and  many  other  works. 

The  matter  (ten  pages)  taken  from  Brown's  Dar\ishes  has  been  arranged,  cor- 
rected, collected,  and  greatly  condensed. 


*  Otherwise  called  the  'A\varif-u-l-Haka,ik. 

t  That  is,  out  of  343  pages  of  the  Persian  Text,  221  pages  have  been  translated  into  English; 
and  are  herein  given. 


jj  PREFACE. 

3,  Those  who  wish  further  to  pursue  the  subject  of  sufi,ism  will  find  useful  the 
table  of  authorities  on  sufi,ism,  English  and  Persian  (pp.  iv— v). 


4.  Unless  sufi.ism  be  understood,  the  Divan-i-Hafiz  cannot  be  understood. 

In  Vol.  IV  (pp.  196-211)  of  the  works  of  Emerson  (1882),  wholly  wrong  is 
the  view  given  of  the  work  of  HSfiz ;  and  mistranslated  and  misunderstood  are  the 
passages  there  given. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  give  instances  ;  easily  may  the  student  verify  this  statement 
by  referring  either  to  my  translation  of  Hafiz,  or  to  the  original  Persian.  Let  one 
instance  suffice  : — 


Emerson's  Works,  Vol.  IV,  p.  205. 

Oft  have  I  said,  I  say  it  once  more. 

I,  a  wanderer,  do  not  stray  from  myself. 

I  am  a  kind  of  parrot;  the  mirror  is  holden  to 

me. 
What  the  Eternal  says,  I  stammering  say  again. 


Give  me  what  you  will  :  I  eat  thistles  as  roses. 
And,    according    to    my    food  I    grow    and    I 
give : 

Scorn  me  not ;  but,  I  know  I  have  the  pearl. 
And  am  only  seeking  one  to  receive  it. 


Clarke's  translation  of  the  Divan-i-Hafiz, 
Ode  371. 
Times  I  have  said  ;  and  again  I  say  : — 
That,  heart-bereft,  not  of  myself,  have  I  gone 

this  Path  (of  love). 

Behind  the  (pure)  mirror  (of  the  holy  travel- 
ler's heart),  me,  they  have  kept  like  the 
parrot. 

What  the  Teacher  of  eternity  without  begin- 
ning said  :— "  Say  ";  I  say. 

Whether,  the  thorn  I  be  or  whether  the  rose, 

there  is  a  sward-adorner  (God). 
By  whose  hand  as  (it)  cherished  me,  I  grew. 

O  friends,  me  heart-bereft,  astonied,  censure 

not  : 
A  great  jewel,  I  have ;  and  the  master  of 

vision  (the  jeweller,  God)  I  seek. 


Emerson  (p.  201)  says : — 

We  do  not  wish  to  make  mystical  divinity  out  of  the  Songs  of  Solomon,  much  less  out  of  the 

erotic  and  bacchanalian  songs  of  Hanz. 
Haiiz  himself  is  determined  to  defy  all   such  hypocritical   interpretation,  and  tears  off  his 

turban  and   throws  it  at  the  head  of  the  meddling  dervis,  and  throws  his  glass  after  the 

turban. 
Nothing  is  too  high,  nothing  too  low  for  his  occasion.  Love  is  a  leveller,  and  Allah  becomes  a 

groom,  and  heaven  a  closet  in  his  daring  hymns  to  his  mistress  or  to  his  cupbearer. 

This  boundless  charter  is  the  right  of  genius. 

To   this  statement,  would  agree  no  one  who  had,  in  the  original  Persian,  read 
Hafiz;  and  had  understood  him. 

Despite  the  fact  that  Emerson  wholly  fails  to  understand  Hafiz  as  the  mystic 
poet,  divine,  immortal— strangely  he  admires  him.     For  at  p.  239,  he  says  : — 

You  shall  not  read  newspapers,  nor  politics,  nor  novels,  nor  Montaigne,  nor  the  newest  French 
book. 


PREFACE.  ii, 

You  may  read  Plutarch,  Plato,  Plotinus'  Hindu  mythology  and  ethics.  You  may  read 
Chaucer,  Shakespeare,  Ben  Johnson,  Milton;  read  Collins  and  Gray;  read  Hafiz  and 
the  Trouveurs  —  fact-books  which  all  geniuses  prize  as  raw  material  and  as  antidote  to 
verbiage  and  false  poetry. 

5.  At  the  head  of  the  various  sections,  the  figures  refer  to  the  Persian  text  of  the 
Misbahu-1-Hidayat — 

Roman  figures  to  chapters. 

Arabic        „      „  sections  (of  chapters). 

6.  To  special  notice,  I  wish  to  bring  Maulavi  Mirza  Muhammad-i-Bisravi,  who  ren- 
dered me  much  help  in  this  difficult  work. 

7.  This  translation  was  made  in  a  tropical  country,  in  leisure  moments,  amidst  the 
pressure  and  the  stress  of  professional  duties  most  exacting ;  and  under  special  cir- 
cumstances of  harass  and  worry  that  it  is  not  permissible  to  describe.* 

For  these  reasons,  the  reader's  indulgence  is  solicited. 


*  See  Clarke's  sufi.istic  translation  of  the  Divan-i-Hafiz,  Preface,  para.  18  (p.  xvi). 

H.  WILBERFORCE  CLARKE. 

CALCUTTA; 

January  i8gi. 


PREFACE. 


Authorities  on  S^fi.ism. 


1787 


1829 


18.S6 


1863 
1868 
1875 
1878 


Asiatic  Miscellany,  vol.  ii,  pp.  50—53  ;  131 — 150. 

Descriptive  Catalogue  (pp.  34 — 45),  Oriental  Library  of  Tippfi  Sultan,  by  C.  Stewart.      This 
gives  115  excellent  Persian  works  on  Sufi.ism. 

De  Bode's  Bukhara. 

History  of  Muhammadanism  by  C.  Mills  (p.  473). 

History  of  Persia,  Malcolm — vol.  i,  pp.  322,  324,  400 ;  vol.  ii,  pp.  382  —  426. 

Works  of  Sir  W.  Jones,  ii,  pp.  131 — 150. 

Journal,  Asiatic  Society,  Bengal,  vol.  xxv,  pp.  133 — 150.     1857. 

Note  by  Sprenger  on  the  earliest  work  on  Sufi,ism. 

Sind  (chap,  viii).  Burton. 

Modern  Egyptians  (chap,  iii),  Lane. 

Die  Morgenlandische  mystik,  by  Tholuck. 

Kanun-i-lslam,  Herklot,  pp.  187 — 200. 

The  Darvishes,  Brown, 

Notes  on  Muhammadanism  (p.  227),  C.  E.  Hughes. 

Islam  (p.  201),  Stobart. 

Gulshan-i-Raz,  translated  by  Whinfield. 

Catalogue,  Oriental  Manuscripts  (pp.  35-45),  British  .Museum  (Ouaritch). 

Paper  on  the  Sufis  by  Captain  Graham,  Bombay. 


PREFACE. 


Name  of  Work. 


911 

1037 
1049 

1166 

1230 
1234 

1239 

1273 
1292 

1317 

13S2 
1389 
1492 

1591 
1610 

1659 


Shaikh  Junid-i-Baghdadi. 
Shaikh  Abu  Sina  (Avicenna) 
Abu-l-Kasim-i-'Ansari. 

Shaikh  'Abdu-1-Kadir-i-Gilani 

Shaikh  Faridu-d-Din  'Attar    . 


Shaikh   Shahabu-d-Din   'Umar  bin  Muh?.mmad-i- 
Sahrwardi. 


Shaikh  Muhyu-d-Din  bin  Arabi. 

Maulana  jalalu-d-Din-i-Rumi 

Shaikh  Sa'di-i-Shirazi     .... 

Sa'du-d-Din  MahmQd-i-Shabistarl 

Kamalu-d-Din  Abu-1-ghanim  'Abdu-r-Razzak 
Khwaja  Shamsu-d-Din-i-Hafiz 
Nuru-d-Din  'Abdu-r-Rahman-i-Jami 

Maulana  'Urfi 

Kazi  Nuru-1-lah-i-Shustari 
Shahzada  Dara  Shikuh-i-Kadiri 


Makamatu-1-Krifin. 

Malfuiat-i-Jalali. 
Sharh-i-ghausiya  va  ghaira. 

Asrar-Nama. 


'Avvarifu-1-Ma'arif,* 
I     otherwise  called 
'Awanfu-1-Haka,ik. 


The  Masnavi 

.  '  Marghubu-1-Kulub. 
Gulshan-i-raz. 
.  <     Hakku-1-Yakin. 
\    Risala-i-Shahid. 
Istilahat-i-sufiya.f 

The  Divan. 

Lawa.ih. 

Kasa,id. 

Majalisu-1-Muminin. 

Mushahida-i-suluk  va  tarjuma-i-wasiti. 


*  See  the  Pieface,  para.  1. 

t  Arabic  text  (p.  167)  edited  by  Dr.  Aloys  Sprenger,  M.D.,  1845,  entitled— —"  Dictionary  (in  Arabic)  of  the 
technical  terms  o(  the  Sufis." 


PREFACE. 


Date. 

Author. 

Name  of  Work. 

1669 
1670 

Mirza  Muhammad  'Ali-i-Tabrizi-i-Sa,ib   . 

Shaikh  Muhammad  Muhsin-i-Fani 

Shaikh  Faridu-d-Din  Shakarganj    .... 

? 

The  Dabistan. 

Asraru-1-Auliya. 

!«■ 


-ib 


.0,0' 


.® 


<^ 


CONTENTS. 


Pace. 
From       To 

Introduction i        '3 

The  being  a  shaikh    .  .  .  l+^^^JI^-n 

The  being  a  murid  (disciple)     .  .     i8^__  23 

Customs  of  the  men  of  the  khankah 

(convent)         ....  23      26 

.^^afar  (the  journey)  .  .         .     26      29 

Sama'    (the   song   and  the   rotatory 

dance)    .....  29      34. 

Rules  of  sama'        .         .  .  •     34-       37 

-Sfhe  khirka  (the  darvish-mantle)  .  37       39 

^The  choice  of  the  coloured  khirka      .39       41 

Khilvat  (retirement)     .         .  .  41       42 

Conditions  of  khilvat         .  .    '      .    43       48 

Dreams  of  the  men  of  khilvat       .  48       53 

'Ilm  (knowledge)     .  .  .         .     54       56 

— Ma'rifat  (deep  knowledge)  .  .  56      58 

—  Hal  (mystic  statej  and  makam  (stage)     5S       60 
Tawliid  (the  unity  of  God)   and   zat 

(the  existence  of  God)  .  .  .     60       65 

The  affairs  of  the  next  world         .  65      6S 

'Ilm-i-kiyam    (knowledge    of    God's 

standing  as  the  slave's  observer)   .     69      70 
'Ilm-i-hal  (knowledge  of  the  mystic 

state)  ..... 
'Ilm-i-yakin  (knowledge  of  certainty) 
Nafs  (essence)  .... 
Some  of  the  qualities  of  nafs  .  . 
Ma'rifat-i-ruh  (knowledge  of  the  soul) 
Jam'  (collected)  and  tafraka  (disper- 
sed)     79 

Tajalli   (being   glorified)  and   istitar 

(being  veiled) ....  79      82 

Wajd  (rapture) and  wujud  (existence)  82  83 
Wakt  (period)  and  nafas  (moment)  84  85 
Shuhud  (being  evident)  and  ghaibat 

(being  concealed)  .  .  .     85       87 

Tajrid     (outward     separation)     and 
tafrid  (inward  solitude)     .         .  87 


70 

7« 

71 

72 

73 

7+ 

74 

7b 

Mahv  (obliteration) and  ;sbat(confirni- 
ation)  ..... 

Talwin  (change)  and  tamkin  (rest) 
Aurad  (prayer-exercises)  and  the  two 

Kalima-i-shahadat  (,the  creed) 
Zuhd  (austerity) .  .  •  . 

Fakr  (poverty)        .... 

Tajarrud  (being'celibate)  and  ta.ahhul 
I         (being  married) 

Tawakkul  (reliance  on  God)     . 

Riza  (contentment)     . 

Muhabbat  (love)     .... 

Shauk  (desire)    .... 

Kabz  (contraction)  and  bast  (expan- 
sion) ...... 

Fana  (effacement)  and  baka  (perma- 
nency)   ..... 

Partition  of  times  on  aurad  (praver- 
exercises)    . 

Ru,  yat 

The  witnessing  of  prophecy   and   its 

ending  with  Muhammad 
Ma'rifat-i-dil      . 
^JMa'rifat-i-murid  sa  murad 
va  majzub 
I'tikad       . 
'Ilm-i-fariza  . 
^The  lia!  of  man  . 

„     Adab  of  Muhammad 

God       . 
„         „  Ma'ishat     . 

Salat  .... 

The  mystic  rose  of  the  Kadiris 

„    bai'at     . 
Zikr.  murakiba,  tauhid 
The  daur 
Halat 
Sama'  (dance)        . 


Paq 

From 

To 

87 

88 

88 

89 

109 

90 

91 

9> 

92 

93 

97 

<.i7 

9« 

99 

loi 

101 

104 

106     107 


107 

109 

log 

118 

119 

119 

121 

121 

124 

124 

129 

129 

131 

131 

133 

134 

142 

142 

145 

I-4-5 

150 

150 

153 

I. S3 

158 

159 

160 

160 

164 

164 

■^S 

165 

166 

166 

167 

167 

168 

SUFi.ISM. 


Said  Muhammad : — 

In  Islam,  is  no  monachism.* 

Nevertheless,  ^in  623  A.D.,t  forty-five  men  of  Makka  joined  themselves  to  as 
many  others  of  Madina ;  took  an  oath  of  fidelity  to  the  doctrines  of  the  prophet  (Mu- 
hammad) ;    and  formed   a  fraternity to  establish  community  of  property,  and  tc 

perform  daily  certain  religious  practices  by  way  of  penitence. 
They  took  the  name  of  suff,  a  word  derived  from  :  — 
{a)  Oj<o    (suf)  wool,  woolly;  a  hair  cloth  used  by  penitents  in  the  early  days  of  Islam. 

(b)  ^yo  (sufiy)  wise,  pious. 

(c)  ^y^    (?ufi)  woollen. 

(d)  \su!      (safa)  purity.J 

(e)  Jl^    (safi)  pure. 

To  the  name  of  sufi,  they  added  the  title  of  j^ij  (fakir),  because  they  renounced 
the  chattels  of  the  world  and  its  joys. 
Said  Muhammad  : — 

"  Al  fakru  fakhri,  poverty  is  my  glory. 

During  the  life  of  Muhammad,  Abu  Bakr  (the  first  Khalifa),  and  'All  (the  fourth 
Khalifa.  ^-599,  d.  661),  established  ici-jU?.  (assemblies)  wherein  vows  were  made  and 
exercises  practised.  ' 

In  657  A.D.,  Uvais-i-Karani  [d.  657)  established  the  first  religious  order  of  the 
greatest  austerity. 

In  honour  of  Muhammad,  who,  at  the  battle  of  Uhud,  625  A.D.,  had  lost  two  of  his  teeth,  he  drew 
out  his  own  teeth  ;  and  required  his  followers  to  do  the  same. 

The  term  sufi  was  first  adopted  by  Abu  Hashim,  a  Syrian  Zahid  {d.  780  A.D.)  ; 
in  his  time  was  built  the  first  takya  (convent).     But  some  say  that  the  seed  of  sufi,- 


ism  : — 


was  sown 

germed 

budded 


the  time  of 

in  the  time  of 

Adam. 

began  to  develop    . 

Miisa. 

NSh. 

reached  maturity   . 

Christ. 

Ibrahim. 

produced  pure  wine 

Muhammad. 

*  The  Kuran,  v.  89. 

t  The  Hijra  dates  from  the  15th  July  622  A.D. 

X  Some  add    ^^    (safa),  a  station  near  the  Kaba,  Makka.     The  man,  who  wore  the  blue  woollen 
garment,  was  esteemed  to  he  pure  (safi). 


i 


2  SUFi.lSM. 

VThose  who  loved  this  wine  have  so  drunk  of  it  as  to  become  self-less.     They  ex- 
claim : — 

"  Praise  be  mine !  greater  than  I,  is  any  ? 

"The  truth  (God),  am  I  :  there  is  no  other  God  than  1." 

One  of  the  earliest  sufis  was  the  woman  Rabi'a  mentioned  by   Ibn  Khallikan  [b. 
121 1,  d.  1282).     At  night,  she  used  to  go  to  the  house-top,  and  to  say: — 

"  O  God  !  hushed  is  the  day's  noise ;  with  his  beloved  is  the  lover.     But,  Thee,  I  have  for 
my  lover ;  and  alone  with  Thee,  I  joy. " 

In  Volume  I  of  his  works,  Sir  W.  Jones  says  : — 

There  is  a  species  of  Persian  poetry  that  consists  almost  wholly  of  a  mystical  religious  alle- 
gory, though  on  a  transient  view  it  seems  to  contain  only  the  sentiments  of  a  wild  and 
voluptuous  libertinism. 

Admitting  the  danger  of  a  poetical  style  in  which  the  limits  between  vice  and  enthusiasm  are 
so  minute  as  to  be  hardly  distinguishable,  we  must  beware  of  censuring  it  severely ;  for  an 
ardent  grateful  piety  is  congenial  to  the  undepraved  nature  of  man,  whose  mind,  sinking 
under  the  magnitude  of  the  sabject,  and  struggling  to  record  its  emotions,  has  recourse 
to  metaphors,  extending  sometimes  beyond  the  bounds  of  cool  reason. 

Sufis  believe : — 

That  the  souls  of  men  differ  infinitely  in  degree  but  not  at  all  in  kind  from  the  divine  spirit 
whereof  they  are  particles,  and  wherein  they  will  ultimately  be  absorbed ;  that  the  spirit 
of  God  pervades  the  universe,  ever  present  to  His  work  and  ever  in  substance;  that  He 
alone  is  perfect  benevolence,  perfect  truth,  perfect  beauty;  that  love  for  Him  is  true  love, 
{'ishk-i-hakiki),  while  love  of  other  objects  is  illusory  love  ('ishk-i-majazi) ;  that  all  the 
beauties  of  nature  are  faint  resemblances  like  images  in  a  mirror  of  the  divine  charms ;  that, 
from  eternity  without  beginning  to  eternity  without  end,  the  supreme  benevolence  is  occu- 
pied in  bestowing  happiness ;  that  men  can  only  attain  it  by  performing  their  part  of  the 
primal  covenant  between  them  and  the  Creator;  that  nothing  has  a  pure  absolute  ex- 
istence but  mzwi  or  xpjWf;  that  material  substances  are  no  more  than  gay  pictures  pre- 
sented continually  to  our  minds  by  the  sempiternal  artist ;  that  we  m  ust  beware  of  attachment 
to  such  phantoms  and  attach  ourselves  exclusively  to  God,  who  truly  exists  in  us  as  we 
solely  exist  in  Him  ;  that  we  retain,  even  in  this  forlorn  state  of  separation  from  our  Be- 
loved, the  idea  of  heavenly  beauty  and  the  remembrance  of  our  primeval  vows  ;  that  sweet 
music,  gentle  breezes,  fragrant  flowers,  perpetually  renew  the  primary  idea,  refresh  our 
fading  memory,  and  melt  us  with  tender  affections;  that  wemust'cherish  those  affections, 
and  by  abstracting  our  souls  from  vanity  (that  is,  from  all  but  God)  approximate  to  this 
essence,  in  our  final  union  with  which  will  consist  our  supreme  beatitude. 

Sprenger*  says  : — 

The  mysticism  of  the  sufis  is   a  hypertrophy   of  the  religious  feeling;  and  a  monomania  in 
which  man  blasphemously  attempts  to  fathom  the  depths  of  the  essence  of  God. 
-.  The  mystics  give  up  worldly  affairs;  devote  themselves  to  austerity;  and  are  a  nuisance  to 
the  world. . 
This  disease  attacks  every  nation  after  it  has  passed  the  meridian  of  its  grandeur. 


*  See  Preface  to  Abd-u-r-Razzak's  Dictionary  of  sufi,istic  terms,  1845;  'he  Journal,  Asiatic  So. 
ciety,  Bengal,  Volume  XXV,  of  1856  (p.  145).  ' 


INTRODUCTION.  « 

The  m)-sticism  of:  — 

(a)  the  Zeoplatonists  marked  the  fall  of  Rome. 

ib)     „^ufis  „  „       the  Khalifat. 

(c)     „    later  Fathers      „        the  darkness  of  the  middle  ages. 

Because  the  noblest  feelings  of  man  are  morbidly  exalted  by  this  disease  it  has 
produced  sublime  poetry.     Nothing  can  equal  the  beauty  of  the  poems  of : — 

Muhyu-d-Din. 

Hafiz. 

Jalalu-d-Din-i-Rumi. 

Sufi, ism  is  not  due  to  the  introduction  of  systems  of  philosophy  from  India,  or 
from  Greece.  It  is  the  result  of  the  development  of  Islam  ;  and  is  well  worthy  of  the 
attention  of  the  student. 

Many  consider  Pantheism  and  Sufi,ism  to  be  identical. 

The  Shaikhs  and  Sufi-poets  profess  : — 

The  most  ardent,  although  Platonic,  attachment  for  individuals  of  their  own  sex,  remarkable 
for  beauty  or  for  talent,  declaring  that  they  are  adoring  the  Creator  whilst  admiring 
His  beautiful  handiwork  (corporeal  or  intellectual)  ;  and  boasting  that  their  love  is  the 
more  pure  in  being  unmixed  with  carnal  sensuality,  such  as  it  must  be  if  bestowed  on  in- 
dividuals of  the  other  sex. 

Maulana  Jalalu-d-Dln-i-Rumi  (3.  1207,  d.  1273),  says: — 

Sufis  profess  eager  desire  but  with  no  carnal  affection ;  and  circulate  the  cup  but  no  material 

goblet. 
Since  in  their  order,  all  things  are  spiritual all  is  mystery  within  mystery. 

Modern  sufis  believe  in  the  Kuran ;  and  in  an  express  covenant  on  the  day  of 
eternity  without  beginning  (the  day  of  Alast)  between  the  assemblage  of  the  souls  (of 
men)  and  the  supreme  soul  (of  God),  wherefrom  they  were  detached. 

In  sufi,ism  are  four  stagesy-jndiieh--~amst   be  paeced-before  man's  corpQi;eal_veil 
can  be  removed  ;  and  his  emancipated  soul,  mixed  with  the  glorious  essence,  whence 
it  has  been  separated  but  not  divided  : — 
i  Li>^j-*   (shari'at*) 
The  murid  (disciple)  observeth  the  shar'  and  the  rites  of  Islam  ;  ever  beareth  his  shaikh  in 
mind;  in  him  effaceth  himself  through  meditation;  maketh  him  his  shield  against  evil 
thoughts;  and  regardeth  his  spirit  as  his  guardian  spirit. 
This  is  "effacement  in  the  shaikh." 
ii  i.::^jJo     (tarikat) 

The  murid  attaineth  power;  entereth  sufi.ism;  and  abandoneth  the  observance  of  religious 

form,  exchanging  outward  for  inward  worship. 
Without  great  piety,  virtue,  and  fortitude  (based  on  a  knowledge  of  the  dignity  of  the  soul 

of  man)  he  cannot  attain  this  stage. 
The  shaikh  passeth  the  murid  to  the  influence  of  the  Pir  (long  since  deceased) ;  and  then, 

in  all  things,  the  murid  seeth  the  Pir. 
This  is  "  efiacement  in  the  Pir." 

*  Some  call  this  nasut. 


sOfMsm. 

iii  ui^^;**    (ma'rifat)* 

The  murid  hath  attained  to  supernatural  knowledge;  and  is,  therein,  equal  to  the  angels. 
By  the  shaikh,  he  is  led  to  Muhammad,  whom,  in  all  things,  he  seeth. 
This  is  "effacement  in  the  Prophet." 
iv    eiJua^     (truth) 

/  The  murid  hath  become  joined  to  truth  (God),  whom,  i.i  all  things,  he  seeth. 

This  is  "effacement  in  God." 

Many  reach  the  second  stage  ;  few  the  fourth. 

Some  make  eleven  stages  : — 

i.;i^]y  Muwafikat. 

The  murid  beareth  enmity  to  the  Friend's  enemy — the  world,  shaitan,  imperious  lust ;  and  love 

for  the  Friend  (God). 
cU*   ma,il. 

The  murid  inclineth  to  God ;  and  from  the  heart's  page,  effaceth  "  other  than  God." 

v:^«-j[)>'     muwanisat. 

The  murid  fleeth  from  all,  and  seeketh  God. 

>^>3y«    mawaddat. 

The  murid  engageth  in  submission,  in  lamentation,  in  affection,  and  in  agitation  in  the  heart's 
chamber. 

ly*    hawa. 

The  murid  keepeth  the  heart  in  austerity  and  in  strife  (against  sin) ;  and  maketh  it  water  (soft). 

i.;>J^  khuUat. 

The  murid  maketh  all  the  limbs  full  of  recollection  of  God;  and  of  aught  else  void. 

li^l    ulfat. 

The  murid  maketh  himself  void  of  despicable  qualities,  and  joined  to  laudable  qualities. 

i-Q '  ■«■    shaghf. 

The  murid,  through  ardency  of  desire,  rendeth  the  heart's  veil ;  and  considereth  the  reveal- 
ing of  the  mystery  of  love  for  God— infidelity,  save  under  the  mastery  of  wajd  (ecstasy). 

»x>    taym. 

The  murid  maketh  himself  the  slave  of  love,  and  joineth  himself  to  tajrid  (outward  separation), 

and  to  tafrid  (inward  solitude). 
(jiJj    walsh. 
The  murid  keepeth  the  heart's  mirror  before  God's  glory;  and  becometh  intoxicated  with  its 

wine), 
ijl-i^  ishk. 
The  murid  keepeth  so  engaged  the  tongue  in  zikr  (creation  of  God),  the  heart  in  fikr  (thought 

of  God),  and  the  soul  in  mushahida  (viewing  God's  glory)— that  he  considereth  himself 

non-existent. 

Some  consider  'ishk  to  be : — 

(a)  effacing  one's  self  in  the  essence  of  Absolute  Unity  (God). 
(6)  the  deposit  of  faith  (Kuran,  xxxiii,  72). 

The  following  are  terms  used  in  safi,ism  : — 

ahl-i-tasawwuf  one  of  mysticism. 

»    hal  „  „  (mystic)  state. 

„    tarikat  „  „   the  Path  (to  God). 

„     marifat  „  „   (divine)  knowledge, 

^hik-i-sadik      „     sincere  lover  (of  God).             „     hakikat  „  „  truth. 

—  ■            -              I _ 

*  Some  call  this  'urf. 


sufi 

the  sufi. 

5rif 

„    knower. 

salik 

„    traveller  (to  God) 

talib 

„    seeker  (of  God). 

INTRODUCTION. 


ahl-i-hakk 

one  of  God. 

„     shanat  „     „   the  shar'. 

tasawwuf 

sufi.ism. 

mutasawwif  sufi.istic. 

&bd,  'Sbid 

the  servant      (of  God). 

kbudiyat 

„    service            „ 

ma'rifat 

„    knowledge     „ 

tarikat 

„    path                „ 

jazb 

„    attraction        „ 

jam'  wisal 

„    union          (with  God) 

sukunat 

„    dwelHng            „ 

saki 

„    cup-bearer. 

makam 

degree. 

manzil 

stage. 

hal 

the  (mystic)  state. 

wajid 

rapture. 

shauk 

desire. 

zauk 

ddight. 

muhabhat 

affection. 

^shk 

love. 

sahaba 

companions  in  th 

tabim 

followers          „ 

zahidan 

■)  , 

■abidan 

>  devotees          „ 

sahib-i-dil      one  possessed  of  heart,  a  sufi. 
„     ma'rifat    „         „  (divine)     know- 

ledge. 
ishku-1-iah       love  for  God. 
firak  separation  (from  God), 

dair  f 

takyat  j  '^^  convent, 

zahid  „    man  of  (dry)  austerity, 

ashab-i-tlm-i-zahiri  the  companions  of  outward 
knowledge. 
»  „      batini  „     companions   of  inward 

knowledge, 
ardour, 
intoxicated, 
void  of  self,  selfless, 
the  founder  of  a  religious  order. 
„    chief  of  a  convent. 


ishtvak 

mast 

bi  khud 

Pir 

shaikh 

kljalifa 

nakib 

murshid 

murid 


f    „    deputy  shaikh. 

„    spiritual  guide,  the  shaikh. 
„    disciple. 


2nd 
3rd 


The  beginning  of  tasawwuf    (sufi'ism)  is   iman    (faith),   which  consists  of  "six 
columns"  (principles): — 
(i)  The  existence  of  God, 
(2)     „     unity  „ 


(3) 


(4)  The  prophets. 

(5)  ,,     day  of  resurrection. 

(6)  Good  and  evil,  through  God's  predestination. 


The  end  of  tasawwuf  iieth  in  pronouncing  the  six  principles;  and  in  conforming 
thereto  with  the  heart. 

The  iman  of  common  folk  ('amm)  is  :— 

'ilm  (knowledge),  which  is  only  an  imitation  of  "the  six  columns"  learned  from  the  'ulama 
or  from  the  imams.  They  know  not  why  it  is  necessary  to  believe  in  these  "  six  columns  "■ 
nor  how  thereby  salvation  can  be  obtained. 

Many  pursue  the  'ilm-i-tarikat  (knowledge  of  the  Path)  and  wander  into  error, 
becoming  : — 

ahl-i-jabri  one  disbelieving  freedom  of  will. 
„     kadri  „    believing  in  predestination. 

„     mujassami       „  „        only  in  the  body. 

„     mushabbia       „  „        in  portraits  of  God. 

„     mutazali  „    sated  (with  God). 

In  all  are  seventy-three  orders,  whereof  the  true  order  is  only  one,  the  firkat-i- 
najat  (the  party  of  salvation). 

Manifest  is  their  iman  (faith).     Proceeding  with  only  a  lamp,  they  have  reached  the  resplendent 
sun  ;  at  first  only  imitation,  they  have  reached  truth  (God). 


g  sDfF.ism 

They  find  that  the  tarikat  (of  the  darvish)  and  the  shari'at  (of  Islam)  agree;  and  that  whoever  is 
imperfect  in  shari'at  is  also  imperfect  in  hakikat  (truth). 

The  Kuran  (Ixxviii,  i8)  says:— 

"  In  the  eternal  life,  my  people  will  rise  as  monkeys,  as  hogs,  &c.,  &c. 

These,  in  life,  outwardly  bore  the  form  of  man ;  but  inwardly  were  brutes. 

From  these  evils,  repentance  before  death  will  free  one. 

Give  thyself  to  a  murshid  (spiritual  guide)  who,  by  his  prayers,  will  show  thee  in  dreams  the  evil 

parts  of  thy  character  till  they  shall  pass  away.     As  the  lover  delights  in  his  beloved,  so  doth 

the  darvish  in  his  murshid. 

The  darvishes  say  :— 

"  Neither  fear  we  hell,  nor  desire  we  heaven." 

By  this,  they  mean  : — 

"O  God,  thou  bargainest  with  none;  for  purity  of  heart  and  love  for  Thee,  is  our  devotion. 

Be  not  heaven  nor  hell— we  adore  Thee. 

Put  us  into  heaven— 'tis  through  th\  excellence;  into  hell,— through  thy  justice." 

The  sufis  are  divided  into  innumerable  orders.    The  two  original*  orders  are  : — 

1.  ijJjLx    (hululiya)  the  inspired. 

This  order  believes  that  God  has  entered  into  them  ;  and  that  the  divine  spirit  entereth  all  who 
are  devout. 

2.  dJ.jUr^')    (ittihadiya)  the  unionist.      This  order  believes  that  God  is  joined  with  every  en- 

lightened being ;  that  He  is  as  flame,  and  the  soul  as  charcoal  (ready  to  flame);  and  that 
the  soul,  by  union  with  God,  becometh  God. 

From  these  two  orders  are  derived  the  five  following  orders  :— 
•fJ^lj    (wasiliya)   the  joined  (to  God). 
luilix    ('ashakiya)  „   lovers  (of  God). 
fu^iaJj    (talkiniya)   „  instructed. 
AA'I'^     (zakiya)       „   penetrated, 
ii.d^lj    (wahidiya)  „   solitary. 

For  full  information  regarding  the  many  orders  of  the  sufis,  I  refer  the  reader 
to  Malcolm's  History  of  Persia,  vol.  ii,  Art.  "Soofies." 

The  most  celebrated  of  the  sufi  teachers  of  Persia  have  been  men  as  famed  for 
knowledge  as  for  devotion. 

Of  Ibrahim  ibn  Adham,  they  say  : — 
"That  holy  man  turned  day  into  night; 
"  Night  into  day  by  his  constant  and  undivided  devotion  to  God." 

Among  the  sufis,  the  most  celebrated  are  the  poets. 

The  raptures  of  genius  expatiating  on  an  inexhaustible  subject  are  deemed  in- 
spiration by  those  who  believe  that  the  soul  can  wander  in  the  region  of  imagination, 
and  unite  with  God. 


■  The  original  order  is  said  to  have  been  the  ^Sy'-H  (sabatiya),  the  (ancient)  Sabiansj 


INTRODUCTION.  7 

In  sweetest  strains,  Jalalu-d-Din  Rumi  {b.  1277,  d.  1773)  teacheth  that  all  nature 
abounds  with  divine  love  such  as  to  cause  the  loveliest  plant  to  seek  the  loftiest  object 
of  desire. 

Nuru-d-Din  Abdu-r-Rahman-i-jami  [b.  14 14,  d.  1492)  breatheth  ecstatic  rapture 
in  every  line. 

The  Gulistan  and  the  Bustan-i-Sa'di*  and  the  Divatl-i-Hafiz  may  be  called  the 
scriptures  of  the  Persian  sufis. 

Safi  tenets  are  involved  in  mystery ;  for  every  gradation,  are  mysteries  never 
revealed. 

Many  of  the  most  eminent  sufis  have  been  men  of  piety  and  of  learning,  whose 
self-denial  attracted  a  fame  they  sought  not ;  others  have  cloaked  themselves  in  humi- 
lity  to  attain  greatness,  and  fled  from  observation  only  to  attract  it. 

To  fame  and  power,  is  no  path  however  rugged,  into  which  man  will  not  enter. 

Traces  of  sufi-doctrine  exist  in  every  country  ;  in  the  theories  of  ancient  Greece  ; 
in  the  modern  philosophies  of  Europe  ;  in  the  dream  of  the  ignorant  and  of  the  learned  ; 
in  the  shade  of  ease  and  in  the  hardship  of  the  desert. 

In  place  of  the  usages  of  religion,  sufis  adopt  the  wild  doctrines  of  their  teacher  ." 
and  embark  on  a  sea  of  doubt  under  a  murshid  whom  they  deem  superior  to  all  other 
men  and  worthy  of  confidence  that  is  only  adoration. 

Some  deny  evil,  saying  : — 

"  Good  is  all  that  proceedeth  from  God." 
They  exclaim  :  — 
"  The  writer  of  our  destiny  is  a  fair  Writer. 
"  Never  wrote  He  that  which  was  bad." 

All  things  in  the  world,  they  regard  as  the  type  and  as  the  power  of  God.  They 
see  :— 

His  beauty  in  the  rose-cheek  of  lovely  ones; 

His  power  in  the  impious  daring  of  Fir'aun  (Pharoah). 

Sahl  ibn  Abdu-1-lah  Shustari  saith:  — 

"  Revealed  was  the  soul's  secret  when 
"  Fir'aun,  declared  himself  to  be  god." 

Jalalu-d-Din  {b.i20'],  d.\2']2)  maketh  'Ali  (the  first  of  sufis)  say  when  he  was 
wounded  by  an  assassin  : — 

Lord  of  the  land  am  I ;  yet  with  my  body  no  concern  have  I. 

Me,  thou  hast  not  struck;  only  an  instrument  of  God,  thou  art.    On  God,  who  shall  avenge 

himself? 
Be  not  grieved ;  for  to-morrow  (the  judgment  day),  thy  mediator,  shall  I  be. 

•  Sa'di  b.  1414,  d,  1492. 


8  SUFi.ISM. 

Of  Abdu-l-Kadir-i-Gilani  ((5. 1078,  rf.ii66)  Shaikh  Muhyu-d-Dln  'Arabi  {b.  1166, 
d.  1239)  says:  — 

"I  went  to  our  house-top  and  saw  all  the  pilgrims  at  'Arafat  (near  Makka). 
Descending,   I  told  my  mother  that  I   must  devote  myself  to  God ;  and  that  I  wished  to 
proceed  to  Bagjidad  to  gain  ma'rifat. 

Weeping,  my  mother  took  eighty  dinars  ;  gave  me  half  (my  inheritance)  ;  made 
me  swear  never  to  tell  a  lie  ;  and  said  :  — 

"  Go  my  son  :  to  God,  I  give  thee,  not  till  the  judgment  day,  shall  we  meet." 

At  Hamadan,  our  Kafila  was  plundered  by  sixty  horsemen. 

One  asking  me  what  I  had  ;  I  replied  : — 
"  Forty  dinars  are  sewed  up  in  my  garment." 

Disbelieving  me,  he  laughed  and  left.     Another  asked  me  and  received  the  same 
reply. 

Whilst  they  were  dividing  the  spoil,  the  Chief  called  me  and  said  : — 
"  Boy,  what  property  hast  thou  ?  ' 

I  replied : — 

"  I  have  already  told  two  of  your  men  that  I  have  forty  dinars  sewn  in  a  garment." 

He  ordered  the  garment  to  be  ripped  ;  and  found  the  money. 

He  said  :  — 

"How  camest  thou  so  openly  to  declare  what  has,  so  carefully,  been  hidden ?  " 

I  replied : — 

Because  1  will  not  be  false  to  my  mother,  to  whom  I  have  promised  never  to  conceal  the  truth. 

Said  the  Chief: — 

Boy,  art  thou  at  thy  age  so  sensible  of  duty  to  thy  mother,  and  am  1  at  my  age  insensible  of 

my  duty  to  God  ? 
Give  me  thy  hand  that,  on  it,  I  may  swear  repentance. 

He  did  so.  His  followers  were  struck  with  the  scene,  and  said  : — 
"  Leader  in  guilt,  thou  hast  been ;  in  virtue,  be  the  same." 

They  restored  the  spoil ;  and,  on  my  hand,  vowed  repentance. 

At  this  time,  I  was  sixteen  years  of  age. 


To  those  who  sought  him,  Uvais-i-Karni  said  : — 

"  Seekest  thou  God  ?    If  thou  dost,  to  me  why  comest  thou  ?     If  thou  dost  not,  with  me.  what 
business  hast  thou  ?  " 

Kazi  Nuru-l-Lath-i-Shustari  [d.\6io)  says  that  sufis  are  of  two  classes:— 

(a)  Mutakallim  (advocate,  observer)  if  they  desire  human  knowledge  j  the  usages  of  religion  ; 

and  pursue  them  in  the  ordinary  way. 
(6)  Sufis,  if  they  practise  austerity,  and  look  to  the  inward  purity  of  the  soul.    ' 


^v 


INTRODUCTION.  g 

After  His  prophets,  God  esteemeth  none  more  than  the  sSfi;  because  his  desire  is 
(through  divine  grace)  to  raise  himself  from  this  earthly  house  to  the  heavenly ;  and 
to  exchange  his  lowly  condition  for  the  condition  of  the  angel, 

The  accomplished  are  : — 

the  hukama  men  of  wisdom. 
„     'ulama        „        knowledge. 

These  seek  truth the  first  by  demonstration;  the  second  by  religion. 

In  this  path  to  (God),  are  many  dangers. 

For  false  teachers  and  deceived  seekers  vainly  pursue  the  desert  vapour  :  and 
wearied  return,  the  dupe  of  their  own  imagination. 

The  murshid-i-kamil  va  kamal  (the  perfect  and  excellent  murshid)  is  rare. 
When  he  exists,  to  discover  him  is  impossible. 

Perfection,  who  shall  discover,  save  he  who  is  perfect  ? 

The  jewel's  price,  who  shall  tell,  save  the  jeweller? 

Hence,  many  miss  the  Path  and  fall  into  error.  Deceived  by  appearances,  they 
waste  life  in  pursuit  of  defect,  conceiving  it  to  be  perfection. 

Neither  austerity  nor  devotion  can  exclude  shaitan  who  seeketh  Zahids  in  the 
garb  of  religion.  The  only  tilism  whereby  the  good  can  be  distinguished  from  the 
bad  is  ma'rifat. 

Said  Muhammad  :— 

The  irrational  zahid,  God  accepteth  not ; 
By  pious  fools,  my  back  hath  been  broken. 

From  alarm  at  persecuting  tyrants,  safis  have  often  pretended  to  be  of  no  parti- 
cular faith. 

Thus  they  confess  not  their  religion ;  and  to  disclose  the  mystery  thereof — is 
the  deepest  sin. 

The  murshid  instructeth  the  murld  how  to  restore  the  inward  man  : — 

by  purifying  the  spirit.  I  by  enlightening  the  head. 

„  cleansing  „     heart.  |  „    anointing  „     soul. 

Then  the  murshid  avereth  :— 

that  the  murid's  desire  shall  be  accomplished  ;  that  his  despicable  qualities  shall  be  changed 
into  laudable  qualities ;  that  he  shall  understand  the  revelation,  the  stages  and  the  grades 
of  exaltation till  he  reacheth  the  ineffable  joy  of  beholding  God. 


If  the  murshid  be  not  perfect  and  excellent,  the  murld  wasteth  his  time. 
He  will  end  by  being  an  impostor,  or  by  regarding  all  sufis  alike  and  condemning  them. 
He  will  seek  relief  in  infidelity,  doubting  all  that  he  hath  heard  or  read;  and  regarding  as  fable  the 
accounts  of  holy  men  who  have  reached  hakikat. 


lO  SUFi.lSM. 

The  murshid  is  sometimes  :  — 

(a)  the  dupe  of  his  own  imagination. 

{b]  the  wilful  deluder  of  his  own  followers. 

He  desireth  to  abolish  the  form  of  religion  ;  alloweth  no  name  to  come  between 
him  and  God,  and  yet  desireth  to  come  between  all  other  men  and  God  ;  destroyeth 
names  reverenced  by  men  in  order  to  substitute  his  own  name. 

Without  the  murshid,  no  murid  can  advance  ;  his  advance  is  in  proportion  to  his 
faith*  (in  the  murshid). 

Hasan  Sabah  t  Shaikhu-1-Jabal  {i.  1071,  fi.  1124)  and  his  descendants  were  of 
the  order  of  batiniya.  They  filled  Persia  with  murders  ;  and  by  their  mysterious 
power,  made  monarchs  tremble. 

God  is  ever  renewing  all  the  matter  and  the  form  of  the  universe.  Not  a  leaf 
sprouteth,  not  a  sparrow  falleth,  not  a  thought  occureth,  without  His  impulsion. 

Thus  are  muslims  brought  face  to  face  with  evil  in  a  way  that  Europeans  can- 
not realise. 

God  is  the  only  real  agent,  though  He  sometimes  fashioneth  some  (Iblis,  Kabil, 
Nimrud,  Fir'aun,  Aba  Jahl)  to  be  His  agents  of  wrath. 

Equally  with  Musa,  was  Fir'aun,  an  agent  of  God's  will  ;  and  he  bewailed  the 
impulsion  that  made  him  oppose  Musa. 

The  'Arif  (the  knower  of  ma'rifat)  admiteth  the  ability  to  choose  good.    Not,  like 
Iblis,  doth  he  cast  his  sins  upon  God  ;  but  with  Adam,  crieth  : — 
"  0  Lord,  black  our  faces  we  have  made." 

The  'Arif  saith  : — 

God  created  all  things,  good  and  evil ;  but  evil,  is  non-existence,  a  departure  from  the  Only 

Absolute  existence.     In  relation  to  God,  evil  is  naught. 
If  evil-passion  exist  not,  how  can  there  be  control  ?     If  affliction  exist  not,  how  can  there  be 

patience  ? 
The  jail  is  the  criminal's  masjid  making  him  cry  to  God. 

The  sQfi  disregardeth  outward  forms  and  rites.  God  judgeth  not  as  man 
judgeth  ;  at  the  heart,  He  looketh. 

Jalalu-d-Din-i-Rumi  (vi.  Prologue)  saith  : — 

If  with  good  and  evil,  a  lover  be  befouled these,  regard  not ;  his  aspiration,  regard. 

*  The  Murtaza  Shahi  (an  order  of  sufis)  make  in  clay  an  image  of  the  murshid. 
This,  the  murid  keeps  to  prevent  him  from  wandering ;  and  lo  bring  him  into  identity  with  the 
murshid. 

t  The  Historian  of  the  Crusades  calls  him  "  the  old  man  of  the  mountain." 

From  his  name,  (Al  Hasan)  is  derived  our  word  "assassin." 

See  Asiatic  Researches,  vol.  xi,  p.  423  ;  Malcolm's  History  of  Persia,  vol.  i,  p.  395;  vol.  ii,  p  416. 


INTRODUOTFON.  j  , 

The. sufi  practiseth  voluntary  poverty,  mortification,  obedience,  renunciation  of 
the  world  ;  and  the  precepts  of  the  gospel  as  to  forsaking  family,  position,  wealth 
for  religion  sake. 

All  naught,  he  maketh  save  God  :  and  giveth  life  to  this  non-existent  universe 
by  regarding  it  as  permeated  with  God's  presence. 

Paradise,  hell,  all  the  dogmas  of  religion  are  allegories, — the  spirit  whereof  he 
alone  knows. 

He  Jongeth  for  death  ;  for  then  he  returneth  to  God  whence  he  emanated,  and 
in  Him  findeth  annihilation. 

On  the  unity  of  God,  he  meditateth  to  attain  spiritual  perfection  ;  and  unification 
with  God. 

This  union,  none  can  without  faizu-1-lah  (God's  grace)  reach;  but  to  those  who 
fervently  ask  Him,  He  refuseth  not  aid. 

The  Kuran  and  the  Hadis  represent : — 

(a)  God  as  having  created  the  world  once  for  all,  and  as  now  removed  to  the  highest  heaven, 

leaving  His  creatures,  by  their  own  free  will,  according  to  the  light  given  by  prophets, 
to  work  out  their  salvation. 
(4)  God  as  the  being  ever  working  in  His  creatures,  the  sun  of  all  existence,  the  fulness  of 
life,  whereby  all  things  move  and  exist — omnipresent,  dwelling  in,  and  communing 
with,  each  soul. 

The  sufis  (men  of  heart ;  men  looking  behind  the  veil  ;  inward  men)  developed 
the  Greek  mysticism  popularised  by — 

(o)  Faryabi  d.     954.  I  (c)  Ghazzali  d.    II I  i. 

(b)  Abu  Ali  Sina  „     1037.  j  (d)  Ibn  Rashid  „     iigy. 

and  made  : — 

i.  God  to  be  the  One,  the  Necessary  Being,  the  only  Reality,  the  Truth,  the  Infinite,  the  First 

Cause  (source  of  all  action,  good  and  evil), 
ii.  The  world  of  phenomena  and  of  man  — 

Not  being  which  like  a  mirror  reflects  being ;  and,  by  borrowing  particles  of  being,  rises 
to  "contingent  being"  (which  shares  existence  and  non-existence). 

In  man,  the  spark  of  being  is  identical  with  the  Infinite  Being;  but,  while  he  is 
in  "contingent  being,"  he  is  weighed  down  and  held  apart  from  Being  by  "Not- 
being,"  whence  evil  proceedeth. 

In  this  state,  he  requires  laws  and  creeds  to  restrain  him.  Thus  "Not-being" 
is  when  wanted  something,  and  nothing  when  not  wanted,  and  so  do  the  sufis  avoid  the 
ill  consequences  of  their  theory. 

The  muslim  doctrine  of  jabr  (compulsion)  driveth  some  to  fanatical  deeds ;  some 
to  cry  kismat;  some  to  regard  the  action  and  the  existence  of  the  Universe  as  the 
manifestation  of  God's  energy. 

By  divine  illumination,  man  seeth  the  world,  including  man's  self,  to  be  an  illusion, 
non-existent  (and  therefore  evil). 

He  trieth  to  shake  off  this  "  Not-being,"  to  efface  himself,  and  to  be  united  with 
the  real  Being,  the  Truth,  that  is,  God. 

c  2 


12 


sTSfMsm. 


The  true  course  is  to  ignore  self ;  to  be  passive  that  God  may  work.  Then 
will  God's  light  and  grace  enter  the  heart  and  draw  man  to  Truth  and  unite  him  with 
the  One. 

The  curl,  the  down,  the  mole,  and  the  brow  are  the  world  now  in  jamal  (beauty), 
now  in  jalal  (terrible  majesty). 

The  cheek  and  the  curl  are  the  types  of  mercy  and  of  beauty;  of  vengeance  and 
of  majesty. 

The  mysteries  of  ecstatic  vision  cannot  be  interpreted  by  words,  only  by  types 
and  license  is  in  the  mystic  states  of : — 

(a)  annihilation,  effacement. 

(b)  intoxication. 

(c)  love's  violence. 

Only  those  who  know  these  states  comprehend  the  meaning  of  these  words. 

The  curl  enchaineth  hearts ;  beareth  souls  to  and  fro ;  plundereth  the  karvans  of 
reason  ;  and  never  resteth. 

With  its  perfume,  Adam's  clay  became  leavened.     Thus,  the  material  world. 

The  down  is  the  vestibule  of  almightiness,  a  verdant  growth  in  the  spirit-world, 
the  well-spring  of  life,  the  hidden  secret,  the  first  plural  emanation,  that  veileth  the 
face  of  unity,  the  world  of  pure  spirits  that  are  nearest  to  God  and  the  decoration  of 
souls. 

The  mole  is  the  point  of  unity,  single  yet  embracing  all  phenomena.  Fixed  and 
stable,  is  the  point  of  unity  ;  but  the  heart  is  disquieted  by  emotions,  illumined  by  epi- 
phanies and  darkened  by  the  veil  of  plurality  in  the  masjid,  now  in  the  inward  and 
now  in  the  outward,  now  in  the  hell  of  lust,  now  in  the  heaven  of  zauk. 

It  is  the  centre,  whence  is  drawn  the  circle  of  two  worlds  ;  and  whence  is  Adam's 
heart  and  soul. 

Unity  (the  mole)  and  the  heart  must  be  one.  Which  is  the  original,  which  the  re- 
flection ? 

Sometimes  is  the  heart : — 


sick         like  His  intoxicating  eye. 
fluttering      „       curl, 
gleaming      „       face. 
dark  „      mole. 


a  masjid  of  the  inward  and  sometimes  a  mas- 
jid of  the  outward. 
a  hell  of  the  inward  and  sometimes  a  heaven. 


The  cheek  is  the  theatre  of  divine  bounty,  the  divine  essence  in  respect  of  the 
manifestations  of  its  names  and  qualities  ;  the  manifestation  of  the  seven  (beauteous) 
names  (of  God)  ;  and  is  as  the  seven  verses  (of  the  Fatiha).  Know  His  face  and 
down, ^verily  thou  knowest  plurality  and  unity. 

The  eye  betokeneth  frowns  and  coquetry,  now  holding  aloof  from  its  slave,  now 
granting  union.  From  it,  proceed  languishing  intoxication,  burning,  plundering,  and 
aching  of  heart ;  every  corner  thereof  is  a  wine-shop. 

Of  His  eye  and  lip,  ask  an  embrace,— one  saith  nay  ;  the  other,  yes. 


THE  KHANKAH.  ,, 

/^  ^ 

\I5.  Speaking  of  the  shaikh  to  the  degree  of  the  hearer's  understanding. 

That  matter  wherein  is  un-intelligibility,  and  whereto  the  hearer's  understandino- 
reacheth  not,  the  murid  should  not  utter. 

From  such  speech,  no  profit  ariseth ;  and  possibly  the  hearer's  faith  in  the  shaikh 
may  become  languid. 

If  the  murid  observe  this  collection  of  rules  of  manner,  his  object  (from  the 
acquisition  of  the  splendours  of  God's  mercy  and  from  the  descending  of  His  bound- 
less blessings)  beconieth,  by  means  of  the  shaikh's  society,  revealed  openly  and 
secretly. 

The  customs  of  the  men  of  the  Khankah  (convent). 

V.  5- 

The  men  of  the  khankah  form  two  parties — 
i  the  travellers. 
ii  „    dwellers. 

When  sufis  intend  to  alight  at  a  khankah  they  try  to  reach  it  before  the  after- 
noon. If,  for  some  reason,  the  afternoon  cometh,  they  alight  at  the  masjid  or  in  some 
corner. 

The  next  day,  at  sunrise,  they  proceed  to  the  khankah  and  make  : — 
(a)  two  rak'ats  (of  prayer)  as  salutation  to  the  spot. 
(6)  salam  (peace-wishing). 
(c)  haste  to  embracing  and  to  Viand-shaking  those  present. 

The  sunnat  is  that,  to  the  dwellers  they  should  offer  some  food  or  something  as  a 
present. 

In  speech,  they  make  no  presumption  ;  so  long  as  they  ask  not,  they  speak  not. 

For  three  days,  for  the  business  that  they  may  have,  beyond  the  visiting  of  the 
living  and  of  the  dead, — they  go  not  from  the  khankah  until  the  inward  form,  from 
the  alteration  caused  by  the  accidents  of  travel,  returneth,  to  its  own  ease,  and  they 
become  ready  for  the  interview  with  the  shaikhs. 

When  from  the  khankah,  they  wish  to  go  out  they  prefer  their  request  to  the  men 
of  the  khankah. 

When  three  days  have  passed,  if  they  resolve  to  stay,  they  seek  service  whereby 
they  may  stay. 

If  their  time  be  engaged  in  devotion,  no  service  is  necessary. 

The  dwellers  of  the  khankah  meet  the  travellers  with  : — 
(a)  tarhib  (ye  are  welcome). 
'  (6)  regard. 

(c)  affection, 
(i)  expansion  of  lace  (through  joy). 

■    The  servant  should  offer  light  food,   and  be   present    fresh  of  face,  sweet  of 
ech- 


«->i  SUFi.lSM. 

If  a  traveller,  unaccustomed  to  the  customs  of  sufis,  reach  the  khankah,  they 
should  not  look  at  him  with  contempt  ;  nor  should  they  prevent  him  from  entering. 
For  many  of  the  holy  and  pious   are  ignorant  of  the  customs  of  this  assembly  (of 

sufis). 

If  through  contempt  injury  reach  them,  their  heart  may  possibly  be  vexed  ;  and 
its  effects  may  injure  faith  and  the  world. 

Kindliness  to  man  is  the  best  of  manners  ;  ill-naturedness  is  the  result  of  ill 
nature. 

If  to  the  convent  reach  some  one  who  hath  no  fitness  therefor,  him,  after  offering 
victuals,  with  kindness  and  fair  words,  they  remove. 
The  dwellers  of  the  khankah  form  three  parties  : — 
i.  ahl-i-khidmat  (men  of  service), 
ii.      „     suhbat    (  „     ,,  society), 
iii.       „     khilvat    (  „      „  khilvat). 

The  ahl-i-khidmat  are  "the  beginners,"  who,  out  of  love,  come  to  the  khankah. 
They  do  them  service,  so  that  thereby  they  may  become  acceptable  to  the  hearts  of  men 
of  deeds  and  of  stages,  and  may  be  regarded  with  the  glance  of  mercy ;  may  acquire 
litness  for  kinship ;  and  become  a  slipper  out  of  the  garment  of  alienation  and  of  far- 
ness. 

They  gain  capability  of  society  and  capacity  for  its  advantages  ;  and  by  the  bless- 
ing of  their  society,  words,  deeds,  and  manner  become  bound  by  the  bond  of  dignity. 
After  that,  they  become  worthy  of  khidmat. 

To  the  old  men,  the  passing  of  their  time  in  khilvat  is  best. 

To  the  youths,  the  house-assembly  sitting  in  suhbat  is  better  than  khilvat,  so  that, 
with  the  bond  of  'ilm,  their  lusts  may  (by  the  revealing  of  states,  words,  and  deeds 
to  those  present)  be  bound. 

Thus,  has  Abu  Yakub-i-Susi  said. 

The  men  of  the  khankah  have — a  portion,  devotion  and  a  service  ;  and  aid 
each  other  respecting  important  matters  of  faith  and  of  the  world. 

Fitness  for  "  service  "  is  when  a  person  hath  by  outward  resemblance,  and  inward 
and  pure  desire — acquired  kinship  with  sufis. 

Who  hath  not  kinship  with  one  of  these  two  ways, — him,  it  is  not  proper  to  do 
"  service  "  ;  or  with  him  to  associate  except  in  compassion. 

Because  sometimes,  through  the  exigency  of  human  nature,  issue  from  them 
things  that  appear  ugly  in  the  sight  of  people  of  desire  and  of  love. 

If  from  the  khankah  is  the  allowance  of  their  victuals;  and  the  bequeather's  con- 
dition is  that  they  should  expend  the  allowance  on  the  purposes  of  the  Lords  of  desire, 
and  on  the  travellers  of  tarikat,  that  allowance  is  not  lawful  to  the  habituated,  nor 
to  that  crowd  that,  from  deeds  of  body,  have  not  reached  the  stages  of  the  heart. 

If  the  khankah  have  no  bequest ;  and  in  it,  be  present  one  possessed  of  vision, 
he,  according  to  the  exigency  of  the  time  and  their  capacity,  instructeth  the  murids. 


THE  KHANKAH.  ,- 

If  he  consider  it  good  to  abandon  kasb  (acquisition)  and  to  remain  in  beo-o-ary,  he 
putteth  them  on  tawakkui  (reliance  on  Godj,  and  on  the  abandoning  of  the  mean3  (of 
livelihood). 

If  the  men  of  the  khankah  be  a  brotherhood,  and  no  shaikh  be  present,  they 
choose,  as  occasion  demandeth,  one  of  these  three  ways: 

If  they  be  of  the  crowd  of  the  strong  and  of  travellers,  and  resolute  as  to  tawak- 
kui (reliance  on  God),  and  as  to  patience,  their  sitting  (in  reliance)  on  the  revealintr 
(of  God's  aid)  is  worthy  of  their  state. 

Otherwise  they  should  choose  either  kasb,  or  beggary,  which  they  consider  the 
better. 

The  men  of  the  khankah  should,  outwardly  and  inwardly,  observe  concord  to 
each  other  ;  and  should,  at  the  time  of  eating,  assemble  at  one  table-cloth,  so  that  out- 
wardly they  may  not  be  separated  ;  that  the  blessing  of  outward  association  may  pene- 
trate into  the  heart ;  that  they  may  with  each  other  pass  life  in  love  and  purity  ;  and 
may,  in  their  heart,  give  no  power  to  alloy  and  counterfeit  (evil  thoughts). 

If  from  one  to  the  heart  of  another,  a  foul  deed  should  pass,  they  should  in- 
stantly efface  it ;  and  with  him  not  pass  life  in  hypocrisy. 

Every  society,  the  foundation  whereof  is  on  hypocrisy  and  not  on  sincerity,  giveth 
no  result  whatever. 

When,  outwardly  to  each  other,  they  display  reconciliation,  and  their  heart  is 
folded  with  hate, — hopeless  is  their  good,  and  expected  their  destruction. 

If  an  act  of  treachery  appear,  in  it  they  should  not  persevere,  but  quickly  for  it 
make  reparation  by  seeking  pardon  ;  and  that  pardon  it  is  not  right  that  the  aggrieved 
one  should  withhold.     For,  in  respect  to  this,  promise  (of  blessing)  hath  arrived. 

Outwardly  and  inwardly,  they  should  strive  to  be  in  agreement  with,  and  in 
equality  to,  each  other;  and  to  be  in  respect  of  all  people  free  from  impurity  (of 
wrong) . 

Then  to  them  may  deferred  paradise  be  hastened,  and  the  mere  promise  of 
others  be  their  realisation. 

In  the  heart  of  the  sufi  or  of  the  fakir,  how  should  there  be  the  alloy  and  the 
counterfeit  (of  evil  thought),  the  place  of  return  whereof  is  the  love  of  the  world? 
By  abandoning  the  world  and  turning  from  it,  are  they  special  and  chosen. 

After  seeking  pardon,  the  pardon-seeker  should  present  victuals  ;  just  as  doeth  he 
who  Cometh  from  journeying. 

Because  the  sinner,  who,  for  sin,  shall  have  come  out  from  the  circle  of  being 
present  and  of  being  collected  (of  the  khankah)  ;  and  shall  have  entered  on  the  journey 
of  separation  and  of  being  hidden, — returneth  not  to  this  circle.  To  re-enter,  it  is  first 
necessary  that  he  should  present  victuals,  which  the  sufis  call  gharamat  (fine). 

When  a  person  appeareth  possessed  of  lust,  with  him  they  should  strive  to  repel 
the  darkness  of  lust  by  the  luminosity  of  the  heart. 

The  injurer  and  the  injured  both  are  in  sin.  Because  if  the  injured  one  had 
heartily  opposed  the  lust  of  the  injurer,  the  darkness  of  lust  would,  through  the  lumi- 
nosity of  the  heart,  have  departed. 


26  SUFi.lSM. 

The  true  sufi  is  he  who  striveth  in  the  purifying  of  his  heart ;  and  alloweth   no 
pollution  to  abide  in  him. 

As  our  allowance,  may  God  grant  us  this  state. 


On  the  rule  of  the  safar  (the  journey). 

VI.  g. 

Doubtless,  in  subduing  refractory  lusts  and  in  softening  hard  hearts,  safar  profit- 
eth  much. 

The  being  separated  from  one's  native  land,  from  friends  and  familiar  things,  and 
the  exercising  of  patience  in  calamities  cause  lust  and  nature  to  rest  from  pursuing 
their  way;  and  take  up  from  hearts  the  effect  of  hardness. 

In  subduing  lusts,  the  effect  of  safar  is  not  less  than  the  effect  of  nawafil,  fasting 
and  praying. 

On  dead  skins,  by  tanning,  the  effects  of  purity,  of  softness,  and  of  delicacy  of 
texture  appear  ;  even  so,  by  the  tanning  of  safar,  and  by  the  departure  of  natural  cor- 
ruption and  innate  roughness,  appear  the  purifying  softness  of  devotion  and  change 
from  obstinacy  to  faith. 

Hence  the  master  of  shari'at  (Muhammad)  hath  incited  to  safar,  although  to  safar, 
is  not  limited  the  acquisition  of  the  objects  of  the  seekers  of  hakikat  and  of 
tarikat. 

For  there  have  been  shaikhs  who  have,  neither  at  the  beginning  nor  at  the  end, 
made  safar;  but  God's  grace  hath  been  their  aid;  and  the  noose  of  attraction  hath 
drawn  them  from  the  lowest  to  the  highest  stage,  and  conveyed  them  to  the  stage  of 
being  a  shaikh,  the  master  of  instruction. 

Most  shaikhs  have  made  safar, — some  in  the  beginning,  for  the  sake  of  receiving 
profit;  some  at  the  end,  for  giving  profit;  and  some  both  in  the  beginning  and  at  the 
end,  wherein  they  have  regarded  their  own  welfare  of  season  and  of  hal. 

Ibrahim  Khwass  used  not  to  stay  more  than  forty  days  in  a  city  ;  because  in  this 
course,  he  regarded  his  welfare  of  hal  and  of  tawakkul. 

With  'Isa  (Christ),  the  sufIs  are  associated,  because,  during  the  whole  course  of  His 
life,  He  was  in  safar  ;  and  for  the  safety  of  His  faith,  never  stayed  in  a  place. 


Whoever  maketh  safar  must  observe  twelve  rules  : — 

I.  The    advancing   of  proper  resolution,  and  the  establishing  of  honoured  pur- 
poses— 

(a)  The  acquiring  of  'ilm  (knowledge). 

(J)  The  meeting  of  shaikhs  and  of  brothers. 

Because,  on  meeting  men  of  salah  and  obtaining  a  glance  from  the  Lords  of  prosperity 
many  advantages  accrue  to  seekers  of  tarikat.  * 


THE  SAFAR.  gy 

He  may  be  worthy  of  a  happiness-giver's  glance  ;  and  therefrom  he  may  take  up 
advantages  of  faith  and  of  the  world. 

In  respect  of  the  special  ones,  not  far  is  this  sense. 

In  the  glance  of  some  serpents,  God  hath  established  a  special  quality  whereby  he,  on 
whom  they  glance,  becometh  destroyed.  Wonder  is  it  if,  in  the  glance  of  His  own  spe- 
cial ones,  God  should  have  placed  a  virtue  whereby  they  give  the  seeker  on  whom  they 
glance  life  and  happiness  according  to  his  capacity  ! 

In  the  masjid  of  Khif  at  Mina,  Shaikh  Ziya,u-d-Din  Abu-n-Najibwas  making  the  tawaf ; 
at  all  he  glanced  ;  and  in  inquiring  as  to,  and  reflecting  upon,  their  state  made  excess. 

They  said  :  — 
What  seekest  thou  ? 

He  said  : — 
Slaves  of  God  there  are  whose  glance  giveth  happiness;  their  glance,  I  seek. 
(c)  The  cutting  asunder  from  familiar  things  and  the  swallowing  the  bitterness  of  separation 
from  brothers  and  dear  friends. 
For  patience,  in  separation  from  one's  abode  and  friends,  is  worthy  of  many  benefits. 

{d)  The  revealing  of  the  hidden  treasure  of  the  soul's  state ;  and  the  expelling  its  decorations 
and  claims. 

Because  many  reprehensible  qualities  (which,  being  rested  in  their  purpose,  are  concealed 
in  lusts)— become,  revealed,  in  safar,  through  farness  from  accustomed  things. 

Thus  if  at  the  khankah  (or  at  his  abode),  he  see  not  (by  reason  of  his  rest  with  desire)  a 
perturbation  in  his  nafs,  he  thinketh  that  in  him  are  existent,  patience  and  riza. 

When,  in  safar,  calamities  become  continuous  ;  and  from  his  soul,  a  passion  or  an  abo- 
mination appeareth,  he  knoweth  that  he  hath  not  these  two  qualities.     Up,  he  riseth  in 
search  of  them  ;  and  the  claim  of  possessing  them  vanisheth. 
(e)  Solitude  and  abandoning  the  acceptance  (of  the  people). 

The  breeze  of  the  hal  of  the  master  of  hal  who  dwelleth  in  a  corner  reacheth  the  soul  of 
the  true  ones  and  of  the  seekers  of  that  comer ;  and  he  becometh  the  kibia  of  prosperi- 
ty and  the  master  of  the  people's  acceptance. 

This  state  is,  for  travellers  of  tarikat,  the  source  of  trial ;  and,  to  those  arrived  at  the  stage, 
the  mark  of  being  chosen. 

For  travellers  (who  are  afflicted  with  this  calamity  of  trial)  the  journeying  for  solitude 
and  for  the  abandoning  of  acceptance  (of  the  people)  is  of  the  requisites  (of  safar). 

Because  the  stage  of  acceptance(of  the  people)  is  the  slipping  place  of  travellers  ;  here,  do 
their  feet  slip;  here,  do  they  turn  their  face  from  God  to  the  people  — except  the  person, 
whom  the  favour  of  the  Eternal  aideth  ;  and  who  avoideth  that  abode,  and  goeth  else- 
where, so  that,  preserved  from  this  calamity,  he  may  remain. 
(/)  The  reading  of  verses  of  singularity  and  unity  of  God  from  the  books  of  the  world  and 
from  souls;  and  reading  the  signs  of  kudrat  (power)  and  of  hikmat  (God's  mystery) 
and  the  wonders  of  created  and  destined  things— so  that  thereby  amplitude  may  ap- 
pear to  the  power  of  thought;  and  proofs  to  the  perfection  of  kudrat  and  of  hikmat 
increase  (in  number). 

2.  Making  safar  with  a  friend. 

In  safar,  calamities  (which  every  one  in  solitude  cannot  bear)  occur.     Hence  is 
necessary  a  friend  who  may  aid. 

Some  of  the  strong,  having  power  of  endurance  against  afflictions,  have  in  soHtnde 
made  safar,  yet  to  every  one  it  is  not  easy. 


28  SUFi.lSM. 

3.  Of  the  party  (who  make  together  safar)  making  one  amir,  so  that  all  shall  obey 
him  as  in  the  Hadis. 

Greater  is  the  capacity  of  power  of  that  one  who,  in  austerity,  piety,  liberality,  and 
in  compassion  is  greater. 

It  is  related  that  Abu  '  Abdu-1-lah-i-Maruzi  desired  to  make  safar.    His  companion- 
ship, Abu  'AlI-i-Rabati  asked.     Abu  'Abdu-1-lah  said  :— 
Only  on  the  condition  that  thou  be  Amir  or  I. 

Abu  'Ali  replied  : — 

Be  thou  Amir. 
Abu  'Abdu-1-lah  took  up  his  road-provisions ;  and  on  his  head  placed  his  load. 
One  night,  in  the  desert,  it  rained.     All  night  Abu  'Abdu-1-lah  stood  holding  his 
blanket  over  Abu  'All  to  preserve  him  from  the  rain. 
When  Abu  'Ali  said  : — 

Do  not. 
Abu  Abdu-1-lah  used  to  say  : — 

"  I  am  Amir ;  obedience  on  thy  part  is  necessary." 
Whoever  in  power  hath  his  glance  over  many  followers  ;  and  hath  the  desire  for 
rule  or  for  the  acquisition  of  lust's  desires, his  is  no  portion  in  sufi,ism. 

4.  The  bidding  farewell  to  brothers.  He  should,  as  Muhammad  ordered,  bid 
farewell  to  the  brothers  (of  the  khankah)  ;  and  on  the  brothers,  it  is  obligatory  that 
they  should  pray  for  him. 

For  thus,  when  bidding  farewell  to  travellers,  did  Muhammad  pray. 

5.  The  bidding  farewell  to  the  stage  (of  sojourning). 

When  the  traveller  taketh  up  his  chattels,  he  should  perform  two  rak'ats  of  pray- 
er ;  and  with  them  bid  farewell. 

In  the  Hadis  is  a  tale  by  Anas  bin  Malik  that  Muhammad  never  alighted  at  a 
stage  without  performing,  at  the  time  of  departure,  two  rak'ats  of  prayer,  after  which^ 
he  used  to  pray  : — 

O    God,  increase   my  piety;  pardon   my   sins;  turn   me   towards   good just   as   Thou 

wishest. 

6.  When  he  wisheth    to    ride    his    steed,    camel,   litter,   or    ship, he    should 

say  : — 

Praise  be  to  God  who  made  subdued  to  us  this  steed.  In  the  name  of  God.  God  is  great. 
1  depend  upon  God  ;  save  with  God,  the  great  and  powerful,  is  neither  power  nor  com- 
mand.    Thou  art  the  rider  of  all  backs ;  and  the  aider  of  all  matter. 

7.  From  the  stage,  he  should  start  early  in  the  morning  on  the  fifth  day  (Thurs- 
day), because  Ka'b-i-Malik  relateth  that,  on  that  day,  Muhammad  generally  began  his 
safar  and  despatched  his  troops. 

8.  When  he  cometh  near  to  the  stage,  he  should  say  :— 

O  God  of  the  skies,  of  those  that  increase;  of  earth,  of  those  that  decrease  :  of  Shaitan,  of 
those  that  mislead ;  of  the  wind,  of  those  that  blow ;  of  water,  of  those  that  flow  !  6  God, 
I  pray  for  the  good  of  this  stage  and  of  its  people;  wiih  Thee,  I  take  shelter  from  the  evil 
of  this  stage  and  of  its  people. 


SAMA*.  29 

9    Salutation  to  the  stage. 

When  he  alighteth,  he  should,  by  way  of  salutation  to  the  stage  ,  offer  two  rak'at 
of  prayer. 

10.  The  arranging  of  the  articles  of  safar. 

With  himself,  he  should  keep  the  staff,  the  water-holder,  and  the  p-irdle  ;  because 
their  association  with  him  is  the  sunnat.  Abu  Sa'id-i-Khazari  relateth  that  Muham- 
mad  going  from  Madina  to  Makka,  thus  ordered. 

1 1.  When  he  reacheth  a  city  whereat  he  wisheth  to  stop  and  from  afar  casteth 
on  it  his  glance,  he  should  make  salutation  to  the  living  and  to  the  dead  ;  should  read 
some  of  the  Kuran  ;  should  send  the  blessing  thereof  as  a  present  to  them  ;  and  should 
utter  this  prayer; — 

O  God !  in  it  bestow  upon  us  good  rest  and  fair  allowance. 

12.  Before  entering  the  city,  he  should,  if  possible,  bathe  ;  because  when  Mu- 
hammad wished  to  enter  Makka,  he  used  first  to  bathe. 


Sama'  (the  song,  the  circular  dance  of  darvishes). 

V.  9. 

Of  the  number  of  most  laudable  sufi-mysteries,  denied  by  outward  'ulama,  one 
is  the  assembly  for  :  — 

(,/)  the  sama'  (hearing)  of  the  ghina  (song)  and  ilhan  (lilt). 
(b)  the  summoning  of  the  kawwal  (singer). 

The  reason  of  denial  is  that  this  custom  is  innovation,  for  in  the  time  :  — 


of  Muhammad 
„  the  sahaba 
„    ,,    tabi'in 


Of  the  'ulama 

„    ,,     ancient  shaikhs 


this  was  not  the  custom. 

Some  of  the  modern  shaikhs  have  established  the  custom  ;  and,  since  it  is  not  op- 
posed to  the  sunnat,  held  it  laudable. 

Sama'  is  the  comprehender  of  three  benefits  :  — 

1.  To  the  soul  and  the  heart  of  the  companions  of  austerity  and  the  T.ords  of  strife 
(against  sin), — weariness,  sadness,  kab'z,  and  despair  appear  on  account  of  many  deeds. 
Then,  for  the  repelling  of  this  calamity,  '  modern  shaikhs  have  made  a  spiritual  com- 
position out  of  the  sama  '  of  sweet  sounds,  harmonious  melodies  and  verses  desire- 
exciting  ;  and  made  them  eager  for  it  at  the  time  of  need. 

2.  Through  the  manifestation  and  the  power  of  nafs,  stoppings  and  veilings  (of 
God's  glory)  occur  to  the  holy  traveller.  Thus,  the  increase  of  hal  closcth  ;  and, 
through  length  of  separation  (from  God),  the  violence  of  desire  (for  God;  decreaseth. 


30 


SUFi.lSM. 


Then,  by  hearing  sweet  lilts  and  ghazals  (describing  his  hal),  that  strange  hal 
(which  moveth  the  claim  of  desire,  and  exciteth  love's  contest)  appeareth  to  the  hearer  ; 
the  stoppings  and  the  veilings  arise  and  depart  from  before  him  ;  and  the  door  of  in- 
crease openeth. 

3.  To  men  of  the  Path,  whose  state — from  (slow)  travelling  to  (swift)  flight,  from 
(laborious)  travelling  to  (irresistible)  attraction,  from  being  a  lover  (of  God)  to  being 
the  beloved  (of  God) — shall  not  have  ended,  it  is  possible  that,  at  the  time  of  sama', 
the  soul's  ear  may  open  and  gain  the  rapture  of  the  address  of  eternity  without  begin- 
ning, and  of  the  ''  first  covenant  ;  "  that  with  one  shaking  the  bird  of  the  soul  may  shake 
from  itself  the  dust  of  existence  and  the  clamminess  of  impurities  ;  and  may — from 
the  pollution  of  the  heart,  of  lust  and  of  the  crowd  of  existences — become  free. 

Then,  with  swift  flight,  the  soul  cometh  into  propinquity  to  God  ;  the  holy  tra- 
veller's slow  travelling  changeth  to  swift  flight  ;  his  laborious  journey,  to  irresistible 
attraction  ;  and  his  being  a  lover  to  his  being  the  beloved  (of  God). 

Then,  in  a  moment,  doth  he  travel,  as  without  sama'  he  cannot  travel  in  years. 


The  best  of  deeds  (prayer)  is  for  some  the  cause  of  prosperity  ;  and  for  some  of 
sorrow.     Nevertheless,  the  abandoning  of  prayer  is  not  lawful. 

At  this  time  in  a  way  (which  is  the  way  of  men  of  the  time  and  of  sufis)  sama'  is 
the  essence  of  disaster ;  for  many  are  the  assemblies  the  foundation  whereof  is  on  the 
claim  of  lust  and  of  sensual  delights — not  on  the  principles  of  sincerity,  and  on  the  de- 
sire of  increase  of  hal  whereon  hath  verily  been  the  way  of  this  tarik. 

The  cause  of  being  present  at  an  assembly  of  sama'  is  : — 
(a)  the  claim  to  victuals  that  in  that  assembly  are  expected. 
(i)  the  inclination  to  dancing,  to  sport,  and  to  pastime. 
(c)  the  delight  of  beholding  things  forbidden  and  abhorrent. 
{d}  the  attraction  of  worldly  kinds, 
(e)  the  manifestation  of  wajd  and  hal. 

(/)  the  keeping  brisk  the  market  of  being  a  shaikh ;  and  the  making  current  the  chattels 
of  self-adorning. 

All  this  is  the  essence  of  disaster ;  and  abhorrent  to  men  of  faith. 

Every  assembly  the  foundation  whereof  is  on  one  of  these  desires, — from  it  be- 
cometh  difficult  the  search  for  increase  of  ;— 
hal. 

inward  purity, 
tranquillity  of  heart. 

This  complaint  was  laid  in  the  time  of  Junid,  which  was  the  time  of  revealing  of 
shaikhs  and  of  sufis. 

At  the  end  of  his  life  Junid  held  not  the  assembly  of  sama'  of  the  singer. 
They  said  : — 

Why  boldest  thou  not  saitia'.?  I 


SAMA'. 


31 


He  said  :  — 

With  whom  may  I  hold  sama'  ? 

They  said  : — 

For  thy  own  soul,  hear. 

He  said  : — 

From  whom,  may  I  hear  ? 

It  is  proper  to  make  sama'  with  sympathising  friends  ;  and  to  hear  one  who 
suffereth  pain  (of  love  for  God),  and  who,  for  the  sake  solely  of  the  next  world, 
speaketh. 

Doubtless  the  sweet  voi  ce  is  one  of  divine  favours. 

Thus  by  the  camel-driver's  song,  the  camel  easily  beareth  heavy  loads  and  joyfull)' 
travelleth  many  stages  in  a  day. 

Wahy  saith  : — 

Once  in  the  desert,  I  met  an  Arab  tribe;  one  of  them  took  me  to  his  tent. 
Before  the  victuals  appeared,  I  saw    a  black  slave  bound  and  several  camels  dead  at  the 
tent-door. 

The  slave  said  : — 

"  To-night  thou  art  the  guest;  and  the  guest  my  Lord  holdeth  dear.  Hope  is  mine  that 
thou  wilt  intercede  for  my  release  from  these  bonds. 

When  he  had  made  ready  the  victuals,  I  said  : — 
I  will  not  eat  till  thou  releasest  this  slave. 

He  said  : — 

This  slave  hath  ruined  my  property  and  my  camels;  and  cast  me  on  the  dust  of  poverty. 
My  income  used  to  be  from  the  profit  of  these  camels.    But  this  slave  hath  a  voice  exceeding 
sweet ;  and  he  loaded  the  camels  with  heavy  burdens  ;  and  to  the  melody  of  Huda  urged 
them  so  that  in  one  day  they  traversed  three  days'  space.     When  they  reached  the  last 
stage,  they  cast  their  loads  and  fe  I  dead.     Him,  I  will  give  to  thee. 

The  next  day  I  wished  to  hear  the  slave's  voice;  my  host  accordingly  ordered 
him  to  begin  the  camel-driver's  melody. 

Near,  there  was  a  bound  camel. 

When  he  heard  the  slave's  voice,  he  revolved  his  head  and  snapped  his  tether  ; 
and  I  became  senseless  and  fell. 

They  asked  Junid  : — 

Why  doth  a  person,  who  is  resting  with  gravity  and  who  suddenly  heareth  a  sweet  voice — fall 
into  agitation  and  tumult. 

He  said  : — 

When,  in  the  covenant  of  eternity  without  beginning  and  of  misak,  God  said  to  the  atoms  of 
the  progeny  of  the  sons  of  Adam — Am  I  not  your  God  ?  the  sweetness  of  that  address 
remained  in  the  ear  of  their  soul. 

When  they  hear  a  sweet  sound,  the  sweetness  of  that  address  cometh  to  mind  ;  and  they  de- 
light thereat,  and  fall  into  tumult. 

Thus  also  say  Zu-r-Nun'-i-Misri  and  Samnun  Muhib. 


„o  SUFi,lSM. 

Buka  (lamentation)  is  of  two  kinds  :  — 
(,i)  the  buka  of  joy. 
{b)  „      „  wajd. 

For  buka  is  produced  by  fear,  desire,  joy,  or  wajd. 

The  buka  of  joy  is  when,  from  exceeding  joy,  one  weepeth — as  when  a  son,  or 
a  beloved,  long  separated  by  seas,  returneth. 

The  buka  of  wajd  is  when  a  ray  of  the  splendour  of  hakku-1-yakin  (the  truth  of 
certainty)  flasheth,  and  the  blow  of  kidam  (eternity)  cometh  upon  hudus  (calamities), 
the  rest  of  the  existence  of  the  wajid  (the  enraptured  one)  riseth  up  and  disappeareth 
in  the  dashing  together  of  kidam  and  hudus. 

This  state  is  manifested  in  the  form  of  drops  of  tears. 

Whatever  hath  dominion  over  humanity,  sama'  strengtheneth. 

For  those  engaged  in  love  for  God,  sama'  is  the  aider  to  perfection  ;  for  those 
filled  with  lust,  the  cause  of  disaster. 

Although  wajd  in  sama'  is  the  perfection  of  the  hal  of  "the  first  ones,"  it  is  the 
defect  of  "  the  last  ones."  Because  wajd  is  the  sign  of  resuming  (after  little  losing)  the 
state  of  witnessing.  In  sama',  the  wajid  is  the  loser ;  and  the  cause  of  the  loss  of  the 
hal  of  witnessing  is  the  appearance  of  the  qualities  of  wujud   (existence). 

The  qualities  of  wujud  are  :  — 

(a)  the  darkness  arising  from  lust,  the  veil  of  the  vain. 

{b)    „    luminousness  arising  from  the  heart,  „         „      verified. 

The  source  of  wajd  in  sama'  is  : — 

(a)  either  purely  sweet  melodies,  the  delight  whereof  is  shared  between  the  soul  and  the  heart 

of  the  verified  ;  and  between  the  soul  and  the  lust  of  the  vain. 

(b)  or  pure  melodies  (whereby  the  soul  alone  is  delighted)  wherein  the  listening  heart  maketh 

sama'  in  respect  to  the  verified,  and  the  nafs  in  respect  to  the  vain. 

For  freedom  from  the  veil  of  existence,  the  hal  of  witnessing  is  constant  and  the 
sama'  of  addresses  (of  God)  perpetual — to  "the  last  ones." 

The  sama'  of  melody  cannot  agitate  ;  for  agitation  by  assault  is  a  strange  state. 
The  hal  of  witnessing  and  the  sama'  of  addresses  (of  God)  appear  not  strange  to 
the  man  of  constant  witnessing  and  of  perpetual  sama',  and    therefore  by  them  he  is 
not  agitated. 

A  companion  of  Sahl  'Abdu-1-lah  saith  : — 

Years  in  Sahl's  society,  I  was ;  and  yet  I  never  saw  him  changed  by  hearing — 
the  zikr 
„    Kuran 
„     other  exercises 

until   at  the  close  of  his  life,  they  read  to  him  this  Kuranic  verse. 
"From  you,  sacrifice,  He  will  not  take  to  day," 

Suddenly  hal  turned  to  him ;  and  he  so  trembled  that  he  nearly  fell. 
I  asked  the  cause  ;  he  said  :  — 
Me,  weakness  hath  befallen. 


SAMA.  33 

He  became  changed  and  agitated.  Afterwards  Ibn  Salim  asked  him  of  his 
state. 

He  said  :— 

"  It  was  from  weakness." 

They  said  :— 

If  that  were  from  weakness,  what  is  power  ? 

He  said : — 

Power  is  that  when  naught  descendeth  on  a  person  but  by  the  power  of  hai,  he  suffereth  it ;  and 
by  it  changeth  not. 

Once,  Mumshad-i-Dinwarl  passed  a  place  where,  in  sama',  was  a  crowd  of  'the 
first  ones."     When  they  saw  him,  they  left  off. 

He  said : — 

Upon  your  state  ye  continue  intent,     if  all  the  musical  instruments  were  gathered  in  mv 
ear,  they  would  engage  naught  of  my  purpose  and  relieve  naught  of  my  pain. 

Whoever  hath  the  state  of  perpetual  witnessing,  his  state  in  sama'  is  even  as  it 
was  before  sama'. 

The  heart  that  is  ever  present  with  God,  and  rejecteth  sama', — understandeth 
from  every  sound  that  reacheth  him,  the  address  of  God. 

Then  is  his  sama'  not  restricted  to  man's  melodies  even  as  Abu  'Usman-i- 
Maghrib:  hath  said.  The  voice  within  himself  is  sama'  ;  of  the  external  ear  is  no 
need,  even  as  Hassr  hath  said  :^ 

Whose  sama'  is  constant,  ever  present  with  the  Hidden  is  he  in  heart;  and  ever  void  of  lusts'  tale 

is  the  ear  of  his  heart. 
He  heareth  sometimes  the  address  of  God;   sometimes  the  praise  of  the  atoms  of  existence; 

sometimes  from  the  inward  ;  and  sometimes  from  the  outward. 

Once  Shibli  heard  one  crying  in  the  bazar  of  Baghdad  :— 
Ten  '  j^  (khiyar,  cucumbers)  for  a  dang. 

He  cried  out : — 

When  ten  '  )^  (Khayyar,  good  men)  are  for  a  dang,  the  state  of  the  (worthless)  wicked 
is  what  ? 

Once  a  man  of  heart  (a  sufi)  heard  a  proclaimer  shouting  : — 
Sa'tarbari. 

He  fell  senseless.  When  to  sense  he  returned,  they  asked  him  the  cause.  He 
said  :— 

From  God,  I  heard— asa'tarbari. 


^.  SUFi.lSM. 

Of  the  Amiru-1-Muminin  (Ali)  it  is  said  that  once  he  heard  the  sound  of  a  conch. 
To  his  companions,  he  said  : — 

Know  ye  what  this  conch  saith  ? 

They  said : — 

Nay. 

He  said : — 

It  saith,  praise  be  to  God  !     O  God  !     O  God  !  verily  living  is  the  Eternal  Master 

'Abdu-r-Rahman-i-Sa!imi  says  : — 

Once  I  went  to  Abu  'Usman-i-Maghribi.     There,  with  an  ox,  they  were  drawing 
water  from  a  well. 

To  me,  Abu  'Usman  said  :— 
Knowest  thou  what  this  ox  saith  ? 

I  said  :— 

Nay. 

He  said : — 

He  saith— Allah !     Allah  ! 

Men  of  sama'  are  of  three  kinds  : — 

(a)  The  sons  of  truths.    These  in  sama'  hear  the  address  of  God  to  themselves. 

(6)  The  men  of  needs.    These  by  means  of  the  meanings  of  couplets  that  in  sama'  they 

hear  heartily  address  themselves  to  God ;  and,  in  whatever  they  ascribe  to  God,  are  in 

sincerity  of  purpose, 
(c)  The  lonely  fukara.     These  have  severed  all  worldly  ties  and  calamities.     In  goodness 

of  heart,  is  their  sama' ;  and  nearest  to  safety  (in  God)  they  are. 


The  rules  of  Sama'. 

V.  10. 
The  first  rule  of  sama'  is  that,  at  an  assembly  of  sama',  they  should  keep  foremost 
sincerity  of  resolution  and  seek  out  its  cause  : — 

(a)  If  it  be  lustful  desire,  shun  it. 

(b)  If  the  claim  of  sincerity,  of  desire,  and  of  search  for  the  increase  of  hal  afld  for  com- 

prehending the  blessing  (of  God)— be  united,  free  from  lust's  impurities,  the  grace 
of  such  an  assembly  (despite  the  absence  of  a  shaikh,  or  men  of  sama'  of  the  brothers 
of  concord,  and  of  sincere  seekers)  is  great  gain. 

If  it  be  not  free   from  the   impurities  of  lust, — it  is   necessary,  in  its  purification, 
to  bring  forward  subtleties  of  vision  and  graces  of  practice. 

If  the  cause  be  first  the  claim  of  sincerity  and  afterwards  lustful  desire,  it  is 
necessary  to  repair  the  injury  done  by  lust; — 
(a)  by  sincerity  of  penitence. 
{b)  „  seeking  aid  (of  God)  against  the  wickedness  of  lust. 

(c)  „   putting  forward  prayer.  I 


THE  RULES  OF  SAMA'.  ^c 

If  the  cause  be  first  lustful  desire  and  afterwards  good  resolution  for  reparation, 
— they  credit  the  former  desire,  not  the  succeeding  resolution  ;  and  shun  such  an 
assembly. 

If  sama'  comprehend  :— 
i.    prohibited  things  such  as 
(a)  the  morsel  of  tyrants, 
{b)    „    being  near  to  women, 
(c)     „     presence  of  beardless  youths, 

ii.  abhorred  objects  such  as  : — 

(a)  the  presence  of  one  who  as  a  zahid  hath  no  affinity  for  this  crowd ;  who  delighteth  not 

in  sama', 

(b)  the  possessor  of  rank  of  the  Lords  of  the  world  to  whom  it  is  necessary  to  be  respectful, 

(c)  the   presence  of  one,   who  falsely  revealeth  wajd;  and  to  those  present,  maketh 

time  perturbed  with  false  tawajud, 

it  is  necessary  for  true  seekers  to  shun  such  an  assembly. 

At  an  assembly  of  sama',  he  who  is  present  should  sit  with  respect  and  gravity  ; 
should  keep  restrained  the  parts  of  the  body  from  excess  of  motion,  especially  in  the 
presence  of  shaikhs ;  should  not  become  agitated  with  a  little  of  the  splendours  of  wajd ; 
should  not  affect  intoxication  with  a  little  taste  of  the  pure  wine  (of  love  for  God); 
nor  voluntarily  express  either  the  shahkat  (murmuring  noise)  or  the  za'k  (calling  out). 

If — let  us  flee  to  God  for  protection, — without  the  descending  of  wajd  and  of 
hal,  he  manifesteth  wajd  and  layeth  claim  to  hal, — it  is  verily  the  essence  of  hypo- 
crisy and  of  sin,  the  foulest  blameable  act,  and  the  most  disgraceful  of  states. 

In  the  time  of  Abu-1-Kasim  Nasr  Abadi  (who  was  a  companion  of  Shibli,  and 
renowned  in  knowledge  of  the  hadis),  the  shaikh  of  Khurasan  delighted  in  sama'. 

One    day    between    him  and  Abu  'Amr  bin  Najld   (who  was  a  murid  of  Aba 
'Usman-i-Hairi,  and  had  seen  Junid)  there  chanced  an  assembly  of  concord. 
Him,  on  account  of  his  exceeding  sama',  Abu  'Amr  reproached. 

Nasr  Abadi  said:  — 

Thus  it  is,  but  an  assembly,  whereat  one  is  a  speaker  in  lawful  song  and  the  rest  are  silent 

is  better  than  an  assembly  whereat  all  are  speakers  in  slander. 

Abu  'Amr  replied  : — 

O  Abu-UKasim  !  alas,  evil  is  motion  in  sama' ;  in  it,  is  this  and  this. 

The  explanation  of  'Amr's  reply  is  this,  that  the  error  of  sama'  comprehendeth 
many  errors  : — 

(a)  Falsely  slandering  the  Lord  of  the  world  (God).     Because  the  revealing  of  wajd  in  sama' 

referreth  to  the  mutawajid,  to  whom  God  hath  bestowed  a  special  gift. 
(6)  Deceiving  some  of  those  present  in  sama'  by  the  manifestation  of  false  lial.     Deceit  is 

treachery;  treachery  is  the  source  of  repulsion. 
(e)  Breaking  the  confidence  of  followers  of  the  men  of  rectitude.     Thus  is  cut  off  from  them 
the  aid  of  holy  men  (salih)  which  is  the  essence  of  sin. 

F  2 


36  SUFi.lSM. 

The  way  of  true  wajids  is  this  :— 

So  long  as  they  gain  not  fully  the  ardour  of  sama',  they  move  not  in  sama' ;  from  them, 
motion  issueth  only  when  they  cannot  restrain  it, — even  as  the  palsied  one  cannot  restrain 
himself  from  the  motion  of  palsy. 

Tawajud  is  this  : — 

When,  not  in  the  true  way  of  wajd  and  of  hal,  but  in  the  way  of  indulging  the  heart  and  bath- 
ing lust,  a  person  displayeth  a  weighed  motion  with  weighed  cadences, — so  that  nafs  (lust) 
becometh  rested  from  the  labour  of  deeds ;  and  the  heart  from  the  labour  of  deliberation. 

Thus,  the  heart  vainly  seeketh  aid  in  search  of  God. 

Although  in  the  shar',  dancing  may  be  among  the  lawful  pleasures,  it  is  with  the 
men  of  truths  and  the  Lords  of  grandeur vain. 

Yet  the  vain  thing  which  is  aid  to  the  search  for  God  is  the  essence  of  devotion. 
This  vain  is  verily  a  truth  in  the  garb  of  the  vain. 

The  mutawajid's  resolution  in  tawajud  is  possibly  a  portion  of  wajd,  so  that  (by 
its  blessing)  he  gaineth  a  portion  (of  good)  from  his  hal. 

Though  this  be  permissible  to  "  the  first  ones,"  it  is  unsuitable  for  the  hal  and  the 
office  of  shaikhs.  Because  their  hal  is  all,  outwardly  and  inwardly,  pure  truth,  wherein 
is  no  entrance  to  sport  and  pastime. 

From  them,  especially  in  the  presence  of  shaikhs,  should  not  voluntarily  issue 
the  za'k  (calling  out),  but  only  at  that  time  when  the  power  of  restraint  is  effaced. 
So  the  breather  whose  power  of  breathing  cometh  strait, — if  he  breathe  not,  his  heart 
consumeth. 

It  is  related  that  in  Junid's  service,  a  youth  used  to  display  assiduity  ;  and  in  sama'  to  make  the 
za'k.     One  day  Junid  forbade  him  saying  : — 

"If  after  this,  thou  restrain  not  thyself, — from  us  go  far." 

After  this,  in  sama'  the  youth  restrained  himself  from  za'k.  So,  from  the  root  of  every  hair 
flowed  the  sweat  of  restraint,  till  one  day  he  expressed  a  za'k,  and  at  the  same  time  his  life. 

The  condition  of  za'k  is— 

The  being  hidden  from  things  felt. 

In  the  best  tarik,  when  not  done  through  the  overwhelming  power  of  hal  and 
through  the  loss  of  the  power  of  repression,  unlawful  are  : — 
(a)  motion  in  sama'. 
(6)  the  voluntary  za'k. 
(c)    „        „  rending  of  one's  garment. 

These  are  the  pretensions  to  hal  without  the  truth  of  hal,  and  the  ruin  of  pro- 
perty. 

In  casting  the  khirka  to  the  singer,  there  should  be  advanced  an  intention  void  of 
hypocrisy  just  as  he  may  (in  support  of  wajd  and  of  exciting  desire)  wish  to  give 
ease  to  the  singer. 

The  khirka  (mantle)  that  passeth  from  the  possessor  of  sama'  to  the  singer  is  of 
two  kinds, ^ 

(a)  khirka-i-  sahiha  the  un-rent  khirka.  ( 

(b)        „       mumazzaka  „     rent  „ 


THE  KHIRKA.  „. 

The  rule  of  the  unrent  khirka  is  as  follows  : — 

(i)  If  the  wajid's  purpose  in  casting  off  the  khirka  and  bestowing  it  be  specially 

for  the  singer,  in  it,  others  have  no  concern, 
(ii)   If  his  purpose  be  not  special,  and  a  distinguished  one,  obedient  to  order,  be 

present,  he  may  give  it  to  the  singer,  or  to  another.     Over  him,  none  hath 

authority,  for  his  acts  are  from  vision, 
(iii)   If  those  present  at  the  sama'  be  all  brothers,  and  there  be  no  shaikh,  they  give 

the  khirka  to  the  singer ;  because  the  exciter  of  wajd  (which  is   the  cause 

of  casting  off  the  khirka)  is  his  song. 
Some  say : — 

(a)  The  khirka  belongeth  to  the  assembly;  because  the  source  of  wajd  is  not  only  the  singer's 
song  but  also  the  blessing  of  the  assembly. 

(J)  If  the  singer  be  outside  of  the  assembly,  he  is  with  all  a  sharer;  otherwise  he  is  portion- 
less. 

(c)  If  the  singer  be  for  hire,  he  is  portionless ;  otherwise  with  the  assembly  he  shareth. 

(d)  If  some  of  the  lovers  (of  God)  present  a  gift,  and  with  it,   those  present  are  satisfied, — 

every  one  may  go  after  his  khirka ;  and  the  gift  they  give  to  the  singer. 

(e)  If  in  casting  off  the  khirka  some  one  shall  have  resolved  not  again  to  go  after  his  khirka,— 

it,  they  give  to  the  singer. 

The  rule  of  the  rent  khirka  is — 

When  the  possessor  of  sama',  through  the  impetuosity  of  ha!  and  the  capture  of 
control,  rendeth  on  his  body  the  khirka, —  it,  they  divide  among  those  present  at  sama' 
whether  of  the  same,  or  of  diverse,  kind  (of  brotherhood). 

In  dealing  kindly  with  those  of  diverse  kind,  it  is  necessary  that  the  assembly 
should  hold  a  favourable  opinion  of  them  and  of  their  casting  off  the  khirka. 

If,  at  the  division,  be  present  one  who  at  the  time  of  sama'  was  absent,  to  him 
they  give  a  portion  (of  the  khirka). 

If  of  the  cast-off  khirkas  some  be  unrent  and  some  rent,  they  rend  (if  the  shaikh 
consider  it  fit)  the  unrent  khirkas  and  part  them  among  those  present. 

The  rending  of  the  khirka  and  the  parting  of  it  among  those  present  is  an  Hadis 
by  Anas  Ibn  Malik ;  but  in  it,  they  have  made  contrariety. 

If  by  this  hadis,  in  respect  of  the  sama'  of  (singing),  of  moving,  of  rending  gar- 
ments, and  of  parting  them  among  those  present, — the  truth  should  be  verified,  it  would 
to  the  sufi  be  the  best  document. 


The  Khirka  (Darvish  Mantle). 

V.   2. 

A  custom  of  the  sufis  is  the  putting  on  of  the  khirka,  which,  at  the  beginning  of 
their  sway  over  the  murids,  the  shaikhs  have  considered  laudable  ;  but  regarding 
which  they  have  received  no  order  from  the  sunnat  except  the  hadis  of  Umm-i-Kha- 
lid. 


«8  SUFi.lSM. 

It  is  related  "^hat  once  to  Muhammad  they  brought  some  raiment  in  the  midst 
whereof  was  a  small  black  blanket. 

Taking  it  up,  he  said  to  the  assembly : — 
Who  intendeth  putting  on  this  ? 

All  were  silent.     He  said  : — 
I  give  it  to  Umm-i-Khalid. 

They  called  Umm-i-Khalid ;  and  Muhammad  covered  her  with  it. 
On  that  blanket,  were  marks  (stripes)  yellow  and  red ;  at  them  Muhammad  look' 
ed  and  said  :— 

O  Umm-i-Khalid  !  this  is  admirable  (which  is  the  hadis). 

In  the  arranging  of  the  garment  of  the  khirka,  which  is  the  sufi-way,  clinging 
to  this  hadis, — is  far. 

Although  from  the  sunnat  is  no  clear  command,  since  the  khirlja  is  surety  for  be- 
nefits and  not  an  obstacle  to  the  sunnat,  it  is  laudable. 

The  following  of  the  excellences  of  the  Path  is  lawful ;  the  excellences  are : — 

(a)  The  changing  of  custom  and  the  turning  from  natural  things  and  sensual  delights. 

For,  as  in  eatables,  potables,  and  spouses  lust  hath  delight — in  garments  also,  it  delighteth 
The  putting  on  of  a  garment,  which  hath  become  lust's  custom,  and  in  the  particular  form 

whereof  it  resteth — in  it,  doubtless  lust  delighteth. 
Then  is  the  change  of  garment,  the  change  of  custom  which  is  the  essence  of  worship,  as 

in  the  Hadis. 

(b)  The  repelling  of  the  society  of  contemporaries  in  sin  and  of  shaitans  of  mankind,  who  (by 

resemblance  in  form)  incline  to  the  other  (good)  society. 
When  a  change  of  garment  and  an  alteration  of  form  appeareth  in  the  murid,  his  equals 
and  associates  depart  from  him. 

For  the  khirka  is  the  shadow  of  the  shaikh's  love  and  frighteneth  shaitan  from  the 
shadow  of  men  of  love  as  is  in  the  Hadis. 

For  the  murid,  society  of  the  good  is  necessary,  that  from   them,  he  may  take  the  co- 
lour of  goodness. 

Separation  from  the  wicked  is  the  condition  of  acceptance  of  the  society  of  the  good. 

Even  so  the  indigo-stained  raiment  taketh   no  colour  till  after  the  removing  of  the  in- 
digo. 

(c)  The  revealing  of  the  shaikh's  sway  in  the  murid's  heart— by  reason  of  his  sway  outwardly, 

which  is  the  mark  of  inward  sway. 
So  long  as  the  murid's  interior  becometh  not  worthy  of  the  shaikh's  sway,  and  the  murid 
considereth  him  not  perfect  and  one  of  consummate  excellence — he  becometh  not  out- 
wardly obedient  to  the  shaikh. 
(dj  The  good  news  to  the  murid  is  his  acceptance  by  God.     Because  the  putting  on  of  the 
khirka  is  the  mark  of  the  shaikh's  acceptance,  which  is  the  mark  of  God's  acceptance. 
By  putting  on  the  khirka  by  the  shaikh  possessed  of  love,  the  murid  knoweth  that  God 
hath  accepted  him ;  and  his  being  united  to  the  shaikh  (by  the  bond  of  sincerity,  of 
desire,  and  of  acceptance)  becometh  a  mirror  wherein  he  seeth  the  beauty  of  his  end. 


THE  COLOUR  OF  THE  KHIRKA.  „q 

Thebeingunited  with  shaikhs  is  the  result  of  the  acquaintance  of  his  soul  with  the  shaiklj's 
soul  which  is  the  mark  of  kSnship,  as  in  the  hadis. 

Even  so  the  murid's  putting  on  of  the  khirka  (Ijy  the  shaikh  possessed  of  understand- 
ing) signifieth  the  murid's  desire  for  the  shaikh,  and  the  shaikh's  love  for  the  murld. 

The  exalted  states  (hal)  are  the  result  of  these  two  meanings  (c  and  d)  being  wedded. 


The  ^irka  is  of  two  kinds  :^ 

(a)  the  khirka  of  desire. 

(b)  „        „       „  blessing. 

The  khirka  of  desire — 

When  the  shaikh  (with  the  penetration  of  the  light  of  vision  and  with  intelli- 
gence) looketh  into  the  midst  of  the  murid's  state,  and  beholdeth  the  sincerity  of  his 
desire  for  God,  he  indueth  him  with  this  khirka,  so  that  he  may  become  his  ^iver  of 
glad  tidings ;  and  that  the  eye  of  his  heart  may  become  luminous  by  the  blowing  of 
the  breeze  of  God's  guidance,  whereof  the  khirka  is  the  bearer. 

So  did  Ya'kub's  eye,  by  the  breeze  of  Yusuf's  shirt,  see. 

The  khirka  of  blessing — 

This  khirka  is  presented  to  him  who  with  the  shaikhs  hath  a  good  report. 

That  one  who,  through  good  opinion  and  resolVe  for  blessing  by  the  khirka  of 
shaikhs,  desireth  this  khirka,  and  is  a  seeker  of  the  conditions  of  men  of  desire  and 
of  putting  oft  the  garment  of  his  own  desire  for  the  shaikh's  desire, — him,  as  regards 
two  matters,  they  order  : — 

(a)  attendance  to  the  orders  of  the  shariJit. 

(b)  the  protection  of  the  men  of  tarikat,  by  whose  protection,  he  may  gain  kinship,  and  become 

worthy  of  the  khirka  of  desire,  which  is  forbidden  save  to  the  man  of  desire  and  to  the 
Lords  of  sincerity  of  resolution. 

To  these  two,  some  add  the  khirka  of  holiness : — 

When  the  shaikh  seeth  in  the  murid  the  effects  of  holiness  and  the  marks  of  acquisition  to  the 
degree  of  excellence  and  instruction;  and  wisheth  to  appoint  him  his  own  khalifa,— he 
clotheth  him  with  the  khil'at  of  holiness,  and  with  the  honour  of  his  own  favour,  whereby 
may  be  effected  the  penetrating  of  his  order  and  the  obeying  of  the  people. 


The  choice  of  the  coloured  khirka. 

V.  3- 
The  choice  of  the  coloured  khirka  (for  amending  the  defilements,  and  for  evacuat- 
ing man's  heart  of  deeds  and  of  contemplation)  is  (through  solicitude  for  the  care 
of  the  white  garment  and  through  being  engaged  in  its  cleansing)  of  the  number  of 
laudable  deeds  of  shaikhs. 

The  sunnat  is  for  the  choosing  of  the  white  garment,  and,  in  the  opinion  of  sufis, 
this  choosing  is  proved.  But  for  those,  whose  times  are  immersed  in  devotion, 
the  washing  of  the  white  garment  occupieth  too  much  time. 


.Q  SUFi.lSM. 

The  coloured  garment  is  best ;  because  the  excellence  of  nawafil  is  greater  than 
the  excellence  of  garments. 

Whenever  the  beginning  of  an  excellence  is  the  cause  of  abandoning  the  most 
excellent, — the  abandoning  of  that  excellence  is  excellence. 

Blue  colour  is  the  choice  of  the  sufis  despite  that  black  is  better  against  defile- 
ments.    The  sufi  putteth  on  the  garment  with  that  colour  suitable  to  his  hal. 

Black  is  fit  for  him  who  is  sunk  in  the  darkness  of  lust,  and  whose  times  are  sur- 
rounded with  darkness. 

Not  thus  is  the  hal  of  the  man  of  desire ;  because  by  the  ray  of  the  light  of  desire, 
the  darkness  of  existence  is  trampled  upon. 

For  them,  the  black  garment  is  unfit,  and  since  they  have  not  wholly  gained 
freedom  from  lust,  the  white  garment  is  also  unfit;  for  them  is  fit  the  blue  garment, 
which  is  a  mixture  of  light  and  darkness,  of  pureness  and  foulness. 

In  the  flame  of  the  candle  are  two  portions— one  pure  light,  the  other  pure  dark- 
ness.    Their  place  of  union  appeareth  blue. 

The  white  garment  is  fit  for  shaikhs  that  may  have  gained  freedom  from  lust 
(nafs). 

These  aspects  are  only  approximate. 


The  men  of  this  Path  are  of  three  kinds : — 

(a)  mubtadiyan  (the  first  ones)  whose  state  is  the  abandoning  of  will  to  the  shaikh;  and  with 

whom  naught  of  garments,  of  goods  and  of  other  things  is  lawful  save  by  the  shaikh's 

desire. 
(A)  rautawassitan  (the  middle  ones),  whose  state  is  the  abandoning  of  will  to  God;  and  who 

have  no  will  as  to  special  raiment;  as  occasion  demandeth  they  submit, 
(c)  muntahiyan  (the  end  ones),  who,  by  God's  will,  are  absolute.     What  they  choose  is  God's 

will. 

When  the  true  murid  entrusteth  the  rein  of  his  will  to  the  shaikh,  perfect  posses- 
sor of  vision  ;  and  to  him  becometh  submissive, — the  shaikh  withdraweth  him  from 
natural  habits  and  sensual  affections,  and  directeth  him  in  all  affairs  of  faith  and  of 
religion. 

If  he  see  that  for  a  special  garment  the  murld  thirsteth  and  desireth, — from  it  he 
bringeth  him  forth  ;  and  clotheth  him  with  another  garment. 

If  he  see  that  his  inclination  is  for  splendid  and  soft  raiment,  he  putteth  on  him 
the  coarse  grass  khirka;  if  he  see  that  his  inclination  is  for  the  coarse  grass  khirka 
for  the  sake  of  hypocrisy  and  pretension,  he  clotheth  him  with  soft  silk  raiment;  if  he 
see  that  he  desireth  a  special  colour  or  form, — it,  ho  forbiddeth. 

Even  so  in  all  his  circumstances. 

The  choice  of  the  colour  and  of  the  form  of  the  murid's  garment  dependeth  upon 
the  shaikh's  vision  ;  and  that  dependeth  on  the  good  counsel  of  the  time. 

Some  shaikh's  have  not  ordered  the  murids  change  of  raiment;  their  vision  hath 
been  intent  upon  concealing  the  hal,  and  upon  abandoning  its  manifestation. 


KMILVAI.  ^j 

Shaikhs  are  like  to  physicians  ;  and  of  murids  many  are  the  diseases,  each  one 
of  a  kind  that  shaikhs  have  known,  and  that  they  have  applied  the  remedy  to. 

Their  directions  are  on  counsel  and  on  rectitude  ;  and  the  foundation  of  the  path 
of  salvation  and  prosperity.  

Khilvat  (retirement). 

V.  6. 
Keeping   khilvat    (retirement)   in  the  way  of  the   sufIs  is    an    innovation.     In 
Muhammad's  time,  the  sunnat  was  naught  save  suhbat   (society)  ;  and  its  excellence 
excelleth  other  excellences. 

Thus,  by  suhbat  they  have  described  the  sahaba  and  by  no  other  description  ; 
and  outside  the  society  of  Muhammad,  their  description  is  naught,  because  their  souls 
were,  by  the  grandeur  of  prophecy,  described  with  rest,  and,  by  the  light  of  integrity 
encompassed  with  purity ;  hearts,  were  void  of  love  for  the  world  and  solaced  by 
the  vision  of  the  beauty  of  certainty,  and  filled  with  love  for  God,  with  affection,  with 
purity,  and  with  fidelity. 

When  the  sun  of  prophecy  became  hidden,  the  souls  of  the  companions  came 
gradually  into  motion  ;  opposition  became  manifest ;  and  in  time  reached  a  place 
where  suhbat  (society)  became  overwhelmed,  and  khilvat  (retirement),  pleasant  and 
beloved. 

For  the  safety  of  faith,  the  seekers  of  God  sought  the  sauma'  a  (convent) 
and  khilvat,  as  Junid  hath  said. 

Though  in  the  time  of  the  sending  of  the  sunnat,  was  no  khilvat,  yet  before  that 
time,  Muhammad,  through  exceeding  love  for  God,  and  sincerity  of  desire — held 
esteemed  khilvat ;  used  to  go  to  the  caves  of  Hara ;  and  there  used  to  pass  nights  in 
zikr  and  in  devotion. 

In  the  choice  of  khilvat,  the  tradition  is  firmly  held  by  the  sufis ;  but  the  appoint- 
ing of  forty  days  is  from  a  tradition  from  Muhammad  and  from  God's  word. 

With  Musa,  God  promised  to  speak  ;  and  appointed  a  place  of  meeting  and 
a  stated  time. 

God  said  :— "  Keep  fast  thirty  days  and  nights."  Ten  days  more,  He  afterwards 
added. 

During  that  time  Musa  consumed  neither  food  nor  drink;  he  was  engaged  in 
worshipping  God  ;  and  for  talking  with  Him  became  prepared. 

Since,  for  propinquity  to  God  and  for  talk  with  Him,  Musa  had  need  of  khilvat, 
—so  have  others. 

Even  so  in  the  case  of  Muhammad — 
his  being  cut  off  from  suhbat. 
„   retiring  (to  talk)  with  God. 
„  separating  himself  from  the  people. 
,,  reducing  his  daily  food. 

„  constant  zikr  in  desire's  path  in  the  beginning  of  divine  impressions. 
are  further  proofs. 


42  SUFi.lSM. 

Thus  for  the  seekers  of  God,  acceptable  is  the  obligation  (of  khilvat)  and  indeed, 
wajib  (necessary). 

The  source  whence  the  shari'at  fixed  the  appointed  time  (forty  days)  is  obscure; 
and  knowledge  of  it  difficult  save  by  the  prophets,  by  the  special  ones,  and  by  the  holy 
ones. 

In  the  'Awarifu-l-Ma'arif  the  Shaikhu-1-Islam  saith  : — 

"When  God  wished  to  appoint  Adam  to  Hisown  khiiafat,  and  to  make  him  architect  of  this 
world  after  he  had,  by  his  existence,  made  paradise  prosperous, — He  gave  to  him  a 
composition  of  elements  of  earth,  fit  for  this  world  ;  and  for  forty  mornings  made  them 
ferment. 

Every  morning  signifieth  the  existence  of  a  quality  that  becometh  the  cause  of  his  attachment 

to  this  world ;  and  every  attachment  became  his   veil  against  beholding  the  glory  of 

kidam  (eternity). 
Every  veil  is  the  cause  of  farness  from  the   hidden   world;    every  farness,   the  cause  of 

nearness  to  the  material  world  till  that  time  when  the  veil  becometh  heaped  up,  and  this 

world's  fitness,  complete  in  Adam. 

In  the  establishing  of  forty  mornings  with  sincerity  (which  is  the  condition  of 
khilvat)  its  hikmat  (philosophy)  is  :— 

For  every  morning  (of  khilvat),  a  veil  should  lift  and  a  nearness  (to  God)  appear,  so  that  in 
forty  mornings,  the  forty-fold  veil  should  lift,  and  refined  human  nature,  from  farness  to 
the  native  land  of  nearness  to  God  (the  summation  of  beauty  and  of  glory;  the  essence 
of  'ilm,  and  of  ma'rifat)  return  ;  and, for  it,  the  vision  of  the  grandeur  of  eternity  without 
beginning  should  be  verified  and  painted;  the  sight  of  its  resolution,  from  inclination 
to  the  world's  impurity,  be  preserved;  and  the  fountain  of  hikmat  go  running  from  its 
heart  and  on  its  tongue. 

The  mark  of  khilvat  is  — 

The  preservation  of  the  condition  of  that  revelation  of  hikmat. 

The  revelation  of  hikmat  is  in— 

The  proof  of  the  lifting  of  the  veil  and  the  doubtless  manifestations. 

Khilvat  is  like  unto  a  smith's  forge  whereon  by  the  fire  of  austerity,  lust 
becometh  fused,  pure  of  nature's  pollution  delicate,  and  gleaming  like  unto  a  mirror; 
and  without  (beyond,  through)  it,  appeareth  the  form  of  the  hidden  ;  and  is  a  collection 
of  contrarieties  of  nafs  (lust)  and  accustomed  austerities: — 

Little  eating. 
„      talking. 
Shunning  the  society  of  man. 
Perseverance  in  zikr. 
Denying  thoughts. 
Constant  murakiba  (fearful  contemplation). 

The  meaning  of  e:--«=Li.j  (austerity)  is  the  abandoning  of  desire  and  of  the  requi- 
sites of  effort.  I 


CONDITIONS  OF  KHILVAT.  43 

The  Conditions  of  Khilvat. 

V.  7- 
In  the  opinion  of  the  sufis,  khilvat  is  not  restricted  to  forty  days.     The  being 
severed  from  the  people  and  the  being  engaged  with  God  is  a  desired  matter,  the  dur- 
ation whereof  is  for  life. 

The  advantage  of  appointing  forty  days  is  that,  on  the  completing  of  this  period, 
the  manifestation  begins  to  appear. 

If  to  a  person  who  to  life's  end  keepeth  his  time  engaged  In  devotion  to  God, 
and  in  freedom  from  the  people,  that  manifestation  appeareth,— beyond  it,  is  no 
greater  favour. 

If  this  bounty  of  God  be  not  his,  it  is  necessary  for  him  at  certain  periods  to  prac- 
tise khilvat. 

At  least  once  a  year,  he  should  sit  in  khilvat,  so  that  when,  for  forty  days  and 
nights,  he  shall  have  accustomed  his  nafs — 

to  the  preservation  of  times  ;  to  the  observance  of  readings  (of  the  Kuran)  and  of  rules, 

he  may  be  expectant  that  the  order  will  not  be  extended  to  his  former  mixing 
with  people;  that,  in  God's  protection,  his  khilvat  may  be;  and  that  his  khilvat 
may  be  the  aider  of  the  structure  of  the  times  of  glory. 

Only  in  the  preservation  of  its  conditions,  appeareth  the  advantage  of  khilvat. 

Who  resolveth  upon  khilvat  must  purify  his  intention  from  the  pollution  of  desire 
for  the  objects  of  this  world  ;  and  of  prayers  for  (his  welfare  in)  the  next  world. 

According  to  intention  is  the  reward  of  deeds.  As  intention  is  better  than  the 
deed,  more  full  is  its  reward. 

No  object  is  better  than  propinquity  to  God ;  whatever  is  exterior  to  Him  is  call- 
ed the  indigo  of  hudus  (calamity),  and  is  directed  by  the  disgrace  of  fana  (effacement). 

In  the  heart's  purification,  inclination  to  the  polluted  is  the  essence  of  pollution  ; 
■  propinquity  thereto,  especially  impure. 

Who  hath  desire  for  that  exterior  to  God,  great  and  glorious  of  both  worlds,  is 
polluted  ;  from  that  pollution,  purification  is  necessary  for  approach  to  the  holy  God, 
and  for  fitness  of  prayer  to  Him. 

His  intention  should  be  restricted  to  propinquity  to  God  by  practising  worship; 
and  far  from  desire  : — 

for  rank,  for  hypocrisy,  for  the  revelation  of  miracles,  and  for  the  explanation  of  the  verses  of 
power  (the  Kuran), 

02 


44  suFi.iSM. 

If  to  that  crowd — whose  desire  from  khilvat  and  austerity  is  the  revelation  of 
miracles  and  not  propinquity  to  God, — something  of  that  desired  be  revealed,  it  is  the 
essence  of  deceit,  and  the  cause  of  farness,  of  folly,  and  of  pride. 

In  the  purifying  of  the  interior,  in  the  cleansing  of  the  heart,  in  affecting  nafs, 
— freedom  from  occupations,  reduction  of  food,  and  continuity  of  zikr  have  perfect 
effect. 

When  by  khilvat,  his  interior  becometh  luminous  and  the  outward  form  of  some 
un-attainable  knowledge  appeareth  ;  and  true  thoughts  appear  to  him  and  over  his 
nafs  gain  sway, — the  seeker  of  miracles  thinketh  that  that  is  the  lofty  and  far  object 
of  khilvat;  and  by  the  exalting  of  wicked  shaitan  becometh  proud;  and  contemptu- 
ously glanceth  at  others — (let  us  flee  to  God  for  refuge). 

Possibly  out  from  his  heart,  he  bindeth  up  the  chattels  of  the  shari'at  and  of  pro- 
phecy;  considereth  not  the  abandoning  of  laws,  of  orders,  and  of  the  lawful  and  un- 
lawful— so  by  the  path  of  retrogression,  he  becometh  cast  out  from  the  highway  of 
the  shar'  and  from  the  path  of  Islam. 

If,  to  one  who  is  in  intention  pure,  the  manifestation  of  miracles  falleth,  it  be- 
cometh the  cause  of  the  power  of  certainty  and  of  the  confirmation  of  resolve. 

The  condition  of  sincerity  being  observed,  it  is  necessary  that,  out  from  the  bond 
of  debt, 

by  cancelling  tryranny;  by  making  right  (apologising  for)  calumny;  by  removing  enmity 
hate,  malice,— 

he  should  come  ;  and  pure  to  all  make  his  heart. 

If,  in  his  property,  there  be  something  whereto  his  heart  clingeth, — it,  from  his 
property  he  should  expel. 

If  he  be  possessed  of  property  in  respect  to  family  he  performeth  (so  that  out- 
wardly and  inwardly  he  may  be  free  and  pure)  complete  washing  ;  exerciseth  care  as 
to  the  cleansing  of  raiment  and  of  the  prayer-mat ;  and  chooseth  for  his  khilvat  a  place 
where,  from  occupations,  he  may  be  free. 

When  he  reacheth  the  door  of  khilvat,  he  saith  :— 

O  God  !  by  the  right  ingress,  let  me  enter ;  by  the  right  egress,  let  me  pass  out.     By  Thy 
grace,  me  make  a  conquering  king. 

When  to  the  prayer-mat  he  wisheth  to  go,  he  first  advanceth  the  right  leg  and 
saith  : — 

In  the  name  of  God ;  by  the  grace  of  God  ;  praise  be  to  God,  and  peace  and  blessing  be  on 

the  prophet  of  God  ! 
O  God  !  my  sins  pardon ;  open  me  the  door  of  mercy. 

Then,  with  the  desire  of  the  presence  of  God,  he  performeth  two  rak'ats  of  prayer 
with  khushu' ;  and  with  khuzu'  (humility  of  the  heart  and  of  the  limbs). 


CONDITIONS  OF  KHILVAT.  ^e 

In  the  first  rak'at,  after  the  fatiha,  he  saith  : — 

O  God  of  ours  !  on  Thee  is  our  reliance ;  in  Thee,  be  our  refuge;  in  Thee,  our  shelter. 

Then,  with  sincerity  and  humility,  he  asketh  pardon  for  all  his  sins.  To  God,  he 
displayeth  in  his  heart  penitence  for  turning  to  that  exterior  to  Him. 

Before  the  kibla  he  sitteth  ;  and  as  long  as  he  can,  is  in  "  tashahhud."  * 
With  himself  he  reflecteth  that  God  is  present,  also  the  Prophet  of  God,  so  that 
he  may  be  bound  with  the  bond  of  reverence,  and  is  ever  wishing  within  that  he  may, 
outwardly  and  inwardly,  offer  himself  in  devotion  and  in  praise,  and  in  the  raiment  of 
concordance  with  divine  decrees. 

Thus,  may  he  become  the  meeting-place  of  divine  breathings,  ready  for  the  des- 
cending of  boundless  bounty. 

In  khilvat,  after  the  purifying  of  resolution,  penitence,  and  continuity  of  employ- 
ment with  God,  he  must  observe  seven  conditions  : — 

i.  Constant  ablution. 

When  he  seeth  in  himself  lassitude,  he  should  renew  ablution,  so  that  in  his  in- 
terior the  light  of  outward  purity  may  be  brightened,  and  be  the  aider  of  the  heart's- 
luminosities. 

ii.  Constant  fasting. 

Ever  should  he  be  in  fast,  so  that  the  blessing  of  the  sunnat  may  comprehend  his 
times. 

iii.  Little  eating. 

At  breakfast,  the  quantity  of  food  should  be  not  more  than  a  ritl.  If  he  restrict 
as  to  bread  and  salt,  'tis  well. 

If  to  relish  (that  is  in  the  place  of  food)  he  stretcheth  his  hand,  to  its  extent,  he 
should  reduce  the  bread.  If  he  begin  with  a  ritl,  he  should  in  the  last  tenth  (of  the 
period  of  forty  days)  reduce  to  half  a  ritl.  If  he  be  strong  and  begin  with  half  a  ritl 
he  should  reduce  to  quarter  of  a  ritl. 

The  companions  of  khilvat  are  of  three  kinds  :— 

the  strong  ones. 
„   middle    „ 
„   weak       „ 

The  weak  break  their  fast  every  night;  the  middle  every  two  nights  ;  and  the 
strong  every  three  nights. 

He  may  devour  all  on  the  first,  or  on  the  last,  night;  or  some  on  the  first  night 
and  some  on  the  last  night. 

*  1  profess  that  there  is  no  God  but  God ;  I  acknowledge  Muhammad  to  be  the  apostle  of  God. 


^.6  SUFl.iSM. 

The  last  division  is  the  best,  so  that  he  may  have  power— 

(a)  for  devotion. 

(b)  „     standing  up  for  the  midnight  prayers. 

In  reducing  the  clayey  parts — the  source  of  pollution,  of  darkness,  of  coarseness 
— scantiness  of  food  is  wholly  effective, 

iv.   Little  sleep. 

So  long  as  he  is  able  he  should  not  sleep.  If  sleep  be  overpowering,  he  should 
repel  it  by  renewing  ablut'ion,  or  by  reading  the  Kuran.  If  it  cannot  be  repelled  and 
involuntarily  sleep  seizeth  him,  he  should  (when  he  returneth  from  sleep)  renew 
ablution  and  be  engaged  in  prayer. 

Every  sleep  that  is  of  necessity  is  the  essence  of  devotion  when  thereby  is 
attainable  the  repelling  of  lassitude  of  the  senses  and  of  nafs  (which  are  the  cause  of 
weariness  of  the  soul  of  devotion  and  of  the  delight  of  worship). 

By  sleep,  the  purity  of  the  senses  and  the  expansion  of  the  interior  (which  are 
the  cause  of  wajd  of  the  soul)  return  to  him.    Then,  are  his  times  immersed  in  devotion. 

In  putting  lust  to  death  and  in  keeping  the  heart  alive, — ever  keeping  awake  is 
profitable  by  loosening  the  humours  of  the  body,  by  weakening  the  points  of  forgetful- 
ness,  of  sins,  of  ignorance,  and  of  carelessness. 

V,  Little  talking. 

He  should  ever  guard  his  tongue  from  talking  with  people. 

The  sage  practiseth  silence  though  no  calamity  he  expecteth. 

Whether  the  speech  be  beautiful  or  ugly,  it  is  not  void  of  calamity.  For  so  long 
as  to  perfect  purification  it  shall  not  have  reached,  nafs  hath  in  the  revealing  of  beauti- 
ful speech  a  delight,  wherefrom  is  expected  the  revealing  of  the  qualities  of  pride  and 
the  thickening  of  the  veil.     Doubtless,  ugly  speech  is  followed  by  punishment. 

Save  by  silence,  not  attainable  is  the  path  of  safety. 

In  the  tale  of  Maryam  and  of  'Isa,  God  maketh  Maryam's  silence  the  fore-runner 
of  'isa's  speech.  Even  so  the  I'sa  of  the  heart  cometh  into  speech  when  the  Maryam 
of  nafs  is  silent  of  talk. 

vi.  The  negation  of  thoughts. 

By  zikr  and  by  the  occupation  of  the  heart  in  contemplation  of  the  divine  as- 
pect, he  should  repel  the  crowd  of  thoughts. 

Excellent  though  the  penetration  of  some  thoughts  is,  discrimination  of  thoughts 
occurreth  not  to  beginners.  Then,  the  being  engaged  in  thought  is  for  him  the  way 
of  the  hadisu-n-nafs  ;  and  to  him  is  formidable. 

The  meaning  of  hadisu-n-nafs  is  this : — The  nafs  of  man,  by  its  connection  with 
the  ruh  (soul)  of  speech,  is  innate  in  the  qualities  of  speech  ;  and  is  ever  expectant 
of  the  opportunity  of  converse  with  the  heart  which  is  its  beloved. 


CONDITIONS  OF   KHILVAT.  .- 

Whenever  nafs  seeth  the  heart  inclined  to  itself,  and  findeth  its  ears  void  of  other 
sayings,  immediately  with  the  heart,  it  cometh  into  speech  ;  and  to  it,  by  way  of  re- 
membrance, confirmeth  past  matters  of  things  spoken,  heard,  seen,  tasted  touched  ■ 
or  giveth  future  news  of  hope  ;  and  keepeth  engaged  the  ear  of  the  heart  with  hear- 
ing its  own  speech  rather  than  with  hearing  the  speech  of  the  soul  and  of  God so 

that  the  heart  may  ever  be  before  it,  and  averse  to  aught  save  nafs. 

When  the  possessor  of  khilvat  persevereth  in  the  heart  as  to  negation  of  thouo-hts 
and  as  to  the  confirmation  of  tauhid, — the  source  of  hadisu-n-nafs  berometh  effaced  • 
nafs,  silent ;  the  ear  of  the  heart,  void  of  its  saying,  and  ready  for  the  hearino-  of  divine 
words. 

vii.  The  perpetuality  of  deeds. 

Outwardly  and  inwardly,  he  should  keep  himself  arrayed  in  the  garb  of  devotion. 
Every  moment  in  a  work  which  at  that  time  is  most  important  and  best,  he  should 
be  engaged.  Thus  who  is  "a  first  one"  should  limit  himself  to  divine  precepts,  and 
to  the  sunnat  of  prayer;  and  at  other  times  to  zikr. 

Out  of  all  the  azkar  (zikrs)  the  shaikhs  have  chosen  :^ 
La  ilaha  ilia  llah  (no  god  but  God). 

because  its  form  is  formed  of  negation  and  of  affirmation,  so  that  at  the  time  of 
the  flowing  of  this  speech  on  his  tongue,  the  zakir  is  present  (alive  to  God)  and  pre- 
serveth  conformity  between  the  heart  and  the  tongue. 

As  to  negation,  he  regardeth  the  existence  of  hadis  wholly  'with  the  glance  of 
fana  ;  as  to  affirmation,  the  existence  of  kadim  with  the  eye  of  baka. 

By  repeating  this  creed  (La  ilaha,  &c.,  &c.)  the  form  of  tauhidr  eposeth  in  his 
heart;  its  root  is  established  in  his  heart,  its  branches  are  extended  to  the  soul. 

At  this  time,  zikr  becometh  the  necessary  quality  of  the  heart  ;  its  aid  is  conti- 
nuous. To  it,  at  times  of  lassitude,  Ihe  zikr  of  the  tongue  of  languor  findeth  no  patli  ; 
after  that,  it  reacheth  a  place  where  zikr  becometh  enjewelled  in  the  heart. 

The  zakir  in  zikr  ;  the  zikr  in  the  heart ;  the  heart  in  mazkur  (the  origin  of  zikr, 
God)  become  effaced. 

At  this  stage,  if  the  form  of  the  phrase  of  tauliid  (which  is  the  meaning  of  zikr) 
become  effaced  from  the  outward  face  of  the  heart,  to  the  inward  face  of  the  heart  its 
truth  is  joined.     The  meaning  of  this  is  hal. 

Zikr,  zakir  and  mazkur  are  one. 

But  for  the  "  middle  one  "  assiduity  in  the  reciting  of  the  Kuran  after  the  perform- 
ance of  divine  precepts  is  best. 

Verily  that  speciality  (that  to  "the  first  one"  from  assiduity  in  zikr  appcareth) 
becometh  acquired  from  reading  the  Kuran  with  other  specialities  as 


>8  SUFi.lSM. 

the  CTlory  of  the  qualities  (of  God),  the  various  spiritual  truths,  the  subtleties  of 

understanding  and   the  truths  of  knowledge, by    readings    of    various    Kuranic 

verses. 

To   "the  last  one,"  to  whom  the  light  of  zikr  may  have  become  his  innate  qua- 
lity,— excellent,  is  the  reading  (of  the  Kuran)  ;  and  perfect,  the  act  of  prayer  (salat). 
Because  this  form  of  prayer  is  a  devotion  completely  comprehending,  wherein  are 
comprehended  :^ 
zikr. 

tilawat  reading. 

khushu'  humility  (of  the  limbsV 
khuzu'         „         (     „        heart). 

As  long  as  nafs  is  in  obedience, — in  it,  is  concordance  with  the  heart. 

The  aid  of  the  soul  of  propinquity,  the  proclaiming,  the  delight  of  society,  and 
the  need  of  forms  of  prayer  become  joined  to  the  prayer-mat. 

In  it,  perseverance  is  best. 

If  on  account  of  it,  an  abhorrence  should  appear  in  nafs,  the  descending  from  pray- 
ing to  reading  is  best  ;  for  reading  in  comparison  with  praying  is  easy. 

If  reading  end  in  weariness,  the  descending  from  it  to  zikr  is  best. 

For  perseverance  in  respect  to  zikr  merely,  and  the  repeating  of  light  phrase  is 
easier  to  nafs  than  the  preservation  of  words    weighty  and  of  varied  signification. 

If  languor  fall  upon  the  zikr  of  the  tongue, — best  is  assiduity  in  zikr  of  the  heart 
—which  they  call  murakaba  (fearful  contemplation),  that  is,  considering  the  manifesta- 
tions of  God — in  respect  to  his  own  state. 

If  as  to  murakaba  languor  chance,  he  may  rest  awhile  his  limbs  and  senses  ;  and 
in  sleep  give  ease. 

Thus  from  nafs,  fatigue  may  depart ;  and,  again  with  pleasure,  he  may  advance 
to  deeds. 

Verily  it  is  unfit  that,  with  detestation  and  compulsion,  he  should  engage  nafs  in 
a  work  (whereby  it  may  be  vexed  and  the  power  whereof  it  hardly  hath). 

The  possessor  of  khilwat  should  devote  all  his  time  to  these  readings,  so  that  the 
path  of  hidden  events  may  be  disclosed. 


The  dreams  of  the  men  of  Khilvat. 

V.  8. 
In  the  midst  of  zikr,  it  sometimes  happens  to  men  of  khilvat  that,  from  things 
felt  (this  world)  they  become  concealed  (in  unconsciousness);  and  that  to  them  become 
revealed,  as  to  the  sleeper  truths  of  hidden  matters.     It,  the  sufis  call  wakj'a  (dream). 


DREAMS  OF  MEN  OF  KHILVAT.  ^g 

Sometimes  this  (revelation  of  truths)  appeareth  in  the  state  of  being  present  (in  con- 
sciousness) without  being  absent  (in  unconsciousness). 

Often  the  waki'a  is  like  to  nawm  ;  of  waki'a  and  manamat  some  are  true  and 
some  false. 

In  most  wakai'  and  manamat,  nafs  is  partner  with  the  ruh  (soul)  ;   and  in  some 
absolute  (alone).    Truth  is  the  quality  of  ruh,  and  falsehood  of  nafs. 

Mukashafa  is  never  false  ;  it  signifieth  oneness  of  soul  by  contemplating  mysteries 
in  the  state  of  freedom  from  the  gloomy  thoughts  of  the  body. 


Waki'a  and  manam  are  divided  into  three  parts  :  — 
I.  Free  revelation  (kashf). 

Thus,  with  the  eye  of  the  free  soul,  by  the  imagination,  a  person,  in  sleep  (khwab)  or  in 

waki'a  (dream)  contemplateth  the  state  of  things  which  is  yet  in  the  hidden. 
After  that,  even  as  he  may  have  seen,  it  happeneth  in  the  material  world.    But  to  the  beholder 

it  hath,  on  account  of  its  concealment  from  outward  sense,  the  order  of  the  hidden. 
If  in  khwab  (sleep),  a  person  seeth  that  a  certain  spot   containeth  hidden  treasure;   and  on 
searching  findeth  it, — it  is  kashf-i-mujarrad  (pure  revelation). 

If  this  meaning  fall  to  the  understanding  : — 

(a)  by  way  of  manifestation,  it  is  "the  vision  of  the  soul." 
{b)  by  invisible  messengers,     „     "  the  ear  „  „ 

Once  in  Baghdad  was  a  darvish,  who  took  the  path  of  reliance  on  God  ;  and 
closed  the  path  of  question.     One  day  gieat  need  befell  him  ;  and  he  wished  to  beg. 

Becoming  penitent,  he  said  : — 

Much  time  in  reliance  on  God,  I  have  passed  ;  that  reliance,  shall  I  now  reject  ? 

That  night,  in  khwab,  he  beheld  a  vision  :  — 

An  invisible  messenger  said : — In  a  certain  place  is  deposited  a  blue  rent  khirka  wherein 
are  folded  gold  filings.    Take  it ;  and  expend  upon  thy  need. 

When  out  from  sleep  he  came,  he  found  it  to  be  even  so. 

This  khwab,  they  call  true  ruya,  a  (dream)  which  is  a  part  of  prophecy. 

For,  in  the  beginning  of  prophecy,  every  khwab  (dream)  that  Muhammad  beheld 
came  true. 

In  this  kind  (of  dream),  is  no  falsehood;  for,  to  the  wise,  after  proof  given  by  the 
traditions  of  the  prophets,  the  sense  in  this  revelation  is  a  proof. 

After  separation  from  the  body,  the  soul  knoweth  even  of  the  small  things  heard 
and  seen  of  this  world. 

The  soul's  knowledge  is  not  restricted  to  small  matters  in  respect  to  the  outward 
and  the  inward  senses.  Nay,  from  the  use  of  the  outward  senses,  gain  occurreth.  By 
it,  in  the  free  state  from  the  body,  it  discovereth  the  form  of  things  felt.  From  using 
the  vision,  in  it  becometh  painted  the  eye ;  from  using  the  hearing,  the  ear. 


5° 


SUFi.lSM. 


2.  Imaginary  revelations  from  kinds  of  naum  and  waki'a. 

In  khwab  or  in  waki'a,  the  soul  beholdeth  some  of  the  things  hidden  ;  and  in  it, 
through  connection  with  the  soul,  nafs  displayeth  partnership. 

On  the  soul,  by  the  power  of  imagination,  nafs  putteth  the  garment  of  a  form  fit 
for  things  felt;  and  thus  beholdeth  it. 

In  waki'a,  the  murid-vvarrior  seeth  that  he  is  in  contest  with  the  lion,  and  wild 
beasts ;  with  serpents  and  scorpions  ;  and  with  kuffar. 

The  true  shaikh  knoweth  that  nafs  is  with  him  in  strife  ;  and  its  meaning  he 
seeth  to  be  : — 

(a)   in  the  form  of  wild  beasts,  violence. 

(i)  „         „      serpents  and  scorpions,  enmity. 

(c^  „         „       kuffar,  disobedience  and  separation  (from  God's  mercy). 

If  he  see  that  he  travelleth  deserts  and  wastes,  passeth  over  rivers  and  seas,  as- 
cendeth  in  the  air,  or  passeth  over  the  fire — the  shaikh  knoweth  that  he  travelleth  the 
stages  of  lust ;  and  beholdeth  him  in  the  form  of  the  elements  (the  four  natures). 

If  he  see  that  from  the  qualities  of  a 

clayey,  I         airy, 

watery,  |         fiery, 

nature,  something  passeth,  the  imaginary  power  giveth  it  glory  to  the  dreamer's  eye 
in  the  fancy-garment  of  travelling  : — 

over  wastes,  I         in  the  air, 

,,     seas,  I        over  fire. 


The  natures  are  :- 


parsimony, 
slothful  ness, 
ignorance. 


Clayey — 


iniquity, 
darkness, 
foulness ; 


haste  to  society, 

union  with  wicked  lusts, 

acceptance  of  change  and  of  effect  of  society 


Watery — 

forgetfulness, 
inclination  to  sleep"; 


Airy — 


inclination  to  lust, 
great  grief, 

haste  to  change 

anger, 
pride. 

Fiery— 

1         desire  for  rank, 
1         exaltation. 

The  last  stage  of  the  stages  of  nafs,  over  which  he  passeth  is  this. 


DREAMS  OF  MEN  OF  KHILVAT.  fj 

If  it  be  revealed  to  him,  he  seeth  : — 

(a)  the  soul's  truth  in  the  form  of  the  sun. 

(J)     „  heart's    „  „  „        moon. 

(c)     „      „      qualities    „  „        constellation. 

Every  truth  that  is  revealed  to  him,  he  seeth  in  a  suitable  fancy-garment. 
Hence,  this  is  called: — kashf-i-mukhayyal  (fancied  revelation). 

In  this,  is  possibility  of  falsehood  but  not  of  pure  falsehood ;  for  it  is  not  void  of 
the  soul's  understanding. 

If,  in  the  state  of  the  soul's  understanding,  sensual  thoughts  join  not  with  the 
soulish*  understanding  ;  and  the  imaginary  power  clothe  not  the  soul  with  the  fancy- 
garment, — that  waki'a,  or  khwab,  is  all  true. 

If  some  of  the  sensual  thoughts  join  with  the  soulish*  understanding  ;  and  the 
imaginary  power  clothe  all  with  the  fancy-garment, — some  are  true,  some  false. 

The  dream  interpreter  freeth  the  soulish  truths  of  understanding  from  the  im- 
purity of  sensual  thoughts;  and  interpreteth. 

3.  Pure  fancy,  when  sensual  thoughts  have  superiority  over  the  heart,  whereby 
the  ruh  (soul)  is  veiled  from  considering  the  hidden  world. 

In  the  state  of  naum  and  waki'a,  those  thoughts  become  more  powerful.  Each 
one,  the  imaginary  power  clotheth  with  the  fancy-garment;  the  form  of  those 
thoughts  is  seen  by  the  eyes  of  the  imaginary  power;  and  its  deceit  becometh  clear. 

Thus,  that  one  who  ever  hath  the  thought  of  finding  treasure,  and  who  in 
khwab  seeth  that  he  hath  found  it ;  or  the  austere  one,  who  claimeth  the  people's 
acceptance  of  him,  and  seeth  in  waki'a  that  he  is  their  adored, — the  shaikh  knoweth 
that  this  manifestation  is  only  the  result  of  lust's  desire,  which  on  its  beholder  hath 
become  depicted. 

If  he  calleth  it  vain  desire  ;  or — 

(a)  in  khwab,  azghas-i-ahlam,  confused  un-interpretable  dream. 

(b)  in  waki'a,  false  dream. 

In  these,  the  truth  never  appeareth ;  because  nafs  possessed  of  doubt  is  void  of 
partnership  with  ruh  (soul),  the  composer  of  those  thoughts.     From  nafs,  truth  is  far. 

The  conditions  of  true  waki'a  (dream)  are  : — 

(i)  the  being  immersed  in  zikr,  and  being  hidden  from  things  felt. 
(it)  the  existence  of  sincerity  and  freedom  of  desire  from  the  observance  of  others. 

Possibly,  free  fancy,  in  respect  to  the  sincere  man,  becometh  "  fancied  revela- 
tion"; and,  by  reason  of  being  immersed  in  zikr  and  in  God's  presence,  the  ruh  (soul) 
of  revelation  becometh  transmitted  into  the  form  of  the  fancy  of  nafs. 

Then  becometh  true  waki'a,  and  capable  of  interpretation. 


*  Ruhani,  soulish. 


-r,  SUFi.lSM. 

5^ 


In  all  states,  waki'a  with  iiaum  is  similitude,— except  when  free  fancy  (khayal- 
i-mujarrad)  in  khwab  is  not  proved.     In  waki'a,  free  fancy  may  be  proved. 


It  is  evident  that  in  waki'a  and  manam,  truth  occurreth  and  also  falsehood.  In 
other  manifestations,  truth  is  impossible  ;  because  there  is  naught  save  "  free  reve- 
lation (kashf-i-mujarrad)  ." 

Free  revelation  is  : — 

(a)  in  mukashafa  in  the  state  of  wakefulness. 

(b)  in  khwab  or  in  waki'a,  in  the  state  of  being  hidden  from  things  felt. 

In  mukashafa,  the  soul's  understanding  is  attached  to  what  is  :  — 

(a)  either  in  the  hidden    world. 

(b)  or  „     material     „ 

In  the  first  case,  its  appearance  in  the  material  world, 
(a)  is  impossible  such  as  :— 


paradise, 

hell, 

God's  throne  and  seat. 


the  preserved  tablet, 
,,  pen  of  creation. 


(b)  is  possible  in  the  natural  form  as— possible  events,  necessary  of  acquirement,  the  form 

whereof  shall  not,  in  the  hidden  world,  have  yet  been  manifested. 

(c)  is  possible  in  an  accidental  form  as — 

angels. 

souls  free  from  the  body. 

To    Muhammad,  Jibra,il  used  to   appear     in    the   human    form,   sometimes  as  a 
divine  inspiration  and  sometimes  as  a  desert-dweller,  as  in  the  Hadis  of  'Umar: — 

Once  a  desert-dweller   with   white  raiment  and   very  black  hair  saluted   Muhammad,  and 
sat  close  to   him,  knee  to  knee.     Of  Islam,  of  faith  and  of  bounty  he  asked  Muhammad 
and  heard  his  reply. 
When  he  disappeared,  Muhammad  said  to  the  companions  : — 
Know  ye  who  this  asker  is  ? 

They  said : — 

God  knoweth  and  His  prophet. 

He  said  : — 

It  was  Jibra,il  who  came  from  God  to  teach  you  the  dogmas  of  faith. 

In  this  form,  'Umar  and  the  other  companions  beheld  him. 

Then  it  became  known  that  the  form   was   not  the  result  of  imaginary  power 
otherwise  every  one,  according  to  contrariety  of  state,  would  have  seen  it  in  a  differ- 
ent form  as  the  semblance  of  free  soul — 

(a)  in  separation  from  the  body 

(6)  „  attachment  to      „      „ 

The  semblance  of  angels  and  of  free  souls  in  the  human  form  is  an  accidental 
form.  The  manifestation  of  their  natural  (spiritual)  state  is,  save  in  the  (lidden  world, 
impossible. 


DREAMS  OF  MEN  OF  KHILVAT.  53 

In  every  way  that  they  desire,  they  make  semblance  of  the  human  form,  as  is 
stated  in  the  hadis  and  in  the  verified  speech  of  holy  shaikhs. 

In  the  second  case,  we  have  the  following  instances  :— 

(a)   Muhammad's  beholding  the  masjid  of  Jerusalem,  when  he   returned  from 
the  mi'raj*  (ascent  to  the  highest  heaven). 
The  infidels  denied  this  tale  and  said  : — If  truly  thou  speakest,  say  how 

many  columns  there  are  in  that  remote  masjid  (of  Jerusalem)? 
In  hal,  it  became  revealed  ;  from  his  gaze  the  world  uprose ;  he  counted  its 
columns  ;  and  gave  the  information. 
(i)  They  asked  Muhammad  to  give  some  news  of  a  kafila  near  unto  Sham. 
The  veil  being  lifted,  Muhammad  saw  that  the  kafila  had  reached  to  a  dis- 
tance of  one  stage  from  Makka. 

He  said  :  — 

Early  in  the  morning,  the  kafila  will  arrive.     Even  so  it  did. 
(c)   Once  at  Madina,  'Umar  Khattab  was  on  the  Mimbar  reading  the  khutba  after 
he  had  sent  Sariya  with  an  army  to  Nihazar. 

Suddenly,  in  the  midst  of  the  khutba,  he  went  into  niukashafa  and  saw  that, 
against  him,  the  enemy  had  made  an  ambush. 

He  cried  out  : — 
O  Sariya  !   (go)  to  the  mountain. 

Sariya  heard  ;  went  to  the  mountain  ;  and  gained  the  victory. 

The  Shaikhu-I-Islam — Shaikh  Shahabu-d-Din  'Umar  bin  Muhammad-i-Sahrwardi 
— telleth  many  a  tale  like  unto  these. 


The  true  murid  is  he  whose  khilvat  is  not  weakened  by  the  desire  for  semblances 
of  these  revelations  and  miracles ,  and  whose  spirit  is  not  restricted  to  their  acquisi- 
tion. 

For  to  the  rahabin  (Christian  monks)  who  are  not  on  the  highway  of  the  shari'at 
and  of  the  sunnat  of  Islam,  this  kind  of  revelation  is  not  withheld. 

This  kashf  (revelation)  is  naught  save  deceit ;  for,  in  its  wajd,  the  rahabin  are 
daily  prouder  and  further  from  the  path  of  salvation. 

If  in  the  path  of  the  true  and  the  sincere,  this  kashf  fall,  it  is  a  miracle  j  for  it  is 
the  cause  of  strengthening  of  certainty,  and  of  increase  of  devotion. 

*  See  the  Kuran  P.  D.  xvii,  i,  95;  Clarke's  translation  of  the  Sikandar  Nama-I-Nizami,  canto  4. 


eA  SUFi.lSM. 


On  'ilm  (knowledge). 

II.  I. 

'Ilm  is  a  light  from  the  candle  of  prophecy  in  the  heart  of  the  faithful  slave  where- 
by he  gaineth  the  path — 

(a)  to  God. 

(b)  „  the  work  of  God. 

(c)  „    „   order    „ 

'Ilm  is  the  special  description  of  man  ;  from  it,  is  excluded  the  understanding  of 
his  sense,  and  'akl  (reason). 

'Akl  is  a  natural  light,  whereby  becometh  distinguished  good  from  evil. 
The  'akl  that  distinguisheth  between  the  good  and  evil  :— 

(a)  of  this  world  is  an  'akl  that  belongeth  to  the  kafir  as  well  as  to  the  faithful. 

(b)  of  the  next  world  is  an  'akl  that  belongeth  only  to  the  faithful. 

'Ilm  is  special  to  the  faithful;  'ilm  and  'akl  are  necessary  for  each  other. 

The  eye  of  'akl  (of  the  next  world)  is  luminous  with  the  light  of  guidance;  and 
anointed  with  the  kuhl  of  the  shari'at.  In  its  essence,  it  is  one ;  but  it  has  two 
forms. 

,      (a)  One  in  respect  of  the  Creator.     Its  meaning  is  the  'akl  of  guidance,  special  to  the  faith- 

V  ful. 

^  (b)  One  in  respect  of  the  created.     Its  meaning  is  the  'akl  of  livelihood. 

For  people  of  faith  and  for  seekers  of  God  and  of  the  next  world,  "  the  'akl  of 
livelihood"  is  obedient  to  "the  'akl  of  guidance." 

Whenever  these  two 'akls  agree,  they  credit  "the  'akl  of  livelihood;"  and  accord- 
ing to  exigency  act :  whenever  they  disagree,  they  discredit  it,  and  to  it  pay  no  atten- 
tion. 

Thus,  to  the  seekers  of  God,  the  man  of  this  world  ascribe  weak  'akl.  He  know- 
eth  not  that  outside  their  'akl  is  another  'akl. 

'Urn  is  of  three  kinds  : — 

i.  'ilm-i-tauhid,  knowledge  of  the  unity  of  God. 
ii.  'ilm-i-ma'rifat,  „        „     „  work   „ 


in  respect  of  annihilation. 
„  creation. 

„  propinquity  (to  God) 

„  distance  (from  God). 

„  making  alive. 

„  putting  to  death. 

iv.  'ilm  of  the  orders  of  the  shari'at  of  orders  and  of  prohibitions. 


in  respect  of  dispersing, 
„  assembling, 

„  reward. 

„  punishment. 

„  other  things. 


MLM.  e^ 

Each  one  of  these  three  paths  hath  a  separate  traveller.     The  traveller  of : — 

(a)  the  first  path  is  the  "  sage  of  God."     In  his  'ilm,  are,  without  opposition,  included  the 

other  two  'ilms. 

(b)  the  second  path  is  the  "sage  of  the  next  world."     In  his  'ilm,  is,  without  opposition,  in- 

cluded the  'ilm  of  the  shari'at. 

(c)  the  third  path  is  the  "  sage  of  this  world."     Of  the  other  two  'ilms,  no  knowledge  is  his. 

If  he  had  possessed  it,  he  would  have  brought  it  into  use.  For  the  decline  of  good  deeds 
is  the  result  of  defect  of  faith.  If  he  had  had  his  heart  with  God  ;  and  belief  in  the  next 
world,  he  would  not  have  passed  belo\y  the  doing  of  good  deeds. 

The  sages  of  God  have,  with  reason  and  conviction,  faith  in  the  unity  of  God  ;  in 
the  next  world ;  and  in  the  work  of  God. 

Obedient  to  the  orders  of  Islam,  are  :^ 
the  first  ones  (near  to  God). 
„   sufis. 

The  sages  of  the  next  world,  despite  their  belief  in  the  next  world,  have  a 
share  (as  much  as  is  needed)  of  the  knowledge  of  Islam  ;  and  employ  it.  They 
are  : — 

(a)  the  abrar  (the  pious). 

(b)  „    companions  of  the  right  hand. 

The  sages  of  this  world  have  no  share  at  all  except  the  outward  knowledge  of 
Islam,  which  they  have  gained  by  being  taught.  What  they  have  learned,  they  use 
not.  Through  defect  of  faith,  they  are  not  secure  from  passing  into  deeds,  prohibit- 
ed and  detested.     They  are  : — 

{a)  the  companions  of  the  left  hand. 

(b)  „    wicked  ones  of  men. 

(c)  „    sages  of  sin,  upon  whom  have  descended  threat  upon  threat  of  God's  wrath. 

In  the  account  of  the  mi'raj*  (the  night-ascent  to  the  highest  heaven),  it  is  said 
of  Muhammad  : — 

I  passed  by  a  crowd,  whose  lips  they  had  cut  with  fiery  scissors.  I  asked  saying  :— Who  are 
ye  ?  They  cried  :  -  We  are  those  who  ordered  for  goodness,  and  prohibited  from  badness ; 
and  yet  to  badness  we  ourselves  proceeded.     (Hadis.) 

Better  than  the  sage  of  God  and  of  the  next  world,  is  none ;  worse  than  the  sage 
of  this  world,  none.     (Hadis-l. 

Than  'ilm,  when  they  seek  it  for  God's  sake,  naught  is  more  profitable  ;  when  for 
the  world's  sake,  naught  greater  loss. 

'Ilm  is  like  to  victuals  that  essentially  have,  as  regards  the  healthy,  whose  tem- 
perament is  firm  and  quarters  of  the  body  free  from  humours,  the  power  of  nutrition  ; 


See  p.  53  (foot  note). 


g  SUFI.ISM. 

and  that  are,  as  regards  the    sick,   whose  temperament  is  declining  and  quarters  of 
the  body  filled  with  humours,  the  source  of  disease. 

In  its  own  nafs,  'ilm  is  a  useful  food,  the  cause  of  the  expanding  of  nafs  and  of 
the  heart,  on  the  condition, — 

that  the  follower  is  not  infirm  of  desire,  and  of  temperament ;  nor   in  love  for  the  world  ;  nor  a  turner 
from  God. 

When  the  temperament  of  the  heart  turneth  in  love  to  the  world  ;  and  the  parts 
of  existence  become  filled  with  low  humours,  'ilm  becometh  the  cause  of  increase  of 
desire,  of  pride,  of  haughtiness,  of  hate,  and  of  the  rest. 

For  the  destruction  of  this  great  deceit,  there  is  naught — 

(a)  save  when  that  'ilm,  which  is  the  guide  of  salvation,  becometh  the  cause  of  destruction. 
{b}  save  when  that  sage  by  whom  the  captives  of  the  leader  of  desire  gain  freedom,  becometh 
foot-bound  in  the  snare  of  desire. 

In  nafs  profitable  'ilm — 

increaseth  piety.  1     inflameth  the  fire  of  love  and  desire. 

„        humility.  |     increaseth  non-existence. 

It  is  the  aid  of  life  ;  its  severance  from  the  heart  is  putting  to  death.  Thus  have 
spoken  Fath-i-Musill  and  Amiru-l-MurnQnin,  Ali. 

In  nafs,  noxious  'ilm  increaseth — 

pride.  presumption, 

haughtiness.  desire  for  the  world. 

Profit  from  'ilm  appeareth  to  that  one,  who  displayeth  the  service  of  resolution, 
not  the  following  of  license  as  Abu  Yazid-i-Bistami  hath  said. 

In  the  midst  of  men  the  existence  of  the  sage  of  God  is  God's  best  favour  ;  his 
being  hidden,  the  absence  of  God's  favour,  and  the  source  of  the  darkness  of  kufr 
and  of  error. 


On  ma'rifat  (deep  knowledge). 

III.  I. 

Ma'rifat  signifieth  the  recognizing  of  the  abridged  ''ulum  (krovvledge)  in  detail : — 
'ilm-i-nahw : — 

is  the  knowing  how  each  agent  (of  word  or  of  meaning)  acteth. 

ma'rifat-i-nahw  : — 

is  the  recognising  of  every  agent  in  detail,  at  the  time  of  reading,  without  either  delay 
or  consideration  and  its  use  in  its  place. 

ta'rif-i-nahw : — 

is  the  recognising  of  the  agent  by  thought. 

To  be  careless  of  this  (despite  the  'ilm-i-nahw)  is  a  blunder.  | 


MA'RIFAT.  57 

The  raa'rifat  of  God  is  dependent  upon  and  bound  up  with  the  ma'rifat  of  the 
nafs.     Ma'rifat  of  God  signifieth  : — 

The  recognising  of  the  nature  and  the  quaUties  of  God  in  the  form  of  detailed  circumstances,  of 
accidents,  of  calamities,  after  that  it  shall  (in  the  way  of  abridgment)  have  become  known  that 
He  is  the  True  Existence  and  the  Absolute  Agent. 

The  possessor  of  the  'ilm-i-tauhid  seeth  in  the  form  (of  details,  of  dreams,  and  of 
state)  : — 

of  loss  the  causer  of  loss  who  is  God. 

„  profit  „  profit  „ 

„  prohibition  „  prohibition  „ 

,.  gift  „  gift  „ 

„  contraction  „  contraction  „ 

„  expansion  „  expansion  „ 

And  recognizeth  them  without  delay  ;  him,  they  call  Arif. 

If  at  first  he  be  careless  of  ma'rifat,  and  soon  present  (alive  to  it)  becometh ;  and 
in  the  form  of  different  powers,  recognizeth  the  Absolute  Agent, — him,  they  call 
Muta'arrif. 

If  he  be  wholly  careless,  and  (despite  his   'ilm)  recognizeth  not  God  in  form,  in 
means,  in  links ;  and  to  means  assigneth  the  effects  of  deeds — him,  they  call — 
sahi,  negligent,  or  ghafil  careless. 
lahi,  playful. 
mushrik,  secret  believer  in  partnership  with  God. 

For  instance,  if  he  explaineth  tauhid  (the  unity  of  God)  and  in  its  seaimmerseth 
himself — and  another,  in  the  way  of  denial,  refuseth  him,  saying : — 

Not  the  essence  of  hal  is  this  speech ;  'tis  the  result  of  thought  and  of  consideration. 

he  grieveth  and  becometh  enangered. 

He  knoweth  not  that  his  grieving  is  a  proof  of  the  truth  of  the  denicr's  speech  ; 
otherwise  he  would  have  recognized  the  Absolute  Agent  in  the  form  of  this  denial ;  and 
against  the  denier  would  not  have  gathered  anger. 

In  ma'rifat  of  nafs,  every  unapproved  quality  (which  is  known  by  abridged  'ilm) 
at  the  time  when  at  the  very  beginning  in  nafs,  it  appeareth,  he  recogniseth  and  as  to 
it  exerciseth  caution, — him,  they  call  'arif :  otherwise  muta'arrif  or  ghafil. 

If  in  detail  the  abridged  'ilm  he  knoweth  not,— him,  they  call  ghafil  (careless). 
To  him,  this  'ilm  is  a  source  of  loss. 

If  by  'ilm,  he  knoweth  that  pride  is  a  blameable  quality  in  nafs  ;  and  when  in  nafs 
this  appeareth,  he  fleeth  into  the  screen  of  humbling  himself — so  that,  recognising  this 
quality  in  himself,  his  nafs  may  not  again  be  with  outward  pride. 

This,  they  call  the  ma'rifat  of  nafs. 


eg  SUFI.ISM. 

The  portion  of — 

(a)  the  "arif,  is  riza  (agreement)  with  God's  decrees, 
(i)    „    muta'arrif,  patience  in  respect  of  God. 
(c)    „    ghafil,  detestation  and  perturbation. 

The  ma'rifat  of  God  hath  degrees: — 

i.  every  effect  that  he  gaineth,  he  knoweth  to  be  from  the  Absolute  Agent  (God). 

ii.     „  „      that  appeareth  from  the  Absolute  Agent,  he  knoweth  to  be  result  of  a  certain 

quality  of  His. 
iii.  in  the  glory  of  every  quality,  he  recogniseth  God's  purpose. 
iv.  the  quality  of  the  'ilm  of  God,  he  recogniseth  in  his  own  ma'rifat;  and  expelleth  himself 

from  the  circle  of  'ilm,  of  ma'rifat,  and  of  existence. 

Greater  the  degrees  of  propinquity  (to  God),  — more  apparent,  the  effects  of 
God's  grandeur. 

By  ignorance,*  'ilm  is  generally  acquired;  the  ma'rifat  of  subtlety  becometh 
greater  ;  astonishment  on  astonishment  increaseth ;  and  from  the  "arif  ariseth  the  cry — 
Increase  in  me  astonishment  at  Thee. 

This  is  all  the  'ilm  of  ma'rifat,  not  ma'rifat ;  because  ma'rifat  is  a  matter  of  rap- 
ture the  explanation  whereof  is  defective,  but  its  preface  is  'ilm. 

Then  without  'ilm,  ma'rifat  is  impossible  ;  'ilm  without  ma'rifat,  disaster. 

'Ilm  and  ma'rifat  have  some  forms, 
i.  'ilm-i-ma'rifat. 
ii.  ma'rifat-i-'ilm. 
iii.  'ilm-i-ma'rifat-i-ma'rifat. 

The  last  form  is  the  perfection  of  form. 


\J^ 


On  Hal  (mystic  state)  and  Makam  (stage). 

IV.  I. 
In  the  opinion  of  stifis,  hal  signifieth  a  hidden  event  that,  from  the  upper  world, 
sometimes  descendeth  upon  the  heart  of  the  holyi  traveller  and  goeth    and  cometh, 
until  the  divine  attraction  draweth  him  from  the  lowest  to  the  loftiest  stage. 

Makam  signifieth  a  degree  of  the  Path  that  cometh  in  the  way  of  the  holy  travel- 
ler's foot;  becometh  the  place  of  his  staying;  and  declineth  not. 

Hal  (which  relateth  to  the  zenith)  cometh  not  in  the  traveller's  sway  ;   in  its  sway, 
is  the  traveller. 

Makam  (which  relateth  to  the  nadir)  is  the  place  ol  the  traveller's  sway. 

•  Till  one  knoweth  one's  ignorance,  'ilm  (knowledge)  cannot  be  acquired.  1 


HAL  AND  MAKAM.  -r, 

The  sufis  have  said  : — 

The  hal  is  a.  gift  (mauhab) ;  the  makam  an  acquisition  (kasb). 

Void  of  the  entrance  of  hal,  is  no  makam  ;  separate  from  union  with  makam  is 
no  hal. 

As  to  hal  and  makam,   the  source   of  contention  of  holy  shaikhs  is  that  some 

/call  this  hal ;  and  some  makam.  For  all  makams  are  at  the  beginning  hal,  and  at  the 
end  makam,  as  :— 

tauba,  penitence. 

muhasiba,  calling  one's  self  to  account. 

muralvaba,*  fearful  contemplation. 

Each  one  is  at  the  beginning  a  hal  in  change  and  in  decline  ;  and  when  by  propin- 
quity to  kasb  (acquisition),  it  becometh  makam,  all  the  hal  are  lightened  by  makasib 
(acquisitions)  and  all  the  makam  by  mawahib  (gifts). 

In  hal,  the  gifts  are  outward,  the  acquisitions  inward  :  in  makam,  the  acquisitions  are  outward, 
the  gifts  inward. 

The  shaikhs  of  Khurasan  have  said  : — 
Hal  is  the  heritage  of  deeds. 

Hence  the  word  of  'All  ibn-i-Abi  Talib  : — 

The  path  of  union  with  hal  (which  through  superiority  relateth  to  the  heavens)  ask  not  of  me. 

The  makams  are  : — 

tauba,  penitence,  i  sabr,    patience, 

zuhd,    austerity,  |  and  others.  {>-f~-0 

These  are  the  means  of  the  descent  of  hal. 

Some  shaikhs  urge  :  — 

(a)  that  hal  is  that  which  findeth  neither  resting  nor  confining.     Like  lightning  it  appeareth, 

and  effaced  becometh.     If  it  be  left,  it  becometh  the  liadisu-n-nafs. 
(J)  that  so  long  as  it  is  not  left,  it  is  not  hal.     Because  resting  demandeth   permanency;   that 
which  like  lightning  flasheth  and  expireth  is  not  truly  hal. 

This  is  the  religious  order  of  Shaikh  Shahabu-d-Din-i-Sahrwardi. 

It  is  said  that  if  hal  be  left,  it  is  not  the  source  of  hadfsu-n-nafs.  Its  source  is 
a  weak  hal,  which,  at  the  time  of  glittering,  strong  nafs  seizeth  ;  to  nafs,  strong  hai 
never  becometh  accustomed. 

Every  event  that  like  lightning  glittereth,  and  in  hal   expireth, — 
they  call  in  sQfi-idiom  : — 

tank  exploding, 

badih  apparent. 

•  See  p.  69. 


la,  ih 

e\'ident 

lamih 

glittering 

tali' 

arismg 

6o  SUFi.lSM. 

Its    manifestation    is    followed   by   concealment.     Thus  hath  said  Abu  'Usman 
Hairi. 

This  hinteth  at  perpetual  riza   (contentment),  and   doubtless  riza  is  of  all  bals 
then  perpetual  hal  is  unnecessary  for  hadisu-n-nafs. 

Is  the  amending  of  a  makam   (which  is   his  foot-place)   before  ascending  to   a 
higher  stage,  possible  or  not  ? 
Junid  hath  said  : — 

Possible  it  is  before  the  first  hal  is  finished  for  a  slave  to  advance  to  a  higher  hal.  Thence 
he  gaineth  information  of  the  first  hal  and  amendeth  it. 

Abdu-1-lah  Ansari  hath  said  : — 

Impossible  is  the  amending  of  any  makam  till  from  a  higher  makam  the  holy  traveller  looketh 
into  the  lower  makam,  of  it  gaineth  information,  and  it  amendeth. 

Shaikh  Shahabu-d-Din-i-Sahrwardi  hath  said  : — 

Impossible  is  advance  to  a  higher  makam  before  amending  the  makam  (which  is  his  foot- 
place).  But  before  advancing,  there  descendeth  from  the  higher  makam,  a  hal  whereby 
his  makam  becometh  true.  Hence  his  advance  from  makam  to  makam  is  by  God's 
sway  and  of  His  gift — not  of  his  own  acquisition. 

So  long  as  from  the  low  to  the  lofty,  advance  approacheth  not ;  from  the  lofty  to  the  low, 
no  hal  deacendeth. 

In  the  Hadis,  is  the  imputing  of  the  slave's  approach  to  God;  and  of  God's  ap- 
proach to  the  slave. 


On  Tauhid  (unity  of  God),  and  Zat  (existence  of  God). 

I.   2. 

The  'Ulama  of  suf  i,ism  who  through  being  detached  from  affairs,  have  gained  union 
with  the  wine  of  'ilm ;  the  step  of  whose  souls  and  hearts  hath  become  firm  ;  the  eye 
of  whose  vision  by  the  light  of  beauty  of  eternity  without  beginning  hath  become 
anointed, — know,  see  and  find  by  the  path  of  'ilm-i-yakin,  established  proof,  of  kashf 
(revelation),  of  seeing,  of  zauk  (delight),  and  of  wajd  (ecstasy). 

Witness,  do  they  bear  that  no  person  nor  thing  is  worthy  of  being  worshipped 
save  the  one  God,  the  God  of  unity,  the  Eternal,  pure  (void)  of  parent,  of  offspring,  of 
aid  ;  pure  (void)  of  resemblance,  of  equal,  of  wazir  and  of  counsellor. 

Neither  in  opposition  to  His  order,  is  an  opposition;  nor  in  the  government  of 
His  realm,  an  enemy. 

Ever  is  described  His  ancient  existence  by  unity  ;  and  known  by  singularity. 

Expelled  from  His  holiness  and  purity,  are  the  qualities  of  accidents, — 
of  form,  similitude,  union,  separation,  association,  descent,  issue,  entrance,  change,  dechne,  alter- 
ation, and  translation.  • 


TAUHID  AND  ZAT.  gj^ 

From  the  understanding  of  the  reading  of  men's  thoughts,  the  perfection  of  His 
beauty  and  the  beauty  of  His  perfection  (un-connected  with  the  beauty  of  His  singu- 
larity)— free;  from  the  trouble  of  the  clothing  of  zikrs,  the  grandeur  of  His  eternity 

free. 

In  description  of  Him,  narrow  is  the  power  of  the  warriors  of  the  pl;iin  of  elo- 
quence; in  praise  of  Him,  lame  is  the  foot  of  the  chiefs  of  the  plain  of  ma'rifat. 

Than  the  offering  of  the  senses,  than  the  discussion  of  conjecture,  loftier  is  the 
column  of  understanding  Him  ;  of  the  passing  of  imaginings  and  the  happenino-  of 
understandings,  void  is  the  honour-plain  of  His  ma'rifat. 

In  the  beginning  of  His  ma'rifat,  is  no  guide  save  astonishment  and  perturbation 
to  the  pure  ones  of  Lordship,  who  are  at  the  limit  of  reason  ;  in  the  splendour  of  the 
light  of  His  grandeur  is  no  path  save  blindness  and  ignorance  to  the  vision  of  the 
possessors  of  Sight. 

If  thou  say  : — 

He  hath  created  His  abode, — where  ? 

The  answer  is  :  — 

(In  the  place  of) — He. 

If  thou  say  : — 

(Visible)  to  the  eye,  brought  He  time,— when  7 

The  answer  is  :— 
(At  the  time  of)— He. 

If  thou  say  : — 

Resemblance  and  sufficiency  made  He— how  ? 

The  answer  is  : — 
(By  means  of) — He. 

No  limit  hath  He.  Within  this  limit,  are  comprehended — eternity  without  be- 
ginning and  eternity  without  end  ;  folded  in  the  fold  of  His  plain,  are  existence  and 
dwelling  (the  universe)  ;  in  His  beginning,  all  beginnings — the  end;  in  His  ending, 
all  endings,  the  beginning  ;  in  His  outwardness,  the  outward  manifestation  of  things, 
the  inward  ;  in  His  inwardness,  the  inward  parts  of  worlds,  the  outward  ;  in  His  eter- 
nity without  beginning,  the  collection  of  eternities  without  beginning  only  an  accident 
(hadis)  ;  in  His  eternity  without  end,  all  eternities  without  end,  only  an  event 
(muhdas). 

From  whatever  is  contained  in  reason,  in  understanding,  in  the  senses,  in  con- 
jecture,— exempted  and  free  is  the  nature  of  the  Lord. 

For  these  all  were  muhdas^t  (accidents);  save  understanding  muhdas  (accident), 
muhdas  can  do  naught. 


62  SUFi.lSM. 

The  aro-ument  of  His  existence  Is  His  existence  ;  the  proof  of  His  witnessing  is 
His  witnessing. 

Naught  save  the  beauty  of  eternity  without  beginning  is  the  bearer  of  the  beauty 
of  eternity  without  beginning.      In  this  stage  the  limit  of  understanding  is  weakness. 

To  the  substance  of  the  understanding  of  Wahid  (unity  of  God),  save  Wahid — 
no  muwahhid  (professor  of  unity)  can  reach. 

Where  his  understanding  is  ended,  there  is  the  limit  of  his  understanding  not  of 
Wahid  (God). 

Who  considereth  W'ahid  comprehended  in  his  knowledge,  is  verily  deceived  and 
presumptuous. 

Tauhid  is  the  negation  of  separation  ;  and  the  affirmation  at  the  limit  of  collec- 
tion. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  tauhid  of  hal  (mention  whereof  will  presently  be  made), 
this  description  is  necessary. 

But,  possibly,  at  its  end,  one  in  separation  may  be  immersed  in  collection;  and 
in  collection,  the  spectator  (with  the  eye  of  collection)  of  separation — as  each  collec- 
tion, or  separation,  is  not  a  forbidder  of  the  other.  In  this  is  the  perfection  of 
tauhid. 

Tauhid  hath  degrees  : — 

i.    tauhid-i-imani,  the  tauhid  of  faith. 

ii.  „      'ilmi  „  knowledge. 

iii.  „       hali  „  hal. 

iv.  „      ilahi  „  Godship. 


Tauhid-i-imani  is : — 

When  (according  to  the  urgency  of  the  order  of  Kuranic  verse  'and  of  the  Hadis)  the  slave 
verifieth  to  his  heart,  and  confesseth  with  the  tongue,  as  to  the  singularity  of  the  descrip- 
tion of  Godship  and  to  the  unity  of  rights  of  the  adored  Lord. 

This  tauhid  is  the  mukhbir  (news-bringer)  and  the  belief  of  sincerity  is  the  kha- 
bar  (news).  Profit  from  outward  'ilm  and  holding  thereto  is  freedom  from  open  part- 
nership ;  turning  in  the  thread  (entering  the  circle)  of  Islam  giveth  profit. 

Through  necessity,  with  muslims,  sufis  believe  in  this  tauhid  ;  but,  in  other  de- 
grees, are  separate. 
Tauhid  is  :^ 

An  'ilm  of  benefit  from  the  heart  of  'ilm  which  they  cai!  the  'ilm-i«yal[in  (the  knowledge  of 

certainty). 
This  'ilm-i-yakin  is  such  that,  in  the  beginning  of  the  path  of  suff.ism,  the  slave  knoweth,  from 

the  desire  of  yakin  (certainty),  that  the  true  existence   and  absolute  Penfrtrator  is  none 

save  the  Lord  of  the  world. 


TAUHiD  AND  ZAT.  6;J 

In  His  zat  (nature)  and  qualities,  effaced   and  naught  he  (by   'ilm)  regardeth  his 
own  zat  and  qualities. 

The  splendour  of  every  nature,  he  recogniseth  from  the  light  of  Absolute  Exist- 
ence ;  and  every  ray,  from  the  light  of  the  quality  of  the  Absolute  (God). 

When  he  saineth  :^ 


an  'ilm. 
a  kudrat. 
„  desire. 

he  knoweth  them  to  be  the  effects  of: — 
an  'ilm      of  God. 
a  kudrat  „ 

„  desire  „ 


a  hearing. 
„  seeing. 


a  hearing  of  God. 
„  seeing  „ 


Thus  for  all  qualities  and  deeds. 

This  degree  is  of  the  first  degrees  of  tauhid  of  the  man  of  speciality  and  of  sufi,- 
ism  ;  its  preface  is  joined  to  the  column  of  tauhld-i-'amm  ;  and  the  semblance  of  this 
degree,  those  short  of  sight  call  tauhid-i-'ilmi,  but  verily  it  is  the  tauhid-i-rasmi,  muti- 
lated of  the  rank  of  credit. 

This  tauhid-i-rasmi  is  such  as  a  person,  with  desire  of  intelligence  and  of  under- 
standing, might  through  reading  and  hearing,  conjecture  as  the  meaning  of  tauhid. 
In  his  mind,  a  rasm  (impression)  of  the  form  of  'ilm-i-tauhid  becometh  painted  ; 
thence,  in  the  midst  of  argument, — since,  in  him  is  no  effect  from  the  hal-i-tauhid — he 
uttereth  brainless  vi^ords. 

Tauhid-i-'ilmi,  although  it  is  a  low  degree  of  the  tauhid-i-hali,  wherefrom  fellow- 
traveller  with  it  is  a  temperament  : 

"  Its  temperament  is  one  of  tasnim,  a  fountain  wherefrom  those  near  to  God  drink,  ' 

is  the  description  of  the  wine  of  this  tauhid. 

Hence,  its  possessor  is  often  in  zauk  and  joy ;  because,  by  the  effects  of  the  tem- 
perament of  hal,  some  of  the  darkness  of  his  impressions  becometh  lifted.  As  in 
some  changes,  he  worketh  according  to  the  demand  of  his  own  'ilm,  and  bindeth  up, 
in  the  midst,  the  existence  of  causes  which  are  the  links  of  the  deeds  of  God  ;  but,  in 
many  a  hal,  by  reason  of  the  residue  of  the  darkness  of  existence,  he  becometh 
\eiled  from  the  demand  of  his  own  'ilm. 

In  this  tauhid,  some  of  the  hidden  shirk  (the  giving  companions  to  God)  departetii. 
Tauhid-i-hali  is  when,  the  hal  of  tauhid  becometh  the  necessary  description  of  the 
nature  of  the  muw,ahhid  (professor  of  unity). 

Save  a  little  residue  in  the  superiority  of  the  rising  of  the  light  of  tauhid,  all 
the  darknesses  of  impressions  of  His  existence  vanish,  and,  in  the  light  of  his  hal, 
veiled  and  included  (like  to  the  being  rolled  together  the  light  of  the  constellations 
and  the  light  of  the  sun)  becometh  the  light  of  'ilm-i-tauhid. 


64  SUFi.lSM. 

In  the  stage  of  existence,  in  viewing  the  beauty  of  the  existence  of  Wahid 
(unity),  the  mu\v,ahhid  becometh  so  immersed  in  jam'  "  (union)  that,  in  the  vision  ot 
his  witnessing,  naught  cometh  save  the  nature  of  the  qualities  of  Wahid — so  much 
so  that  he  regardeth  tauhid  the  quality  of  Wahid  not  his  own  quality.  This  (act  of) 
regarding  (of  his)  he  regardeth  His  quality. 

In  this  way,  his  existence  falleth  like  a  drop  in  the  power  of  the  dashing  waves 
of  the  ocean  of  tauhid  ;  and  in  jam'  (union)  becometh  immersed. 

The  source  of : — 

(a)  tauhid-i-hali  is  the  light  of  manifestation. 

(b)  „     „  'ilmi        „        „       murakaba  (fearful  contemplation). 

By  tauhid-i-bali,  (like  to  the  light  of  the  sun  in  whose  superiority  of  manifesta- 
tion, most  parts  of  darkness  rise  up  and  disappear  from  earth's  surface)  become  re- 
pulsed many  of  the  impressions  of  humanity. 

By  tauhid-i-hali  most  of  the  hidden  shirk  (giving  companions  to  God)  ariseth 
(to  disappear);  and  from  the  truth  of  pure  tauhid  (wherein  all  at  once  the  effects  and 
the  impressions  of  existence  vanish)  to  the  special  muw,  ahhids  in  the  hal  of  life  some- 
times the  flash  like  unto  flashing  lightning  becometh  bright,  and  immediately  is  extin- 
guished. 

The  residue  of  other  circumstances  aideth  ;  in  this  state,  the  residue  of  hidden 
shirk  becometh  wholly  repulsed  ;  outside  this  degree  of  tauhid,  is  possible  no  other 
degree. 

By  tauhid-i-'ilmi  (like  to  the  light  of  the  moon  in  whose  manifestation,  parts 
of  darkness  become  repulsed  and  some  are  left),  become  up-lifted  (to  disappear)  some 
of  the  impressions  of  humanity. 

The  cause  of  existence  of  some  of  the  residue  of  impressions  in  tauhid-i-hall  is 
this  :— 

On  the  muw,ahhid's  part  not  possible  is  the  issuing  of  the  arranging  of  deeds  and  the  purify- 
ing of  words;  for  this  reason  in  the  hal  of  his  life,  the  right  of  tauhid  (as  is  necessary  1 
becometh  not  discharged. 

Tauhid-i-ilahi  is : — 

That  whereby  in  the  eternity  without  beginning  of  eternities  without  beginning 
by  His  own  nafs,  not  by  the  tauhid  of  another, — God  is  ever  described  with  singu- 
larity and  qualified  with  praise. 

Now,  in  praise  of  eternity  without  beginning  He  is  wahid  and  one  ;  and  thus, 
to  the  eternity  without  end  of  the  eternities  without  end,  is. 

So  that  to-day  it  became  known  that  in  His  ow  1  existence,  the  existence  of  the 
beauty  of  things  vanish. 

For  the  veiled  ones,  is  the  promise  of  beholding  this  hal  (of  God)  till  to-mor- 
row (the  judgment-day).     But  for  the  Lords  of  vision   and  for  the   companions  of 


TAUHiD  AND  ZAT.  g- 

beholding   (who  have  obtained  freedom   from  the   lestricted  places  of  time  and   of 
abode),  this  promise  is  cash  indeed  (immediate). 

The  honour  of   His  singularity  and  the  wrath  of   His  unity  gave  not  power  in 
His  existence,  to  other  existence. 

The  right  of  tauhid  is  this  :  this  is  the  tauhid  that  is  free  from  the  reproach  of 
defect. 

By  reason  of  defect  of  existence,  the  tauhid  of  angels  and  of  man  is  defective. 
Thus,  Shaikh  Abu  'Abdu-1-lah  Ansari  hath  said. 


The  Affairs  of  the  next  world. 

I.    10. 

The  preface  to  pure  'ilm  is  true  faith. 

So  long  as  increase  of  faith  descendeth  not  into  the  stages  of  the  hearts  of  will, 
the  kafila  of  'ilmu-1-yakin  (the  knowledge  of  certainty)  taketh  not  down  its  chattels  of 
staying  in  the  heart ;  the  treading  of  the  path  by  verification  and  by  seeking  the 
traces  of  the  prophets,  is  impossible  save  by  the  foot  of  faith  and  of  submission  and 
by  the  guide  of  love  and  of  reverence;  and  the  effort  in  desire  of  advance,  without 
preserving  one's  self  from  sin  by  the  rope  of  God  and  by  the  sunnat  of  prophecy,  is 
error  and  disaster. 

If,  with  the  foot  of  defective  reason  and  understanding,  a  person  wisheth  to 
advance  from  the  abyss  of  ignorance  to  the  summit  of  ilm,  although  he  may  put  for- 
ward great  effort,  he  seeth  himself  in  the  end,  at  the  first  place,  momently  descending 
into  degrees  of  loss. 

For  when  the  path  with  lofty  degrees  becometh  closed,  and  yet  the  motive  of 
desire  is  left, — nafs  turneth  to  decline  and  rolleth  about  in  the  seventh  hell  to  the 
lowest  of  the  low. 

As  to  the  hidden  world  and  the  circum.etances  of  the  next  world  (as  by  the  Kuran- 
i-Majid,  and  by  the  Hadls  of  prophecy  have  arrived),  it  is  incumbent  on  every  one 
to  have  faith — 

In  the  torment  of  the  grave,  in  the  questioning  of  munkir  and  nakir,  in  the  assembling  and  dis- 
persing, in  the  account  and  the  balance,  in  the  bridge  and  sirat,  in  paradise  and  hell,  in  the  issuing 
of  nations  (through  the  intercession  of  the  prophet)  from  fire.* 

and,  not  with  weak  reason  and  fine  understanding,  to  begin  for  one's  self  upon  its 
interpretation ;  and  not  to  wander  about  the  sufficiency  and  the  wherefore. 

Because  in  respect  to  'ilm-i-imani  (the  knowledge  of  faith),  the  limit  is  not  the 
degree  of  human  understanding.     In  it,  even  the  prophets  have  not  exercised  power. 

What  from  revelation  they  have  seen,  in  it  with  certainty,  they  have  had  faith 
the  faith,  which  (from  the  prophets)  to  the  hearts  of  nations  (according  to  their  purity) 
hath  reached. 

Reason  hath  a  limit  beyond  which  when  it  passeth,  into  error  it  falleth. 


*  See  Wherry's  Kuran  (Index):— Nakir  and  munkir,  the  bridge,  hell,  paradise,  intercession. 


66  suFi.iSM. 

The  limit  of  the  five  senses  is  : — 

When  things  felt  by  them  are  apparent  and  existing  as  :  — 

things   seen.  things  tasted. 

„         heard.  ,,       touched, 

smelt. 
When  out  of  these  something  issueth  and  the  understander  is  in  his  senses,  true  is  the  under. 

standing  of  it  : — 
When  he  perceiveth  something  not  existing  (as  things  comprehended  by  the  distraught),— 
not  true  is  the  understanding  of  it. 

The  limit  of  khiyal  (fancy)  is  : — 

When,  after  efiacement,  it  regardeth  things  comprehended   of  the  outward  senses.     When  it 
passeth  its  limit  and  trieth  to  comprehend  things  not  perceived, — the  fancy  is  error. 

A  person  heareth  the  name  of  one  whom  he  hath  never  seen;  he  evoketh  a  form 
purely  imaginary.  When  the  hidden  becometh  present,  the  imaginary  form  may,  or 
may  not,  be  concordant  with  his  (real)  form. 

The  limit  of  wahm  (imagination)  is — 

When  out  of  a  form  of  things  perceived  he  gaineth  in  part  a  sense  of  things  not 
perceived;  as  a  sheep  from  seeing  the  wolf  comprehendeth  the  sense  of  enmity  not 
perceived. 

When  he  transgresseth,  and  imagineth  things  sensible  and  spiritual,  he  falleth  in- 
to error. 

Thus  he  cannot  imagine  ruh  (the  soul)  merely  from  the  form  of  the  body  as 
tor- 


Its  entenng. 
„  issuing. 
„  union. 


Its  separation. 
„  nearness. 
,,  farness. 


He  cannot  find  the  limit  of  the  world  of  bodies. 

When  beyond  it  he  beginneth  imagining,  he  falleth  into  error. 

The  limit  of  'akl  (reason)  is  : — 

the  understanding  of  the  world  of  hikmat ;  no  path  into  the  world  of  kudrat  is  its. 

The  world  of  hikmat  signifies  : — 

The  existence  of  cause.  For  to  a  cause,  the  absolute  Wise  One  hath  bound  every  existing  thing 
in  the  world  of  dominion  and  of  witnessing  (the  world  material);  and  by  means  of  that 
cause,  hath  caused  to  pass  the  sunnat  (the  creation  of  that  existence)— not  in  this  sense 
that,  without  that  cause,  existence  is  impossible  in  God's  power.  For  the  arrangement 
of  the  world  of  hikmat,  God  hath  joined  existence  to  cause.  Guardian  over  the  world 
of  hikmat,  they  have  made  reason;  to  it  not  true  (is)  a  power  in  the  world  of  kudrat  (t'^e 
creating  of  something  without  the  means  of  a  cause). 

Whenever  out  of  the  world  of  kudrat,  he  heareth  something,  he  saith  it  is  not 
reasonable  ;  or  ordereth  as  to  its  alteration. 

He  knoweth  not  that — not  inexcused  is  what  is  un-reasonable. 

Not  reasonable  is  the  existence  of  the  child.  Without  the  seed  of  the  father,  the 
acceptance  of  it  by  the  mother,  its  settlement  in  the  womb,  and  the  pissino-  of  the 
appointed  time  in  the  world  of  hikmat — it  existeth  not.  , 


THE  AFFAIRS  OF  THE  NEXT  WORLD.  67 

But,  in  the  world  of  kudrat,  it  is  possible  and  doth  occur.     As  the  existence  : 

of  Adam. 
„  Havva. 
„  'Is?. 

When  to  the  world  of  kudrat,  reason  findeth  no  path,  and  desireth  sway  in  it, — 
it  falleth  into  error. 

To  explanation,  he  hasteth  saying,  the  meaning  is  such  and  such. 

Verily  the  imputation  of  ignorance  he  accepteth  not;  and  knoweth  not  whence 
is  the  source  of  error.  If  in  his  own  limit  (the  world  of  hikmat)  he  had  stood,  into 
this  error  he  would  not  have  fallen ;  evident  it  would  have  been  that  from  the  gar- 
ment of  hikmat  one  cannot  find  the  world  of  kudrat  save  by  faith. 

Possibly  if  words  like  these  reach  the  ear  of  hypocrites,  they  will  in  the  way  of  jest 
laugh  at  the  speaker's  reason  ;  and  name  it  delirium. 

No  knowledge  have  the  helpless  ones.  At  them,  the  man  of  vision  and  the 
Lords  of  explanation  look  with  pity  ;  and,  at  the  lowness  of  their  reason  and  at  the 
poverty  of  their  understanding,  laugh.  Like  a  captive,  they  are  in  the  world  of  hikmat 
veiled  from  the  world  of  kudrat. 

Like  this  is  the  confining  of  the  embryo  in  the  narrow  place  of  the  womb. 

If,  by  chance,  to  it  a  person  were  to  say  : — 

Outside  the  narrow  place  of  the  womb  is  another  world,  a  great  space,  a  great  breadth,  a  sky, 
a  land,  a  sun,  a  moon,  and  other  things. 

Never  would  the  imagining  and  the  reasoning  of  it  appear  true  save  by  faith. 

Even  so  the  dwellers  of  the  narrow  world  of  hikmat  cannot  save  by  faith  gain  the 
circumstances  of  the  world  of  kudrat  until  man's  soul  from  the  narrow  place  of  the 
womb  of  the  world  of  hikmat  cometh  to  the  space  of  the  world  of  ghaib  and  of  kudrat; 
or  by  the  death  of  nature  and  of  will  which  they  call  "the  second  birth,"*  even  as  'Isa 
hath  written. 

Before  faith,  whatever  they  have  accepted,  only  by  the  eye,  they  see  ;  so  long  as 
the  veil  of  humanity  is  not  uplifted,  only  the  eye  revolveth. 

To-day  save  by  the  power  of  inward  taste  (which  meaneth  faith),  one  cannot  find 
the  ?auk  (delight)  of  the  limit  of  (this  given  by)  the  prophets. 

There  is  a  crowd  in  whom  that  power  is  not  created  ;  and  whose  directing  is  im. 
possible ;  and  a  crowd  in  whom  this  power  is  created. 

But,  by  the  power  of  sickness  of  desire,  they  have  been  ruined  ;  and  in  their 
jp^late,  the  food  of  truths,  like  the  'ilm  of  faith,  appeareth  bitter. 

On  all  men  of  faith,  it  is  incumbent  to  aid  God  : — 

by  raising  the  faith  of  Mustafa  Muhammad);  by  destroying  the  vain;  by  repelling  the  deceit 
of  men  of  error;  and  by  prohibiting  the  power  of  shaitans,  man-in-f(>rm. 

The  shari'at  of  Muhammad  and  his  creed  is  the  straight  path  and  trodden  high- 
way ;  the  seal  (last)  of  the  sent  ones  (prophets),  trusted  one  of  the  Lord  of  both  worlds 
with  so  many  thousands  of  troops  of  nations  (holy  ones,  pure  ones,  martyred  ones) 

John  iii,  3. 


58  suFi.iSM. 

hath  gone  on  that  highway  and  swept  it  of  thorn,  of  rubbish,  of  doubt,  and  of  suspi- 
cion ;  hath  established  knowledge  of  it  and  of  its  stages  ;  hath  left  behind  a  trace  of 
every  pace  ;  hath  established  an  alighting  place  at  every  stage  ;  hath  for  the  repelling 
of  the  robbers  of  the  path  sent  the  guide  of  resolution  as  fellow-traveller. 

If  a  strange  surveyor  claimeth  that  the  path  is  not  straight,  and  inviteth  the  people 
to  another  path, — his  word  should  not  be  regarded  ;  and  for  its  repelling,  the  aid  of  the 
true  faith  is  of  the  number  of  ordinances  and  of  requisites. 

The  men  of  deceit  and  of  error  are  a  crowd  who  outwardly  wear  the  robe  of  Islam  ; 
and  towards  Islam  inwardly  keep  concealed  kufr  and  hate  ;  outwardly  mix  with  the 
men  of  Islam  ;  show  themselves  to  the  people  as  verified  'ulama  and  confirmed  hukama  ; 
instruct  in  the  eternity  of  this  world  and  in  the  denial  of  the  resurrection  ;  regard  the 
'ulama  and  the  shaikhs  of  Islam  as  the  enemy  ;  and  (because  by  the  light  of  their 
'ilm  their  own  hiding  and  dark  places  become  discovered)  render  contemptuous  their 
form. 

The  God-like  'ulama  are  the  stars  of  the  sky  of  shari'at ;  it,  they  ever  keep  pre- 
served from  the  sway  of  shaitans  of  men.  Their  luminous  breath  like  to  the  pene- 
tratino'  meteor  pelteth  those  (the  shaitans  of  men)  concealing  and  carrying  off  the 
mvsteries  of  the  shari'at ;  keepeth  them  on  every  side  perturbed  and  restless ;  and 
repelleth  from  the  people  their  deceitful  wickedness. 

Wherever  these  men  of  deceit  gain  sway,  they  make  the  people  shun  the  'ulama  ; 
begin  in  the  souls  of  those  ready,  satanic  sway,  and  (by  iniquity  of  faith,  and  by 
the  cutting  off  of  the  link  of  Islam  from  the  order  of  man)  the  ruining  of  their  faith  ; 
turn  the  pure  simple  heart  from  the  purity  of  nature  ;  conceal  themselves  behind  the 
shield  of  Islam  ;  make  sure  the  arrow  of  treachery  and  of  loss  at  the  butt  of  faith  and 
of  religion  ;  and  secretly,  with  courteous  glance,  call  man  to  destruction. 

They  are  the  enemies  of  faith,  the  brothers  of  shaitan  ;  ignorant  of  rules,  the  causer 
of  injuries. 

Before  the  Lord  of  both  worlds,  no  devotion  hath  such  a  lofty  degree  as  the  repel- 
ling of  this  crowd  and  the  uplifting  of  the  foundations  of  their  deceit  and  hypocrisy. 


The  men  of  submission  (to  repel  these  men  of  deceit  and  error)  are  : — 
(a)  men  of  kudrat  (power). 
ib)       „        'ilm  (knowledge). 

The  men  of  kudrat  act : — 

by  way  of  slaughter  and  of  rapine  ;  of  chastisement  and  punishment ;  of  denial  and  of  banish- 
ment. 

The  men  of  'ilm  act: — 

by  manifesting  deceit,  hypocrisy  and  heresy. 

Who,  on  one  of  these  two  ways,  hath  power,  is  by  it  ordered  ;  by  accepting  it    re- 
warded ;  and  by  abandoning  it,  requited.  , 


•ILM-I-KIYAM. 


69 


'llm-i-Kiyam  (knowledge  of  God's  standing  as  the  slave's 

observer). 

II.  5. 

In  the  opinion  of  the  sufis,  'ilm-i-kiyam  signifieth  : — 

A  special  'ilm,  wherein,  in  all  movings  and  restings,  outward  and  inward,  the  slave 
seeth  God  standing  over  him  and  observing  him. 

This  sense  is  from  the  Kuran. 

Hence,  the  slave  keepeth  himself  adorned,  outwardly  and  inwardly,  with  the 
garment  of  rules  agreeing  with  the  orders  of  God,  and  separated  from  the  garment  of 
opposition  (to  Him). 

This  is  a  precious  'ilm  which,  in  sufl,istic  idiom,  they  call  : — 
'ilm-i-murakaba.* 

Who  maketh  it  his  inward  habit,  becometh  delighted  with  all  exalted  makams  and 
precious  hals  ;  the  reverence  and  the  fear  of  God  become  his  teacher  in  all  affairs  as 
Muhammad  hath  said. 

Sahl  Abdu-1-lah  Tastarl  mostly  ordered  his  murids  by  this  'ilm  of  precept  ;  and 

said  it- 
Void  of  four  things,  be  ye  not. 

i.  'ilm-i-kiyam,  that  ye  may — ,  in  every  hal,  witnesser  and  observer  of  you,— see  God. 
ii.  the  service  of  devotion,  that  ye  may  ever  keep  yourselves  established  in  confirmity  with  de- 
votion to  Him. 
iii.  constantly  ask  God  for  the  aid  of  His  grace  in  respect  of  these  two  things,  (i,  ii). 
iv.  persevere  in  these  three  things  till  death ;  for,  in  these  four  things,  are  the  good  of  this,  and 
the  next,  world  ;  and  happiness  inwardly  and  outwardly. 

'Ilm-i-kiyam  is  the  zikr  of  the  heart  at  the  time  of  motion  limbs  and  resolution  of 
the  heart  in  respect  to  : — 

(a)  kiyam,  on  himself. 

{b)  shuhud-i-hakk,  „ 

So  that  in   conformity  with  that  ordered,  the  motion  and  the  resolution  may  be. 

This  they  call : — 

{a]  zikr-i-fariza,  the  zikr  of  God's  ordinance. 
(6)     „  „   zaban,  „  the  tongue, 

(c)    „  „  fazilat,  „  excellence. 

Thus,  they  say  : — 

Yesterday  is  dead  ;  to-morrow  is  not  born  ;  to-day  is  in  the  agonies  of  death. 

Who  is  engaged  in  the  zikr  of  the  past  and  of  the  future  is  in  destruction. 

•  See  pp.  59,  64,  86,  1 14. 

t  To  the  end,  is  'Abdu-1-lah's  discourse. 


7o  SUFi.lSM. 

The  safety  and  the  salvation  of  the  people  is  in  their  being  engaged  in  the  ord- 
inance of  the  time  ('ilm-i-kiyam),  with  the  practice  of  the  pleasurable  deed.  Because, 
in  this  hal,  theirs  can  be  : — 

breathing.  I  rest. 

doing  anything.  ]  favour. 

Than  other  'ilms,  this  'ilm  is  : — 
more  dear 
„     strange 
„    profitable. 

Yours  the  service  of  that  in  surety  whereof  are  included  perpetual  country  and 
constant  favour. 

Who  perpetually  seeketh  this  fortune  without  preface,  maketh  severance  of  con- 
nections ;  without  shunning  the  society  of  strangers,  patience  as  to  the  opposition  of 
nafs  appeareth  not. 


'Ilm-i-hal  (knowledge  of  the  mystic  state). 

II.  6. 

Of  the  special  sufi,istic  'ilms,  one  is  :  — 
'ilm-i-hal. 

which  consisteth — 

in  regarding  the  heart  and  considering  the  mystery  of  that  state  (which  is  between  the  slave 
and  the  Lord)  by  equalling  the  increase  and  the  loss;  by  levelling  powerfulness  and 
feebleness  by  the  touch-stone  of  proof,  so  that  by  observing  truths  and  by  preserving  rule 
he  may  establish  hal. 

For,  there  is  a  rule  for  every  hal  in  respect  to  its  own  nafs,  according  to : — 

(a)  the  time. 
(6)     „  makam. 

Thus  from  the  hal  of  riza,  in  respect  to  its  nafs,  is  a  rule, — the  rest  of  nafs. 

As  to   the  calamities  arising  from   God's   order,   according  to    the    time    when 
calamity : — 

(a)  increaseth  is  a  rule,— the  performance  of  thanks  so  long  as  the  increase  of  the  hal  of  riza 
and  the  folding  of  nafs  in  the  folds  of  despair  are  not  confirmed  until  the  quality  of 
independence  and  of  pride  becometh  not  evident. 

(J)  ceaseth  is  a  rule — asking  God  for  help  so  that  He  may  open  the  door  of  advance  and  of 
increase;  may  preserve  nafs  from  motion;  ard  (for  desire  of  mcrease)  may  into  the 
slave's  heart,  bring  a  desire  shauk-exciting,  and  a  shauk,  affliction-mi.\ing. 

For  the  increase  of  the  hal  of  riza  is  another  order  and  rule  in  the  stage — 

(«)  of  concordance  (with  the  orders  of  God), — riza  and  joy. 

(6)  of  opposition,— denial  and  grief.  I 


'ILM-I  HAL.  »j 

In  each  of  these  two  stages,  contrary  to  the  rule  of  increase,  is  a  rule  for  the 
decrease  of  the  hal  of  riza. 

Who  regardeth  the  form  of  his  own  state  between  him  and  the  Lord,  according  to  its  rule, 
according  to  every  time  and  stage,  is  preserved ;  and,  to  the  maturity  of  perfection  and  to  the 
stage  of  men  (devoted  to  God),  reacheth. 
Who  is  careless  of  it  is  not  secure  of  the  robbers  of  the  Path.     This  is  an  employment  wherein  if 
his  life  be  expended,  not  discharged  is  its  due. 

The  holy  travellers  of  this  Path  are  separate  according  to  difference  of  power  of 
capacity  and  of  weakness  thereof. 

Some,  in  their  nafs,  know  this  difference  of  circumstances  (joy  and  sorrow)  and 
thereby  discriminate  between  their  increase  and  decrease. 

Momently,  in  respect  of  a  former  moment  they  discover  the  difference  of 
their  hal. 

Some  discover  this  change  at  times ;  some  in  hours;  some  in  days. 

Sahl  Abdu-1-lah-i-Tastari  hath  said  : — 

Safety,  the  slave  gaineth  not,  save  when  he  is  learned  in  his  hal  and  forgetteth  it  not ;  and,  by 
it,  is  obedient  to  God. 

They  asked  saying  : — 
What  is  the  'ilm-i-hal  ? 

He  said  :  — 

Whose  state  with  God  is  the  abandoning  of  will  and  the  negation  of  desire,  ever  regardeth  this 
hal  according  to  exigency;  and  ever  abandoneth  design  ;  whenever  in  himself,  he  findeth 
inclination  to  a  plan,  he  denieth  it ;  what  knoweth  he  but  that  it  is  the  repeller  of  his  hal. 

Sahl  hath  by  the  abandoning  of  will  made  the  speciality  of  the  'ilm-i-hal ;  because 
loftier  than  it,  is  no  hal. 

'Ilm-i-yakm  (knowledge  of  certainty). 

II.  9. 

'Ilm-i-yakin  (the  knowledge  of  certainty)  signifieth — 

The  revelation  of  the  light  of  hakikat  in  the  state  of  concealment  of  humanity  by  the  evidence  of 
wajd  (ecstasy)  and  of  zauk  (delight),  not  by  the  guidance  of  ^kl  (reason)  and  had  is  (report). 

They  call  this  light  :— 

(a)  beyond  the  veil, — the  light  of  faith. 
ib)  through         „  „  yakin. 

Verily,  not  more  than  one  light — the  light  of  faith,— is  there  when  it  becometh 
the  heart's  agent. 

Without  the  veil  of  humanity,  it  is  the  light  of  yakin.  As  long  as  a  residue  of 
existence  is,  ever  the  cloud  of  the  qualities  of  humanity  go  rising  from  the  soul  of 
humanity;  and  covereth  the  sun  of  hakikat  (truth). 

Sometimes,  it  becometh  scattered  ;  and  by  way  of  wajd,  the  heart  from  the 
flashing  of  the  light  gaineth  zauk,  as  the  cold-stricken  one,  on  whom  suddenly 
shineth,  the  sun's  light  from  its  splendour  and  warmth  gaineth  zauk  (delight). 


72 


SUFi.lSM. 


Regard  the  sun  as  the  hakikat-i-haka.ik  (the  truth  of  truths!  ;  its  light,  like  the 
flashing  of  hakikat,  shining  from  outside  the  veil  of  the  light  of  safety,  manifested 
through  the  veil  of  the  light  of  yakin ;  and  the  cold-stricken  one,  like  that  one 
veiled  with  the  qualities  of  humanity  in  the  light  of  faith. 

Then  is  the  light  of  faith  ever  firm  ;  the  light  of  yakin,  sometimes  flashing  and 
bright,  as  in  the  hadis. 

Yakin  hath  three  degrees.  Thus,  as  to  the  sun's  existence,  a  person  is  void  of 
doubt  :— 

i.  by  seeking  guidance  from  beholding  the  sun's  splendour  and  understanding  its  heat. 

This  is  'ilm-i-yakin. 
ii.  by  beholding  the  sun's  body. 

This  is  ^inu-l-yakin. 
iii.  by  the  dispersing  of  the  eye's  light  in  the  sun's  light. 
This  is  hakku-l-yakin. 

Then — 

(a)  in  'ilmu-1-yakin,  it  is  known,  verified  and  evident. 
(6)    „  &inu-l-yakin,  it  is  manifest  and  witnessed. 
(c)  „  liakku-1-yakin,  a  double  way  ariseth  in  consequence  of — 
the  witnesser.  I  the  looker  on. 

„  witnessed.  I  „   looked  „ 

Thus,  the  seer  becometh  the  eye ;  the  eye,  the  seer. 

In  the  halof  the  residue  of  the  composition,  this  sense  (like  lightning  that  cometh 
into  flash  and  immediately  expireth),  appeareth  not  more  than  a  moment  to  the  perfect 
and  to  those  joined  with  God. 

If  an  hour  it  be  left,  the  thread  of  composition  looseneth;  and  the  way  of 
existence  ariseth  (and  departeth). 

Of  yakin— 

(a)  the  root  is  'ilmu-1-yakin. 

(i)     „  branches  are 'ainu-1-yakin  and  hakku-l-yakin. 

Faith  hath  many  degrees,  whereof  one  is  yakin. 

Yakin  giveth  the  heart  freedom  from  the  perturbation  of  doubt :  it,  the  shar'  hath 
called  faith  as  in  the  hadis. 

What  by  way  of  adducing  reasonable  proof  becometh  known  is  far  from  'ilm-i- 
yakin  ;  because  : — 

(a)  that  (the  adducing  of  reasonable  proof)  is  the  'ilm  of  adducing  proof. 

(b)  this  (yakin;  „        „      hal. 

Not  all  at  once,  save  by  the  rising  of  the  sun  of  hakikat,  becometh  the  darkness 
of  doubt  removed. 


NAFS. 


73 


Nafs  (essence). 

III.    2. 

Nafs  hath  two  meanings  ; — 
(a)  nafs-i-shay  (the  nafs  of  a  thing)  which  is  the  zat  (essence)  and  the  hakikat  (truth)  of  a 

thing.     Thus  they  say  :  — 

"  By  its  own  nafs,  a  certain  thing  is  standing." 
{b)  nafs-i-natika-i-insani  (the  human  rational  nafs)  which  is  the  abstract  of  the  graces  of  the 

body,  which  they  call — the  human  natural  soul,  and  a  luminosity  (which  is  bestowed 

on  it  from  the  lofty  human  soul)  by  which  luminosity  the  body  becometh  the  place  of 

revelation  of  iniquity  and  of  piety,  as  the  Kuran  hath  said. 

The  ma'rifat  of  nafs  is  in  all  qualities  difficult,  for  nafs  hath  the  nature  of  the  cha- 
meleon. 

Momently  appeareth  a  different  colour ;  hourly  cometh  forth  another  form.     It  is  the  Harut  of  the 
Babil   of  existence ;    momently,  another  vanishing  picture  on  water  nafs  expresseth,  and  beoinneth 
another  sorcery- 
Hints  as  to  the  ma'rifat  of  nafs  are  (found)  in  the  links  and  conditions  of  the 
ma'rifat  of  God. 

The  recognising  of  nafs  in  all  its  qualities,  and  the  reaching  to  a  knowledge  of 
it  is  not  the  power  of  any  created  thing.  Even  so  difficult,  is  the  reaching  to  the  sub- 
stance of  the  ma'rifat  of  God  ;  and  even  so,  to  the  ma'rifat  of  nafs,  as  Ali  hath  said. 

The  names  of  nafs  are  :  — 

nafs-i-ammara,        imperious     nafs  (concupiscence). 
„   „  lawwama,      reproaching    „ 
„   „  mutma.inna,  restful  „ 

They  call  nafs: — 
(a)  nafs-i-ammara 

At  the  beginning,  as  long  as  under  its  sway,  is  existence. 
(4)  nafs-i-lawwama. 

In  the  middle  when  obedient  to  the  heart's  sway  it  becometh,  while  is  left  yet  some  residue 
of  the  nafs  of  obstinacy  whereon  it  ever  reproacheth  itself, 
(c)  nafs-i-mutma,inna. 

At  the  end,  when  extirpated  from  it,  become  the  veins  of  contention  and  of  abhorrence  ; 
when  from  contention  with  the  heart  it  gaineth  rest,  and  becometh  obedient  to  order ; 
when  to  riza  becometh  changed  its  abhorrence. 

In  the  beginning,  when  nafs  is  yet  firm  in  the  dwelling  of  nature,  it  ever  wisheth 
to  draw  to  its  own  low  dwelling  the  ruh  (soul)  and  the  heart  from  the  lofty  region  ; 
and  ever  giveth  to  itself  in  their  sight  the  splendour  of  a  new  decoration.  As  a 
broker,  shaitan  adorneth  the  worthless  majesty  of  nafs  ;  and  restless  for  it  maketh 
souls  and  hearts,  so  that  he  may  make  low  the  exalted  soul,  and  polluted  the  purified 
heart. 

Thus  have  said  :— 

Sahl  Abdul.l-Iah. 

Abu  Yazid. 

Junid. 


n^  SUFi.ISM. 

The  crowd  who  consider  rational  nafs  and  heart  to  be  one,  do  so  because  at  the 
end,  they  find  nafs  described  with  the  description  of  rest  and  contentment  (the  spe- 
cialities of  the  heart). 

The  suspicion  is  that  between  the  heart  and  rational  nafs  is  no  difference. 

Nafs-i-mutma,inna  is  indeed  another  nafs.  They  know  not  that  it  is  verily  nafs-i- 
mutma,inna,  which  is  stripped  of  the  garment  of  vagrancy,  and  clad  in  the  honour- 
robe  of  rest  and  of  ri'za ;  and  which  hath  taken  the  heart's  colour. 

Whenever,  nafs-i-ammara  taketh  the  heart's  colour,  the  heart  also  taketh  the 
soul's  colour  (and  pursueth  good  deeds). 


On  some  of  the  qualities  of  nafs. 

III.  3- 
The  source  of  the  blameable  qualities  in  man  is  nafs :  the  source  of  the  laudable 
qualities  is  ruh  (the  soul). 

The  blameable  qualities  of  nafs  are  ten  :— 

1.  hawa  (desire). 

Nafs  desireth  to  advance  as  to  its  desires ;  to  place  in  its  bosom  the  desires  of 
nature  ;  to  bind  on  its  waist  the  girdle  of  its  consent  with  desire  and  to  hold  God  in 
partnership,  as  saith  the  Kalam-i-Majid. 

This  quality  departeth  not  save  by  austerity  and  by  love  for  God. 

2.  nifak  (hypocrisy). 

In  many  outward  states,  nafs  is  not  concordant  with  its  interior  ;  not  one  before 
it,  is  man's  being  absent  or  his  being  present. 

In  man's  presence,  nafs  praiseth  and  displayeth  sincerity;  in  his  absence, — just 
the  contrary. 

This  quality  departeth  not  save  by  the  existence  of  sincerity. 

3.  riya  (hypocrisy). 

Ever  in  its  bond,  is  nafs  that,  in  man's  sight,  it  may  keep  itself  adorned  with  laud- 
able qualities  (though  in  God's  sight  through  hypocrisy  they  are  blameable)  : — 
abundance  of  property  and  boasting  thereof .    I         violence, 
pride,  1        independence. 

Whatever  is  reprehensible  before  the  people,  nafs  shunneth  and  concealeth,— 
though  in  God's  sight  it  be  laudable:-— 
fakr  (poverty)  | 

submission  Laudable  in  God's  sight ;  reprehensible  in  the  people's, 

humility  1 


THE  QUALITIES  OF  NAFS.  ye 

This  departeth  not  save  by  knowledge  of  the  paltry  worth  of  the  people  as  Junid 
and  Abu  Bakr  Warak  have  said. 

Nafs  is  a  hypocrite  like  unto  fire  that  revealeth  the  good  quality  (light),  and  con- 
cealeth  the  bad  quality  (consuming). 

Although  nafs  revealeth  the  beautiful  and  concealeth  the  ugly, — it  is  not  con- 
cealed save  to  those  of  defective  vision. 

It  is  like  unto  an  old  woman  detestable  of  appearance,  who'adorneth  herself  with 
sumptuous  apparel  of  varied  colour  and  with  henna.  Only  to  boys,  doth  that  decora- 
tion appear  to  be  good  ;  to  the  wise,  abhorrence  increaseth. 

4.  The  claim  to  Godship,  and  obstinacy  against  God.  Nafs  ever  desireth  that 
people  should  praise  it ;  should  obey  its  orders  ;  should  love  it  above  all ;  should  of 
it  be  fearful  and  display  the  bond  of  dependence  upon  its  mercy. 

Thus  against  these  orders,  God  cautioneth  His  own  slaves. 

These  qualities  depart  not  save  by  the  glory  of  the  qualities  of  God. 

5.  Pride  and  self-beholding. 

Nafs  ever  looketh  at  its  own  beauteous  qualities ;  regardeth  with  contentment 
the  form  of  its  own  hal.  The  paltry  benefaction  that  from  it  occurreth  to  another, 
it  exalteth;  for  years  forgetteth  it  not ;  and  regardeth  him  as  being  immersed  in  obli- 
gation. 

If  to  nafs,  great  benefaction  cometh,  it  regardeth  it  as  paltry  and  almost  for- 
getteth it. 

This  is  of  the  number  of  deadly  sins  as  Muhammad  hath  said,  and  as  is  entered 
in  the  hadis. 

This  departeth  not  save  through  self-contempt. 

6.  Avarice  and  parsimony. 

Whatever  chattels  of  goods  and  of  desire  it  gathereth,  it  letteth  not  go  save 
through  pride,  or  through  fear  of  poverty  (in  the  future). 

When  this  quality  is  strong  in  nafs,  from  it  springeth  envy  ;  for  envy  is  the 
breeding  of  miserliness  for  the  property  of  others. 

If  it  see  another  with  special  favour,  it  seeketh  his  decline;  when  it  gathereth 
power,  hate  appeareth. 

Him,  who  with  itself  gaineth  equality  in  affluence  ;  whom  it  seeth  distinguished 
for  an  excellence,  whom  it  regardeth  as  the  cause  of  a  favour  being  refused,— his  d>- 
struction,  nafs  ever  desireth. 

This  departeth  not  save  under  the  power  of  the  light  of  yakin. 


76 


SUFi.lSM. 


7.  Greedinesc  and  asking  for  more. 

Nafs  is  ever  in  prolonged  delights,  and  restricteth  not  itself.  Never  becometh 
full  the  stomach  of  its  need. 

It  is  like  the  moth  that  with  the  candle's  light  contenteth  not  itself;  by  under- 
standing the  injury  of  its  heat  it  becometh  not  warned  ;  and  casteth  itself  on  the  body 
of  the  fire  so  that  it  becometh  consumed. 

As  nafs  suffereth  calamity,  so  its  greed  for  delight  becometh  greater. 

This  departeth  not  save  by  wara'  (austerity)  and  by  takva  (piety). 

8.  Levity  and  light-headedness. 

Nafs  resteth  on  nothing.  When  thoughts  of  lust  and  of  desire  arrive,  it  putteth 
not  in  the  first  place  steadiness  or  delay;  it  immediately  desireth  to  enact  it ;  there- 
fore in  their  (proper)  place  evident  become  not  rest  and  motion.  For  its  desire,  it  dis- 
playeth  celerity. 

The  sages  have  likened  it  to  the  spherical  globe  which  they  place  in  a  court,  plain 
and  smooth.     It  is  ever  in  motion. 

This  departeth  not  save  by  patience. 

9.  Haste  to  fatigue. 

To  nafs,  fatigue  of  things  quickly  appeareth  ;  and  to  it  showeth  the  false  idea  that 
its  being  up-plucked  from  the  present  state  and  its  being  employed  in  a  following 
state — will  be  its  rest. 

It  knoweth  not  that  the  guidance  of  ideas  like  to  these  will  never  convey  it  to  its 
idea.     Mostly,  the  form  of  occurrence  is  contrary  to  its  purpose. 

If  it  gain  success,  then  everything  that  was  pleasing  becometh  abhorrent  to  it. 

From  this  calamity  it  is  impossible  to  escape  save  by  the  establishing  of  the 
ordered  thanks  (to  God). 

10.  Negligence. 

As  towards  desires  is  haste,  so  towards  devotion  and  good  deeds  is  slothfulness. 
This  disease  departeth  not  save  by  great  austerity  and  rigorous  effort,  which  fighteth 
nature  by  coldness  and  dryness ;  and  maketh  it  acceptable  of  order  and  gentle  and 
smooth  like  tanned  skins. 

To  each  of  these  qualities  of  nafs,  physicians  of  nafs  (prophets  and  holy  men, 
their  followers)  have  applied  a  remedy. 


These  ten  qualities  are  the  mother  of  qualities,  wherefrom  many  other  qualities 
are  derived. 

The  roots  and  the  branches  of  lustful  qualities  are  all  sprung  from  the  root  of  the 
creation  of  nafs.     That  is  the  four  natures  : — 

heat.  I        wetness, 

cold.  I        dryness. 

1 


RUH. 


77 


Ma'rifat-i-ruh  (deep  knowledge  of  the  soul). 

in.  5- 

The  ma'rifat  of  the  soul  and  the  majesty  of  its  understanding  is  lofty  and  in- 
accessible. Not  attainable,  is  its  acquisition  with  the  noose  of  reason.  It  is  a  simurgh 
that  hath  its  nest  on  the  Kaf  (Caucasus)  of  majesty  ;  and  as  the  prey  of  understanding 
entereth  not  the  dwelling  of  writing. 

It  is  a  jewel  that  hath  risen  from  the  abyss  of  the  ocean  of  grandeur ;  not  possi- 
ble, is  the  writing  of  its  qualities  by  the  scale  of  conjecture. 

The  Lords  of  revelation  and  the  Masters  of  hearts  fwho  are  prefects  of  the  mys- 
teries of  the  hidden,  and  who  have  become  free  from  the  following  of  desire  and 
from  the  servitude  of  nafs)  have  grudged  explanation  save  by  hint. 

The  most  honoured  existence,  and  the  nearest  evidence  to  God, — is  the  great 
soul*  which  to  Himself  God  hath  joined. 

Great  Adam,  the  first  khalifa,  the  interpreter  of  God,  the  key  of  existence,  the 
reed  of  invention  and  the  paradise  of  souls, — all  signify  the  qualities  of  ruh  (the  soul)  ; 
and  the  first  prey  that  fell  into  the  net  of  existence  was  the  soul. 

The  will  of  the  ancient  one  assigned  it  to  His  own  khilafat  in  the  world  of  crea- 
tion ;  entrusted  to  it  the  keys  of  the  treasuries  of  mysteries  ;  dismissed  it  for  sway  in 
the  world  ;  opened  to  it  a  great  river  from  the  sea  of  life, — so  that  ever  from  it,  it 
might  seek  aid  of  the  bounty  of  life  ;  might  add  to  the  parts  of  the  universe ;  might 
convey  the  form  of  divine  words  from  the  establishment-place  of  collection  (the  Holy 
Existence)  to  the  place  of  separation,  (the  world)  might  give,  with  the  essence  of 
abridgment,  dignity  in  the  essence  of  division.  To  it,  God  gave  two  glances  of  divine 
blessing  :— 

(a)  One  for  beholding  the  majesty  of  kudrat. 
ib)  The  other     „  „    beauty  of  hikmat. 

The  first  glance  signifieth  natural  reason  ;  its  result  is  love  for  God. 

The  second  glance  signifieth  reason,  common  and  low  ;  its  result  is  wholly  nafs. 

Every  bounty,  the  aid  whereof  the  soul  of  ncrease  seeketh  from  the  essence  of 
collection  (God), — worthy  of  it,  universal  nafs  becometh. 

By  reason  of  active  deed,  of  passive  deed  and  of  power,  of  weakness, t  the  attri- 
bute of  male  and  of  female  appeareth  ;  in  the  soul  of  increase  and  universal  nafs, — the 
custom  of  love-making  became  confirmed  by  the  link  of  temperament;  by  means 
of  marriage,  the  races  of  worlds  became  existing  ;  and  by  the  hard  of  the  midwife  of 
Fate  appeared  in  the  apparent  world. 

Then  all  created  beings  are  the  outcome  of  nafs  and  of  rah  (the  soulj. 

•  See  the  Kuran,  P.  D. ;  XVII,  87. 
t  The  male  qualities  are  :—  the  active  deed  and  power. 
„     female    „  „    — the  passive  deed  and  weakness. 


^8  sOfI.ism. 

Nafs  is  the  lasult  of  ruli ;  ruh,  of  order.  Because  by  His  own  self,  without  any 
cause  (whereto  the  order  is  the  hint)  God  created  the  soul;  and  by  means  of  rah, 
(whereof  creation  is  the  hint)  the  crowd  ot  created  beings. 

Since  it  is  necessary  that  every  khalifa  should  be  the  comprehender  of  varied 
qualities,  He  clothed  the  God-like  grace  and  the  endless  bounty  of  the  soul,  in  the 
khilafat  of  creation,  with  the  honour-robe  of  all  names,  and  with  the  qualities  of  His 
own  beauty  and  grandeur  ;  and  made  it  honoured  in  the  chief  seat  of  creation. 

When  the  circle  of  causing  to  create  reached  accomplishment,  in  the  mirror  of 
the  existence  ot  dusty  Adam,  the  soul  became  reflected  ;  and  in  it,  all  the  names  and 
God-like  qualities  illuminated. 

Spread  abroad  in  lofty  places,  became  the  rumour  of  Adam's  khilafat ;  and  on  the 
mandate  of  his  khilafat  came  this  royal  seal ;  on  the  standard  of  his  blessing,  became 
revealed  this  Kuranic  verse: — "To  Adam,  all  names  He  made  known."* 

In  the  grasp  of  his  sway,  they  placed  the  gate  of  subduing  and  the  eye  of  decree- 
ing. 

For  his  adoration,  they  ordered  the  angels ;  for  that  tranquillity  (coUectedness) 
was  not  the  angels'. 

Some  of  the  angels  are  in  the  stage  : — 

(a)  of  jamal  (beauty)  only  ;  they  are  the  angels  of  kindness  and  of  mercy. 

(b)  „  jalai  (grandeur)   „  „  „  wrath,  of  mercy,  and  of  vengeance. 

By  all  names,  Adam  knew  God  ;  but  the  angels  only  by  that  name,  which  was 
their  stage. 

The  existence  in  the  material  world  :— 

(a)  of  Adam  became  the  stage  of  the  form  of  ruh  in  the  hidden  world. 
{b)  of  Havva  (Eve)         „  „  „  nafs     „  „ 

Havva's  birth  from  Adam  is  like  unto  the  birth  of  nafs  from  ruh  (the  soul)  ;  and 
the  effects  of  the  marriage  of  nafs  and  ruh,  and  the  attraction  of  male  and  of  female, 
became  assigned  to  Adam  and  Havva. 

Like  to  their  issuing  from  ruh  and  nafs,  came  into  existence  the  atoms  of  pro- 
geny (which  were  a  deposit  in  Adam's  back-bone)  by  the  union  of  Adam  and  Havva. 

The  existence  of  Adam  and  Havva  became  the  exemplar  of  the  existence  of  ruh 
and  nafs. 

In  every  person  of  mankind,  another  exemplar  becometh — by  the  union  of  ruh  (in 
part)  and  of  nafs  (in  part)  transcribed  from  the  exemplar  of  Adam  and  Havva. 

Became  produced  the  birth  : — 

(a)  of  the  heart  from  the  two  (soul  and  nafs). 

{b}  of  the  form  of  the  male  of  the  sons  of  Adam  from  the  form  of  the  universal  soul. 

(c)  „         „         „    female  from  the  form  of  universal  nafs. 

*  The  Kuran,  ti,  31. 


JAM'  AND  TAFRAKA.  -q 

In  the  form  of  the  female,  no  prophet  hath  been  sent.  Because  by  reason  of 
sway  in  the  souls  of  men  ;  and  by  its  effects  in  creation,  prophecy  hath  the  attribute 
of  the  male ;  and  the  means  of  revealing  the  mystery  of  prophecy  is  the  soul  suitable 
to  the  form  (of  man). 

Jam'  (collected)  and  tafraka  (dispersed). 

IV.    2. 

In  the  idiom  of  the  sufis  : — 
jam'  signifies  : — 
(a)  the  repelling  of  structures  (creation). 
(i)    „  dropping  „  additions  (worldly  ad- 
vantages), 
(c)    „   withdrawing  shuhijd-i-hakk   from 
creation. 


tafraka  signifies — 
the  accepting  of  structures  (creation). 
„   confirming   of   devotion    and  of  God- 
ship. 
„   separating  of  God  from  creation. 


Jam'  without  tafraka  is  impiousness  ;  tafraka  without  jam'  is  uselessness ;  jam' 
with  tafraka  is  the  very  truth,  for  it  hath  the  order  of  jam'  joined  to  souls,  and  of 
tafraka  to  forms. 

As  long  as  the  soul  and  the  body  are  linked,  the  union  of  jam'  and  tafraka  is  of 
the  requisites  of  existence. 

The  true  Arif  is  ever  joined  : — 

(a)  to  ruh  (which  is  the  dwelling  of  mushahida)  in  the  essence  of  jam.' 
(i)  to  the  body  (which  is  the  instrument  of  strife)  in  the  makam  of  tafraka. 

Thus  have  Junid  and  Wasiti  written. 

This  state,  the  sufis  call  jam'u-1-jam'. 

In  devotion,  who  looketh  : — 

(a)  at  his  own  acquisition,  is  in  tafraka. 

(6)    „  God's  grace,  is  in  jam'. 

(e)    „  neither  himself  nor  at  his  own  deeds,  is  in  jam'u-1-jam'  (wholly  effaced). 

Thus  Abu  All  Dakkak  and  Junid  have  said. 

Jam'  signifies : — 

the  veiling  and  the  concealment  of  the  people  in  the  superiority   of   zuhur  va  shuhud-i-hakk 
(revelation  and  manifestation  of  God). 

tafraka  signifies : — 

the  veiling  and  the  concealment  of  God  in  the  shuhud-i-wujud-i-khalk  (manifestation  of  the 
existence  of  creation). 

Tajain  (epiphany)  and  Istitar  (being  hid). 

IV.  3. 
Tajalli  signifieth  : — 

the  manifestation  of  'he  sun  of  the  hakikat  of  God  out  from  the  clouds  of  humanity. 


V 


8o 


SUFi.ISM. 

Istitar  signifieth  :— 

the  cloud  of  the  light  of  hakikat  in  the  revelation  of  the  qualities  of  humanity. 


V^ 


^ 


y^ 


Tajalli  is  of  three  kinds. 

1.  Tajalli-i-zat. 

Its  mark  (if  of  the  holy  traveller's  existence  something  hath  remained)  is  the  fana 
(effacement)  of  zat,  and  the  annihilation  of  qualities  in  the  glories  of  their  lights. 
They  call  it  "falling  into  a  swoon,"  as  was  the  state  of  Musa,  whom  (by  beholding  taj- 
alli) they  took  out  of  himself  and  effaced. 

When  from  God,  he  sought  the  appearance  of  zat,*  he  had  not  yet  after  fana 
reached  baka ;  in  conformity  with  the  guidance  'let  me  see,"  at  the  time  of  the  tajalli 
of  the  licrht  of  zat*  on  the  Tur  of  the  nafs  of  his  existence, — the  residue  (which  is 
the  seeker  of  manifestation)  of  the  qualities  of  his  existence  became  effaced. 

If  from  the  residue  of  his  existence,  fana  be  wholly  separated;  and  after  the 
fana  of  existence,  its  truth  be  joined  to  absolute  baka  (God),— he  seeth,  by  the  light 
of  the  eternal,  the  zat  of  the  eternal. 

This  is  an  honour-robe  that  they  specially  gave  to  Muhammad  ;  and  is  a  draught 
that  they  caused  him  to  taste. 

From  desire  for  this  cup,  they  cause  to  drop  a  draught  into  the  jaw  of  the  soul  of 
the  special  ones  of  his  followers. 

This  sense  demandeth  the  exaltation  of  the  wali  (saint)  above  the  nabi  (prophet). 

For  the  wali  gaineth  this  rank  not  of  himself,— nay  by  the  perfection  of  his  fol- 
lowing the  prophet. 

2.  Tajalli-i-sifat. 
If  the  Ancient  Existence  display  tajalli : — 

(a)  with  jalal,  he  is  (on  account  of  His  glory,  kudrat,  and  force)  in  khushu'  and  khuzu'  (humi- 
lity of  heart  and  of  limbs). 
(6)  with  jamal,  he  is  (on  account  of  His  mercy,  grace  and  blessing)  joyous  and  loving. 

The  zat  of  the  Eternal  changeth  not ;  but  according  to  exigency  of  will,  contrariety 
of  capacity,  are  evident  sometimes  outwardly  jalal  (grandeur)  and  inwardly  jamal 
(beauty)  ;  and  sometimes  the  contrary  thereto. 

3.  Tajalli-i-af'al. 
This  signifies ; — 

The  averting  of  one's  glance  from  the  deeds  of  other  people  ;  from  them,  the 
severing  of  additions  of  good  and  of  evil,  of  profit,  and  of  loss  ;  the  moderating  of 
their  praise  and  blame  ;  of  their  acceptance  and  rejection  (of  one). 

For  the  bare  manifestation  of  divine  deeds  dismisseth  to  themselves  the  people 
from  the  addition  of  deeds. 

•  This  is  the  zat  of  God.  ' 


TAJALLi  AND  ISTITAR.  8l 

To  the  holy  traveller  in  the  stages  of  travelling  come  in  order :  — 

i.  tajalli-i-af'al. 
ii.  „  sifat. 
iii.         „       zat. 

Deeds  are  the  effects  of  qualities ;  and,  enfolded  in  zat,  are  qualities. 

For  the  people,  deeds  are  nearer  than  qualities  ;  and  qualities,  nearer  than  zat. 

They  call  : — 

(a)  the  shuhud-i-tajalli-i-af'al  {the  manifestation  of  the  glory  of  deeds),  the  muhazira  (the  be- 
ing present). 

(i)    „   shuhud-i-tajalli-i-sifat  (  „  „  „         qualities),  the  mukashifa  (the 

manifestation). 

(c)    „    shuhud-i-tajalli-i-zat  (  „  „  „      zat),  the  mushahida  (the  behold- 

ing)- 

They  call : — 

muhazira,  the  hal  of  hearts, 
mukashifa,         „         mysteries, 
mushahida,        „         souls. 

Cometh  truly  mushahida  from  a  person,  who  is  standing  in  the  existence  of  the 
witnessed  (God),  not  in  his  own.  For  the  power  of  the  glory  of  the  light  of  eternity 
(God)  is  not  of  accidents  (hadis). 

So  long  as  in  the  witnessed,  the  shahid  (witnesser)  is  not  effaced  ;  and  in  it  be- 
cometh  not  left,  His  mushahida  one  cannot  make. 

After  beholding  the  effects  of  the  flame  of  separation,  and  the  violence  of  desire  on 
Majnun's  state,  a  party  of  the  tribe  of  Majnun  interceded  with  the  tribe  of  Laila,  they 
said  : — 

"What  would  it  be  if,  a  moment,  Majnun's  eye  become  illumined  and  anointed 
"with  the  sight  of  Laila's  beauty?" 

The  tribe  of  Laila  said  : — 

"To  this  extent  is  no  harm.     But  Majnun  himself  hath  not  the  power  of  behohl- 
"  ing  L-aila." 

At  last,  they  brought  Majnun ;  and  uplifted  a  corner  of  Laila's  tent. 

Immediately  his  glance  fell  on  the  fold  of  Laila's  skirt, — senseless  he  fell. 

In  short : — 

The  glory  of  God  is  the  cause  of  the  people  being  veiled  ;  His  being  veiled  is  the  cause  of 
manifestation  (of  glory)  of  the  people. 


82  SUFi.lSM. 

When  God  becometh  glorilied  : — 

(a)  in  His  own  deeds,— in  them,  the  deeds  of  the  people  become  veiled. 

(6)  in  His  zat, —  in  it,  the  zat,  the  qualities,  and  deeds  of  the  people  become  veiled. 

For  the  welfare  of  the  world  of  hikmat  and  for  enlarging  the  effects  of  mercy  on 
His  own  special  ones, — the  Absolute  Wise  one  (God)  leaveth  the  residue  of  the 
qualities  of  lusts  (which  are  the  source  of  being  veiled),  so  that,  for  them  and  for  others, 
there  may  be  mercy. 

For  them  (the  special  ones), — 

that  by  the  occupations  of  lusts,  they  may  remain  persevering;  and  by  permanency  may 
acquire  nearness  (to  God). 

For  others  (the  people  in  genera)), — 

that  annihilated  in  the  essence  of  fana,  and  immersed  in  the  sea  of  jama'  they  may  not  be- 
come ;  and  that  to  others  their  existence  may  become  a  source  of  profit. 

Some  of  the  'Ulama  (who  are  sufis)  have  said  : — 

The  istighfar  of  Muhammad  is  the  demand  for  this  veil  in  order  that  he  may  not  be  immersed 
in  the  sea  of  shuhud  ;  and  that,  by  him  through  the  link  of  humanity,  men  may  be  bene- 
fited. 


Wajd  (rapture)  and  Wujud  (existence). 

IV.  4. 
Wajd  (waidan)  slgnifieth  : — 

(a)  an  event  that  from  God  arriveth,  and  turnelh  the  heart  from  its  own  form  to — great  grief, 

or  to  great  joy. 
(4)  a  state  wherein  all    the  (mortal)  qualities  of  the  wajid  become  cut  off;   and  his  nature 
becometh  painted  with  joy. 

The  wajid    (possessor  of  wajd)  signifieth  : — 

One  who  hath  not  yet  come  forth  from  the  veil  of  sensual  qualities  ;  and  is,  by  his  own  exist- 
ence, veiled  from  iiod's  existence. 

Sometimes  in  the  veil  of  his  existence,  appeareth  an  opening  whence  a  ray  from  the  light  of 
God's  existence  shineth  and  helpeth  him.  After  that  the  veil  becometh  folded ;  and 
maujud  (existence),  lost. 

Wajd  is  intermediate'  between  the  preceding  disappearing  and  the  following  dis- 
appearing (of  maujud). 

Wujud  signifieth  :— 

(a)  that  in  the  superiority  of  the  light  of  the  shuhud  of  maujfid  (the  existerce  of  God),  wujud 

and  wajid  become  lost  and  naught. 
(6)  the  quality  of  muhdas  (accident). 
{c)     „    existence  of  the  quality  of  Kadim  (the  Ancient  One,  God). 

As  Zu-n-Nun  hath  said. 

When,  out  from  his  own  existence,  the  possessor  of  wajd  is  net  effaced,— he  is 
wajid  ;  and  standing  in  him,  is  wajd.  , 


WAJD  AND  WUJUD.  S3 

When  out  from  his  own  existence,  the  possessor  of  wujud  is  wholly  effaced  ;  and 
In  the  existence  of  maujud  is  left  standing — he  is  the  zat  of  maujud  (the  existence 
of  the  existence  of  God)  not  the  zat  of  wajid  (or  the  zat  of  the  slave). 

Wajid  signifieth  : — 

One  who  is  the  disappearer  of  his  existence. 

Thus,  hath  Shibli  said. 

Who,  by  the  appearance  of  his  own  wajd,  becometh  veiled  from  the  seeinorof  ihi 
wajd  of  the  maujud  (the  existence  of  God), — in  him  joy  cometh. 

Who,  by  seeing  the  wajd  of  maujud  (the  existence  of  God),  becometh  deprived  of 
the  appearance  of  his  own  wajd, — from  him  descendeth  the  possibility  of  joy. 

Thus,  hath  Junfd  said. 

Wajd  is  the  preface  to  wujud. 

In  victory  over  the  fortress  of  human  wujud  (existence)  every  wajd  is  like  to  a  manjanik  (catapult) 
established  by  the  attraction  of  the  divine  world,  so  that,  when  the  fortress  of  wujud  (existence)  is 
subdued, — it  becometh  the  wajd  of  wujud. 

The  end  of  wajd  is  the  beginning  of  wujud.     That  is — 

The  wujud  of  wajd  is  the  cause  of  the  wajid's  being  deprived  of  existence,  which  is  the  condition 
of  the  wujud  of  maujud  (the  existence  of  the  existence  of  God). 

Thus  have  said  : — 

(a)  Abu-1-Husain-i-Nuri. 

(b)  Shibli. 

The  taking  away  of  the  addition  of  wajd  to  self  is  the  essence  of  accepting 
tauhid  ;  and  its  addition  to  self  is  the  essence  of  denying  (tauhid). 

Thus  hath  Bayizid  said. 

As  wajd  is  the  preface  to  wujud,  so  tawajud  (wajd-making,)  is  the  preface  to 
wajd. 

Tawajud  signifies:  — 

The  asking  for,  and  the  attracting  of  wajd,  by  waj'  of — 

V((i)  tazakkur  (repeating), 
(b)  tafakkur  (reflecting), 
(c)  sincere  resemblance  to  the  man  of  wajd  (in  motion  and  in  rest). 

Although  apparently  tawajud  is  preparation;  preparation  is  the  opposite  to  sin- 
cerity, yet  since  the  resolution  of  the  mutawajid,  in  this  form  of  tawajud,  is  wholly  in- 
clination for  acceptance  of  the  aid  of  divine  bounty;  and  (is)  true  offering  for  snuffing 
up  divine  odours, — it  is  not  contrary  to  sincerity. 

Thus,  the  sharl'at  hath  permitted  and  ordered. 

The  description  of  the  man — 
(n)  of  the  beginning  is  tawajud. 
(i)      „      path  „   wajd. 

(C)      „      acquisition  ,,  wujiid. 

M  1 


84  SUFMSM. 

On  Wakt  (period)  and  Nafas  (moment). 

IV.  6. 
To  wakt,  sufis  assign  three  meanings. 
Wakt  may  mean  : — 

a  quality  such  as  kabz  (contraction),  bast  (expansion),  sorrow  or  joy, — that  prevail etli  over  the 
slave. 

From  exceeding  superiority  of  lial,  the  possessor  of  this  wakt  cannot  understand 
another  hal. 

So  the  possessor  of  the  hal  of  kabz,  with  the  superiority  of  the  hal,  is  so  impressed 
and  tilled  that  he  findeth  an  impression  neither  from  the  passed  bast,  nor  from  the 
coming  bast.  All  his  time,  he  seeth  the  wakt-i-hal  ;  over  the  hal  of  others,  according 
to  his  own  hal,  is  his  own  sway  which  thus  becometh  the  source  of  error. 

Every  hal  concordant  with  his  own  hal,  he  decreeth  as  to  its  truth  ;  otherwise,  as 
to  its  falsity. 

In  this  explanation,  the  sense  of  wakt  is  general, — both  for  the  holy  traveller,  and 
for  him  who  is  not. 

Wakt  may  mean  : — 

A  hal  that,  by  assault,  appeareth  from  the  g^iaibat  (the  hidden) ;  taketh  by  the  superiority  of 
its  sway  the  holy  traveller  from  his  own  hal ;  and  maketh  him  submissive  to  iis  own  order. 

Special  to  the  holy  traveller,  is  this  wakt  and  is  a  hint  to  the  sayings 
"Son  of  his  time  is  the  sufi." 

When  they  say  "by  the  decree  of  wakt,"  they  mean  :— 
That,  by  God's  will,  out  of  his  own  will,  he  is  seized  and  veiled. 

In  respect  of  the  order  of  "other  than  God," — whoshoweth  contentment,  cometh 
into  strife  (with  God)  ;  and  by  its  influence,  is  subdued. 
Hence  they  have  said — 
"  Wakt  is  the  slaying  sword." 

The  sword  hath  two  qualities, — one  soft  and  smooth  ;  the  other  the  keen,  cuttinrj 
edge.  Who  displayeth  to  it  softness  and  rubbeth  it  with  gentleness — findeth  from 
it  softness  ;  who  displayeth  to  it  roughness  suffereth  the  wound  of  its  violence. 

Even  so  wakt  hath  two  qualities  — gentleness  and  wrathfulness. 

Agreement  and  concordance  with  it  who  maketh,  enjoyeth  its  grace  ;  repulsion 
and  opposition  to  it,  who  maketh,  becometh  overpowered  by  its  violence. 

Bv  the  passing  of  God's  purpose,  wakt,  is  over  ali  purposes  and  states  the  pre- 
vailer;  and,  according  to  its  own  decree,  fashioneth  them — like  the  sword,  the  severer. 

Wakt  may  mean  — 

The  present  time,  which  is  middle,  between  the  past  and  the  future. 


WAKT  AND   NAFAS.  g- 

They  say  : — 

"  Master  of  wakt  is  such  a  one." 

That  is  : — 

Being  engaged  in  the  performance  of  recitations  of  the  present  time,  solicitude  for  a  thino' 
(which  at  that  time  may  be  important  and  best)  keepeth  him  engaged  from  mention  o1 
the  past,  and  from  thintting  of  the  future.     Thus,  his  time,  he  loseth  not. 

In  this  wakt,  decline  is  not  passed  save  in  connection  with  holy  travellers  to 
whom,  by  reason  of  the  talwin  of  hal,  this  wakt  is  sometimes  existent  and  sometimes 
lost  ;  and  who,  into  the  volume  of  credit,  bring  not  the  account  of  their  own  life  save 
at  the  time  when  wakt  is  existent. 

For  those  joined  to  God  and  for  the  companions  of  tamkin,  this  wakt  is  constant ;  and  to  it 
the  path  of  decline  is  closed. 

Thus,  hath  Shibli  said. 

The  possessor  of  this  wakt  is  issuer  from  beneath  the  sway  of  hal. 

In  the  second  sense,  wakt  is  not  powerful  in  him.  Nay,  he  is  powerful  in  wakt  in 
the  sense  that  he  keepeth  all  wakt  engaged  in  important  affairs. 

Some  sufis  call  the  possessor  of  wakt :  — 
The  father  of  wakt,  not  the  son  of  wakt. 


Nafas  signifieth  : — 

The  succession  of  hal  of  mushahida  (manifestation),  whereto  is  joined  the  life  of  hearts  of  men 
of  love,  which  is  like  unto  the  succession  of  breaths,  whereto  is  conditioned  the  perinanency 
of  the  life  of  bodies. 

If  for  a  moment  from  the  path  of  the  heart,  the  succession  of  fresh  breath  be  cut 
off, — from  the  volume  of  natural  heat,  it  becometh  inflamed  ;  if  for  a  moment,  from 
the  essence  of  the  desirous  heart,  the  succession  of  shuhud, — from  the  violence  of  its 
thirst  and  rage,  it  consumeth  with  desire. 

The  difference  between  wakt  (in  the  second  sense)  and  nafas  is  this  : — 

Wakt  is  a  hal  in  the  place  of  languor  and  of  stoppage  ;  and  an  event  in  the  pursuit,  and  in 

the  observing,  of  mushahida  (manifestation)  and  of  trhaibat  (concealment). 
Nafas  is  a  hal  ever  free  from  languor  and  stoppage.     Hence  they  have  said  : 
Wakt  for  the  beginner,  for  the  finisher,  nafas. 


Shuhud  (being  present)  and  Ghaibat  (being  absent). 

Shuhud  signifieth  :^ 

Being  present.     With  whatever  the  heart  is  present,  shahid  (witness)  of,  it,  it  is;  and  that 

thing  is  mashhud  (witnessed)  by  it  (the  heart). 
If  the  heart  be  present  with  God,  it  is  shahid  (witness)  of  God  :  if  the  heart  be  present  with 
the  people,  it  is  shahid  of  the  people. 


86  SUFl.iSM. 

The  way  of  sufis  is  :  — 

to  call  the  mashhud  (witnessed)  sViahid  (witnesser) ;  because  with  whatever  L'as  heart  is  pre- 
sent, that  thing  also  is  present  w.th  the  heart. 

For  the  sake  of  the  unity  of  God  and  the  plurality  of  the  people,  they  mean  :  — 
(,i)  by  shahid  (singular)  God. 
(6)   „    shawahid  (plural)  the  people. 

(c)   „    shuhud  (singular)  being  present  with  God  ;  for  ever  is  their  heart  shahid  (witness)  of, 
and  hazir  (present)  with,  God. 

Men  of  shuhad  are  two  parties  : — 

(a)  the  companions,  of  murakaba  (fearful  contemplation). 
(J)    „    lords  of  mushahida  (manifestation). 

Ghaibat  is  a  description  opposed  to  shuhud  : — 
(i)  the  blameable  ghaibat,  opposed  to  shuhud-i-hakk. 

(ii)   „    laudable  ghaibat,  opposed  to  shuhud-i-khalk  which   (through   the  superiority  of  the 
shuhud-i-liakk)  is  of  two  kinds  : — 

(a)  the  ghaibat  of  beginners;  the  ghaibat  of  things  (elt. 

(b)  „   ghaibat  of  the  middle  ones;  the  ghaibat  of  his  own  existence;  this  is  the  limit  of 

ghaibat  and  the  beginning  of  fana  (effacement). 

The  stage  of  "the  last  ones"  is  outside  the  hal  of  ghaibat.  For  ghaibat  is  the  hal 
of  that  one,  who  hath  not  freed  himself  from  the  narrow  place  of  existence  ;  nor  reach- 
ed the  amplitude  of  Absolute  Existence  (God)  ;  nor  gained  the  limit  as  to  ghaibat  (the 
being  hidden)  and  as  to  shahadat  (the  being  present). 

Men  of  blameable  ghaibat  are  hidden  from  the  shuhud-i-hakk  by  the  shahid  of 
the  people  :  men  of  laudable  ghaibat  are  hidden  from  the  shuhud-i-khalkby  the  shahid 
of  God. 

To  the  man  of  perfection,  they  conceal  neither  the  shuhud  of  God  from  the  people  ; 
nor  the  shuhud  of  the  people  from  God. 

The  observing  of  rules  and  the  following  of  shuhad  and  of  laudable  ghaibat  is  for 
holy  travellers  and  for  men  of  talwin. 

For  those  joined  to  God  and  for  the  established  ones  at  rest  is  no  hal  save  con- 
stant shuhud-i-hakk.     For  them  is  no  gljaibat,  laudable  or  blameable. 


At  the  beginning  of  the  superiority  of  hal,  and  at  the  time  ol  manifestation  of  the 
good  news  of  the  morning  of  revelatioUj  Shibll  went  before  Junid  ;  and  present,  was 
Junid's  lawful  spouse. 

She  wished  to  go  behind  the  screen.     Junid  said  : — 
Shibli  is  ghaib  (hidden) ;  be  thou  in  thy  place. 

Even  as  Junid  was  speaking  to  her,  Shlbli  wept. 


SH'JKUD  AND  rhAIBAT.  8? 

To  his  wife,  Junid  said  : — 

Now  thou  shouldest  be  concealed,  for  to  sense  Shibli  hath  come. 

The  state  of  beginners  is  : — 

Ghaibat  frcm  the  people  in  shuhud  ofthebeloved  ;  from  out  of  it,  "the  last  ones"  have  passed. 

The  tale  of  Zulaikha  (Potiphar's  wife),  who,  in  love  for  Yusuf,  had  the  degree  of 
tamkin  ;  and  in  shuhud  of  him  became  not  gha,ib  from  the  senses  as  her  companions 
and  reprovers  (  yet  beginners  in  love  for  Yusuf  and  in  the  shuhud  of  his  beauty), 
who,  by  the  force  of  the  hal  of  shuhud  for  him,  were  giha,ib  from  the  senses  ;  and 
were  unaware  of  the  cutting  of  their  own  hand  (through  the  passion  of  love  for  him). 


Taj  rid  (outward  separation)  and  Tafrid  (inward  solitude). 

IV.  8. 
Tajrid  signifieth  : — 

Outw.irdlv  abandoning  the  desires  of  this  world  ;  and  inwardly  rejecting  the  compensation  of 
the  next  world  and  of  this  world. 

The  true  mujarrad  :  — 

is  one,  who  as  to  tajarrud*  (tajrid)  from  the  world  is  not  the  seeker  of  compensation  ;  nay  the 
cause  of  tajarrud  is  propinquity  to  God. 

Who  outwardly  abandoneth  request  of  the  world  ;  and  for  it  exoecteth  compensa- 
tion, in  this  fleetingworld,  orin  the  next  world, — freed  from  the  world,  verily  hath  not 
become  ;  and  is  in  the  place  of  exchanging  and  trafficking. 

In  all  his  devotions,  by  worship  only  his  gaze  is  on  the  performance  of  his  rights 
to  God,  not  on  compensation  nor  on  other  desire. 

Tafrid  signifieth  : — 

the  rejecting  the  increase  of  deeds  of  himself,  and  the  concealing  their  appearance  by  re- 
garding on  himself  God's  favour  and  bounty. 

Tajrid  is  the  abandoning  of  the  expectation  of  compensations. 

Because  whenhe  knoweth  the  grace  of  tajrid  and  of  devotion  (to  be)  God's  favour 

not  his  own  deed  nor  his  own  acquisition,— for  it,  he   expecteth  not  compensation. 

Nay,  immersed  in  God's  favour,  he  seeth  his  own  existence. 

Tajrid  in  form  is  not  necessary  to  tajrid  ;  for  possibly,  in  abandoning,  he  may  be  ex- 
pectant of  a  compensation.  So  tafrid  is  not  necessary  to  tajrid  ;  for  possibly,  in  aban- 
doning hope  of  compensation,  he  seeth  himself  in  the  acquisition  of  entrance  (to  God) . 


Mahv  (obliteration)  and  Isb'at  (confirmation). 

IV.  9. 
In  the  opinion  of  the  sufis,  mahv  signifieth  :— 
the  obliterating  of  the  slave's  existence. 

Isbat  signifieth  : — 

the  confirming  (after  mahv)  of  the  slave's  existence. 

Related  to  the  will  of  the  Eternal,  are  mahv  and  isbat. 

•  See  p.  y3. 


gg  SUFI.ISM. 

Mahv  hath  three  degrees  : — 

(i)  the  lowest  degree— the  mahv  of  blameable  qualities  and  of  dark  deeds. 

(2)  the  middle  degree — the  mahv  of  blameable  and  of  laudable  qualities. 

(3)  the  highest  degree— the  mahv  of  zat. 

In  opposition  to  every  mahv  is  an  isbat. 
Near  to  each  other,  is  the  meaning  of — 

fana  (effacement).  mahv  (obliteration). 

baka  (permanency).  isbat  (confirmation). 

The  difference  between  mahv  and  fana  ;  between  baka  and  isbat,  one  cannot  com- 
prehend save  by  the  aid  of  the  kind  Friend,  and  of  gracious  faith. 
After  the  fana  of  zat, — 
(a)  baka  appeareth  not. 
{b)  isbat  is  not  necessary. 

Thus  the  isbat  of  agreeable  qualities  and  of  beautiful  deeds  is  not  necessary  after 
the  mahv  of  misdeeds  of  natures  and  of  the  sins  of  deeds  of  the  companions  of  puri- 
fying and  of  the  Lords  of  glorying. 

The  fana  of  deeds  and  of  qualities  becometh  not  wholly  acquired  save  after  the 
fana  of  zat;  but  their  mahv  is  not  restricted  to  the  mahv  of  zat. 

Mahv  and  isbat  are  generally  (derived)  from  fana  and  baka;  because  they  practise 
not  fana  and  baka,  save  in  the  mahv  of  humanity  and  in  the  isbat  of  Godship. 
In  the  sense  of  mahv,  they  use  : — 

sahk  (grinding),  the  effacing  the  essence  of  qualities. 

mabk  (abolishing),        „  „         ,,  zat. 

tams  (effacing),  „  „   effects  of  qualities  and  of  zat. 


TalwTn  (change)  and  Tamkin  (rest). 

IV.  10. 
Tamkin  signifieth : — 

perpetuity  of  manifestation  of  hakikat  by  reason  of  the  tranquillity  of  the  heart  in  the  place  of 
c  nearness  (to  God). 

'  Talwin  signifieth  : — 

the  subjugating  of  the  heart  between  manifestation  and  veiling  by  observing  times,  and  bv  the 
pursuit  of  the  ghaibat*  of  nafs,  and  its  manifestation. 

Possessor  of  talwin,  they  call  not : — 

him,  who  shall  not  have  passed  beyond  the  qualities  of  nafs,  nor  reached  to  the  world  of  the 
qualities  of  the  heart,  for  talwin  is  through  the  succession  of  varied  states. 

Possessor  of  hal,  they  call  not : — 

him,  who  is  bound  in  the  qualities  of  nafs. 

Then  talwin  is  possible  for  the  Lords  of  hearts,  who  may  not  have  traversed 
the  world  of  qualities  (of  God),  nor  reached  to  (knowledge  of)  zat  ;  because  they 
are  innumerable  qualities. 

*  See  p.  85. 


TALWiN  AND  TAMKiN;  AURAD  AND  KALIMA-I-SHAHADAT.        $0 

Talwin  is  possible  where  numbering  is  possible. 

The  Lords  of  revelation  of  zat  have  passed  the  limit  of  talwin  and  reached  to  the 
stage  of  tamkin  ;  because  in  zat  by  reason  of  His  unity  change  appeareth  not. 

Escape  from  talwin  is  for  that  one  whose  heart  ascendeth  from  the  stage  of  the 
heart  to  the  stage  of  the  sou! ;  cometh  forth  from  beneath  the  sway  of  the  numbering 
of  qualities ;  and  becometh  a  dweller  in  the  open  space  of  propinquity  to  Zat  (God's 
existence). 

When,  from  the  stage  of  the  heart  to  the  stage  of  the  soul,  the  lieart  arriveth,— 
from  the  stage  of  nafs  to  the  stage  of  the  heart,  nafs  emigrateth. 

Talwin  (which  before  was  the  heart's)  becometh  in  this  stage  the  accident  of 
nafs  through — 

kabz  (contraction)                  |  sorrow  and  joy. 

bast  (expansion)                     |  fear  and  hope. 

Nafs  becometh  the  khalifa  of  the  heart  of  the  possessor  of  talwin. 

By  reason  of  the  light  of  manifestation  and  the  certainty  of  the  existence  of  this 
talwin  not  being  veiled, — this  talwin  is  verily  not  the  reviled  tamkin. 

So  long  as  the  custom  of  humanity  is  left,  impossible  is  it  that  out  of  nature 
change  should  be  wholly  obliterated  ;  but  change  excludeth  not  the  posses<;or  of  tam- 
kin from  the  stage  of  resting. 

The  Aurad  (prayer-exercises)  and  the  Kalima-i-shahadat 
(the  creed). 

VII.    2. 

On  his  tongue,  the  slave  should  urge  the  two  shahadats  (witnessings)  saying  : 

I  declare  no  god  but  God;  I  declare  Muhammad,  His  slave  and  prophet. 

For  the  verifying  of  his  own  heart,  he  should  witness  to  this  confession. 
The  confession  of  shahadat  is  special ;  because,  in  respect  to  his  own  nafs,  every 
confession  is  shahadat ;  the  shahadat  is  not  confession. 

As  every  confessor  is  taken  as  to  the  confessed,  so  the  confessor  (of  faith)  is 
taken  as  to  his  own  faith  and  questioned  to  the  limits  of  the  shar'  as  to  his  service. 

The  shahadat  of  confession  is  not  the  place  of  suspicion.     Although  confession 
is  of  the  crowd  of  (mere)  words,  yet  it  is  a  most  honoured  column  of  deeds. 
Because  the  meaning  of : — 

(a)  'amal  (deedj  is  the  use  of  the  limbs  upon  the  orders  of  the  shari'at. 

(J)  ikrar  (confession)  is  the  use  of  the  tongue  in  the  creed  of  faith  whereto  most  men  are  sub- 
jected. 

The  tongue  is  the  interpreter  and  the  witness  of  the  heart,  whose  mystery  i( 
relateth ;  and  to  whose  faith,  it  witnesseth. 

The  other  limbs  are  interpreters  and  witnesses  of  the  heart,  whose  mystery  they 
relate  ;  of  whose  hal  they  give  evidence. 

V 


QO  SUFi.lSM. 

This  shahadat,  they  perform  by  the  tongue  of  deed  (not  by  the  tongue  of  the 
mouth). 

Thus  the  tongue  hath  inwardly  a  word,  outwardly  a  deed  ;  all  the  columns  have 
inwardly  a  word  and  outwardly  a  deed. 

The  limb  that  men  use  in  the  requisites  of  the  shar',  it,  with  the  tongue  of  hal, 
witnesseth  to  the  existence  of  faith  in  their  heart. 

Ikrar  and  'amal,  each,  is  a  witness  to  the  existence  of  faith,  not  a  part  thereof. 
Faith  is  verification  by  the  heart ;  confession,  by  the  tongue ;  action  by  the  limbs. 

This  signifieth — 

Not  that  the  essence  of  faith  is  confession,  or  deed  ;  for  faith  alone  is  the  verifieation'  of  the 
heart.  Confession  and  deed  both  are  the  marks,  though  it  is  possible  that  the  witnessing 
of  these  two  may  be  false  : 

as,  in  the  case  of  hypocrites,  in  whom  are  strong  confession  and  deed,  while  faith 
languid  is. 

But,  because  the  base  of  rules  is  on  outward  things,  the  order  in  respect  to  the 
faith  of  one  (for  whom  witnessing  is  made)  is  dependent  upon  the  shahadat  of  these 
two  witnesses  ;  and  to  it  opposition  declineth. 

After  the  witnessing  (shahadat)  of  witnesses  the  order  in  respect  to  one  (against 
whom,  witnessing  is  made)  is  incumbent  upon  the  kazi,  although  the  witnessing  be  sus- 
picious. 

Once  Bilal  cast  down  in  battle  one  of  the  infidels  who  presented  the  shahadat. 

To  it,  Bilal  paid  no  consideration  ;  and  separated  his  head  from  his  body. 

When  he  related  this  to  Muhammad,  he  was  reproved. 

He  replied  : — 

O  prophet !  his  confession  was  from  fear,  not. from  faith. 

Muhammad  said  : — 

How  splitedest  thou  his  heart?  How  knowest  thou  that  in  his  heart  was  no  faith  ? 


Zuhd  signifieth:^ 


Zuhd  (austerity). 

IX.  3. 


(i7)  the  heart's  turning  away  from  the   pleasure  of  the  world's  goods;  and  shunning  its 

desires. 
{b)  the  third  stage  of  tauba  (penitence)  and  of  wara'  (piety). 

The  holy  traveller  on  the  path  to  God  at  first  forbiddeth  his  own  nafs  with  the 
elephant-goad  of  sincere  penitence  from  falling  into  difficulties  as  to  sins  ;  to  it, 
maketh  straight  the  power  of  delights  ;  and  maketh,  with  the  polisher  of  piety,  his 
heart  pure  of  the  rust  of  greed,  so  that  therein  may  appear  the  verity  of  this  and 
of  the  next,  world.  I 


ZUHD;  FAKR.  gi 

Therein,  he  seeth  this  world  ugly  and  transitory,  and  therefrom  turneth  ;  the 
next  world,  beautiful,  and  thereto  inclineth. 

The  abandoning  and  the  being  alone  is  :^ 

(a)  for  "  the  last  ones,"  not  the  necessity  of  the  truth  of  zuhd. 

(b)  „  "the  first  ones,"  of  the  requisites  of  zuhd. 

In  praise  of  zuhd,  for  the  distinguishing  of  pretenders  from  the  sincere,  most  of  the 
words  of  shaikhs  comprehend  the  necessity  for  abandoning  property  and  delights. 

There  are  three  zuhds  ;  — 

i.  the  zuhd  of  the  common  in  the  first  rank. 

ii.    „       „      „    ,,    special  in  the  second  rank  is  zuhd  in  zuhd.     It  signifieth — 

Change  of  delight  from  the  acquisition  of  zuhd  which  is  the  prop — of  delight ;  of  the  will 

of  the  slave ;  and  of  his  nafs  being  filled  with  delights  of  the  next  world. 
By  the  fana  (effacement)  of  his  own  desire  in  the  will  of  God,  this  sense  cometh  true, 
iii.  the  zuhd  of  the  special  of  the  special  ones  in  the  third  rank,  which  is  zuhd  with  God. 
It  is  peculiar  to  the  prophets  and  to  other  holy  men  ;  and  is  in  the  world  after  the  fana  of  his 
own  will  by  God's  will. 

Zuhd  is  the  result  of  hikmat  and  of  the  birth  of  knowledge. 

In  the  application  of  zuhd,  pleasure  in  the  world  is  the  result  of  ignorance,  and 
the  birth  of  the  heart's  blindness  as  in  the  hadis. 

For  the  shunning  of  the  fleeting  world  and  for  delight  in  the  lasting  world, — the 
zahid  hath  laid  on  a  sure  foundation  (God's  will)  the  foundation  of  his  own  work. 

Thus,  have  Lukman  and  Shibli  said  ;  and  so  is  it  in  the  Hadis. 

Benefit  by  hakikat  is  not  the  denial  of  the  stage  of  zuhd,  of  its  excellence,  and  of 
exaltation  of  the  rules  of  effort ;  but — through  the  humbling  of  zuhd  in  the  glance  of 
zahids, — the  purpose  of  hakikat  is  the  repelling  of  pride. 


Fakr  (poverty). 

IX.  4. 

At  the  stage  of  fakr  (which  meaneth  taking  possession  of  no  chattels)  the  holy 
traveller  of  the  path  of  hakikat  arriveth  not,  till  he  hath  passed  through  the  sta<ye  of 
zuhd  (austerity). 

For  one  who  hath  desire  for  the  world  although  he  hath  no  property,  the  name  of 
fakr  is  illusory. 

Fakr  hath  a  name,  a  custom  and  a  truth. 

Its  name  is  taking  possession  of  no  chattels  despite  desire ;  its  custom  is  taking  possession  of  no 
chattels,  despite  zuhd;  its  truth  is  the  impossibility  of  taking  chattels. 

Since  the  man  of  hakikat  seeth  by  its  means  all  things  in  the  sway  of  the  master 
of  lands  (God),  he  rcgardeth  not  lawful  the  consigning  of  property  to  others. 

N  2 


92  siIfF.mjsvi. 

The  fakr : — 

(a)  of  men  of  hakikat  is  a  natural  quality  which.^despite  having,  or  not  having,  chattels^ 

becometh  not  changed.     If,  in  their  power,  be  the  whole  world,  free  from  taking  it  they 
regard  themselves. 

(b)  of  spectators  who  have  found  only  an  impression  of  the  truth  of  fakr;  in  whose  hearts  its 

meaning  hath    not  become   enjewelled  — is  an  accidental  quality.     By  the  accession  of 
chattels  they  become  changed,  and  of  them  regard  themselves  possessed. 

For  the  sake  of  being  numbered  for  excellence  of  fakr,  and  for  desire  of  the  good 
of  the  next  world,  they  shun  wealth  more  than  the  man  of  wealth  shunneth  fakr. 

On  the  excellence  of  fakr  over  wealth,  and  of  wealth  over  fakr,  the  man  of 
meaning  hath  urged  speech. 

Fakr — 

(a)  is  with  "  the  first  and  the  middle  ones  "  more  excellent  than  wealth. 
(6)  „     „      "  the  end  ones  "  equal  to  wealth. 
Because  wealth  cannot  deny  them  the  sense  of  fakr  and  its  truth,  as   Abdul-lah   bin  Jallad  hath 
said.     Although  to  him  fakr  and  wealth  are  one,  the  quality  of  gift  leaveth  not  in  him  the  impression 
of  the  form  of  wealth,  as  Niiri  hath  said. 

Who  is  independent  of  God,  how  may  he  grasp  aught?  Save  in  God,  the  quality 
of  the  fakir  is  naught. 

There  are  several  crowds  of  fukara  : — 

(a)  Those  who  regard  as  no  property  the  world  and  its  chattels.     If  it  be  in  their  power,  they 

give  it  away  ;  for  it,  in  this  and  in  the  next  world,  they  have  no  desire. 
(J)  Those  who  regard  not  their  own  deeds  and  devotion,  although  from  them  they  issue — them 
their  own  property  they  know  not;  and  in  return  for  it  eitpect  no  reward. 

(c)  Those  who  with  these  two  qualities  regard  not  as  their  own  their  own  hal  and  makam. 

All,  they  regard  the  favour  of  God. 
{d)  Those  who  regard  not  as  their  own  their  own  zat  and  existence,  nor  even  their  own  self. 
Their, — zat  is  none,  nor  quality,  nor  hal,  nor  makam,  nor  deed.     No  trace  have  they 
in  the  two  worlds. 

Need  is  the  quality  of  the  needy  one,  and  in  his  nature  standeth.  Here  is  neither 
confirmed  nature  nor  quality.  This  is  the  meaning  of  fakr,  which  some  of  the  sufis 
have  not. 

The  possessor  of  this  fakr  in  both  worlds,  none  recogniseth  save  God,  because  the 
Lord  of  the  world  is  jealous.  So  concealed  from  the  glance  of  strangers  keepeth 
He  His  special  ones  that,  concealed  from  their  own  sight,  they  are. 

This  fakr  is  the  stage  of  the  sufis  and  of  "  the  last  ones," — not  of  holy  travellers. 

Because  after  passing  the  stages,  in  every  stage  (for  the  joined  one),  the  pace  is 
(according  to  his  state)  sometimes  beyond  the  foot  of  the  traveller. 

Like  tauba  (penitence),  which  is  the  first  stage  of  the  stages  of  holy  travellers," 
it  is  his  foot-place  which  (after  traversing  all  the  stages  and  the  makams)  becometh 
attained.  ' 


TAJARRUD  AND  TA.AHHUL.  g^ 

Tajarrud  (celibacy)  and  ta.ahhul  (marriage). 

VI.  8. 

The  tales  of  the  prophet  in  respect  of  tajarrud  and  of  ta.ahhul  are  contradictory. 

The  source  of  this  opposition  is  the  contrariety  of  states  and  of  lusts  of  some  who 
are  captive  to  exceeding  passion. 

Marriage  is  necessary  :— 

(a)  for  those,  from  whom  are  expected,- weakness  of  piety,  poorness  of  patience  (as  to  aban- 

doning desire) ;  the  falling  into  contrarieties  (of  state) ;  and  the  committing  of  adultery. 

(b)  for  those  whose  nafs  hath  turned  away  from  following  desires ;  hath  obtained  rest  from  ex- 

cess of  desire;  hath,  from  contention  with  the  heart,  become  torn  up,  and  to  the  heart's 
suggestion  become  obedient. 

Tajarrud*  and  tafarrud  are  excellent : — 

for  those  who  are  in  the  flower  of  desire ;  whose  nafs,  in  the  seat  of  desire,  is  vain  ;  and  who 
are  in  the  midst  of  travelling. 

To  a  darvish,  they  said  : — 
Why  desirest  thou  not  a  wife  ? 

He  said : — 

A  wife  is  fit  for  man;  the  stage  of  man,  I  have  not  reached.  Wherefore  should  I  desire  a 
wife  ? 

Thus  to  another  they  spake.     He  replied  : — 

Of  the  divorcing  of  nafs,  my  need  is  greater  than  of  marriage.  When  I  divorce  nafs,  it  will 
be  lawful  to  desire  a  wife. 

To  Basharharis,  they  said  : — 
.    Of  thee,  men  say  so  and  so. 

He  said  : — 

What  say  they  ? 

They  said : — 

They  say  that  thou  hast  abandoned  the  sunnat  of  marriage. 

He  said  : — 

Tell  them  that  since  I  am  engaged  in  enjoined  observances,  in  the  sunnat  I  engage  not. 

For  the  travellers  of  hakikat,  it  is  known  that,  at  the  beginning  of  journeying, 
there  is  no  help  : — 

of  severing  attachments,  of  avoiding  delay,  of  holding  to  resolution  ;  and  of  shunning  the 
license  of  nature. 

Marriage  is  the  cause  : — 

of  binding  the  heart  to  the  chattels  of  livelihood,  of  descending  from  the  height  of  resolution 
to  the  abyss  of  license  :  and  of  inclining  towards  the  world,  after  austerity  and  faithfulness 
of  desire  (for  God). 

♦  See  p.  87. 


g,  SUFi.iSM. 

Freedom  from  wives  and  offspring  aideth  :  — 

to  tranquillity  of  heart,  to  purity  of  time,  to  the  delight  of  ease,  to  freedom  for  devotion,  and 
to  loftiness. 
As  long  as  in  respect  to  celibacy,  and  to  strife  against  nafs,*  he  hath  power,  it  is 
necessary  for  the  celibate  traveller  to  esteem  as  booty — license  of  time,  tranquillity  of 
heart,  so  that  he  become  not  dull  through  solicitude  for  the  wife. 

Submission  to  the  heart's  orders  becometh  easy  to  him  who  beareth  the  celibate 

life  :— 

till  nafs  becometh  worthy  of  kindness ;  its  vein  of  contention  torn  up,  and  to  it  stubbornness, 
forbidden. 

Then  to  him  God  giveth  a  pure  wife  who  shall  be  his  aider  in  faith  and  in  the 
chattels  of  livelihood  in  a  way  that  shall  be  the  tranquillity  of  the  heart,  and  his  pre- 
servation from  the  calamities  of  nafs. 

Shaikh  'Abdu-1-Kadir-i-JabalI  said  : — 

A  long  while  I  had  thought  of  marriage  but,  to  it  for  fear  of  time's  distress  I  advanced  not ; 
between  impulsion  and  repulsion,  I  hesitated ;  at  last  when  I  had  displayed  perfect  patience, 
—God  gave  me  four  concordant  wives,  each  of  whom  voluntarily  bestowed  on  me  her  pro- 
perty. 

In  the  preferring  of  marriage  to  celibacy,  the  firm  'ulama  have  the  'ilm-i-sa'at  (the 
knowledge  of  expansion),  whereby  they  know  : — 

(a)  when,  in  respect  of  the  observance  of  limits  of  "  rights,"  they  may  satisfy  nafs  ; 

(b)  „  „  taking  "  delight,"  they  may  give  it  the  power  of  expansion. 

Hukuk  ("rightst  ")  signify  : — 

The  requisites  of  nafs,  whereby  are  preserved  the  prop  of  the  body  and  the  preservation  of 
life,  and  without  which  permanency  of  nafs  is  hindered. 

Huzuz  ("delights")  signify  : — 

Whatever  (of  desire)  is  in  excess  (of  rights). 

The  firm  'ulama  and  the  great  ones  of  sufi,ism  know  that  nafs  is  unworthy  of 
kindness,  or  of  the  gift  of  delights  so  long  as — 

it  resteth  not  from  stirring,  striving  in  wickedness,  stubbornness ;  and  is  not  reproved  against 
contentions  with  the  heart. 

When  under  the  sway  of  orders,  nafs  becometh  quiet  and  the  veins  of  its  attach- 
ment to  the  heart  are  torn  out,  there  appear  integrity  and  concordance  between  it  and 
the  heart,  and  it  becometh  worthy  of  delights  and  of  kindness. 
V  y/       Then  the  "delights"  of  nafs  become  its  "rights  ;"  its  pain  becometh  its  remedy. 

The  "delights"  of  a  nafs  like  this  become  its  "rights;"  because  the  takinor  of 
delights  becometh  not  the  cause  of  stubbornness.  By  every  delight,  is  its  rank  (in 
propinquity  and  devotion)  greater. 

When  by  taking  delight,  nafs  gaineth  delight, — there  reacheth  to  the  heart  a  great 
delight  (the  cause  of  increase  of  its  rest). 


•  See  p.  73. 

t  "  The  rights  "  are  that,  once  every  four  nights,  he  should  visit  each  wife. 


TAJARRUD  AND  TA.AHHUL.  ge 

Even  so  by  his  neighbour's  joy,  becometh  glad  the  kind  neighbour.  When  the 
heart  putteth  on  the  rest-robe,  it  clotheth  nafs  with  the  ease-garment. 

When  the  increase  of  the  hal  of  each  (the  heart  and  nafs)  is  the  cause  of  increase 
of  hal  of  the  other,  then  the  delight  of  marriage  for  a  nafs  like  this  is  excellent, 

Sufyan  bin  'Ainiya  saith  : — 

(Better)  than  the  whole  world,  is  the  increase  (in  number)  of  the  woman  (wives). 

For  the  Amiru-1-Muminin  (the  wisest,  most  pious,  most  austere  of  the  companions) , 
had  four  wives  and  seventeen  mistresses. 

Such  is  the  state  of  "  the  end  ones,"  thereto  the  idea  of  the  state  of  the  man  of 
"the  beginning,"  or  of  the  "  middle, "reacheth  not. 

Many  are  the  pretenders  and  the  deceived  ones,  who,  by  doubt  of  this  stage, 
become  proud  ;  lay  down  In  the  plain  of  license  their  own  nafs  free  from  incumbrance  ; 
and  travel  in  the  desert  of  destruction. 

The  rule  of  the  celibate  traveller  is— 

So  long  as  to  this  stage  he  arriveth  not,  in  the  heart,  he  advanceth  no  excess  as  to  marriage, 
and  no  thought  thereof,  until,  in  the  heart,  the  imaginary  power  showeth  no  sway.  When 
a  thought  of  it  appeareth,  he  denieth  it  by  penitence  to  God  and  by  seeking  His 
aid. 

If  it  (nafs)  be  not  repelled,  he  persevereth  awhile  in  fasting. 

If  it  gather  strength,  thereto  he  maketh  no  haste  without  the  preferring  of  earnest 
prayer  and  of  much  knowledge. 

Weeping  and  groaning,  he  returneth  to  God ;  with  submission  and  weeping,  placeth 
his  head  in  the  dust;  and  uttereth  this  prayer: — 

O  God  !  this  thought  tormenteth  me  to  commit  this  sin.  Thy  forgiveness  for  it,  I  ask  ;  before 
Thee,  I  repent;  me,  forgive  and  my  repentance  accept.  Verily  Thou  art  the  Merciful, 
and  great  Accepter  of  repentance. 

If  it  depart  not,  he  goeth  to  the  shaikhs  (living  and  dead)  and  to  the  brothers, 
and  seeketh  aid ;  and  desireth  them  to  refer  these  matters  to  God. 

If  after  this,  his  heart  is  established,  the  brothers  rely  (according  to  excellent  opi- 
nion) on  God's  will  ;  and  to  them  it  becometh  evident  that  they  should  aid  him. 

The  rule  of  ta.ahhul  is  — 

In  choosing  the  wife,  regard  her  faith,  not  the  world. 

As  far  as  is  lawful  (ma'ruf)  he  should  live  with  her ;  should  observe  her  "  rights," 
therein  showing  no  negligence  ;  and  for  the  preservation  of  the  shar'  should  order  her 
— as  Ibn  'Abbas  saith.  

In  marriage,  he  should  preserve  himself  from  three  calamities: — 

I.   Inordinate  lying  with  the  spouse,  which  is  the  calamity  of  nafs.     Therefrom 
appear  three  injuries: — 
(a)  decline  in  deeds  and  in  readings  (of  the  Kuran),  wherefrom  defects  in  hal  necessarily  come. 


96  SUFi.lSM. 

(A)  the  inflaming  the  fires  of  praised  nature,  and  the  wolves  of  dead  nafs.  For,  when  with 
a  nafs,  nafs  hath  commerce,  each  (nafs),  by  kinship  becometh  the  aider  of  the  other. 
In  each  (nafs),  a  delight  cccurreth  and  the  fire  of  nature  kindleth. 

c)  the  superiority  of  nafs  after  being  subdued.  For  through  its  own  obedience  and  will,  nafs 
never  lonereth  its  head  to  the  heart's  devotion. 

When,  by  the  aid  of  divine  attraction  the  heart  gathereth  power  ;  and  beneath  its  sway,  nafs 
seeth  itself  like  a  powerless  amir-in  the  hand  of  a  powerful  amir  then,  from  itself,  nafs 
effaceth  the  greed  of  wishing  to  be  followed  and  by  necessity  and  compulsion  becometh 
submissive  to  the  heart.  The  kindness,  which  in  this  state  it  gaineth  from  the  heart, 
nafs  seeth  is  the  result  of  the  heart's  kindness  and  of  its  own  submission  and  of  its  being 
subdued, — not  the  result  of  the  heart's  (vain)  desiring  to  be  followed. 

When  in  passion,  nafs  exceedeth  moderation,  and  from  the  heart  hath  no  reproof,  it  thlnketh 
that  this  negligence  is  through  the  heart's  weakness  and  its  own  power;  and  in  the 
heart's  wishing  to  follow  and  in  its  own  power  (of  being  followed)  reneweth  vain  desire. 

2.  Solicitude  as  to  daily  victuals,  which  is  the  calamity  of  the  heart — 

This  is  the  result  of  doubt);  doubt  is  the  calamity  of  yakin  (certainty) ;  yakin  is  the  light  of  vision  ; 
vision  is  the  eye  of  the  heart. 

The  sign  of  the  light  of  yakin  in  the  slave's  heart  and  its  not  being  veiled  by  the  darkness  of  doubt 
is  this— that,  on  God's  surety  and  His  pledge,  the  slave  relieth  ;  as  to  the  acquisition  of  daily  victuals 
(apportioned  from  the  beginning  of  life  to  known  death)  wherein  appeareth  neither  excess  nor  defect, — 
is  void  of  doubt;  and  knoweth  that  the  heart's  sway  (in  solicitude  for  daily  food)  is  the  weakness  of 
yakin  ;  and  the  want  of  reliance  on  God's  pledge. 

Reliance  on  any  one  by  one's  own  deliberation  is  the  result  of  want  of  reliance  on  God's  power. 

3.  Attachment  of  the  heart  to  the  beauty  of  the  spouse,  which  is  the  calamity 
of  the  soul. 

It  is  for  him  the  prohibitor  of  sincerity  of  divine  love  ;  and,  as  regards  the  violence  of  shauk 

(desire)  for  God,  and  the  torment  of  zauk  (delight),  and  the  delight  of  love,— maketh  him 

dull. 
To  the  extent  that  he  becometh  attached  to  the  net  of  beauty,  verily  changeable,  effaceable, 

and  hadis  (accidental),— he  becometh  deprived  of  viewing  the  beauty  (of  God),  whole, 

eternal,  permanent,  and  lasting. 


The  repelling  of  these  (and  other)  calamities  becometh  attainable  if,  at  the  time 
of  lying  with  the  spouse,  two  glances  are  his : — 

1.  one  glance  outwardly,  in  the  way  of  desire,  and  of  being  engaged  with  the  spouse. 

2.  the  other  glance  inwardly  at  God,  from  Him  seeking  aid  for  the  repelling  of  calamity 

and  in  Him  being  engaged. 

A  crowd  of  deceived  ones  keep  glancing  at  the  visible  (outward)  beauty  of  the 
friend  ;  and  say  : — 

In  this  spectacle-place,  behold  we  the  beauty  of  God  ! 

This  claim  is  the  essence  of  falsehood,  and  of  slander. 

When  from  the  lawful  glance,  resulteth  the  folly  of  the  soul  (rijh)  and  its  opposition  to  the 
payment  of  the  established  portion  of  love  to  God— behold  from  the  unlawful  glance  what 
(greater)  calamities  spring. 

The  source  of  error  of  this  crowd  is  : — 

When,  in  that  (unlawful)  glance,  they  rest  from  passion's  assault,  they  hink  that  the  source 
of  this  is  delight,  not  passion,  1 


TAWAKKUL.  gy 

This  idea  is  false ;  for  if  it  had  not  been  the  residue  of  nafs,  the  pleasure  of  the  glance  in 
a  form  (which  is  the  stirrer  of  passion)  would  not  have  been  special. 

When  in  them  this  desire  hath  become  slight,  from  its  slightness,  they  o-ain  not 
that  passion. 

When  that  (unlawful)  glance  is  repeated  ;  and  in  it,  the  imagination  gaineth 
sway — possibly  it  becometh  gross  and  outwardly  its  effect  appeareth. 

Hence,  for  the  quieting  of  love's  assault,  physicians  order  conjunction  even  with 
one,  other  than  the  beloved. 

Who,  in  this  way,  claimeth  the  truth  of  hal,— him,  they  should  hear  nauo-ht  of 
and  regard  as  a  mere  pretender. 

Tawakkul  (trusting  to  God). 

IX.  9. 

Tawakkul  signifieth  :— 

Trusting  one's  affairs  to  the  Absolute  Agent  (God) ;  confiding  in  the  suretyship  of  the  surety 
of  daily  victuals. 

After  rija  (hope),  is  this  stage ;  because  the  matter  (of  trusting  and  of  confiding) 
is  that  one's  who  first  shall  understand  His  mercy, 

Tawakkul  is — 

the  result  of  the  truth  of  faith,  by  good  deliberation  and  by  fate. 

This  is  faith  in  the  rank  of  yakin  (certainty),  the  possessor  whereof  knoweth 
that  all  affairs  are  predestined  and  distributed  by  fate  (takdir),  perfect  of  will,  just  of 
distribution,  wherein,  as  to  increase  or  decrease,  is  no  change. 

Its  sign  is — 

that,  to  the  grasp  of  fate  (takdir),  he  entrusteth  the  rein  of  deliberation  ;  and  from  his  own 
power  is  up-plucked. 


Even  as  have  said  : — 
Zi3-n-Nun. 
Sariy. 
Junid. 


Hamadun-i-Kassar. 
Sahl  'Abdu-1-Lah. 


Every  stage  hath  a  beginning  and  a  prosperity  suitable  to  its  face  ;  and  an  end 
and  a  calamity  suitable  to  the  back  of  the  head — except  the  stage  of  tawakkul,  which 
is  all  beginning  or  prosperity,  and  which  never  terminateth  in  end  and  calamity,  which 
signifieth  : — 

the  tawakkul-i-'inayati  (the  tawakkul  of  favour)  trust  to  the  beauty  of  the  will  of  the  Ancient 
One  (God)  ;  not  the  tawakkul-ki-ifayat  (the  tawakkul  of  sufficiency)  which  is  an  enterer 
that  never  returneth  from  tawakkul-i-'inayati. 

The  true  mutawakkil  (truster) — 

is  that  one,  in  whose  sight  is  no  existence  save  the  existence  of  the  Causer-of-causcs.  His 
tawakkul  becometh  not  changed  by  the  existence,  or  by  the  non-existence,  of  causes. 


gg  SUFi.lSM. 

This  is  the  tawakkul  of  that  one  who  shall  have  reached  the  stage  of  tauhid  (the 
unity  of  God).  Till  he  reacheth  this  stage  the  mutawakkil,  in  amending  his  own 
makain,  is  in  need  of  abandoning  causes  ;  because,  in  his  tawakkul.  the  belief  of  the 
existence  of  causes  is  blameable. 

Therefore,  in  repelling  causes,  he  ever  striveth. 

In  the  amending  of  this  makam  by  abandoning  causes,  the  state  of  Ibrahim 
Khwass  is  well  known. 

In  one  place,  he  never  sojourned  more  than  forty  days;  and  used  to  take  great  precaution  to 
conceal  his  state  from  the  people,  so  that  their  knowledge  as  to  his  tawakkul  should  not  become  a  cause 
of  the  causes  of  his  daily  victuals.  Generally,  in  deserts  and  solitudes,  alone,  void  of  food  and  of  in- 
formation,—he  travelled. 

That  crowd,  in  whose  tawakkul  the  existence  of  causes  is  blameable, — the  exist- 
ence of  causes  is  the  veil  of  their  state,  so  that  on  them  falleth  not  the  glance  of  stran- 
gers ;  and  beneath  the  towered  dome  of  causes,  they  are  concealed  from  the  glance  of 
others. 

The  people  think  that  they  are  possessed  of  causes  ;  with  the  Causer-of-causes 
they  are,  in  ^ilwat  of  union,  engaged  in  being  benefited  with  the  delight  of  holding 
talk  at  night,  and  with  the  zauk  of  appearances  and  of  presences  (divine). 

As  to  the  force  of  the  hal  of  the  mutawakkil,  the  master  of  the  shari'at  (Muham- 
mad) hath  decided. 

In  tawakkul,  who  is  possessor  of  yakia  (certainty)  and  of  tamkin,  his  head  shive- 
reth  and  trembleth  not  at  any  disaster. 

An  assembly  asked  Junid  : — 

If,  in  search  of  daily  victuals,  we  make  no  effort,  how  will  it  be? 

He  said  : — 

If  ye  know  that  the  Provider  of  daily  victuals  hath  forgotten  you,  strive  in  search  of  victuals. 

They  said  : — 

Then,  will  we  sit  in  the  house;  and  practise  tawakkul. 

He  said : — 

By  your  own  tawakkul,  tempt  not  God  ;  for,  save  disappointment,  naught  will  ye  have. 

They  said : — 

What  thought  shall  w'e  take  ? 

He  said  : — 

Abandon  thought. 

Thus  it  is  in  the  gospel.* 


The  passage  is  : — 
f^  i^'.l'-k  iju  what  virtue  (force,  art)  shall  we  practise. 


RIZa.  99 

Riza  (Contentment). 

IX.    10. 
Riza  signifieth  : — 

the  lifting  up  (and  removing)  of  the  abhorrence  of  kaza  and  kadr  (fate  and  destiny) ;   and 
the  sweetening  of  the  bitterness  of  their  orders. 

After  traversing  the  stages  of  tawakkul  (trusting  to  God),  is  the  stage  of  riza.  ^ 

For  despite  the  yakin  (certainty)  of  the  past  division  (by  fate)  and  the  confidence 
in  the  Distributor,  it  folioweth  not  that  abhorrence  should  not  exist,  nor  that  the  bitter- 
ness of  orders  should  appear  sweet. 

Thus  hath  it  appeared  in  some  of  the  recorded  prayers  of  Muhammad, 

With  this  difference,  because  he  besought  "  the  first  certainty,"  whereby  it  be" 
cometh  known  that  to  none  arriveth  save  what  in  eternity  without  beginning  they 
(fate  and  destiny)  have  decreed. 

To  it  (the  first  certainty),  prayer,  for  ri?a  was  added,  so  that  it  became  known 
that  over  kismat  (destiny)  riza  is  not  appointed  by  kismat. 

The  makam  of  riza  is  the  end  of  the  makam  of  holy  travellers.  The  being  joined 
to  its  exalted  dignity  and  to  its  inaccessible  pinnacle  is  not  the  power  of  every  has- 
tener.  In  this  makam,  to  whomsoever  they  gave  a  footing,  him,  in  haste,  they  con- 
veyed  to  Paradise, 

For,  in  ri?a  and  in  yakin,  they  have  established  ruh  (the  soul)  and  joy,  the 
requisites  of  men  of  Paradise. 

At  this,  the  naming  of  the  guardian  of  Paradise  with  (the  name  of)  Rizvan  hinteth. 
From  yakin  (certainty),  is  born  riza ; 

So  long  as,  by  the  light  of  yakin,  the  heart  is  not  diffused  and  dissolved,  by  it  in 
the  heart,  appeareth  not  the  containing  of  events,  of  calamities,  and  of  joy. 

As  have  said  : — 
Zu-n-Nun, 
Ravim, 
Haris-i-Muhasibi. 

The  repelling  of  abhorrence  (which  is  the  source  of  the  makam  of  riza)  is  the 
result  of  the  repelling  of  one's  own  will. 

Ibn  'Ata  observeth  will,  in  whole;  and  in  abandoning  will  in  part,  regardeth  its 
excellence. 

The  source  of  riza  is  yakin  and  the  spreading  of  the  breast  is  its  necessary ;  the 
source  of  abhorrence  is  doubt,  and  the  narrowing  of  the  breast  is  its  necessary. 

Once  in  Junid's  society,  Shibli  uttered  Lahaula  *  *  *  (there  is  no  power  nor 
virtue,  but  in  God). 

Junid  said  : — 

This  is  from  the  heart's  narrowness,  which  is  from  the  abandoning  of  riza. 

Shibli  said  :— 

Truly,  thou  spakesl. 


lOO  SUFl.lSM. 

Abhorrence  is  of  two  kinds  : — 

(a)  Abhorrence  of  the  heart,  which  is  the  opposite  to  riza. 

(Ij\  j,     nafs,       „  „  the  hal  and  the  makam  of  riza. 

Possibly  in  some  heart,  ariseth  this  doubt : — 

When  its  preface  and  source  are  hal  how  can  the  opposite  to  the  hal  of  riza  be  collected 
with  its  makam  ? 

The  reply  is  : — 

Only  a  gift  is  hal,  that,  through  exceeding  fineness  and  penetrating  power,  pervadeth  all  parts 
of  existence  ;  and  thereby  no  suspicion  of  the  desires  of  nature  remaineth. 
But  makam  is  mixed  with   kasb  (acquisition) ;  therefore  is  possible  the  suspicion  of  the  tempera, 
ment  of  the  wish  of  nature. 

Even  as  riza  is  the  result  of  yakin,  which  is  the  heart's  special  quality,  so  special 
to  the  heart,  is  the  quality  of  ri?a. 

In  it,  abhorrence  of  nafs  is  not  blameable,  save  when  the  heart  is  the  possessor  of 
yakin  like  unto  a  wide  sea,  sometimes  calm,  sometimes  rough.  When,  from  the  source 
of  divine  favour,  the  winds  of  circumstances  resolve  to  blow,  the  heart's  sea  cometh 
into  tumult ;  and  therefrom,  the  excess  (foam)  of  a  wave  plungeth  upon  the  shore  of 
nafs  ;  and,  in  the  flowing  of  nature,  goeth  flowing.  By  its  means  the  effects  of  riza 
and  of  rest  appear  in  nafs  ;  and  become  qualified  with  the  heart's  quality. 

When  these  winds  take  rest,  the  heart's  sea  ceaseth  from  boisterousness  ;  to  its 
own  boundary,  the  bounty  of  'ilm-i-yakin  and  of  rest  turneth  its  face  ;  and  perturbation 
and  abhorrence  of  nafs  return. 

In  that  hal  of  ignorance  (the  nature  of  nafs),  'ilm-i-yakin  becometh  non-existent 
nafs  putteth  on  by  loan  the  garment  of  the  heart's  feelings,  and  to  (nafs),  the  heart 
speaketh. 

The  riza  of  nafs  is  the  effect  of  riza  of  the  heart,  which  is  the  effect  of  the  riz5 
of  God. 

When  the  glance  of  the  divine  Rizvan  taketh  attachment  to  the  heart,  in  it  ap. 
peareth  riza.  Then  the  mark  of  union  of  the  divine  Rizvan  with  the  slave's  heart  is 
the  union  of  the  slave's  parts  with  Him.     Thus  speaketh  Sahl,  'Abdu-1-lah. 

Since  the  slave's  riza  is  the  divine  Rizvan 's  need, — union  with  the  divine  Rizvan 
appeareth  not  in  the  place  void  of  riza.     Thus  speaketh  Rabi'a  to  Sufyan  Suri. 

The  makam  of  riza  is  the  makam  of  those  joined  to  God,— not  the  stage  of  holy 
travellers,  as  Bashar  Hafi  in  reply  to  Fazil  hath  said. 

Besides  that  place  where  one  cometh  into  the  place  of  riza  of  God,— is  what 
jnakam  ? 

There,  where  is  the  glance  of  riza  all  sins  appear  good. 

More  pleasant  than  that  where  an  abhorrent  object  reacheth  none  is  what  h^l  ? 

Thus  speak : — 

J  he  Amiru-1-Muminin  and  Yahya  Ma'aj. 


MUHABBAT. 


lOI 


Necessary  for  the  makam  of  riza  is  the  hal  of  love,  because  when  all  deeds  fall 
into  the  place  of  riza,  where  the  Beloved  is  Agent,  all  deeds  of  the  Beloved  are 
beloved. 

Neither  in  this,  nor  in  the  next,  world  separate  from  the  slave,  riza  and  muhab- 
bat  (love) ;  contrary  to  fear  and  hope,  which  in  the  next  world  separate  from  him. 


Muhabbat  (love). 

X,  I. 

On  muhabbat,  is  the  foundation  of  all  lofty  hals,  even  as  on  tauba  (penitence)  is 
the  base  of  all  noble  makams. 

Since  muhabbat  is  essentially  gift  all  hals  that  are  founded  thereon,  they  call 
mawahib  (gifts). 

Muhabbat  is  the  heart's  inclination  to  considering  attentively  beauty ;  and  is  of 
two  kinds : — 


i.  muhabbat-i-'amm. 
ii.  „        „  khass. 

In  the  following  table,  the  qualities  of 
Muhabbat-i-'amm. 

(a)  the  heart's  inclination  to  considering 
attentively  the  beauty  of  qualities. 

(6)  a  moon  that  from  viewing  the  beaute- 
ous qualities  appeareth. 

(c)  a  light  that  giveth  decoration  to  ex- 
istence. 

((f)  a  token  that  saith—"  Imitate  what  is 
pure  ;  bid  farewell  to  what  is  not 
pellucid." 

(c)  the  best  wine,  sealed,  tempered  (by 
age). 

(f)  a  wine  (by  reason  of  its  temperament, 
possessed  of  desires)  the  porter  of 
purity  and  of  impurity  ;  of  fineness 
and  of  grossness ;  of  lightness  and 
of  heaviness. 


muhabbat  are  given  : — 

Muhabbat-i-khass. 
the  soul's  inclination  to  viewing  the  beauty  of  zat. 

a  sun  that,  from  the  horizon  of  zat,  ascendeth. 

a  tire  that  purifieth  existence. 

a  token  that  saith—"  Live  not  and  consume  not." 


the  absolutely  pure  fountain. 

a  wine  (by  reason  of  its  being  purified  from  defects) 
all  purity  in  purity;  fineness  in  fineness,  lightness 
in  lightness. 


The  fineness  and  the  lightness  of  this  wine  affecteth  the  heaviness  and  the  light- 
ness of  the  cup ;  changeth  its  grossness  to  fineness,  its  heav.ness  to  l.ghtness,  l.ke  the 
soul  that  giveth  to  the  eye  fineness  and  lightness. 

In  the  cup  of  their  souls,  the  lovers  of  zat  drink  this  wine  ;  and,  on  hearts  and 
nafs,  pour  the  dregs. 


102  SUFi.lSM. 

It  giveth  the  lightness  : — 

(a)  of  agitation  to  souls  (ruh). 

(b)  „  shauk       „  hearts. 

(c)  „  devotion   „  nafs. 

The  relish  of  this  wine  affecteth  all  parts  of  existence.     It  giveth  :— 

(a)  to  the  soul,  the  delight  of  beholding. 

(b)  „  hearts  „        „  remembering. 

(c)  „  nafs  „        „   deeds. 

"  to  such  a  degree  that,  in  nafs,  the  delight  of  devotion  prevaileth  over  all  natural 
delights. 

From  its  exceeding  pureness  and  fineness,  the  essence  of  the  cup  becometh  in 
the  colour  of  this  wine  so  effaced  that  discrimination  remaineth  not  and  the  form  of 
unity  appeareth. 

Love  effaceth  all  existence ;  on  the  condition  that  it  be  established  in  the  hal 
it  giveth  its  own  colour  ;  and,  like  lightnings  and  flashings,  becometh  not  quickly  ex- 
tinguished. 

Junid  saith  : — 

Love  signifieth  the  entering  into  the  qualities  of  the  beloved  in  exchange  for  the  qualities  of 
the  lover. 

/  Muhabbat  is  verily  a  link  of  the  links  of  concord  that  bindeth  the  lover  to  the  be- 

^     loved;  is  an  attraction  of  the  attractions  of  the  beloved,  that  draweth  to  himself  the 

lover,  and  (to  the  degree  that  him  to  himself  it  draweth)  effaceth  something  of  his 

existence, — so  that,  first,  from   him  it  seizeth  all  his  qualities ;  and  then  snatcheth, 

into  the  grasp  of  Kudrat  (God),  his  zat. 

In  exchange,  the  attraction  of  love  giveth  him  a  zat  that  is  worthy  of  the  descrip- 
tion of  its  own  qualities ;  and  after  that,  his  qualities  (the  enterer  of  that  zat),  become 
changed. 

Junid  said : — 

"  In  the  exchange." 

He  said  not : — 
"  In  the  lover." 
For  as  long  as  the  lover  existeth, — not  fit  to  be  described  with  the  qualities  of 
the  beloved  is  his  zat. 

This  hal  is  the  produce  of  muhabbat  and  its  end.     Though  its  cause  appeareth 
not,  its  marks  are  many.     To  the  truth  of  his  muhabbat :  — 
every  hair  on  the  lover's  limbs  is  a  witness. 
„      motion  of  „  mark. 

„      resting  „  „  sign. 

Save  by  the  eye  of  muhabbat,  one  cannot  behold  this.  For  the  sake  of  distin- 
guishing the  sincere  ones  from  the  pretenders,  we  sum  up  the  ten  marks  of  the  lover 
of  God  : — 

1.  In  the  lover's  heart  is  no  love,  either  for  this,  or  for  the  next,  wotfld,  as  God  re- 
vealed to  Isa. 


MUHABBAT. 


103 


Possibly,  in  a  heart  divine  love  together  with  compassion  (for  the  people)  may  be 
collected ;  and  to  some  that  compassion  may  show  (as)  love. 

Its  mark  that  it  is  compassion  is  this,  that,  if  they  leave  free  to  choice  the  posses- 
sor of  these  two  qualities  (divine  love  and  compassion), — he  abandoneth  the  people's 
side. 

2.  He  should  not  incline  to  any  beauty  that  they  may  present  to  him  ;  nor  turn 
his  glance  from  the  beauty  of  the  Beloved  (God). 

Once  a  man  met  a  beautiful  woman,  and  to  her  revealed  his  love.  For  trying 
him  she  said  :— 

Beside  me,  is  one  who  is  more  beautiful  of  face  than  I  and  more  perfect  in  beautv.   She  is  my 
sister. 

Back,  he  looked.   Against  him,  with  rebuke,  the  woman  extended  her  tongue  : — 
O  boaster  !  when  I  beheld  thee  afar,  I  thought  thou  wast  a  wise  man  ;  when  thou  camest 
near,  I  thought  thou  wast  a  lover.     Now,  thou  art  neither  a  wise  man  nor  a  lover. 

3.  Means  of  union  with  the  Beloved,  he  should  hold  dear ;  and  be  submissive. 
For  that  love  and  devotion  are  the  essence  of  the  love  and  the  devotion  of  the 
Beloved. 

4.  If  of  the  number  of  hinderers  of  union  with  the  Beloved,  should  be  his  son,  of 
him  he  should  be  full  of  caution. 

5.  Filled  and  inflamed  with  love,  he  should  be  at  the  mention  of  the  Beloved  ;  and 
of  it  never  be  wearied.  Ever}-  time  that  mention  occurreth,  greater  should  be  his  joy 
and  exaltation. 

The  mention  of  the  Beloved,  he  should  hold  dear  to  such  a  degree  that,  if,  in  the 
midst  thereof,  he  hear  his  own  reproach,  therefrom  he  should  gain  delight. 

6.  In  respect  of  orders  and  of  prohibitions,  he  should  preserve  devotion  to  the 
Beloved  ;  and  never  oppose  His  order. 

Thus,  have  said  ; — 
Rabi'a. 

Sahl  'Abdu-1-lah. 
Ravim. 

7.  In  whatever  he  chooseth,  his  glance,  in  desire  of  the  Beloved's  consent,  should 
be,— not  in  desire  of  another  purpose. 

Thus,  have  said : — 
Abu  Bakr-i-Kattani. 
Shibli. 

8.  Much,  he  should  regard  a  little  regard  of  the  Beloved  ;  his  own  devotion  (to 
the  Beloved)  little. 


I04 


SUFi.lSM. 
Thus  saith  God's  word  and  the  revelation  that  He  sent  to  'Uzair. 


g.  In  the  ray  of  the  light-splendours  of  beholding  the  Beloved,  the  vision  of 
lovers  becometh  dulled  and  dimmed;  wherefrom  spring  jealousy,  passion,  and 
sweat. 

If  he  be  in  the  makam  of  tamkin  ;  and  have  the  power  of  devouring  (suffering) 
hal ;  and  if  astonishment  exceed  not  the  soul's  boundary,  and  prevent  not  the  heart 
from  arranging  words  and  deeds, — his  soul  in  beholding  is  the  more  astonished  as  his 
heart  in  appearing  before  another  is  the  more  sensible. 

If  he  have  not  the  power  of  such  tamkin  ;  and,  in  the  power  of  this  hal,  the  thread 
of  discrimination  becometh  snatched  from  his  hand,  he  crieth  out : — 
"  In  me,  increase  astonishment  at  Thee." 

10.  The  beholding  of  the  Beloved  and  union  with  Him  should  not  diminish  his 
shauk. 

In  his  nature,  should  be  evoked  a  new  shauk,  astonishment,  and  desire — every 
moment  in  beholding ;  and  in  every  breath  in  union  with  the  Beloved. 

As  the  degree  of  propinquity  to  the  Beloved  becometh  greater,  to  the  degree  of 
sublimity  falleth  his  glance  ;  and  his  shauk,  agitation,  and  desire  for  union  increase. 

Even  so  endless  is  the  Beloved's  beauty  ;  and  the  lover's  desire,  endless. 

Of  many  marks  of  love,  these  are  a  few  ;  impossible  in  a  book  is  love's  limitation  ; 
according  to  the  abundance  of  marks  in  love's  praise  is  contrariety  of  words.  Accord- 
ing to  another  description  and  mark,  each  one,  according  to  his  hal,  describeth  love. 


Shauk  (desire). 

X.   2. 

Shauk  signifieth  : — 

The  assault  of  the  claim  of  delight  on  account  of  the  Beloved  in  the  lover's  heart.     Its  exist- 
ence is  the  requsite  of  love's  truth. 

Abu  'Usman  Hairi  saith  : — 

Shauk  is  the  fruit  of  muhabbat  (love) ;  who  loveth  God,  with  Him  desireth  union. 

According  to  love's  division,  shauk  is  of  two  kinds : — 

(<j)  the  shauk  of  lovers  of  qualities  the  understanding  through  the  Beloved's  grace,  mercy 
and  kindness. 

{b)  the  shauk  of  the  lovers  of  zat  through  union  with,  and  propinquity  to,  the  Beloved. 
This  shauk  from  exceeding  honour  is  like  red  sulphur  rare  of  existence.  Because 
generally  people  are  seekers  of  God's  mercy,  not  of  God  Himself. 

Said  a  man  of  heart  (a  sufi)  : — 
Thou  seest  a  thousand — 
'Abdu-r-Rahman  the  slave  of  the  most  Merciful. 

„     „  Rahira  „       „         „       Merciful. 

„     -l-Karim  „      „        „       Generous  One, 

but  scarcely  one  'Abdu-l-lah  ,,      „        God. 


SHAUK.  ,05 

The  seekers  of  (God's)  mercy  are  many;  few,  the  seekers  of  God. 

To  the  seekers  of  God,  paradise  is  the  sight  of  Him  even  if  by  Fate  they  be  in 
hell :  hell,  separation  from  Him,  even  if  they  be  in  paradise. 

Thus  saith  Bayizld. 

The  hal  of  shauk  is  an  excellence  such  that,  to  their  purpose  it  conveyeth  the 
messengers  of  the  ka'ba  of  desire  ;  joined  to  perpetuality  of  love,  is  their  perpetuality  ; 
ever  as  long  as  love  remaineth  is  shauk  necessary. 

Some  of  the  sufIs  have  denied  shauk  in  the  stage  of  being  present  with,  and  of 
beholding,  the  Beloved. 

This  denial  would  have  been  at  the  time  when  shauk  was  special  in  desire  of  be- 
holding (the  Beloved),  which  is  not  necessary  ;  because,  beyond  the  beholding  of  the 
Beloved,  to  special  men  are  other  desires,  (desirous  whereof  they  are)  such  as — union, 
propinquity,  and  increase  of  their  perpetuality. 

Not  every  one  who  gained  a  sight  of  the  Beloved,  with  the  Beloved  attained  the 
fortune  of  union  :  not  every  one  who  became  a  joiner,  gained  the  stage  of  propin- 
quity :  not  every  one  who  became  near  attained  the  limit  of  the  degrees  of  propin- 
quity :  not  every  one  who  gained  that  degree,  lasting  thereon  remained. 

The  shauk  of  these  desires,  according  to  the  exaltation  of  its  degrees,  is  much 
more  difficult  than  the  shauk  of  beholding,  as  some  of  the  great  ones  of  tarikat  have 
said. 

In  the  Hadis  of  Da,ud  are  words,  the  meaning  whereof  is  the  strengthener 
of  our  spirit.  Because  in  hal  when  the  glance  is  on  the  Beloved,  shauk  becometh  (as 
is  evident  to  those  present  and  beholding)  momently  greater. 

Then,  in  connection  with  what  shall  have  been  gained,  love  is  not  desirous  of 
beholding,  or  of  being  near  to,  the  Beloved  ;  and  is  desirous  in  connection  with  what 
shall  not  have  been  gained. 

The  shauk  of  beholding  is  (in  existence)  the  essence  of  certainty;  its  acquisition 
is  in  this  world  difficult. 

In  some  places,  shauk  is  the  cause  of  death's  delay  ;  and  in  some  (where  the 
desired  is  an  order  from  the  Beloved,  whose  acquisition  is  as  life)  it  becometh  not  its 
cause,  but  the  negation  thereof. 

In  this  case,  life  may  be  beloved. 

The  cause  of  death's  delay  is  not  necessary,  for  shauk  is  the  hakku-1-yakin  and 
the  makam  of  acquisition. 

Possibly  the  cause  of  that  shauk  is  the  beholding  of  one  whose  acquisition  is  in 
this  world  difficult. 

The  word  lika  (beholding)  signifieth  : — 
Mushahida  (manifestation),  wusul  (acquisition). 

In  this  place,  the  second  meaning  is  appropriate. 


Io6  SUFi.lSM. 

Kabz  (contraction)  and  bast  (expansion). 

X.    7. 

When  the  holy  traveller  of  the  path  of  hakikat  passeth  beyond  the  makam  of 
muhabbat-i-'amm  (common  love),  and  reacheth  to  the  beginning  of  muhabbat-i-khass 
(special  love), — he  entereth  the  crowd  of  the  companions  of  heart  and  of  the  Lords 
of  hal ;  and  upon  his  heart,  descendeth  the  hal  of  kabz  and  of  bast. 

Ever  between  these  two  states,  pursuant  and  expectant  the  Turner  of  hearts 
(God)  keepeth  his  heart,  so  that  out  from  it  He  graspeth  sensual  delights  ;  and  it,  with 
His  own  light,  expandeth. 

Sometimes  in  the  tight  grasp  of  kabz.  God  twisteth  his  heart  so  that  therefrom 
becometh  expressed  the  refuse  of  the  existence  of  delight  (hazz)  ;  and  the  effect 
thereof  is  shown  in  tears. 

Sometimes  in  the  broad  plain  of  bast,  God  lowereth  His  rein  so  that  he  (the 
traveller)  may  establish  the  marks  of  devotion  and  of  sincerity. 

Thus  have  said  :— 
Wasiti  and  N  uri. 

Kabz  signifieth  : — 

The  extracting  of  delight  (hazz)  from  the  heart,  for  the  sake  of  holding  and  capturing  its 
state  of  joy  (surur). 

Bast  signifieth  : — 

The  flashing  of  the  heart  with  the  splendour  of  the  light  of  the  state  of  joy. 

The  cause : — 

(a)  of  kabz  is  the  revelation  of  the  qualities  of   nafs  and   the  veiling  of  the  splendour  of  joy's 

state.     The  result  is  the  contraction  of  the  heart. 

(b)  of  bast  is  the  up-lifting  of  the  veil  of  nafs  from  before  the  heart.     The  result  is  the  expan- 

sion of  the  heart. 

Of  the  qualities  of  nafs  (whereof  many  are  the  veil  of  bast)  one  is  tughyan  (ex- 
ceeding iniquity). 

In  the  state  of  the  descending  of  joy,  the  heart  listeneth  to  nafs;  becometh  admonished 
of  its  state ;  through  joy  Cometh  into  exaltation ;  and  through  its  motion,  becometh 
raised  a  great  darkness  like  to    a    cloud,  layer  on  layer,  wherefrom   springeth  kabz. 

To  repel  this  calamity,  the  heart  should  at  the  time  of  the  descending  of  joy, 
before  listening  to  nafs,  take  shelter  in  God  ;  with  truth  and  penitence,  repent,  so 
that  He  may  lower  between  it  and  nafs  the  veil  of  purity,  and  preserve  it  from  attach- 
ment to  nafs  and  to  tughyan. 

Sometimes  to  "the  first  ones,"  appear  in  nafs  resemblances  to: — 
Kabz  (contraction)  grief, 

bast  (expansion)  joy. 

On  experiencing  either  grief  or  joy,  they  think  that  they  experience  either  kabz 
or  bast ;  and  thus,  fall  into  error.  ^ 


FANA  AND  BAKA.  I07 

The  end  of  kabz  is  bast  ;  the  end  of  bast  is  fana;  in  fana,  kabz  and  bast  are  im- 
possible 

Since  kabz  and  bast  are  of  the  crowd  of  ahvval  : — 

(a)  in  them,  "the  first  ones  "  share  not. 

(b)  from  them,  "the  last  ones  "  having  issued  from  the  sway  of  occupations,  have  turned. 

(c)  them,  "  the  middle  ones  "  have  as  their  hal. 

In  the  place  of  kabz  and  of  bast  :  — 

(a)  "  the  first  ones"  have  khauf  (fear  of  God),  and  rija  (hope  in  God). 

(b)  "the  last  ones  "  have  fana  (effacement)  and  baka  (permanency). 

Partners  between  "the  first  ones  "  and  "the  middle  ones"  are  : — 

(a)  fear  and  hope  according  to  faith. 

(b)  grief  and  joy         „  „  nature. 

"The  last  ones"  by  putting  off  the  garment  of  existence  have  neither  kabz  nor 
bast,  neither  fear  nor  hope,  neither  grief  nor  joy — except  when  to  the  heart's  stage  shall 
have  reached  their  nafs  ;  and  to  it  (nafs1  become  revealed  the  qualities  of  the  heart ; 
and  grief  and  joy  become  changed  to  kabz  and  bast ,  and  thereby  kabz  and  bast  be- 
come left  in  their  nafs  and  are  never  removed. 


Fana  (effacement)  and  baka  (permanency). 

X.  8. 

Fana*  signifieth  : — 

the  end  of  travelling  to  God. 

Baka  signifieth: — 

the  beginning  of  travelling  in  God. 

Travelling  to  God  (fana)  endeth  when,  with  the  foot  of  sincerity,  the  holy  travel- 
ler travelleth  the  desert  of  existence. 

Travelling  in  God  (baka,  becometh  verified  when,  after  absolute  fana,  they  give 
to  the  slave  an  existence  purified  from  the  pollution  of  impurities,  so  that,  in  the  world 
of  description  (the  material  world),  he  advanceth  in  divine  qualities. 

In  the  description  of  fana  and  baka,  the  contrarieties  of  the  words  of  shaikhs  agree  with  the 

contrarieties  of  hal  of  the  holy  traveller. 
According  to  his  understanding  and  the  amending  of  his  hal,  the  shaikhs  have  answered  each 
murid;  absolute  fana  and  baka,  they  have  less  explained. 


*  Fana  signifieth  :— 

(fl)  the  death   of  passion,  of  self-will,  of  self-consciousness,  producing  the  spiritual   resurrec- 
tion to  eternal  life  (baka). 
(6)  the  thinking  away  of  self;  the  emerging  from  self  that  veileth  man's  real  essence  (God). 
(Lahiji  in  Gulshan-i-raz). 
(c)  the  praver  of  rapture,  wherein  man  is  effaced  from   self,  so  that  he  is  not  conscious  of  his 

body,  nor  of  things  outward  and  inward.    From  these,  he  is  rapt,— journeying  first  to  his 

Lord  and  then  in  his  Lord. 
If  it  occur  to  him  that  he  is  effaced  from  self,  it  is  a  defect.    The  highest  state  is  lo  be  effaced 

from  effacement. 
(Imam  Ghazzali  in  Gulshan-i-raz.) 


io8 


sJfi.ism. 


Some  have  saiu  :  — 

Fana  signifieth  : — 
(a)  the  fana  of  contrarieties 

(A) 


(d) 


decline  of  worldly  de- 
lights. 

decline  of  delights  of  this 
and  of  the  next  world. 

decline  of  blameable 
qualities. 

concealment  of  things. 


Baka  signifieth  : — 
the  baka  of  concordances. 

„    permanency  of   pleasure  in 

the  next  world. 
,,    permanency   of  delight    in 

God. 
„    permanency      of    laudable 

qualities. 
„    presence  of  God. 


The  sense  is  a  requisite  : — 

of  the   makam   of  penitence   of 
Nasuh. 
,j  „  Ziihd   (aus- 

terity. 
„      sincerity  of  natural  love. 

„       purifying  and  of  the  glo- 
rifying of  nafs. 
,,       intoxication  of  hal. 


Fana  is  of  two  kinds  ;— outward  and  inward, 
(a)  Outward  fana. 

This  is  the  fana  of  deeds  and  is  the  glory  of  divine  deeds.     The  possessor  of  this  fana  be- 

cometh  so  immersed  m  divine  deeds  that,  neither  on  the  part  of  himself  nor  on  the  part 

of  others,  seeth  he  deed,  or  desire,  or  will  — save  the  deed,  the  desire  and  the  will  of  God. 
In  himself,  no  will  for  any  deed  remameth  ;  he  plungeth  into  no  work  ;  and,  from  the  free 

manifestation  of  divine  deeds  without  the  pollution  of  deeds  of  other  than  God,  gaineth 

delight. 
Some  holy  travellers  have  remained  in  this  makam,  wherein  they  have  neither  eaten  nor 

drunk,  till  God  hath  appointed  over  them  one  who  (with  eatables,  potables,  and  other 

things)  might  support  them, 
(i)  Inward  fana. 

This  is  the  fana  of  qualities  and  of  zat.     The  possessor  of  this  hal  in  the  revelation  of  the 

qualities  of  the   Ancient  One  is  immersed  sometimes  in  the  fana  of  his  own  qualities ; 

and,  sometimes,  in  the  manifestation  of  the  effects  and  of  the  grandeur  of  the  Ancient 

One. 
Immersed  in  the  fana  of  the  zat  of  the  Ancient  One,  he  is  immersed  in  the  fana  of  the  zat 

of  Wujud  (the  Absolute  Existence,  God)— until  that  time  when,  over  him  prevaileth  the 

existence  of  God  when  his  heart  becometh  cleansed  of  all  temptations  and  thoughts. 

God  knoweth  that,  in  connection  with  that  one  who  shall  not  yet  have  passed  the 
stage  of  fana,  his  baka  is  shirk  (infidelity)  ;  and  not  shirk  in  connection  with  that 
one  who,  after  fana,  shall  have  reached  baka. 

In  this  makam,  the  being  hidden  from  feeling  (being  unconscious)  is  not  a 
requisite.  To  some,  it  may  chance  ;  to  others,  not.  The  cause  of  his  not  being 
hidden  from  feeling  is  his  amplitude  of  prayer,  and  capaciousness  of  mind. 

Therein  is  contained  fana.  The  presence  of  his  inward  (the  heart)  is  immersed 
in  the  abyss  of  fana  :  the  presence  of  his  outward  (the  body)  is  present  in  what  goeth 
forth  from  words  and  deeds. 

This  may  be  at  a  time  when  he  shall  have  found  dwelling  in  the  makam  of  mani- 
festation of  ^at  and  of  qualities  ;  and  shall  have  come  from  the  inebriety  of  the  hal 


(d)  the  proximity  to  the  light  of  lights  wherein  the  flame  of  eternal  love  burneth,  ere  it  trans- 
formeth  ;  consuming  self,  ere  it  quickeneth  the  lover  with  the  embrace  of  tnion. 
(Gulshan-i-raz,  1.  120.)  ^ 


AURAD.  lop 

of  fana  to  sobriety.     He  who  is  in  the  beginning  of  this  hal,  him,  conceaieth  from  feel- 
ing the  intoxication  (of  fana). 

Muslim  bin  Yasar  was  in  prayer  in  the  masjid  of  Bisra,  when  suddenly  one  of  its 
columns  fell.  Of  the  circumstance,  all  the  people  of  the  bazar  knew,  yet  he  in  the 
masjid  felt  it  not. 

The  baka  that  is  in  support  of  outward  fana  is  this  :— 

After  fana  of  desire  and  of  will,  God  maketh  the  slave,  master  of  desire  and  of  will,  and  in 
absolute  sway  of  the  rein  (of  guidance;.  Whatever  he  desireth,  he  doeth  with  the 'will  and 
the  desire  of  God.  Even  so  the  giver  up  of  absolute  will  is  in  the  degree  of  the  degrees  of 
fana  ;  the  giver  up  of  will  wholly  in  affairs  (until  he  is  allowed)  and  partly  in  them  (until  he 
first  returneth  in  heart  to  God)  is  in  the  degree  of  the  makam  of  fana. 

The  baka  that  is  in  support  of  inward  fana  is  this  : — 

The  zat  and  the  qualities  of  fana  become  evoked  from  the  bond  of  violence  in  the  assemblv- 

place  of  manifestation  in  the  garb  of  remaining  existence ;  and  from  before  it,  the  veil 

wholly  riseth  (and  departeth). 
Becometh  neither  God  the  veil  of  creation  ;  nor  creation,  the  veil  of  God.     To  the  possessor  of 

fana,  God  is  the  veil  of  creation,— as  to  those  who  have  not  reached  the  stage  of  fana, 

creation  is  the  veil  of  God. 

After  fana,  the  possessor  of  baka  beholdeth  each  veil  in  its  own  makam,  without 
one  (the  veil  of  the  Creator)  being  the  veil  of  the  other  (the  created). 

In  him,  are  collected  and  included  the  possessor  of  fana  and  of  baka.  In  fana, 
he  is  baki  (lasting)  ;  in  baka,  fani  (effacing). 

Outward  fana — 

is  the  portion  of  the  Lords  of  heart  and  of  the  Companions  of  hal. 

Inward  fana 

is  special  to  the  noble  ones,  who  may  have  become  free  from  the  intoxication  of  the  sway  of  hal 
have  issued  from  beneath  the  veil  of  the  heart ;  and,  from  the  society  of  the  heart,  have 
joined  the  society  of  the  converter  of  hearts  (God). 


The  aurad  (prayers). 

VII.  7. 
Before  the  crepuscule,  the  seeker  should  have  completed  his  ablution,  and  should 
be  sitting  before  the  kibla  in  expectation  of  the  prayer  of  morn. 

When  he  heareth  the  cry  of  prayer,   he  should  answer  the  mu,azzin, — whatever 
he  saith,  he  should  repeat  except  in  : 
(a)  hayyi  'ala-s  salat,  rise  to  prayer. 
(J)     „        „     i-falali,       »      goodness. 

When  he  should  say  :— 

There  is  no  power  nor  virtue  but  in  God  the  great,  the  mighty  I 


no  SUFi.lSM. 

In  every  azan,  he  should  observe  this  rule ;  in  the  morning  azan,  he  should  gene- 
rally say  :— 

O  God  !  this  is  the  face  of  Thy  day,  the  back  of  Thy  night,  and  the  sound  of  Thy  prayer. 

0  Merciful  of  the  merciful !  through  Thy  mercy,  me  forgive,  and  my  parents,  and  all  the  faith. 

ful,  male  and  female. 

When  the  morning  dawneth,  he  should  utter  the  renewal  of  the  shahadat — 

Welcome  to  the   two  kind  recording   angels  !    God  bless  ye  !    in  my  record,  write  that  I 
declare-— 

that  there  is  no  god  but  God. 
,,     Muhammad  is  His  prophet. 

paradise  "s  true. 

„     the   fire   (of  hell  ) 
„     sirat    (the   bridge) 

the  question  (in  the  grave) 
,,  balance 
„  account 
„  punishment 
,,  book  (of  record) 
„  intercession  (of  Muhammad) 

1  declare  that,  in  the  hour  given,  God  will  cause  (the  dead)  to  rise  from  the  grave. 

0  God  !  to  Thee,    I     entrust  this  declaration  for  the  day  of    my  need.     O  God  !    for  its 

sake,— stop  my  sin  ;  forgive  my  sin;   make  heavy  my  balance;  make  me  deserving  of 
safety ;  and  forgive  me  my  faults  through  Thy  mercy,  O  Merciful  of  the  merciful  ! 

Then  he  should  perform  two  rak'ats  of  the  prayer  of  the  sunnat*  of  the  crepus- 

cule  — 

with  Suratu-l-Kafirun,  chapter  109. 
„  „      Ikhlas  „       112. 

Several  times  he  should  repeat  :^ 

the  Kalima-i-tasbih. 
„  „         istighfar. 

and  should  say  : — 

1  ask  pardon  of  God  for  my  sin;  to  God,  be  glory  by  the  praise  of  my  God. 

For  the  masj id-prayer,  he  should  resolve  to  go  to  the  masjid.     On  going  out  from 
his  house,  he  should  say  : — 

O  God  !  by  the  true  ingress,  make  me  enter ;  by  the  true  egress,  make  me  pass  out. 


*  There  are  three  kinds  of  prayer  :  — 
wajib,  necessary  prayer  (five), 
sunnat,  prescribed     „ 
nafl,  voluntary  „ 


AURAD.  lit 

On  the  way  to  the  masjid,  he  should  utter  this  prayer  :— 

By  the  incliners  to  Thee,  by  the  beggars  towards  Thee,  by  this  my  going  and  coming  out  to 

Thee, — I  pray  to  Thee,  O  God  ! 
With  evil  and  hypocrisy,  I  have  not  issued.     To  avoid  Thy  curse  and  to  meet  Thy  blessing, 
have  I  come  out.     To  save  me  from  hell-fire  and  to  forgive  me  my  sin,— I  pray  to  Thee, 
for  none  save  Thou  forgivest  sins. 

On  going  into  the  masjid  and  planting  his  foot  on  the  prayer-mat,  he  should  ad- 
vance his  right  foot  and  say  : — 

In  the  name  of  God,  to  God  be  praise !  peace  and  blessing  on  the  prophet  of  God  !  O  God, 
me  forgive  and  open  me  the  door  of  mercy. 

When  he  performeth  the  enjoined  observances  in  the  masjid  and  giveth  the  salu- 
tation,* he  should  say  ten  times: — 

There  is  no  god  but  God,  the  One,  with  Whom  is  no  partner.  Dominion,  His  ;  praise.  His ; 
life,  He  giveth  and  taketh ;  and  is  ever  living  without  death.  In  His  hand,  is  good; 
over  all  kings,  He  is  powerful. 

Then  he  should  say  : — 

There  is  no  god  but  God,  the  One.  Sincerity  is  His  promise;  victory.  His  slave;  popular. 
His  army.  There  is  no  god  but  God,  the  master  of  grace.  To  Him,  be  praise.  There 
is  no  god  but  God,  save  Him,  we  worship  none.     Who  have  faith  in  Him  are  saved. 

Then  he  should  utter  the  ninety-nine  namest  of  God  ;  and  say  : — 

O  God  !  bless  Muhammad,  Thy  slave,  news-bringer,  prophet,  the  illiterate  but  truthful  mes- 
senger; and  this  descendant  of  Muhammad  with  blessing  such  as  is  Thy  will.  Give  him 
the  means  and  the  blessed  degreej  that  Thou  promisedest. 

Bless  his  brethren  the  prophets,  the  true  ones,  the  martyrs,  the  pious  ones. 

O  God  !  to  the  day  of  faith  (the  judgment-day)  our  chief  Muhammad  bless— 
among  the  ancient  ones. 
„  last  generations. 

„  those  in  lofty  regions. 

O  God  !  bless  the  soul  of  Muhammad  among  the  souls  ;  his  body  among  the  bodies  ;  and 
bestow  all  the  excellences  of  the  blessings  of  Thy  mercy. 

His  two  hands,  he  uplifteth  ;  and  of  the  above  traditional  prayer  of  the  prophet 
(in  zikr  whereof,  after  this  a  single  section§  will  pass)  he  uttereth  as  he  wisheth. 

The  Lords  of  deeds  and  the  companions  of  stages  have  cherished  this  time  ;  on 
its  preservation,  established  the  base  of  the  structure  of  times  and  of  hours  ;  and  in 
this  rule  : — 

by  negation  of  lusts,  I        by  reading  without  defect, 

„  abandoning  words,  „  attendance  before  the  kibla, 

„  assiduity  in  zikr,  I 

*  Salam  signifies  : — 

Peace  (be)  on  thee,  O  prophet,  and  the  mercy  of  God  and  His  blessing ;  peace  on  us  and  the 
devout  slaves  of  God  ;  peace  on  you  and  the  mercy  of  God  and  His  blessing  1 

Every  prayer  must  conclude  with  this  salutation, 
t  See  Brown's  Darvishes,  p.  ii6. 
J  The  degree  is  the  makam  al  Mahmiid. 
§  This  is  given  in  chapter  vii,  section  8  of  the  Misbah. 


I  12 


SUFi.lSM. 


have  ordered  seekers  and  sufis. 

When,  by  anticipation,  he  shall  have  preferred  a  prayer,  best  it  is  that  in  the 
masiid,  he  should  sit;  be  assiduous  in  zikr  and  in  reading;  and  utter  naught  till  he 
preferreth  the  prayer  of  sun-rise. 

On  the  condition  that,  sitting,  in  that  place,  there  shall  be  no  thought  of  calamity ; 
and  that  he  shall  be  void  of  the  causes  of  defect  of  deeds  and  of  states. 

Otherwise,  he  should  return  to  his  dwelling  and  be  engaged  in  reading  till  the 
sun  ascendeth. 

Of  Muhammad,  the  story  is — 

He  who  from  morning-prayer  till  sun-rise,  sitteth  in  zikr  of  God  is  dearer  to  me  than  one  who 
saveth  four  necks  (lives). 


He  should  read  the  following  passages  of  the  Kuran  : — 

Chapter. 


The  Suratu-l-Fatiha  . 

I 

„            Bakara 

2 

1-5,  16.4-165,  255-257.  284-286. 

„             Imran* 

•      3 

190-200,  18-19,  26-27. 

Kahft  . 

.     i8 

107-110. 

Hadid 

•    57 

1-6. 

Hashr  . 

•     59 

21-24.. 

Then  he  should  utter: — 

Thirty-three  times  the  Subh 

ana-1-lah, 

glory     be  to  God  ! 

Alhs 

mdu-li-Uah, 

praise          ,, 

Alia 

lu  Akbar, 

God  is  great ! 

Once  La  ilaha  illa-1-lah, 

there  is  no  god  but  God. 

His  is  no  partner; 

He  is   God. 

He  is  immortal. 

„      single. 

„     imperishable. 

„      one. 
„      divine. 

„    eternal. 

„      unity. 

„     perpetual. 

His  is  order;  His  is  praise 

;  He  is  powerl 

ul  over  all. 

*  Alter  this  are  omitted  four  passages  not  identified  (see  below), 
t  »  >»      three      „  „  ,,  ,, 


Verses  of  the  Kur,an. 


From 
"  Verily  your  God." 
"  Verily,  to  you  the  prophet  come." 
"  Upon  God,  I  call." 
Verily  those  that  have  faith. 

and  Zu-n-Nun. 
Praise  to  God. 
To  thy  God,  praise. 


To 

'  of  the  benefactor.' 
the  end. 


"  the  best  of  heirs.' 
the  end. 


AURAD.  ,,2 

Till  near  sun-rise  he  should  be  assiduous  : 

in  reading. 
„  praying. 
„    azkar  (zikrs). 

Then  he  uttereth  the  seven  prayers,  whereof  the  ten-fold  utterance  is  obligatory, 
— that  is,  the  ten  azkar  (repetitions). 

Chapter, 
i.  the  Suratu-!-Fatiha         •••.......,  i 

ii.  „         Falak* .  ,,, 

iii.  „         Nas* .         •••••......         ni 

iv.  „  Ikhlas         ........  ...         112 

V.  „  Kafirun        ...........         100 

vi.         Ayatu       Kursi  ••••.......  2V.  255 

vii.  glory  to  God ;  praise  to  God  ;  no  god  but  God  ;  God  is  great ;  there  is  no  power  nor  virtue  ■ 
but  in  God,  the  great,  the  mighty.f 

O  God  !  upon  Muhammad  and  his  offspring  send  Thy  blessing  : 
O  God  !  me,  forgive  and  my  parents  and  all  the  faithful,  male  and  female  : 
O  God  !  towards  me  and  them,  do  so,  soon  or  late,  in  this  and  in  the  next  world,  asbefitteth 
Thee  ;  towards  us,  do  not  as  befitteth  us,— for  Thou  art  the  gentle  Pardoner,  the  gene- 
rous Bestower,  the  merciful  Merciful. 

This  ended,  he  should  engage  : — 

in  the  tasbih,     repeating  subhan  allah,  glory  to  God. 

„      istig^ifar  „         astagbfir-ul-lah,  I  ask  God  to  forgive  me. 

„      tilawat,   reading  the  Kuran. 

till  the  sun  riseth  a  spear's  length.     Then,  in  the  aforementioned  way,  he  performeth 
the  prayer  of  sun-rise. 

If  he  have  an  important  worldly  matter,  in  it  (for  himself,  or  for  his  family)  he  en- 
gageth. 

If  God  shall  have  given  him  the  bounty  of  leisure,  he  should  regard  as  booty  the 
being  engaged  in  worship  of  God  ;  should  without  defect  be  assiduous  in  deeds  and 
in  devotion,  till  the  time  of  the  prayer  of  zuhaj  cometh,  when  he  performeth  it. 

If  stil  1  he  have  power  for  deeds,  and  no  langour  enter  his  soul, — he  should  be  as- 
siduous in  deeds.     If  not,  he  should  rest  himself  for  a  while. 


*  Together,  these  two  are  called— ma'uzatain,  the  two  ma'uz  "  shelter  in  God." 
+  The  clauses  are  : — 

;i<— the  tasbih.  4th— \he  takbir. 

2nd—  „     tahmid.  5'/i—  „     hawla. 

3rd —  „    tahlil. 
Zuha  (or  chasht)  is  the  middle  hour  between  sun-rise  and  noon. 


jj.  SUFl.lSIVI. 

Deeds  are  of  two  kinds : — 

(a)  outward  :  — 

salat,  prayer. 

tilawat,  reading. 

zikr,  repeating  God's  name. 

(b)  inward  : — 

miihazira,  being  present  before  God. 
murakiba,*  fearful  contemplation, 
muhasiba,  calling  one's  self  to  account. 

The  arranging  of  deeds  is  in  this  wise.     As  long  as  possible,  the  seeker  should 
unite  outward  deeds  with  inward  deeds ;  and  in  order  advance  salat,  tilawat,  and 
zikr— on  the  condition  of  the  heart  being  present  with  God,  and  of  its  being  in  fear-  , 
ful  contemplation. 

If,  through  languor  union  with  an  inward  deed  (muhazira,  murakiba)  be  impos- 
sible, he  should  be  content  with  an  outward  deed. 

Murakiba  is  that  contemplative  state  wherein  he  ever  regardeth  God,  his  preserver 
and  watcher:  and  this  is  the  essence  of  zikr. 

If,  in  respect  of  murakiba,  he  be  languid  ;  and  temptations  and  thoughts  prevail, 
—he  should  awhile  rest  himself  in  sleep  so  that  nafs  may  rest  from  languor  and  tor- 
ment ;  and,  again,  with  joy  may  turn  to  deeds.  Otherwise,  through  sorrow,  nafs,  with 
confused  tale,  entereth  the  heart ;  complaineth ;  prevaileth  over  it ;  and  therein 
causeth  hardness. 

Before  the  declining  of  the  sun  (from  the  meridian),  he  should  be  awake  for  an 
hour,  to  arrange  for  ablution,  so  that  at  the  time  of  noon,  he  may  have  finished  his 
ablution  ;  and  may,  engaged  in  zikr  and  tilawat,  be  sitting  before  the  kibla. 

When  the  sun  declineth  from  the  meridian,  he  performeth  :— 
four  rak'ats, 
one  salutation, 

and,  thereby,  becometh  prepared  for  the  prayer  of  zuhr. 

After  that— 

he  performeth  the  sunnat  of  zuhr. 
„  sitteth  expectant  of  the  jama'at.. 
„  engageth  in  tasbih,  and  in  istighfar. 

It  is  laudable  if,  between  an  enjoined  observance  and  the  sunnat  of  the  morn, 
he  utter  a  prayer. 

The  salat-i-zuhr  being  ended,  he  uttereth  :— 

Chapter, 
the  Suratu-1-Fatiha  i 

„        Ayatu-Kursi  2  255. 

„    tasbih,     Glory  to  God. 
„    tahmid.  Praise        „ 
„     takbir,     God  is  great. 
„    tahlil,      There  is  no  god  but  God. 

*  See  pp.  59,  64,  69,  86. 


AURAD.  I  Ji- 

lt is  an  excellence  if,  here,  he  should  utter  the  ayat  (verses)  and  the  prayers  pre- 
viously mentioned  after  the  salat  of  the  morn. 

Alive  with  holy  deeds  in  the  afore-mentioned  way,  he  should  make  the  time  be- 
tween  zuhr  (noon)  and  'asr  (afternoon). 

This  is  for  that  one  who  hath  no  other  occupation,  and  who  passeth  his  time  in 
devotion. 

When  'asr  cometh,  he  preferreth  four  ruk'ats  of  the  sunnat ;  and  readeth  :— 

Chapter. 

in  the    ist  rak'at  the  Suratu-1-ZiIzal*      99. 

,.         2nd     „  „  Adiyat       loo. 

»        3rd     „  „  Kari'a        loi. 

i>        4th     „  „  Takasur     102. 

When  he  performeth  the  ordinance  of  'asr  no  time  remaineth  for  the  salat  of 
nawafil  (works  of  supererogation);  it  is  the  time  of  zikr  and  of  tilawat.  At  this  time, 
naught  is  more  excellent  than  the  society  of  :^ 

a  learned  zahid,  possessed  of  zuhd,  for  the  blessing  of  whose  breathings  he  may  borrow  the 
splendours  of  advantages  ;  and — in  respect  to  abandoning  the  world,  to  perpetuity  of 
devotion  and  of  desire, — may  increase  his  resolution. 

When  he  wisheth  to  come  out  from  the  stage  he  saith  : — 

In  the  name  of  God:  what  God  pleaseth;  God  is  my  sufficiency;  there  is  no  power  nor 
virtue  but  in  God  the  great,  the  mighty.  O  God,  towards  Thee,  I  go  out ;  and  me,  Thou 
makest  go  out. 

He  uttereth  :— 

Chapter. 
the  Suratu-I-Fatiha         i. 
„  Falak        113. 

„  Nas  114. 

Between  'asr  (afternoon)  and  maghrib  (evening-prayer)  he  uttereth  a  hundred 
times  each  of  the  following  prayers  :— 

(a)  There  is  no  god  but  God,  who  is  single,  whose  partner  is  none;  His  is  the  dominion  ; 
His  the  praise  ;  powerful  is  He  over  all  things. 

(b)  the  tasbih.t 

„    tahmid. 
„    tahlil. 
„    takbir. 

(c)  Glory  to  God,  and  to  Him,  praise;  glory  to  God,  the  mighty,  and  to  Him,  praise;  I  ask 

forgiveness  of  God. 

(d)  There  is  no  god  but  God  the  ruler,  the  Just,  the  Visible. 

*  The  significations  are  : —  t  See  p.  113. 

zilzal  the  earthquake, 

adiyat  „     war-horses  that  swiftly  run. 

kari"a  „    striking, 

takasur  „    emulous  desire  of  multiplying. 


Il6  SUFI.ISM. 

(e)  O  God  !  upon  Muhammad  and  his  offspring,  send  benediction. 

(/)  I  ask  forgiveness  of  God,  the  mighty, — save  who  is  no  God,— the  Etern  al,  the  Ancient 

penitence,  1  offer. 
(g)  Whatever  pleaseth  God  :  there  is  no  power  but  in  God,  the  great,  the  mighty — save  who  is 

no  god — the  EternaJ,  the  Ancient,  penitence,  I  offer. 
[h)  Whatever  pleaseth  God  ;  there  is  no  power  but  in  God. 

Daily,  once,  at  the  beginning,  and  at  the  ending,  of  day,  he  should  say: — 

O  God  me  Thou  createdest,  guidedest,  fedest,  quenchedst,  causedest  to  die,  causedest  to  live: 
Thou  art  my  God  ;  save   Thou  none  is  mine;  save  Thou  is  no  God ;  single,  Thou  art; 
no  partner  is  Thine. 
Whatever  pleaseth  God ;  there  is  no  power  save  in  God  : 
,,  ,,  from  God,  are  all  favours  : 

„  ,,  in  the  hand  of  God,  is  all  good  : 

,,  „  save  God,  none  wardeth  off  sin. 

Before  sunset,  he  must  perform  ablution ;  and  seated  before  the  kibla,  be  ready 
for  the  approach  of  night. 

Till  the  sun  setteth,  he  should  utter: — 

(a)  the  seven  prayers  whereof  the  ten-fold  utterance  is  obligatory. 
(6)     „    tasbih. 
(c)     ,,    istig^ifar. 

At  sun-set,  in  answer  to  the  azan,  he  uttereth  : — 

Chapter, 
the  Suratu-l-Shams    91. 

„         „         Lail         92. 

„        „         Falak    113.  ' 

„         „  Nas       114. 

O  God  !  the  face  of  Thy  night  this  is,  and  the  back  of  Thy  day. 

Between  the  azan  (of  sunset)  and  the  .ikamat,  as  his  time  is  little,  he  quickly  per- 
formeth  two  ruak'ats  of  the  sunnat ;  and  uttereth : — 

Chapter, 
in  the  ist  nik'at,  the  Suratu-I-  Kafirun  109. 
„      2nd    „  „  Ikljlas    112. 

He  reneweth  "  the  shahadat,"  and  saith: — 

Welcome  to  the  angels  of  the  night;  welcome  to  the  two  kind  angels. 

In  the  masjid,  he  joineth  the  two  'isha  (evening  prayers)  until  he  joineththe  bless- 
ing of  being  in  the  masjid  (i'tikaf)  and  of  the  union  of  the  two  'isha. 

If  therein  he  see  increase  of  safety  of  faith,  of  perfection,  of  sincerity,  and  of  tran- 
quillity,—he  may  go  to  his  own  corner;  and  (of  all  the  prayers  which  he  performeth 
between  maghrib  and  'isha)  may  utter : — 

Chapter, 
(a)  \Vith  two  rak'ats 

the  Suratu-1-Buruj  85. 

„       Tarik  86.  I 


ny 


AURAD. 

(b)  with  one  rak'at.  Chapter 

the  Suratu-l-Bakara,*  2        v.  i — 16. 

,,         „         Ikhlast         112. 

(c)  the  Ayatu-I-KursiJ  2         „  255. 

„  Suratu-1-Ikh'ast  11 2. 

Well  it  is  if  he  unite  [6)  and  (c)  with  [a). 

After  performing  the  enjoined  duty  of  'isha  and  the  two  rak'ats  of  the  sunnat  he 
goeth  to  his  dwelling  or  to  his  khilvat-place. 

Before  sitting  down,  he  performeth  four  rak'ats  with : — 

C-hapter. 
the  Suratu-1-Lukman  31. 

„         „         Yasin  36. 

,,        „         Dukhan  44. 

„        „         Mulk  67. 

If  he  wish  to  shorten  the  prayer,  he  uttereth : — 

Chapter. 
the  Ayatu-l-KursiJ  2        v.  255. 

„   Suratu-1-Hadid§  57. 

„     Hashrll  59. 

Then  he  performeth  eleven  rak'ats,-  and  uttereth — 
the  Suratu-1-Tarik  86. 

and  delayeth  not,  save  when  he  is  engaged  in  devotion  of  vigilance  of  his  own 
nafs,  wherein  delay  is  excellent. 

When  he  wisheth  to  sleep,  he  should  (as  to  purity  and  to  zikr)  be  as  before 
stated  ;  when  he  awaketh  and  wisheth  to  make  the  tahajjud,  he  maketh  it  standing 
as  before  stated. 

Some  short-sighted  ones  (whose  vision  may  not  have  found  the  collyrium  for  the 
observing  of  the  beauty  of  perfection  of  rule)  may  regard  the  repairing  of  times  ac- 
cording to  rules, — the  portion  only  of  'abids. 

They  see  no  great  need  of  it  for  the  Lords  of  stages  and  for  the  Companions  of 
union. 

Possibly  this  is  the   mark  of  him  who,    in  search  of,"  and  in   love  for,  God,  is 
sincere  : — 

That  he  regardeth  not  much  the  expenditure  of  his  own  times  and  the  being  im- 
mersed in  deeds  and  in  devotion  ;  and  becometh  not  vexed. 

*  After  the  Suratu-l-Bakara,  cometh  a  passage  from — 

"  Your  God  is  God  the  One," 
to 

For  this  tribe  that  hath  come  to  reason, 

which  passage  in  the  Kuran  I  have  been  unable  to  identify. 
t  This  is  to  be  repeated  fifteen  times. 
X  And  "  The  prophet  believeth." 
§  The  beginning. 
II      „  end. 


Il8  SUFi.lSM. 

For  when,  in  respect  of  its  Beloved,  true  love  gaineth  the  opportunity  of  happi- 
ness and  of  meeting  and  the  possibilities  of  the  good  fortune  of  prayer  ;  and,  in  His 
presence,  hath  the  power 

of  weeping.  I  of  paying  homage  (with  the  ground  kiss). 

„  flattering.  |  „  doing  service. 

it  recogniseth  its  own  exceeding  hope  and  great  prosperity. 


Ru,yat  (beholding  God). 

I.  6. 

Clearly  beholding  God  is  : — 

(a)  in  this  world,  difficult,  because  baki  is  not  contained  in  fani. 

(b)  in  the  next  world,  promised  to  the  faithful  (muslim)  and  denied  to  the  kafir. 

The  faithful  (muslim)  seeth  God  : — 

(a)  in  this  world,  with  the  eye  of  faith  and  with  the  glance  of  vision. 

(6)  in  the  next  world,  with  the  glance  of  sight  and  of  vision  (as  in  the  Hadis). 

In  the  matter  of  seeing,  the  purport  of  this  resemblance  is  the  glance  of  the  next 
world  with  the  glance  of  vision  in  this  world — not  the  (vain)  resemblance  of  God 
(possessed  of  glory)  to  the  moon  (void  of  glory)  ;  because  this  spectacle  resembleth  no 
other  spectacle. 

The  truth  of  true  faith  is  this : — 

In  his  own  belief,  the  faithful  reacheth  to  the  degree  of  yakin  ;  and  as  to  this,  belief  is 
diverse. 

In  this  world,  a  crowd  :— 

(a)  know  by  'ilm-i-yakin ;  and  the  promise  of  their  'ainu-l-yakin  is  in  the  next  world. 

(b)  see  with  'ainu-I-yakin        „  „  „     hakku-1-yakin    „  „  „ 

Hence  said  he  what  he  said  :— 
"  In  my  heart,  my  God,  I  saw." 

This  is  faith.  For  Ma'az  used  to  pass  by  the  door  of  the  house  of  the  sahaba 
and  used  to  say  :— 

"  That  I  may  have  faith  for  an  hour, — come." 

When  'ainu-l-yakin  reacheth  to  perfection,  it  gaineth  the  degree  of  beauty  of 
vision  wherein  he  seeth  no  increase  of  form  as  Amiru-1-Muminim  'Ali  hath  related 
of  this  makam  — 

"  If  rent  were  all  the  veils,  not  at  all  would  increase  my  vakin." 

The  error  of  the  crowd  that  denied  the  seeing  (of  God)  in  the  next  world,  two-fold 
is  its  error  : — 

(a)  obligation  to  God's  word—"  Him,  the  eye  understood  not." 

{b)  the  idea  of  the  next  world  (founded)  on  this  world.  I 


MUHAMMAD. 


119 


As  to  (a)— 

Seeing  is  one  thing  (possible),  understanding  another  (difficult).  The  sun's  form,  one  can  see  ; 
it,  one  cannot  comprehend. 

As  to  {&)— 

With  seeing  of  this  world,  the  seeing  of  the  next  world  hath  no  connection. 
What  connection  hath  fani  with  baki  ? 

The  mistake  is  this,  that  the  crowd  thought  that  even  as  in  this  world  so  in  the 
next  world,  for  seeing  the  five  following  conditions  are  necessary  :— 
a  side. 


„  description. 
„  quality. 


an  air. 
a  splendour-light. 
„    surrounding  of  light. 


Vain  imaginings,  are  all  these  fancies  ;  and  great  is  this  error  that,  in  respect  of  his 
own  hal  and  makam,  a  person  conjectureth  in  a  degree  superior  thereto. 

To-day,  the  affairs  of  the  next  world  gaineth  that  one,  who,  from  the  world  and 
from  its  delights,  shall  whoUj'  have  turned  his  inclination. 

He  is — 

(a)  in  heart,  in  the  next  world,  in  the  hidden  world,  dwelling  in  kudrat. 

(b)  in  body,  in  this  world,  in  the  world  of  shahadat  and  of  hikmat. 

This  crowd  performeth  deeds  for  cash  and  giveth  not  itself  to  credit. 

What,  from  beholding  the  promise,  others  have  to-morrow,  is  for  them  the  essence 
of  cash  to-day. 

Despite  this,  for  them  also  is  a  promise,  which  is  the  cash  of  another  crowd  ;  and 
for  it,  cash  reacheth  the  Absolute  Banker  (whose  promise  is  not  the  cash  of  another  ; 
and  that  is,  Muhammad,  whose  cash  is  the  promise  of  other  prophets). 

The  promise  of  saints  is  the  cash  of  prophets  ;  the  promise  of  the  faithful  muslim) 
the  cash  of  saints. 

According  to  his  own  hal,  Muhammad  hath  a  promised  makam,  the  signification 
whereof  is  the  — 

Makam-i-Mahmud,  the  praised  makam. 

In  it,  with  him  none  hath  partnership.  In  this  sense,  the  signifier  is  the  word 
that  occurreth  in  invitation  to  faith ;  and  thereto  the  speaker  is  the  word  of  the 
Kalam-i-Majid  (the  Kuran). 

The  witnessing  of  prophecy;  and  its  ending  (with 
Muhammad). 

1.8. 

Through  the  witnessing  by  God  and  the  proving  by  endless  miracles,  people  of 
faith  have  had— faith  in  Muhammad's  mission ;  and  in  the  demand  of  the  traditions  of 


120  SUFI.ISM. 

the  Kalam-i-Majid,  by  the  revelation  of  the  faith,  whereby  all  other  religious  rites  and 
orders  are  abrogated. 

The  perfection  of  prophecy  in  Muhammad's  mission  placed,  on  the  door  of  other 
prophecy,  the  seal  of  decline.  After  him,  closed  became  the  path  of  prophecy  ;  and 
all  invitations  (to  faith). 

Who  from  the  path  of  following  him  turneth  his  face  ;  and  considereth  not  neces- 
sary to  himself  the  rules  of  his  shari'at,  is  the  friend  of  Shaitan,  the  enemy  of  the 
Merciful,  and  of  the  crowd  of  infidels. — Them,  God  requite  ! 

If  from  the  miracles*  other  than  by  the  prophets,  something  becometh  apparent, 
it,  they  should  call  deceit,  not  miraclef  (of  the  prophets). 

At  one  time  when  Fir'aun  used  to  go  by  the  Nil-bank — as  he  went,  the  Nil 
went ;  as  he  stood,  the  Nil  stood. 

Not  of  the  crowd  of  miracles  (of  the  prophets)  was  this,  though  doubtless  to  him 
and  to  his  people  it  appeared  as  the  essence  of  power.  Nay,  it  was  divine  deceit  that 
daily,  in  his  own  kufr,  he  might  become  more  firm  ;  and,  from  the  acceptance  of  faith, 
more  astray. 

Possibly,  by  the  blessing  of  following  Muhammad,  some  of  the  miracles  other  than 
by  the  prophets  may  be  revealed  to  the  auliya  (saints)  ;  and  to  them  they  may  be 
a  blessing,  whereby  greater  may  become  their  yakin. 

Not  necessary  is  it  that  the  truth  of  the  hal  of  a  wali,  or  of  a  sincere  one,  should 
be  manifested  by  miracles  (of  the  prophets).  Because  it  is  possible  that  the  rank  and 
the  hal  of  the  master  of  miracle  may  be  lower  than  the  rank  and  the  hal  of  him,  who 
is  not  master  of  miracle. 

By  reason  of  the  manifestation  of  miracle,  is  commonly  the  strengthening  of  mani- 
festation and  the  aiding  of  the  faith  of  the  master  of  miracle. 

To  the  crowd  (whose  power  of  yakin  is  in  perfection)  is  uo  need  of  the  effects  of 
kudrat  free  from  hikmat. 

For  this  reason,  hath  come  the  tale  of  :— 

karamat  miracle  (of  the  prophets), 

khwarik-i-'adat        „      (of  other  than  the  prophets). 

On  the  part  of  the  sahaba,  seldom  ;  on  the  part  of  modern  shaikhs,  often, des- 

pite  the  fact  that  superior  to  their  hal,  is  the  hal  of  the  sahaba. 

The  cause  is  that,  mention  whereof  hath  passed.  Nay,  in  their  opinion,  through 
beholding  the  lights  of  absolute  kudrat  through  hikmat,  the  glance  of  their  vision  is 
neither  strange  nor  rare ;  and,  in  the  strengthening  of  their  yakin,  is  no  excess  of 
effect. 


^loLc 


toU)/ 


<j;!j^ 


MA'RIFAT-I-DIL.  ,2j 

When  something  became  disclosed  to  those,  for  whom  was  no  continuance  of 
manifestation, — by  it,  they  become  impressed  ;  and  the  power  of  their  yakin,  greater. 

As  the  prophets  are  special  by  wahy  (revelation),  the  auliya  (saints)  are  from 
others  of  the  faithful  distinguished,  by  ilham-i-rabbani  (divine  inspiration). 

To  them,  either  in  khwab  or  in  wakefulness,  God  bestowed  good  inspiration  ;  a 
part  of  the  parts  of  prophecy  is  true  khwab  (sleep,  dream). 


Ma'rifat-i-dil  (deep  knowledge  of  the  heart). 

in.  6. 
The  ma'rifat  (knowledge)  of  the  qualities  of  the  heart  are  difficult,  and  its  sio-ni- 
fication  abstruse — 

by  reason  of  the  continuance  of  its  power  in  the  forms  of  hal ;  and  its  advancement  in  the  degrees 
of  perfection. 

Hence  they  call  it — 

>-:— L5  kalb  (the  heart). 

„      kullab  (a  cheat). 

Since  hal  is  the  gift  of  God  and  His  gifts  are  boundless,  endless  are  the  power  and 
the  advance  of  the  heart  in  degrees  of  perfection  and  in  ascents  of  the  beauty  and  of 
the  grandeur  of  eternity  without  beginning. 

Contained,  in  the  limits  of  number  and  in  the  number  of  limit,  are  not  its 
qualities  and  its  hals. 

In  limiting  and  numbering  it,  whoever  spake  knoweth  of  very  truth,  that  the 
establishing  of  the  limit  of  understanding  and  the  making  it  dear  becometh  not  the 
portion  of  his  own  capacity. 

In  the  ocean  of  ma'rifat-i-dil  thousands  of  divers  of  the  seas  of  ma'arifat  have 
(Jived  J — its  abyss,  none  hath  reached,  or  renounced  its  rarities  and  wonders. 

Not  every  one,  who  found  a  trace  thereof,  thereof  news  gave  back  to  the  heart. 
From  it,  to  whom  fell  the  precious  jewel — it,  he  placed  on  the  platter  of  desire. 

The  meaning  of  dil   (the  heart)  is  that  point,  wherefrom  the  circle  of  existence 
came^into  motion  and  wherewith  it  found  perfection.     With  it,  is  joined  the  mystery 
of  eternity  without  beginning ;  and  in  it,  the  source  of  sight  reached  the  limit  of  vis-     ^ 
ion,  and  therewith  glorified  became. 

The  beauty  and  the  grandeur  of  the  aspect  of  baki ;  the  throne  of  the  Merciful  ;  the  stage  of  the 
Kuran  and  of  the  Furkan  ;  Barzakh.*  between  the  being  absent  and  the  being  present ;  riih  (the  soul) 
and  nafs;  the  seas  of  the  country  and  of  dominion;  the  observer  and  the  observed  of  the  king;  the 
lover  and  the  beloved  of  God ;  the  bearer  of  the  load  and  the  lor.d  of  the  mystery  of  the  deposit  of 
God's  grace — all  are  its  (the  heart's)  qualities. 

The  purport  of  the  marriage  of  ruh  and  of  nafs  (is)  the  result  of  its  (the  heart's) 
existence  ;  and  the  object  of  the  links  of  the  country  and  the  dominion  of  God  (is) 
the  reverberation-place  of  vision  and  the  pasturage  of  beholding  (Him). 

*  See  the  Kuran,  iii,  24  ;  i.\,  1 14. 


122  SUFi.lSM. 

Its  form  (is)  pictured  with  the  essence  of  love  ;  and  its  vision  illumined  with  the 
light  of  beholding. 

When,  free  from  the  soul,  became  nafs,  on  both  sides  love  and  contention  ap- 
peared. From  the  marriage  of  the  two  loves  (ruh  and  nafs),  was  born  the  heart's  form  ; 
like  to  Barzakh,  it  intervened  between  the  sea  of  ruh  and  the  sea  of  nafs ;  to  both 
inclined;  and  between  them  became  the  hinderer  of  contention. 

That  the  heart's  form  appeared  from  love's  source  is  proved  thus— 

Wherever  it  seeth  a  beauty,  with  it  it  allieth  itself :  wherever  it  findeth  an  associate,  with  it, 
it  intertwineth. 

Not  without  a  chosen  one,  nor  a  beloved,  nor  a  heart-adorner,— ever  is  it.  Firm 
is  its  base  on  love,  and  love's  existence  on  it. 

In  their  existence,  the  heart  is  like  unto  the  throne  of  the  Merciful.  The  throne 
is  the  heart  of  the  greatest  in  the  great  world  ;  the  heart  is  the  throne  of  the  least  in 
the  least  world  (Adam). 

Included,  beneath  the  sway  of  the  throne's  surrounding,  are  all  hearts, — even  as 
in  the  sway  of  the  greatest  ruh  (God),  are  the  parts  of  ruh  ;  and,  in  the  sway  of  uni- 
versal nafs,  the  parts  of  nafs. 

A  form  and  a  truth,  hath  the  heart  ever  as  hath  the  throne.  Its  form  is  that  piece 
of  cone  that  in  the  left  side  of  the  body,  is  a  deposit :  its  truth  is  that  divine  grace 
mention  whereof  hath  been  made. 

Between  this  truth  and  its  form,  rational  nafs  and  the  animal  ruh  intervene ;  be- 
cause the  heart's  truth  is  purely  grace,  and  its  form  the  essence  of  grossness.  Be- 
tween absolute  grossness  and  grace,  resemblance  is  in  no  way. 

The  rational  nafs  and  the  animal  ruh  (which  have,  each,  a  face  to  the  world  of 
crrace-  and  a  face  to  the  world  of  grossness)  intervene  between  the  heart's  form  and 

its  truth, so  that  every  trace  (that  may  issue  from  the  heart's  truth)  may  first  reach 

nafs  ;  may  by  affinity  take  its  aspect  of  grace  ;  and  may,  to  the  animal  ruh,  convey  its 
aspect  of  grossness. 

Even  so,  by  affinity,  the  animal  ruh  taketh  its  form  of  grace  ;  intrusteth  to  the 
heart's  form  the  aspect  of  grossness ;  and,  therefrom,  becometh  diffused  in  the  quar- 
ters of  the  body. 

Even  so  the  grace  of  mercy  first  is  from  God  ;  becometh  spread  upon  the  truth  of 
the  throne  ;  reacheth  from  it  to  all  thrones ;  joineth  by  their  means  to  the  throne's 
form ;  and,  hence,  reacheth  the  quarters  of  the  material  world. 

The  affinity  of  the  throne's  form  is  to  its  truth.  Because  every  bounty  (whereby 
truth  reacheth  the  material  world)  first  reacheth  its  form,  and  thence  penetrateth  to 
other  bodies. 

So  is  the  affinity  of  the  heart's  form  to  its  truth.  ( 


MA'RlFAT-1-DIL.  ,2-1 

All  hearts  find  bounty  from  the  throne  : — 

(a)  its  truth  from  the  throne's  truth. 
(6)    „  form        „  „  form. 

At  a  time  when,  by  means  of  prosperity,  opposition  as  to  God  between  the  heart 
and  the  throne  appeareth,  nothing  of  creation  is  greater  than  the  throne.  Of  its  great- 
ness God's  word  speaketh. 

Muhammad  hath  said  the  hearts  are  four  : — 

(i)  the  heart,  pure,  luminous,  wherein  the  lamp  is  kindled.     This  is  the  heart  of  the  faithful 

mushin. 
(ii)  „        dark,  head-lowered.     This  is  the  heart  of  the  kafir. 

(iii)         „        addicted  to  hesitation  between  kufr  and  faith.     This  is  the  heart  of  the  hypo- 

crite. 
(iv)  the  heart,  inclined,  possessed  of  sides,  whereof  one  side  is  the  place  of  faith ;   and  the 

other,  of  hypocrisy. 
In  it,  are  the  aid  of  faith  from  the  holy  world,  and  the  purification  like  to  freshness 

that  increaseth  from  pure  water;  and  in  it,  are  the  aid  of  hypocrisy  from  the  world  of 

pollution,  and  a  stain  like  a  wound  that  increaseth  from  purulence  and  ichorous  pus. 
Whichever  of  these  two  is  superior,  ordereth  the  heart. 

The  source  of  contrariety  of  these  four  kinds  of  heart  is  the  result  of  contention 
between  ruh  and  nafs. 

To  its  own  world,  ruh  wisheth  to  draw  nafs  ;  and  nafs,  rulj.  Ever  in  this  contention 
they  are.  Sometimes  ruh  prevaileth  and  draweth  nafs  from  the  low  centre  to  the 
lofty  makam,  sometimes  nafs  prevaileth,  and  draweth  ruh  from  the  summit  of  per- 
fection to  the  abyss  of  loss. 

Ever  obedient  to  that  side  that  prevaileth  is  the  heart  until  when  dominion 
becometh  established  wholly  on  one.  In  following  it,  the  heart  accepteth  con- 
tentment. 

On  these  two  attractions,  are  established  happiness  and  misery. 

If  the  happiness  of  eternity  without  end  and  the  favour  of  eternity  without  begin- 
ing  arrive  and  give  to  ruh  (the  soul)  the  aid  of  grace,  whereby  it  gathereth  strength  ; 
conquereth  nafs ;  escapeth  from  contention  ;  advanceth  from  the  descending-place 
of  creation  to  the  rising-place  of  kidam  ;  and,  turned  wholly  away  from  nafs  and 
kalb  (the  heart),  approacheth  to  the  viewing  of  God — then  dil  (the  heart)  in  its  follow- 
ing from  the  makam  of  kalb  (the  conversion  whereof  is  necessary)  ascendeth  to  the 
makam  of  ruh  and  in  ruh's  dwelling  resteth. 

Then  following  dil  (the  heart),  nafs  issueth  from  its  dwelling  (which  is  the 
world  of  nature)  and  reacheth  the  makam  of  dil  (whose  child  it  is). 

Such  is  the  heart  of  the  faithful  wherein  is  no  atom  of  shirk  (partnership  with  God) 
and  kufr  (infidelity). 

If,  otherwise,  be  the  state  and  the  effect  of  misery  and  the  hardness  of  eternity 
without  beginning  arrive  and  make  ruh  captive  to  dil  and  nafs  victorious,  so  that  it 

K  2 


124  SUFi.lSM. 

gathereth  strengt!.,  and,  to  its  own  world,  draweth  kalb  and  ruh — ruh  descendeth 
from  its  own  makam  to  the  place  of  kalb  ;  kalb  entereth  from  its  own  makam  the  place 
of  nafs ;  and,  in  nature's  soil,  firm  becometh  nafs. 

Such  is  the  heart  of  the  kafir,  who  is  lowered  of  heart,  black  with  kufr, — 
altogether  seized. 

If,  on  either  side,  be  not  total  victory,  the  inclination  of  dil  is  generally:  — 

(a)  to  nafs,  if  nafs  be  powerful  and  dil  hesitating  in  the  middle. 

Such  is  the  heart  of  the  munafik  (hypocrite). 

(b)  to  ruh  (or  to  both  sides),  if  ruli  be  powerful. 

Such  a  heart  is  inclined  and  hath  two  faces — one  towards  faith,  the  other  towards 
hypocrisy. 


MaVifat-i-murrd  va  murad  va  salik  va  majzub. 

Deep  knowledge  of  the  murld  (the  follower,  the  lover, 
the  disciple),  of  the  murad  (the  followed,  the  be- 
loved, the  shaikh),  of  the  holy  traveller,  and  of  the 

attracted  one. 

III.  9. 

Sufis  assign  two  meanings  :— 

to  murid,  the  follower,  the  lover       (the  disciple). 
„  murad,  ,,    followed,   „    beloved  (  „    murshid). 

The  murid  (disciple)  is  called  muktadi  (the  follower)  because  :  — 

The  eye  of  his  vision  becometh,  with  the  light  of  guidance,  the  see-er ;  and  gazeth  at  his 
own  defect.  The  fire  of  desire  of  perfection  kindleth  in  his  nature;  and  never  resteth 
except  by  the  acquisition  of  the  murad  (the  followed)  and  of  propinquity  to  God. 

Impressed  with  the  travelling  of  the  man  of  desire,  whoever  was;  and,  in  the  two' 
worlds,  hath  a  desire  other  than  God,  or  resteth  a  moment  from  desire  for  the 
murad, for  him,  illusory  is  the  name  of  desire. 

Thus  say : — 

Shaikh  Abdu-1-Iah  Hafiz. 
Abu  'Usman  Hairi. 

The  murad  is  called  muktada  (the  followed)  because  : — 

The  power  of  his  sway  (over  murids)  hath  reached  to  the  degree  of  perfecting  imperfect  ones 
to  the  diversity  of  ways  of  capacity  ;  to  the  ways  of  directing  and  of  instructing  with  the 
glance  of  the  eye. 

Like  this  is  the  person,  or  the  holy  traveller,  (who  is)  the  attracted  one,  who, 
with  the  foot  of  travelling,  hath  traversed  all  the  deserts  and  the  dangerous  places  of 
sensual  qualities;  and  then,  with  the  aid  of  divine  attraction,  passed  from  the  degrees 
of  the  kalb  (heart)  to  the  ascents  of  ruh  (the  soul)  ;  reached  to  the  world  of  kashf 
(revelation)  and  of  yakin  (certainty)  ;  and  is  ever  in  beholding  (God).     1 


MA'RlFAT-l-MURiD.  Ije 

Or  like  this,  is  the  (God)  attracted  one,  (who  is)  the  holy  traveller,  who  first, 
with  the  power  of  attractions,  hath  traversed  the  plain  of  the  makams,  reached  to  the 
world  of  revelation  and  of  beholding;  and  then,  with  the  foot  of  travellino-,  beheld 
the  stages  and  the  halting-places  ;   and  found,  in  the  form  of  'ilm,  the  truth  of  hal. 

To  these  two,  is  preserved  the  rank  of  being  a  shaikh,  or  of  being  a  muktada  (a 
followed). 

Neither  of  the  two  following  hath  the  right  of  the  dignity  of  being  a  shaikh. 

(a)  Tlie  imperfect  holy  traveller,  who  from  the  strait  place  of  effort  to  the  plain  of  manifest- 

ation, hath  not  reached. 

(b)  The  imperfect  attracted  one,  who,  in  respect  to  the  subtleties  of  holy  travelling  and  to  the 

truths  of  makams,  of  stages,  and  of  dreadful  places, — hath  not  gained  knowledo-e. 

To  them,  becometh  not  committed  : — 

The  ruling  over  the  capacity  of  the  murid  and  the  instructing  him  in  the  rules  of  tarikat. 

For  this  reason,  more  than  its  good  is  the  evil  of  every  control  that  they  exercise 


The  existence  of  the  murid  and  his  capacity  of  perfection  is  like  unto  an  eo-g, 
wherein  is  existent  the  capacity  of  being  a  bird. 

If  it  be  worthy  of  the  power  and  of  the  impressing  of  the  blessing  and  of  the 
protection  of  a  matured  bird  (wherein  the  vehemence  of  the  power  of  begetting  is  over- 
powering),—while  in  the  egg,  the  power  of  the  spiritual  life  and  the  specialities  of  its 
perfection  of  flying  penetrate.  At  last,  off  from  itself  the  egg  pulleth  the  ego-.crar- 
ment ;  putteth  on  the  honour-robe  of  being  a  bird  ;  and  conveyeth  itself  to  the  per- 
fection of  capacity. 

On  the  contrary,  if  he  place  the  egg  beneath  a  (young,  immature)  bird,  that  hath 
not  the  power  of  flying — a  time  lapseth,  and  in  the  egg  the  capacity  of  the  existence 
of  flying  becometh  corrupted.     Then  the  egg  is  not  worth  restoring. 

Even  so,  if — beneath  the  sway  of  a  perfect  shaikh  (who  shall  have  attained  to  the 
degree  of  perfecting  imperfect  ones;  and  in  whom,  are  joined  together  the  travelling 
on,  and  the  flying  on,  the  Path,  and  attraction)  the  sincere  murid  make  obedient  his 
own  existence — the  bird  of  truth,  "God  created  Adam  in  His  own  form,"  issueth 
from  the  egg  of  his  existence ;  flieth  in  the  liquid  air  of  divine  essence ;  and  reacheth 
the  degree  of  producing. 

If  beneath  the  sway  of  the  imperfect  holy  traveller,  or  of  the  imperfect  attracted 
one,  the  murid  come,  corrupt  in  him  becometh  the  capacity  of  the  perfecting  of 
humanity;  and  he  reacheth  neither  to  the  perfection  of  man,  nor  to  the  stage  of 
perfection. 

Even  so,  in  the  material  world,  the  demand  of  God's  mature  liikmat  and  current 
sunnat  is  this — 

that,  despite  the  capacity  for  producing,  appeareth  not  the  permanency  of  species,  except 
after  union  of  the  two  producers  with  the  bond  of  lust,  by  the  means  of  the  deed,  active 
and  passive;  and  by  the  impressing  and  the  impression. 


126  SUFi.lSM. 

So,  in  the  sp'.ritual  world,  the  mystery  of  the  hakikatof  man  (which  is  purely  ser- 
vice) Cometh  not  into  existence — 

except  after  the  union  of  the  murid  and  of  the  murad  with  the  bond  of  love;  and  the  miirid's 
acceptance  of  the  murad's  sway.     This  is  "  the  second  birth."  * 

Though  in  the  kudrat  of  God,  possible  is  the  existence  of  the  son  without  the 
father, — yet,  in  hikmat,  it  is  prohibited  just  as  is  prohibited  the  spiritual  birth  with- 
out the  union  of  the  murid  and  of  the  murad. 

In  kudrat  it  is  possible  (as  is  shown  by  the  existence  of  some  attracted  ones)  ;  in 
hikmat,  difficult. 

Further,  in  birth  without  the  father,  calamity  may  be  expected  as  in  the  birth  of 
'isa,  who  (in  divinity  and  in  humanity)  became  the  source  of  error  of  the  Christians — 
Him,  they  called — "  the  Son  of  God." 

If  an  attracted  one  become  master  of  revelation,  not  through  the  directing  of  a 
consummately  perfect  shaikh, — not  secure  are  others  from  calamity. 

In  the  sense  of  lover,  murid  is : — 
the  traveller,  who  is  (God-)  attracted. 

In  the  sense  of  beloved,  murad  is  : — 
the  (God-)  attracted  one,  who  is  the  traveller. 

Among  them,  restricted  is  the  sense  of  shaikh. 

Whose  labour  (as  to  revelation  and  manifestation)  is  preceding  is  lover;  whose 
revelation  (as  to  the  form  of  effort)  is  preceding  is  beloved.  In  this  way,  the  sense 
of  murid  and  murad  is  the  essence  of  murad. 

The  Kuranic  verse  comprehendeth  the  explanation  of  the  hal  of  the  lover  and  of 
the  beloved. 

Divine  will,  not  the  slave's  acquisition,  is  the  cause  of  choice  :  the  condition  (of 
acceptance)  of  guidance  is  the  forerunner  of  repentance  (which  is  the  slave's  deed). 

In  this  form,  the  choice  is  the  hal  of  the  beloved.  Only  by  arrangement  and  by 
degrees,  are  the  guidance  of  the  hal  of  the  lover,  and  the  travelling  of  lovers  in  the 
regions  of  makams. 

Until  he  fulfilleth  the  lowest  makam,  he  reacheth  not  to  the  lofty  makam. 

They  ascend  : — ■ 

degree.  degree. 

from  the    ist    to  the    2nd. 
„        2nd        „       3rd. 
3rd        „       4th. 

Thus,  by  arrangement,  they  travel  all  the  makams.  Then,  changeth,  travelling  to 
attracting;  endeth,  travelling  in  flight;  joineth,  labour  with  manifestations;  and 
reacheth,  the  being  absent  to  beholding  (God)  face  to  face. 

*  See  p.  67,  ' 


MA'RiFAT-l-MURiD.  127 

In   this  makam,  do  they  write  for  the  lovers  the  mandate  of  khilafat ;  give  the 
honour  of  being  a  shaikh  ;  and  order  power  over  the  murid. 
For  this  degree  is  the  middle  makam  : — 

(a)  between  the  hidden  and  the  manifest. 

(b)  „  God  „       man. 

In  this  makam,  like  to  the  throne  of  the  merciful  is  the  slave's  existence  that  hath 
one  side  towards  the  hidden  world  ;  and  the  other  towards  the  material  world. 

With  the  former,  he  taketh  the  bounty  of  God's  mercy  from  the  hidden  world  ; 
with  the  latter,  he  conveyeth  it  to  the  material  world  and  to  the  people. 


When  at  the  beginning  of  hal,  beloved  ones  take  the  path  by  the  aid  of  attrac- 
tion they  traverse  the  regions  of  makam  with  a  single  attraction,  and,  therein,  are 
comprehended  the  acquisition  of  all  deeds  of  beloved  ones. 

Included  in  the  purity  of  their  hal,  is  the  purifier  of  the  crowd  of  makams. 

The  binding  by  makams  is  for  common  lovers,  who  have  not  yet  reached  the 
world  of  kashf;  whose  travelling  is  in  the  removing  of  the  darkness  of  the  qualities  of 
nafs ;  and  from  whom,  in  every  makam,  becometh  effaced  the  darkness  of  a  certain     \^ 
quality  till  that  time  when  by  this  effacing,  their  nafs  gaineth,  with  divine  light,  full 
refulgence. 

As  in  nafs  the  inclination  of  nature  is  a  darkness  (which,  in  the  makam  of  sin- 
cere penitence,  becometh  effaced)  ;  and  delight  in  the  world  is  a  darkness  (which,  m 
the  makam  of  austerity,  becometh  effaced) ;  and  poverty  of  trust  on  the  surety  of 
provision  of  God  is  a  darkness  (which,  in  the  makam  of  riza,  ariseth  and  departeth) 
accordingly,  in  every  makam,  a  darkness  becometh  effaced  till  all  the  darknesses  of 
nafs  (by  the  travelling  of  the  crowd  of  the  crowd  of  makams)  arise  and  depart ;  and 
from  the  veil  of  darkness,  becometh  revealed  the  beauty  of  the  face  of  yakin. 

By  reason  of  the  preceding  of  revelation  on  the  path,  when  all  the  quarters  of  ex- 
istence and  of  the  interior  (before  the  travelling  of  the  stages  of  makams,  of  travelling, 
of  effort)  are,  with  the  light  of  yakin,  illumined  ;  and  cut  off  from  them  are  the  dark- 
nesses of  the  qualities  of  nafs. 

In  them,  is  existing  the  abstract  of  all  makams  ;  separate  from  all  zahids  they  are 
despite  delight  (in  the  world)  ;  reliant  on  God,  despite  attention  to  the  chattels  of  the 
world  ;  and  contented  with  God,  despite  abhorred  sins  of  nature. 
Because  on  God  is  their  existence ;  not  on  themselves. 

The  absolute  murad  (the  followed,  the  beloved,  the  murshid)  and  the  absolute 
mahbub  (beloved)  is  Muhammad,  the  Sayyid  of  created  beings — 

The  purpose  of  creation  was  his  existence;  created  beings  are  all  his  offspring. 

To  none  save  to  him,  did  they  give  the  honour  robe  of  being  "a  beloved." 
Even  to  the  tabi'in  advance  from  the  makam  of  being  a  lover  to  being  a  beloved  is  only 
by  implicitly  following  Muhammad. 


128  SUFi.lSM. 

Then  from  Muhammad  came  the  address  in  respect  of  Musa,  who  had  the  degree 
of  being  "a  lover  (of  God)  "  and  who  wished  to  be  "  a  beloved  (of  God)." 

When  'isa  desired  this  degree,  at  a  time  when  He  was  desirous  of  Muhammad 
God  kept  him  detained  some  years  in  the  sky,  till  after  the  mission  of  Muhammad, 
so  that — 

by  God's  order  He  might  descend  (to  earth),  and  (by  reviving  the  faith  of 
Muhammad  and  by  following  the  sunnat  of  prophecy)  reach  the  makam 
of  being  "a  beloved  (of  God)." 

God,  none  reacheth  by    being  a   lover, — only  by  being  a  beloved  :   God,  none 
^•'  reacheth  save  by  God. 

Abu  'All  Dakkak  hath  said  ; — 

As  Musa  was  a  murid  (lover),  he  said  :-"0  God  !  open  me  my  heart." 

As  Muhammad  was  a  murad  (beloved),  to  him,  God  said  :-"  Thy  heart,  opened  we  not  ?  " 

Musa  said : — 
"  Let  me  see." 

Came  the  answer — 

"  Me,  thou  shall  never  see." 

To  Muhammad,  God  said  : — 

At  thy  God,  shalt  thou  not  look?  (Yea,  thou  shall). 

In  the  attraction  of  truth,  the  similitude  of  the  love  of  the  Ancient  One  (God)  is 
Muhammad — even  as,  in  the  attraction  of  iron,  is  the  quality  of  the  magnet. 

As  the  magnet  giveth  its  own  quality  (the  attraction  of  iron)  to  its  own  attracted 
and  beloved  one,  so  that  it  can  attract  another  (piece  of)  iron — so,  in  its  own 
attracted  one,  the  speciality  of  every  attracter  permeateth. 

From  the  magnet  of  love  for  the  Ancient  One  (God),  the  ruh  (soul)  of 
Muhammad  (which  is  the  first  attracted  and  beloved  one)  acquired  the  speciality  of 
the  attraction  of  the  souls  of  the  faithful  (muslims). 

From  the  quarters  and  regions  of  the  world,  to  himself  Muhammad  drew 
thousands  of  souls  of  the  sahaba,  each  one  of  whom  found  a  portion  of  that  speciality 
suitable  to  his  capacity. 

To  himself,  he  drew  the  souls  of  the  tabi'in. 

So,  ceon  after  oeon,  womb  after  womb,  from  the  souls  of  the  tabi'in  to  the  souls  of 
the  shaikhs  and  of  the  firm  'ulma, — that  speciality  became  transported ;  of  the  murid 
to  the  murad,  the  chain  (of  attachment)  became  arranged ;  and  every  murid,  a  murad 
became. 

Such  is  the  effect  of  following  Muhammad. 


r'T.KAD.  ,2^ 


By  perfection  of  following  and  by  the  link  of  union  with  the  souls  of  shaikhs, 
whoever  gained  union  with  the  soul  of  Muhammad — in  him,  appeared  love  for  God  ' 
and  the  degree  of  being  a  beloved  (of  God)  and  of  being  a  murad. 

For,  according  to  arrangement,  the  souls  of  shaikhs  are  united  with  the  soul  of 
Muhammad ;  thereby,  in  all  permeate— love,  following  (the  followed),  and   love  for 


God 


The  murid,  whose  soul  with  the  soul  of  the  consummately  perfect  shaikh,  (who 
shall  have  slipped  out  from  his  own  desire ;  and  gained  from  another  shaikh,  the 
heritage  of  love  for  God)  uniteth  not,— never  reacheth  the  degree  of  being  a 
beloved  (of  God),  nor  gaineth  the  makam  of  sway  over  another  (the  murid). 


I'tikad  (belief),  the  place  whence  it  is  taken,  and  the  bind- 
ing of  one's  self  to  the  true  faith. 

I.  I. 

The  words  i'tikad  and  ittihad  signify  : — 

the  binding  of  a  form  of  'ilm  in  the  heart  of  the  existence  of  mysteries. 

Its  place  of  origin,  in  the  beginning  of  hal,  is  the  repetition  of  the  hearing  of 
news  ;  and  the  continuance  of  the  following  of  impressions  as  in  children's  pure  nafs, 
which,  by  the  passing  of  time,  becometh  the  cause  :— 

of  iniquities  of  ideas  and  fancies. 
„  the  following  of  the  people's  faith. 

In  their  mind,  the  form  of  those  beliefs  becometh,  like  the  (imperishable)  sculp- 
ture on  stone, — firm  to  such  a  degree  that,  in  it,  the  power  of  another  form  appeareth 
impossible. 

Whom,  they  see  declining  from  the  sunnat  of  their  own- 
faith,  and  the  good  of  the  religious  order, 

they  charge  with  perversion  and  error. 

Of  them,  is  a  crowd  that  hath,  according  to  its  own  idea,  held  to  the  arguments 
of  its  own  religion  ;  and  of  itself  imagined  the  verifying  of,  and  the  expelling  (of 
deniers)  from,  its  own  circle  of  following. 

If  verily  they  look,  they  see  themselves  even  so  in  the  degree  of  following  their 
own  Imams  and  'Ulama,  from  whom  by  reason  of  good  opinion  (and  by  the  fancy  of 
goodness  of  that  opinion),  they  may  have  accepted  arguments;  from  whom  fancies 
and  understandings  may  have  issued  ;  and  with  whom,  the  thought  of  yakin  and  by 
the  abundance  of  verification,  they  may  have  become  pleased. 

By  reason  of  diversity  of  opinion,  is  the  contrariety  of  desires,  wherein  human 
nafs  is  innate;  and  the  existence  of  disputing  and  of  forbidding  worldly  positions 
and  demands  (by  the  disease  of  seeking  which,  hearts  arc  commonly  distressed). 


,3o  SUFi.lSM. 

From  the  ancient  to  the  modern  ones,  hath  arrived  this  contrariety  in  the  happy 
state. 

Gradually,   in    the  midst,  the  parties  became  diffused  and  dispersed;   drew  to 
enmity  and  hate;  and  it,  by  way  of  heritage  from  ancestors,  descendants  have  taken. 
(Eon  after  oeon,  became  pressed  together  its  darkness  (of  hate),  till  it  reached  the 
limit  of  enmity,  and  ended  in  execration  and  kufr. 

Then  wherever,  the  past  favour  of  eternity  without  beginning  joineth,  and  wish- 
eth  to  bestow  faith  upon  the  slave — 

it  releaseth  him  first  from  effects,  customs,  and  manners;  conveyeth  him  to  the  purity  of  the 
first  creation ;  teareth  up  from  his  heart  the  root  of  obstinacy  and  of  desire;  till  he  be- 
cometh  worthy  of  the  form  of  true  faith ;  and  clear  to  him  becometh  the  manifestation  of 
the  pure  God. 

In  the  time  of  the  society  of  Muhammad,  by  the  blessing  of  the  effects  of  descent 
of  wahly  (revelation),  and  of  the  ray  of  light  of  prophecy  the  nafs  of  the  people  had 
become  eradicated  from  the  darkness  of  customs  ;  and  hearts,  purified  from  the  pollu- 
tion of  nature  and  from  the  impurity  of  desire,  turned  away  from  this  world,  turned 
to  the  next  world,  seekers  of  God,  with  the  light  of  faith,— had  beheld  through  the  veil 
the  form  of  the  hidden. 

Therefore  free  was  their  behef  from  the  reproach  of  contrariety ;  and  their  heart, 
from  the  ills  of  desire. 

One  of  heart,  of  opinion,  of  tongue  were  all. 

When  the  sun  of  prophecy  became  veiled  in  the  veil  of  the  hidden  ;  and  the  light 
of  purity,  concealed  in  the  veil  of  grandeur, — the  darkness  of  desire  of  the  land  of  nafs 
of  the  people  (who,  by  the  light  of  prophecy,  had  gained  effulgence)  became  effaced  in 
its  light. 

By  the  sun's  being  veiled  and  hidden,  it  again  cast  its  shadow;  and,  little  by  little, 
forth  from  the  concealed  ambush,  came  the  darkness  of  its  desire. 

Hearts  turned  their  face  from  the  moderation  of  steadfastness  to  turning  aside; 
contrariety,  to  the  degree  of  turning  wholly  away,  appeared ;  and  open  to  shaitan,  be- 
came the  path  of  sway. 

Accordincr  to  the  distance  from  the  time  of  prophecy  and  of  being  veiled,  the 
li^ht  of  innocence  daily  became  greater  through  the  darkness  of  the  descendings  of 
nafs  in  the  world ;  and  contrariety  commonly  appeared. 

Who  is  the  seeker  of  the  true  faith,  should  follow  the  first  crowd  of  the  "com- 
panions"; should  turn  his  heart  from  love  for  the  world,  so  that,  by  the  light  of  yakin, 
the  eye  of  his  vision  may  be  opened  ;  and  to  him  may  be  discovered  the  pure  God. 

This  appeareth  only — 
by  true  purity. 

„    excellent  refuge  in  the  giver. 
„    the  complaining  of  the  evil  of  nafs. 
„    keeping  one's  self  pure  of  sin  by  God's  grace. 


l'TIKAD,-ILM-|.FARiZA. 


131 


For,  the  associate  of  answer,  God  maketh  every  question  that  is  through  sincerity 
and  perturbation. 

To  whom,  God  gave  the  favour  of  change  of  desire  away  from  the  world,  the  root 
of  contention  He  plucked  up  from  his  heart  and  made  it  the  glancing  place  of  His 
mercy. 

Its  mark  is  this — 

By  the  glance  of  mercy,  he  becometh  not  joined  with  the  veiled  ones ;  nor  with  them  treadeth 
the  path  of  contention. 

This  is  of  the  specialities  of  the  sufis,  whose  hearts  have  wholly  turned  to  the 
ecstasy  of  the  sweetness  of  love  (for  God)  away  from  the  love  for  the  world  ;  whose 
veins  of  contention  have  become  extirpated  ;  and  who,  with  the  glance  of  roercy, 
have  gazed  at  the  commonality  of  the  people,  gained  safety  from  enmity,  and  who 
are  entitled — firka-i-najiya.* 


'Ilm-i-fanza  (the  knowledge  of  God's  ordinance). 

II.  3- 
That  'ilm,  the  desire  whereof  is  for  all  muslims  an  ordinance  of  God,  is,  in  the 
opinion  of  the  'ulama,  contradictory. 

Some  have  said  it  is  :^ 

(a)  the  'ilm-i-ikhlas  (sincerity). 

Because  even  as  devotion  to  God  is  God's  ordinance,  so  sincerity  in  devotion 
is  also  God's  ordinance  ;  as  for  'ilm,  practice  is  necessary,  so  practice  is  necessary  for 
the  'ilm-i-khlas. 

(b)  the  'ilm-i-afat-i-ikhlas  (the  calamities  of  sincerity)  ;  or  the  quality  of  nafs,  the 

revelation  whereof  is  the  power  of  ikhlas. 
Then    the    'ilm-i-ikhlas  is  dependent  on  the    'ilm    of   the    qualities    of    nafs. 
Dependent  on  it  whatever  may  be  a  necessity  is  on  it  also  necessary. 

(c)  the  'ilm-i-wakt    (period)  ;  or  the  knowing  in  what  thing   (deeds  or  words) 

it  is  best  to  be  daily  engaged. 

(d)  the  'ilm-i-hal  (mystic  state)  ;  or  the  knowing  the  hal  (that  may  be  between 

the  slave  and  the   Lord  God),  and  the  rule  which  is  special  to  that  hal; 
and  the  learning  its  excess  (or  defect)  at  any  period. 

(e)  the  'ilm-i-khawatir  (thoughts)  ;  attached  thereto  is  the  distinguishing  between 

the  sources  o£  the  acts  of  thoughts  and  the  goodness  and  evilness  of  acts. 

All  this  is  fazilat  (excellence),  not  fariza  (God's  ordinance). 

Not  lawful  is  the  abandoning  of  fariza.  If  'ilm-i-fariza  be  one  of  those  'ilms,  not 
lawful  to  muslims,  is  its  abandoning. 

•  This  is  the  name  of  an  Arab  tribe. 


1^2  SUFi.lSM. 

What  Muhammad  hath  said  is  enjoined  to  ail  muslims  ;  the  knowing  of  it  is  to 
all  muslims  impossible. 

Not  every  nature  can  be  prepared  for  these  'ilms ;  not  lawful  is  unbearable 
trouble. 

Most  true  is  the  kaul  (word)  of  those  of  former  times. 

The  kaul  of  Shaikh  Abu  Talib-i-Makki  is— 

It  is  the  'ilm  of  the  source  of  Islam;  or  the  five  columns — 
i.  the  kalima-1-shahadatain,  the  two  creeds, 

ii.    „   salat.  prayer. 

iii.    „   zakat  alms. 

iv.    „   saum  dream. 

V.    „   hajj  pilgrimage. 

It  is  the  'ilm-i-bay'        (purchase). 
„  shara       (sale). 

„  tilak         (divorce). 

„  nikah       (marriage). 

Enjoined  on  high  and  low,  is  the  knowing  of  these ;  forthe  understanding  of  them  is,  for 
all  reasonable  men,  possible. 

The  (totality  of  all  kauls  is  the)  kaul  of  Shaikh  Shahabu-d-Din  'Umar-i- 
Sahrwardi — 

It  is  the  'ilm-i-mutafarz  (the  enjoined  'ilm) ;  or  the  'ilm  of  orders  and  of  prohibitions  (of 
God). 

Because  though  the  slave  is  ordered  as  to  doing,  and  prohibited  against  abandon- 
ing, them, — incumbent  on  him  is  their  'ilm,  so  that  the  practice  of  them  may  be  estab- 
lished. 

The  rules  of  the  shar',  as  regards  orders  and  prohibitions,  are  of  two  kinds : — 
(a)  the  comprehender  of  the  chosen  common  people,— 


the  'ilm-i-mubani-i-islam. 
„        bay'. 
„         shara. 


the  'ilm-i-nikah. 
„        tilakat. 


which  are  incumbent  on  all  muslims  by  reason  of  :— 
requisites, 
necessity, 
need. 
(A)  the  'ulum-i-faza.il  (excellences).  the  'ilm-i-hal  (state). 

„     'ilm-i-ikhlas  (sincerity).  and  other  'ilms  already  mentioned. 

„         „     khwatir  (thoughts). 

These  are  enjoined  on  some  special  folk,  who  have  the  capacity  and  the  power  of  knowing 
them;  and  not  enjoined  on  common  folk  who  have  not  the  power. 

For  some  special  ones,  whose  capacity  is  fit,  these  'ilms  are  of  thp  number  of 
God's  ordinances.     By  them,  they  are  ordered  and  prohibited. 


THE  H&L  OF  MAN.  '  ,„ 

Some  of  the  sahaba  have  grieved  and  said  : — 

We  have  the  power  not  to  bring  into  action  impure  thoughts ;  impure  thoughts,  we  have  not 
the  power  to  prevent.  If  as  regards  them,  go  a  reckoning  and  a  requital,  difficult  is  the 
work. 

Came  this  ay  at — 

Save  to  its  limit,  nafs,  God  troubleth  not. 

Whoever  cannot  perform  the  ordinance  is  by  it  not  ordered  ;  and  for  the  aban- 
doning of  it  not  reproved. 

Whoever  can  restrain  impure  thoughts, — on  him,  is  enjoined  the  ordinance. 
The    shaikhs,    who    have    made    yakin    of  something    and    reckoned   it    God's 
ordinance,  have  spoken  according  to  their  own  state. 

This  limit  is  the  comprehender.     Those  'ilms,  which  others  have  mentioned  ;  and 
according  to  their  own  hal,  reckoned  God's  ordinance,  they  have  called— 
the  'ilm-i-dirasat  (teaching). 
„        „     wirasat  (heritage). 


The  hal  of  man. 

III.    ID. 

According  to  diversity  of  degrees,  the  ranks  of  men  are  of  three  kinds : — 
i.  The  wasil  (those  joined  to  God)  and  the  kamil  (the  perfect). 

The  cUlj  (wasil)  are  the  mukarrab  (those  near  to  God)  andthesabik  The  Kuran 

(those  gone  before  others  in  faith) Ivj       lo— ii 

ii.  The  ^^  (salik)  holy  travellers  of  tarik  (the  path)  of  perfection. 

These  are  the  pious  ;  the  ashab-i-yamin  (companions  of  the  right  hand)      „  8 

iii.  The  i-^  (mukim)  dwellers  of  the  essence  of  defect. 

These  are  the  wicked ;  the  ashab-i-shumal  (the  companions  of  the  left  hand)  „  9 

The  men  of  wusul  (union  with  God)  are  of  three  crowds:  — 

(a)  The  ^'  (ambiya),  prophets,  whom,  after  union  and  perfection,  God  sent  to  the  people 

for  the  sake  of  perfecting  the  imperfect  ones;  and  whose  existence  He  made  the  link 

of  the  hidden  and  the  material  world  to  invite  people  to  Him,  and  to  keep  prosperous 

the  realms  of  God  and  of  the  angels. 
{b)  The  iij-'ai*  (mutasawwifa),  shaikhs,  who,  by  perfection  of  following  Muhammad,  have 

gained  union  (with  God) ;  and  who  were,  after  that,  ordered  to  invite  the  people  by 

the  tarik  of  following  Muhammad. 

Consummately  perfect  are  these  two  crowds,  to  whom,  after  their  being  immersed 
in  the  essence  of  jam'  (collected),  and  in  the  abyss  of  tauhid  (unity  of  God),  the  grace 
of  eternity  without  beginning  bestowed  freedom  and  salvation  from  the  belly  of  the 
fish  of  fana  (effacement)  to  the  shore  of  tafraka  (dispersed)  and  to  the  plain  of  baka 
(permanency), — so  that,  to  salvation  and  to  degrees,  they  might  guide  the  people. 

(c)  The  jama  'at  (crowd),  to  whom,  after  arrival  at  the  degree  of  perfection,  the  trust  of 
perfecting  (the  imperfect  ones)  in  reference  to  inviting  the  people  (to  Islam)  passed 


124  suFi,iSM. 

not ;  who  became  immersed  in  the  sea  of  jam'  (collected)  and  in  the  belly  of  the  fish  of 
fana  (eflfacement),  who  became  naught  so  that  neither  news  nor  trace  of  them  reached 
to  the  shore  of  tafraka  or  to  the  region  of  baka  ;  who  became  threaded  on  the  thread 
of  the  dwellers  of  the  towers  of  ghairat  (jealousy),  and  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  land 
of  hairat  (astonishment) ;  and  to  whom  after  perfection  of  union  the  power  of  perfecting 
the  imperfect  ones  was  not  entrusted. 

The  men  of  sulak  (the  path  of  travelling)  are  of  two  kinds  : — 
(a)  The  seekers  of  lofty  purpose,  and  the  murids  of  the  face  of  God. 
(6)  „         „        paradise,  „  „         „  next  world. 

The  seekers  of  God  are  : — 
(a)  The   i^yoi^  mutasawwifa. 

These  are  that  crow-d  that  have  gained  freedom  from  some  of  the  qualities  of  nafs; 
become  qualified  with  some  of  the  hals  and  some  of  the  qualities  of  the  sufis  •  and 
become  the  beholder  of  the  excess  of  their  hal. 

Yet  w^ith  the  proud  trailing  residue  of  the  qualities  of  nafs  are  they  left  distressed ;  and 
therefore  deprived  of  the  acquisition  of  the  end  of  the  man  of  propinquity  to  God  and  of 
sufiya  (sufijism). 
{b)  The  ■ui^J'-*  (malamatiya),  the  reproached. 

These  are  that  crow-d  who,  in  the  observance  of  the  meaning  of  ikhlas  (sincerity)  and  in  the 
preservation  of  the  rule  of  sidk  (truth),  have  expended  much  effort ;  who  in  the  conceal- 
ing of  their  devotion  and  in  the  veiling  of  their  almsgiving  from  the  people's  glance 
regard  necessary  great  effort;  who  neglect  not  the  minutest  matter  of  holy  deeds;  who 
regard  an  enjoined  duty  all  the  excellences  and  the  nawafil ;  whose  religious  order  is  at 
all  times  the  verifier  of  the  sense  of  ikhlas;  and  whose  taste  is  for  the  singularity  of 
God's  glance  upon  their  deeds  and  hals. 

As  .the  sinner  is  full  of  caution,  as  to  revealing  his  sins,  so  (lest  there  be  suspicion  of  hypo- 
crisy) as  to  revealing  their  devotion,  do  they  practise  hypocrisy  that  the  order  of  ikhlas 
may  suffer  no  injury. 

Although  they  are  precious  of  wujud  and  exalted  of  hal,  yet  from  their  glance  not  wholly  rent 
is  the  veil  of  creation.  Therefore  are  they  left  veiled  from  beholding  the  beauty  of  tauhid 
(the  unity  of  God)  and  the  essence  of  tafrld  (inward  solitude),  because  the  concealing  of 
deeds  and  of  their  hal  from  the  people's  glance  is  known  and  allowed  in  the  sight  of  the 
people  and  of  themselves,  who  are  the  forbidders  of  the  sense  of  tauhid. 

Nafs  is  of  the  crowd  of  strangers.  As  long  as  on  their  o\\  n  hal,  they  keep  their  glance, 
not  wholly  have  they  expelled  strangers,  from  the  viewing  of  their  own  deeds  and  hals. 

The  difference    between    the    mutasawwifa    or    sufiya   and    the    malamatiya    is 

this  : — 

From  the  malamatiya,  the  attraction  of  the  grace  of  the  Ancient  One  hath  wholly  uptom  the 
existence  of  sufiya ;  and  from  the  glance  of  their  witnessing  uplifted  the  veil  of  creation 
and  of  egotism. 

In  making  their  devotion,  in  issuing  their  alms,  the  malamatiya  see  not  in  the  midst  them- 
selves and  the  people.  They  are  secure  from  the  knowledge  of  the  people's  glance;  and 
bound  to  the  concealing  neither  of  their  deeds  nor  of  their  hal. 

If  good  they  see  in  revealing  their  devotion,  they  reveal  it;  otherwise,  they  conceal  it. 

The  mutasawwifa  or  sufiya  are— 
^_/lLs^  (mukhlas),  saved. 

The  malamatiya  are— 

i_-iLi-*  (mukhlis),  sincere. 


THE  HAL  OF  MAN.  j„r 


The  description  of  their  hal  is:  — 
"  Them,  by  sincerity,  we  (God)  saved." 


The  seekers  of  the  next  world  are  four  crowds — 
•i^j  (zuhhad,   ,  sing,  zahid),  zahids,  dry  austere  men. 
[;^  (fukara,  „      fakir),  fakirs. 

|.'i>^  (khuddam,  „      khadim),  servants  of  God. 
-i^^  ('ubbad,         „      'abid),  those  dedicated  to  God. 

The  zuhhad  are  those  who  with  the  light  of  faith  and  of  certainty  behold  the 
beauty  of  the  next  world  ;  clearly  see  this  world  in  the  form  of  uo-liness  •  turn  their 
desire  from  inclining  to  the  worthless  decoration  of  the  fani  (perishable)  ;  and  incline 
to  the  true  beauty  of  the  baki  (imperishable). 

Against  the  ^y'  (sufiya),  the  opposing  of  this  crowd  is — 

because  the  zahid  is,  by  the  delight  of  his  own  nafs,  veiled  from  God;  and  because  paradise 
is  the  makam  of  delight  of  nafs. 

By  beholding  the  beauty  of  eternity  without  beginning  and  the  love  of  eternal 
zat,  the  sufi  is  veiled  from  both  worlds. 

As  in  respect  to  this  world,  he  may  have  expended  delight,  so  in  respect  to  the 
next  world,  is  his  delight. 

The  Hadis  saith  : — 

Unlawful  for  the  people  (of  the  next  world)  is  this  world  ;  unlawful  for  the  people  (of  this 
.     world)  is  the  next  world;  unlawful  for  the  people  (of  God)  are  both  worlds. 

In  the  degree  of  zuhd  (austerity),  is  the  sufi  above  the  degree  of  the  zahid  far 
wherefrom  is  the  delight  of  nafs. 


The  fukara  are  those  who  possess  naught  of  the  chattels  of  the  world;  who  in 
desire  of  excellence  and  of  the  divine  Rizvan  (God),  have  separated  from  their 
native  land;  and  who  have  abandoned  accustomed  objects. 

The  cause  is  one  of  the  following  three  things  : — 

(!)  the  hope  of  lessening  the  fearful  reckoning  of  punishment  (on  the  day  of  judgment).     For 
necessary  is  the  reckoning  as  regards  lawful  deeds;  and,  punishment  as  regards  unlaw- 
ful deeds, 
(ii)  the  hope  of  excellence  of  reward   and  of  excelling  on  entering  paradise. 
Glad  tidings,  brought  Jibra,il  one  day  to  Muhammad  :  — 

"  By  half  a  day  (equal  to  five  hundred  years),  will  the  fakirs  of  thy  ummat  (tribe)  enter  para- 
"  dise  before  the  rich  of  thy  tribe." 
(iii)  the  desire  of  tranquillity  of  heart,  and  of  freedom  of  mind— for  the  sake  of  much  devo- 
tion J  and  therein  the  presence  of  the  heart. 

Against  the  malamatiya  and  the  mutasawwifa,  the  opposing  of  the  fakir  is — 
Because  the  fakir  is  the  seeker  of  paradise  and  is  desirous  of  his  own  delight.     They  (the 
malamatiya  and  the  mutasawwifa)  are  the  seekers  of  God  and  desirous  of  propinquity  to 
Him. 


136  SUFi.lSM. 

Above  this  degree  in  fakr,  is  a  makam  superior  to  the  makam  of  the  malamatiya 
and  of  the  mutasawwifa. 

'Tis  the  special  description  of  the  sufi.  Though  the  degree  is  above  the  degree  of  the  fakir, 
yet  the  abstract  of  the  makam  of  fakr  is  included  in  his  makam.  The  cause  is  that,  for 
the  sufi,  the  traversing  of  the  makam  of  fakr  is  of  the  crowd  of  enjoined  conditions ;  every 
maliam,  wherefrom  he  advanceth,  its  purity  he  rendeth  and  thereto  giveth  the  colour  of 
his  own  makam. 

In  the  makam  of  the  sufi,  is  another  description  for  the  fakir  : — 

On  his  part,  the  denial  and  the  absence  of  possession,  of  all  deeds,  hals,  and  makams. 
On  his  part,  he  beholdeth  no  deed,  no  hal,  no  makam;  and  regardeth  them  not  special  to 
himself.     Nay,  himself  of  himself  he  seeth  not. 

Then  his,  is — 

no  wujud  (existence). 
„   zat       (essence). 
„   quality. 

He  is  mahv  in  mahv  (obliteration  in  obliteration)  ;  fana  in  fana  (effacement  in 
effacement). 

Such  is  the  truth  of  fakr,  in  excellence  whereof,  the  shaikhs  have  spoken.  What, 
in  the  sense  of  fakr,  before  this  has  been  mentioned, — is  the  impression  and  form  of 
fakr. 

The  superiority  of  the  makam  of  the  sufi  above  the  makam  of  the  fakir  is 
because — 

The  fakir  is  ruled  by  the  desire  of  fakr  and  of  the  delight  of  nafs.  The  sufi  hath  no  special 
desire ;  in  fakr  or  in  wealth,  effaced  is  his  desire  in  the  desire  of  God — his  desire  is  the 
essence  of  the  desire  of  God. 

If  he  choose  the  form  of  fakr  and  its  way,  it  becometh  not  veiled  by  his  own  desire  and 
choice  J  his  desire  is  the  desire  of  God. 

Some  have  said  :— 

Who  is  void  of  impression  and  of  quality  is  the  sufi :  who  is  void  of  things  material,  is  the 
fakir. 

Abu  Al  'Abbas-i-Nihavandi  saith  : — 

The  end  of  fakr  is  the  beginning  of  tasawwuf. 

Some  of  the  shaikhs  have  said  :— 
J  As  cautious  of  wealth,  should  be  the  fakir  as  the  wealthy  one  of  fakr. 

By  the  entrance  of  wealth,  the  fakir  feareth  that  fakr  may  become  abhorrent  to',  him  ;  by  the 
entrance  of  fakr,  the  wealthy  one,  that  wealth  may  become  abhorrent  to  him. 

Once  a  wealthy  one  brought  ten  thousand  dirams  to  Ibrahim  Adham  and  asked 
him  to  accept  them. 

Ibrahim  refused,  saying — "  With  ten  thousand  dirans,  thou  wishest  to  efface,  from. 
"  the  record-book  of  fukara,  our  nam«."  1 


THE  MAL  OF  MAN.  I37 

Between  fakr  (poverty)  and  zuhd  (austerity),  the  difference  is  this  : — 

Possible  without  zuhd,  is  fakr.  Thus,  with  firm  resolution  a  person  abandoneth 
the  world  through  the  desire  of  yakin  ;  yet,  in  him,  is  left  the  heart's  delight. 

Possible  without  fakr,  is  zuhd.  Thus  is  a  person  possessed  of  chattels,  wherefrom 
his  delight  is  turned. 

Fakr  hath  a  custom,— the  want  of  property.  Its  truth  is  the  expelling  of  qualities 
from  orders ;  and  the  denying  to  one's  self  the  choice  of  a  thing. 

Fakr  is  the  form  of  zuhd  and  its  sign.  The  meaning  of  zuhd  is  the  expending  of 
desire  (for  God)  away  from  the  world. 

When,  beneath  the  towers  of  pomp,  God  wisheth  to  veil,  from  the  glance  of 
strangers,  some  of  His  saints.  He  outwardly  clotheth  them  with  the  garment  of  the 
wealthy  one  (which  is  the  form  of  desire),  so  that  them,  the  outward  people  may  re- 
gard as  of  the  crowd  of  desirous  ones  of  this  world  ;  and  thus,  from  the  glance  of  the 
unprivileged,  the  beauty  of  their  hal  may  be  concealed. 

The  kernel  of  the  hakikat  of  fakr  and  of  zuhd  is  the  special  description  and  re- 
quisite of  the  hal  of  the  sufi.  The  custom  of  fakr  is  the  choice  of  some  of  the  shaikhs 
of  the  sufis  ;  and  in  it,  their  purpose  is — the  following  of  the  prophets,  the  abandoning 
of  the  world,  the  inciting  and  the  inviting  of  seekers  with  the  form  of  fakr  and  with  the 
tongue  of  hal. 

In  this  sense,  their  choice  is  proved  by  the  choice  of  God,  not  by  the  desire  of  the 
delight  of  the  next  world. 


The  khuddam  are  those,  who  choose  the  service  of  fukara  and  of  the  seekers  of 
God  ;  who,  after  the  performance  of  the  ordinances  of  God,  have  expended  their  time 
in  ceasing  to  labour,  and  in  making  tranquil  the  heart  as  to  solicitude  for  matters  of 
livelihood  and  for  capacity  for  the  next  world  ;  who  prefer  this  service  to  nawafil,  and 
who  in  their  need  enter  on  every  way  not  forbidden  by  the  shar' — in  acquisition,  in 
beggary,  and  in  receiving  gratuitous  income. 

In  taking  and  giving  money,  their  glance  is  on  God. 

In  taking  money,  they  regard  the  people  the  link  of  God's  giving  to  them,  and  in 
giving  money,  they  regard  them  as  the  means  of  their  acceptance  (with  God). 

On  account  of  the  honour  of  this  makam,  appeared  similitude  in  respect  to  the 
crowd  of  the  hal  of  the  khadim  and  of  the  shaikh.  In  respect  to  the  khadim,  they 
have  established  no  difference  from  the  shaikh. 

The  difference  is  this — 

The  khadim  is  in  the  makam  of  the  abrar  (the  pious). 

shaikh         „  ,,  mukarrab  (those  near  to  God). 


138  sDn.isM. 

In  the  choice  of  service,  the  purpose  of  the  khadim  is  the  reward  of  the  next 
world ;  otherwise  not  bound  by  service  is  the  khadim. 

Standing  in  the  purpose  of  God  not  in  his  own  purpose  is  the  shaikh. 


The  u'bbad  are  those,  who,  ever,  on  the  portions  of  devotion  and  on  the  rules  of 
navvafil,  display  assiduity  for  the  sake  of  the  reward  of  the  Nil  of  the  next  world. 

Existent  in  the  sufi,   is   this  description  but  free  from  the  impurities  of  desire. 
For  they  worship  God  for  God,  not  for  the  reward  of  the  next  world. 

Between  the  'ubbad  and  the  zuhhad,  the  difference  is  this— 

With  the  existence  of  (despite)  desire  for  the  world  the  form  of   'ibadat  (devotion)  is  possi- 
ble. 

Between  the  'ubbad  and  the  fukara,  the  difference  is  this^ 

With  the  existence  of  (despite)  wealth,   a  person  may  possibly  be  'abid  (dedicated  to  the 
service  of  God). 

Then,  it  became  manifest — 

(a)  that  the  wasil  (those  joined  to  God)  are  three  crowds. 
(6)    „      „   salik  (the  holy  travellers)         „    six        „ 

Each  one  of  these  nine  crowds  hath  two  similitudes — 

(a)  .  i=^  (muhikk),  the  verifier. 
{b)   JJax<  (mubtil),    „     abolisher. 


To  the  prophets  of  both  crowds,  the  similitude  of  the  verifier  is — 

the  shaikh  of  tarikat  (the  Path)  and  the  'ulama  of  sQfiya, — who,  by  following  Muhammad, 
invite  the  people  through  the  desire  of  vision. 

The  similitude  of  the  abolisher  is  this— 

In  calumny, he  layeth  claim  to  prophecy;  and  falsely  and  slanderously attributeth  to  himself 
wahy  (revelation). 

Him,  they  call — 

,_jiJI-  (mutanabbi),  "one  who  calleth  himself  a  prophet." 

After  the  expiration  of  the  time  of  mission,  in  the  brain  of  a  jama 'at  (assembly), 
the  bird  of  this  desire  wished  to  lay  an  egg.  In  the  end,  to  the  wind  of  destruction, 
they  gave  their  head,  and  rolling  fell  into  hell. 


To  the  sufIs,  the  similitude  of  the  verifier  is — 

mutasawwifa,  who  are  exceedingly  informed  and  desirous  of  the  hal  of  the  sufis ;  and  by  the 
residue  of  their  attachments  to  the  qualities  of  nafs  are  detained  from  the  maturity  of 
purpose  and  forbidden  it. 

To  the  sufis,  the  similitude  of  the  abolisher  is — 

a  jama'at  (assembly),  who  in  life  reveal  themselves  sufis ;  who  are  void  of  tho  power  of  their 
belief,  deeds,  and  hal ;  and  who,  having  taken  off  from  theirneck  the  halter  of  devotion, 
graze  free  from  encumbrance  in  the  meadow  of  revelation,  I 


THE  HAL  OF  MAN.  j  ^g 

They  say^ 

the  binding  to  the  orders  of  the  shari'at  is  the  portion  of  the  common  folk,  whose  glance  is 
restricted  to  outward  things.  Loftier  than  that  is  the  hal  of  the  special  folk  and  of  the 
man  of  hakikat.  For  they  (the  common  folk)  give  attention  to  outward  customs,  while 
their  solicitude  for  viewing  the  inward  presence  is  not  great. 

This  crowd,  they  call— 
loJJsb  batiniya.* 
<u^U*  mubahiya. 


To  the  majzuban-i-wasil  (the  joined  attracted  ones),  the  similitude  of  the  veri- 
fier is — 

a  crowd  of  the  men  of  suluk,  whose  travelling  is  yet  in  the  traversing  of  the  stages  of  the 
qualities  of  nafs ;  and  whose  existence,  from  the  burning  of  desire's  ardour,  is  in  agitation 
and  perturbation. 

In  the  makam  of  fana,  before  the  revelation  of  the  tidings  of  the  morn  of  the 
manifestation  of  zat,  of  resting,  and  of  dwelling, — sometimes  a  flash  of  the  flashings  of 
that  manifestation  glittereth  on  the  glance  of  their  witnessing ;  and  from  the  breeze- 
place  of  fana,  a  breath  of  the  breathings  of  union  joineth  the  perfume-place  of  their 
heart. 

So,  in  the  flashing  of  the  lights  of  lightning,  the  darkness  of  the  qualities  of  their 
nafs  becometh  folded ;  and  to  their  heart,  from  the  heat,  the  bubbles  of  that  breath 
give  fire  of  search,  agitation,  shauk  of  the  soul,  and  restfulness. 

When  that  lightning  expireth  and  that  breath  ceaseth,  the  manifestation  of  the 
qualities  of  nafs,  the  heat  of  desire,  the  agitation,  and  the  shauk  return  ;  and  the  holy 
traveller  wisheth  to  be  wholly  drawn  out  from  the  clothing  of  his  own  qualities,  and  to 
be  immersed  in  the  sea  of  fana,  so  that  he  may  rest  from  the  ruining  of  his  existence. 

When  that  hal  hath  not  become  his  makam,  and  sometimes  it  descendeth  on  him, 
his  interior  becometh   wholly  informed  and  desirous  of  this  makam. 

His  name  was — 

the  similitude  of  the  verifier  to  the  joined  attracted  ones. 

To  the  joined  attracted  ones,  the  similitude  of  the  abolisher  is — 

a  crowd,  who  lay  claim  to  being  immersed  in  the  sea  of  fana,  and  to  being  annihilated  in  the 
essence  of  tauhid  :  who,  to  themselves,  assign  not  any  moving  or  any  resting. 

They  say our  moving  is  like  unto  the  moving  of  doors,  which  without  a  mover  is  impossible. 

Though  this  sense  is  true,  it  is  not  the  hal  of  that  jama'at  (assembly). 

From  this  matter,  their  purpose  is  :  — 
(a)  the  framing  of  excuse  for  sins. 
(6)     „  assigning  of  it  to  desire  for  God. 
(c)     „  repelling  from  themselves  reproach. 


*  The  batiniya  (Isma.liya,  the  Assasins)  were  founded  in  the  eleventh  century  by  Hasan  Saba 
Shaiyjau-l-jabal. 


140  SUFi.lSM. 

This  crowd,  they  call— 

"J^j  (zanadika  zanadik,  sing,  zandik) — infidels. 

.  To  Sahl  Abdu-I-lah,  they  said  :— 

A  certain  one  saith  — The  connection  of  my  deed  with  the  desire  for  God  is  as  the  connection 
of  the  motion  of  the  door  with  its  mover. 

He  said : — 

If  the  speaker  be  one  who  preserveth  the  sources  of  the  sharia't  and  the  limits  of  orders  of 
worship, — he  is  of  the  crowd  of  the  sadik  (sincere). 

If  he  be  one  who,  in  opposition  of  the  rules  of  the  shar',  hath  no  fear  of  falling  into  destruc- 
tion, he  speaketh  so  that  he  may  make  apparent  the  way  of  assigning  his  deeds  to  God, 
and  of  causing  to  fall  from  himself  reproach — together  with  the  being  up-torn  from  faith 
and  religion, — he  is  of  the  crowd  of  zanadika. 


To  the  malamatiya,  the  similitude  of  the  verifier  is — 

a  crowd,  who,  for  the  repairing  and  the  destroying  of  the  people's  glance,  show  not  much  con- 
sideration. Much  of  their  effort  is  in  ruining  customs  and  habits,  and  in  loosening  the 
bonds  of  rules  of  association  ;  the  source  of  their  hal  is  naught  save  freedom  of  heart  and 
disposition  of  heart ;  and  on  their  part,  appeareth  neither  the  gazing  at  the  usages  of 
the  zuhhad  and  the  'ubbad,  nor  the  issuing  of  acts  of  nawafil  and  of  devotion. 
No  bond  do  they  make  for  the  resolution  of  deeds;  they  persevere  only  for  the  performance 
of  the  enjoined  ordinances;  not  ascribed  to  them  is  the  amassing  of  the  chattels  of  the 
world  J  contented  with  goodness  of  heart,  they  desire  no  increase  of  substance. 

Them,  they  call — 

iJjAxlJf  (kalandariya) ,  kalandars. 

Through  the  absence  of  hypocrisy,  this  crowd  resembleth  the  malamatiya. 
Between  the  malamatiya  and  the  kalandariya  the  difference  is — 

the  malamatiya  seek  union  with  all  faza,il  (excellences)  and  nawafil  (works  of  supererogation)  ; 

but  keep  them  concealed  from  the  people's  gaze, 
the  kalandariya  pass  not  beyond  the  fara.iz  (enjoined  ordinances) ;  and,  as  regards  the  reveal- 
ing, or  the  concealing,  of  their  deeds  from  the  people's  gaze,  are  unfettered. 

The  crowd,  at  this  time  called  kalandariya,  have  taken  from  off  their  neck  the 
halter  of  Islam  ;  and  are  void  of  these  mentioned  qualities. 

For  them,  the  name  of  kalandariya  is  illusory;  fit  is  the  name — 

iij^i^  (hashwiya),  the  padded  ones. 

To  the  malamatiya,  the  similitude  of  the  abolisher  is — 

a  crowd  (also  of  the  zanadika)  who  claim  sincerity,  and  greatly  strive  in  revealing  iniquity. 
They  say : — 

From  this,  our  purpose  is  the  reproach  of  the  people,  and  the  taking  away  of  the 

glance  (of  approval)  of  man  ;  no  need  of  the  people's  devotion,  hath  God. 
By  their  sin,  un-injured  they  consider  the  sin  restricted  to  the  people's  injury,  and  de- 
votion among  laudable  actions. 

I 


THE  HAL  OF   MAN, 


141 


To  the  zuhhad,  the  similitude  of  the  verifier  is — 

a  crowd  whose  delight  hath  not  wholly  been  expended  away  from  the  world ;  and  who  from 
it  desire  at  once  to  turn. 

These,  they  call— 

>Wji*  (mutazahhid),  self-denying. 

To  the  zuhhad,  the  similitude  of  the  abolisher  is — 

a  jama'at  (assembly),  who  (for  the  acceptance  of  the  people)  abandon  the  world's  decoration  ; 
from  off  all  the  world's  chattels,  take  up  their  heart ;  and  thereby  desire  the  acquisition 
of  rank  among  men. 

It  is  possible  that  their  hal  may  be  obscure : — 

(a)  to  some.     They  think  that  they  have  wholly  turned  away  from  the  world  ;  and  that  they 

themselves,  by  abandoning  wealth,  have  purchased  rank. 

(b)  to  themselves.     They  think  that  (since  outwardly  they  are  nnt  engaged  in  desire  for  the 

world's  chattels)  they  have  wholly  turned  from  the  world. 

This  crowd,  they  call — 

•uj;^  (mar'iya)  acting  hypocritically. 


To  the  fukara,  the  similitude  of  the  verifier  is — 

He  whose  exterior  is  painted  with  the  custom  of  fakr,  and  whose  interior  is  desirous  of  the 
hakikat  of  fakr.  Yet  hath  he  inclination  to  fana  and,  with  difficulty,  endureth  fakr;  re- 
gardeth  the  true  fakr  of  the  fukara  a  special  favour  from  God  ;  and  therefore  ever  prefer- 
reth  portions  of  thanks. 

To  the  fukara,  the  similitude  of  the  abolisher  is — 

He  whose  exterior  is  painted  according  to  the  custom  of  fakr;  and  whose  interior  is,  as  to  its 

bakikat  (truth),  void  of  information. 
His  purpose  is  purely  the  revealing  of  claim,  of  mandate,  and  of  the  people's  acceptance  (of 
him). 

Him,  they  call — 

*j|/«  (mar'iya),  acting  hypocritically. 


To  the  khuddam,  the  similitude  of  the  verifier  is — 

He,  who  ever  remaineth  standing  in  the  service  of  the  slaves  of  God  ;  who,  in  his  heart, 
wisheth  to  do  them  service  unmixed  with  the  suspicion  of  worldly  design  or  rank  ;  and 
ever  to  free  his  resolution  from  doubts  of  inclination  and  of  desire. 
Yet  to  the  hakikat  (truth)  of  zuhd,  he  shall  not  have  reached. 

At  one  time  by  reason  of  the  superiority  of  the  light  of  faith  and  by  the  concealing  of  nafs, 
some  of  his  powers  fall  into  the  place  of  merit. 

At  another  time,  by  reason  of  the  superiority  of  nafs,  his  service  is  mixed  with  desire  and 
hypocrisy.  The  crowd  who  are  not  in  the  place  of  merit,  he  preferreth,  with  the  expecta- 
tion of  laudation,  to  full  service;  and  some,  who  are  worthy  of  service,  he  excludeth. 

Him,  they  call — 
-oU^  mutakhadim. 


142  SOFi.lSM. 

To  the  khuddam,  the  similitude  of  the  abolisher  is  — 

He  who  in  service  hath  no  resolution  for  the  next  world.  Nay,  the  people's  service,  he  hath 
made  the  snare  of  worldly  advantages,  so  that  thereby  he  may  attract  bequests  and  chat- 
tels. If,  in  the  acquisition  of  his  design,  he  see  not  effected  his  purpose,  he  abandoneth 
it. 

Then  is  his  service  restricted  to  desire  for  rank,  for  wealth,  for  numerous  followers  and  ap- 
provers, so  that  thereby,  in  assemblies  and  companies,  he  may  seek  precedence  and  glori- 
fi  cation. 

In  every  service,  his  glance  is  on  his  own  delight. 

Him,  they  call— 

pjjsr>--~*  (mustakhdim)  an  employer  of  many  servants. 


To  the  'ubbad,  the  similitude  of  the  verifier  is  : — 

(d)  He,  who'desireth  his  own  times  immersed  in  devotion  ;  but  by  reason  of  the  residue  of  the 

pretensions  of  nature,  and  of  the  want  of  purification  of  nafs,  languor  momently  falleth 

on  deeds,  or  prayers,  and  on  devotion. 
{b)  Or  he  who  hath  not  yet  found  the  delights  of  devotion ;  and  who,  in  them,  standeth  with 

difficulty. 

Him,  they  call — 

o.i*x<  (muta'abbid),  devout. 


To  that  one  of  the  crowd  of  mar,iya,  the  similitude  of  the  abolisher  is  — 

He,  whose  glance  in  devotion  is  on  the  people's  acceptance  (of  him)  ;  and,  in  whose  heart  is 

no  faith  as  to  the  reward  of  the  next  world. 
So  long  as  he  seeth  no  stranger  attentive  to  his  own  devotion,  in  it  he  remaineth  not. 


The  Adab  of  Muhammad's  Mission  (of  prophecy), 

VI.    3- 
Known  it  is  that,  in  the  opinion  of  men  of  investigation  and  of  sincere  lovers,  the 
beloved  of  the  beloved  is  the  beloved. 

Who  loveth  not  the  beloved  of  the  beloved,  its  sign  is  that,  with  design,  his  love  is 
distempered. 

Verily,  such  a  one  is  the  lover  of  himself,  not  the  lover  of  the  Beloved  ;  he  loveth 
the  Beloved  for  the  reason  that  he  regardeth  Him  the  source  of  pleasure  and  the 
place  of  delights  to  himself, — not,  really  and  truly. 

Sincere  lovers,  who  have  become  free  from  the  sickness  of  hawa  (desire)  and  the 
design  of  nafs  (lust),  and  pure  of  the  impurities  of  existence, — desire  themselves  for 
the  sake  of  the  Beloved,  not  the  Beloved  for  the  sake  of  themselves  ;  desire  for  His  sake 
the  sacrifice  of  their  own  existence,— not,  for  themselves,  His  existence  ;  knd  prefer  to 


ADAB  OF  MUHAMMAD.  I^« 

their  own  purpose    His   purpose, — nay,   no   purpose   is   theirs   save   the    Beloved's 
purpose. 

As  the  beloved  of  the  beloved  may  be  beloved,  so  the  means  of  union  with  the  Be- 
loved is  the  beloved. 

Manifest,  it  is  to  the  man  of  faith  and  of  yakin  that  Muhammad  is  the  beloved  of 
God  and  the  agent  of  the  King,  great  and  holy.  Then  demandeth  love  for  God 
sincerity  of  love  for  Muhammad. 

When  it  became  known  that  wherever  love  may  be,  necessary  is  the  observance 
of  adab  to  the  beloved  (Muhammad),  to  men  of  faith  (especially  to  the  Lords  of  reve- 
lation and  of  beholding),  were  requisite  the  observance  of  adab  to  him,  and  the  preserv- 
ation of  the  magnificence  of  his  mission. 

Though  in  form  and  body,  Muhammad  is  hidden  and  concealed  from  the  glance 
of  outward  beholders, — in  quality  and  spirituality,  he  is  clear  and  revealed  to  the 
Lords  of  vision.     The  form  of  his  shari'at  is  the  mould  of  his  spirituality. 

Then  as  long  as  is  left  his  shari'at  in  the  body, — in  truth,  his  form  is  present ;  and 
continuous  and  perpetual  is  the  aid  of  his  life  for  souls  and  for  nafs.  The  verifier  of 
this  is  the  ancient  word. 

Though  the  shari'at  is  in  this  way  the  link  of  the  bounty  of  life,  in  another  way  it 
is  the  means  of  the  acceptance  of  life.  Muhammad  calls  the  causing  of  his  sunnat  to 
live  (in  men's  hearts)  the  causing  himself  to  live. 

Thus,  for  the  nations,  his  shari'at  and  sunnat  are  life-giving  and  life-accepting. 

The  source  of  doors  (of  opening)  and  the  column  of  adab, — after  the  strengthen- 
ing of  love's  links,  and  the  perfecting  of  love's  conditions, — is  ever  viewing  the  person 
of  the  beloved,  and  the  contemplating  of  hearts. 

As,  in  all  his  hals,  outwardly  and  inwardly,  the  slave  seeth  God  known  and  in- 
formed,— so  informed  and  present,  he  should  regard  Muhammad  in  respect  to  his  own 
exterior  and  interior. 

Towards  Muhammad,  the  beholding  of  his  form  of  grandeur  and  of  dignity  may 
ever  be  the  guide  to  the  preservation  of  adab  ;  towards  him,  he  may  be  ashamed  of 
opposition,  secretly  or  openly  ;  and  of  the  subtleties  of  the  adab  of  his  society,  he  may 
let  go  no  subtlety  whatever. 

The  greatest  part  of  adab  is  this — 

In  his  heart,  he  should  not  conceive  that  to  any  created  being  should  be  possible  that  perfection, 
rank,  and  loftiness  of  degree  that  are  Muhammad's;  that  to  God,  any  travellers  can  find  the  path 
except  by  his  guidance  ;  that  to  any  Wall,  should  be  the  power  of  perfecting  and  directing  another  save 
by  borrowing  from  the  light  of  his  power ;  that  to  a  makam,  should  reach  an  arriver,  who  may  be  in- 
dependent of  his  aid,  although  in  his  stage  of  propinquity,  he  may  have  attained  to  perfection. 

The  distributed  bounty  of  all  existing  things  is  the  purified  soul  of  the  prophet 
(Muhammad)  and  his  holy  nafs.     Without  his  means,  no  aid  floweth  from  God. 


144  suFi.iSM. 

Who  by  Shaitan's  deceit  becometh  haughty  and  proud,  and  in  whose  mind  the 
idea  of  power  and  of  wealth  gathereth — becometh  doubtless  the  rejected  of  uluhiyat 
God),  and  the  banished  of  the  court  of  rububiyat  (God);  and,  wrapped  with  groans, 
returneth  from  the  makam  of  propinquity  (to  God)  to  farness  (from  Him). 

Let  us  flee  to  God  for  shelter. 


Another  adab  is — 

After  establishing  the  rule  of  belief,  and  after  perfect  following  of  his  sunnat  and 
tarikat,  it  is  necessary  that,  learned  in  following  his  sunnat,  he  should  make  every 
effort ;  in  it  should  regard  negligence  unlawful ;  and  should  verily  know  that  the  degree 
of  being  a  beloved  he  cannot  gain  save  by  observing  the  sunnat  and  the  nawafil  (works 
of  supererogation). 

He  should  not  imagine  that  fulness  of  nawafil  is  the  degree  of  lovers  and  of  mu- 
rids  ;  independent  of  it,  is  the  beloved  or  the  murad,  for  whom  the  performance  of  the 
enjoined  ordinances  is  sufficient. 

The  sign  of  being  a  beloved  is  service  in  the  following  of  the  sunnat  and  of  the 
nawafil.  At  the  inn  of  the  narrow  path,  they  keep  every  sunnat  of  Muhammad's 
sunnats,  distributed  from  the  sea  of  the  existence  of  prophecy, — by  whose  aid, 
bounty,  and  currency  flourish,  in  the  soil  of  nafs  and  of  the  heart,  the  bubbles  of  love, 
the  tulips  of  truths,  and  the  odoriferous  plants  of  yakin. 

With  Muhammad,  whoever  hath  connection,  apparently  or  really,  as  :  — 

the  sadat  (plural  of  sayyid). 
„    'ulama 
„   musha.ikh  (plural  of  shaikh). 

Who  are,  outwardly  and  inwardly,  the  offspring  and  the  heirs  of  'ilm  (know- 
ledge) and  of  prophecy, — all,  for  the  sake  of  love  for  Muhammad,  he  should  love ;  and 
their  honouring,  regard  necessary. 

In  all  hals — 

of   oliicj  belief, 
„    Jy  kaul, 
„    J"  deed, 

he  should  associate  the  reverencing  of  Muhammad  with  the  reverencing  of  God  ;  and 
devotion  to  him,  the  requisite  of  devotion  to  God. 

Not  true,  nor  acceptable,  is  faith  in  God  and  in  His  Unity, — without  association 
with  faith  in  Muhammad,  and  with  confession  as  to  his  (prophetic)  mission. 

Not  the  tarik  of  union  with  God,  is  the  performance  of  the  enjoined  ordinances 
without  the  sunnat  of  tradition. 

In  nearness  to  God,  to  liken  his  similitude  to  two  bows'  length  is  fit.* 

*  From  God,  Muhammad  is  not  farther  than  two  bows'  length.      | 


M5 

They  call  the  honouring  of  him,  the  essence  of  the  honouring  of  God  ;   devotion 
to  him  the  essence  of  devotion  to  God. 

Who  submitted   to  Muhammad,  submitted  to  God;  with  thee  who  made  bai'at    bai'at 
made  with  God  (see  the  Kuran). 

As  in  speaking  and  in  books,  they  mention  the  name  of  God  with  magnifying 
and  reverencing,  so  should  they  merition  the  name  of  Muhammad 

with  salawat,  benedictions.  I     ta'zim,    reverence. 

„     taslimat,  salutations.  tamkin,  honour. 


Ad^b  (duties,  observances)  towards  God. 

VI.    2. 

The  preservation  of  adab  is  both  love's  fruit  and  also  its  seed.  As  love  is  more 
perfect,  greater  is  its  solicitude  for  the  preservation  of  adab  towards  the  beloved  •  as 
the  form  of  adab  is  more  evident  to  the  lover,  for  him  greater  is  the  glance  of  the  be- 
loved's love. 

Then  every  slave,  in  whose  heart  love  for  God  shall  be  firmer,  his  solicitude  is 
greater  for  the  preservation  of  adab  towards  Him ;  and  more  powerful  for  the  puri- 
fying of  the  exterior  and  of  the  interior  in  a  way,  that  to  himself  may  represent  to  his 
sight  in  the  form  of  the  sick  for  God  (not  in  the  garment  of  the  sinner). 

Although  his  propinquity  to  God  is  greater,  stronger  are  the  desires  in  his  nature 
for  the  subtleties  of  (additions  to)  adab. 

For  doubtless,  than  the  work  of  servants  and  of  followers  (who,  in  the  thread  of 
the  remote  and  of  the  stranger,  are  disobedient),  the  work  of  others  (wazirs,  courtiers, 
others)  near  to  the  majesty  of  kings — is  more  difficult  and  dangerous,  and  more  are 
their  desires  for  accessions  of  adab. 

There  are  seven  adab  of  God. 

1.  By  viewing  another,  they  should  not  keep  back  the  glance  from  beholding 
the  beauty  of  God. 

In  the  Hadis,  it  is  said  : — 

When,  for  prayer,  the  slave  arose,  verily  present  with  God  he  was.     Then  if  al  another  he 
look,  the  Provider  of  the  world  saith  :  — 
O  slave!  at  whom  lookest  thou  ?     Than  I,  who  is  better  ?     O  son  of  Adam  !  to  me  turn 
thy  face;  for  to  thee  better  than  that  whereat  thou  lookest,  am  I. 

2.  Though  propinquity  to  the  King  (God)  and  his  honouring  ;  and  through  gain- 
ing the  power  of  conversing  with,  and  travelling  in,  God,  the  slave  should  not  forget 
his  own  (low)  degree,  nor  transgress  beyond  the  limit  of  service  and  of  the  revealing 
of  his  fakr  and  misery — that  to  rebellion  he  become  not  addicted. 

Once  Mahmud  (of  Ghuzni;  desired  (to  prove)  the  trust  of  (his  favourite  slave)  Ayaz. 


1^6  sun.iSM. 

When  he  was  present,  he  saw  that,  on  a  nail,  before  him,  Ayaz  had  suspended  a  rent  postin 
(sheepskin  coat)  and  an  old  blanket. 
He  asked,  saying  : — What  is  this? 
Ayaz  replied  :  — 

When  the  hand  of  power  threaded  me  on  the  thread  of  service,  it  drew  from  off  my  head  this 

garment  of  poverty,  and  clothed  me  with  the  honour-robe  of  liberality. 
Them,  for  repelling  forgetfulness  and  forbidding  disobedience  (the  requisites  of  the  nafs  of 
man),  I  arranged  before  my  face,  so  that  at  them,  momently,  1  might  look ;  (by  repeat- 
ing and  calling  to  mind)  recollect  past  events;  my  own  (former)  degree  (of  poverty) 
forget  not;  and  of  the  cap  (of  sovereignty),  of  the  bejewelled  girdle,  and  of  the  gold- 
woven  cloth  (which,  through  the  graciousness  of  the  king,  I  have  obtained)  become  not 
proud. 

In  respect  to  the  sayyid  of  both  worlds  (Muhammad),  the  Kalam-i-Majid  giveth 
news.     Of  his  observing  these  two  adab  in  the  presence  of  God. 

Although  in  inclining  to  God,  Musa  was  not  accused  of  dimness  of  sight,  yet  by 
reason — 

(a)  of  abundance  of  descent  of  hal, 

(6)    „  the  delight  of  the  sama'  o(  God's  word, 

(c)  3,    »  zauk  (delight)  at  the  sources  of  propinquity, 

(d)  „     intoxication  of  the  heart  from  drinking  cups  of  tauhid, 

forth  from  his  hand,  he  gave  the  thread  of  discrimination  ;   transgressed  the  limit    of 
worship  ;  and,  through  joy,  entered  upon  asking  (God). 

Opposed  to  his  desire,  the  back  of  its  hand  dashed  the  word  of  God  : — 
"  Me,  thou  shalt  never  see." 

Immediately,  came  this  voice  : — 

Between  the  dust  (of  man)  and  the  Lord  of  Lords, — what  ? 

3.  The  ear's  listening  to  the  word  of  God,  and  truly  hearing  orders  and  prohibi- 
tions against  the  abandoning  of  listening  to  the  hadis  of  nafs.  The  hearing  of  the 
word  of  God  worketh  in  that  way  that  whenever  on  his  own  tongue,  or  on  another's 
tongue,  in  prayer  or  out  of  prayer,  a  phrase  or  a  verse  of  the  Kuran-i-Majid  goeth, — 
it,  he  heareth  from  a  true  speaker  ;  and  knoweth  his  own  tongue  or  another's  tongue 
(to  be)  the  means  whereby  God  conveyeth  to  his  ear  His  own  word — as,  by  the  (burning) 
olive  bush.  He  conveyed  to  Musa  His  own  ancient  address. 

The  purifying  of  the  stations  of  'ilm,  and  the  congratulating  of  the  subtleties  of 
the  understanding  of  words  of  the  Kuran  by  the  moderating  of  nafs,  and  the  aban- 
doning of  listening  to  the  hadis  of  nafs  is  attainable  ;  and  its  purport  is  this  ayat — 
"  When  the  Kuran  is  being  read,  to  it  listen  and  refer  if  thou  wishest  to  be  pitied  (by  God). 

4.  The  adab  of  asking  and  of  address.  As,  from  the  form  of  order  and  of  prohi- 
bitions, the  sense  of  the  question  is  farther,  nearer  it  is  to  adab.  ^ 


ADAB  OF  GOD.  ,  ,y 

In  asking  the  Pardoner  (God)  and  (seeking)  mercy  from  his  tribe,  Ibrahim  prefer- 
red, out  of  the  form  of  order,  the  words  of  prayer,  saying  : — 

Me,  those  have  sinned  against;  but,  the  most  merciful  pardoner,  Thou  art. 

He  said  not  :^ 

Them,  pardon  and  forgive. 

In  the  desire  of  repelling  torments  from  nations,  and  of  asking  pardon  from  God 
he  kept  out  from  the  form  of  order  his  address,  saying: 

Them,  if  Thou  torment— they  are  Thy  slaves;  them,  if  Thou  forgive,  the  precious  Wise  One, 
Thou  art. 

He  said  not  : — 

Them,  torment  not ;  but  forgive  them. 

Out  from  the  voice  of  order,  Ayub  kept  his  desire  of  recovery — 
Me,  ailment  hath  afflicted  ;  the  most  Merciful  of  the  merciful,  Thou  art. 

He  said  not : — 

On  me,  have  mercy  ! 

In  answer  to  God's  address — 

Art  Thou  He  who  told  the  people—"  As  gods  besides  Allah,  accept  Me  and  My  mother?  " 

'Isa  said  : — 

Verily,  Thou  toldest  the  people  ;  to  the  people.  Thou  madest  known. 

5.  Concealing  nafs  in  the  fold  of  diminution,  and  depreciating  one's  own  existence 
in  the  manifestation  of  the  effects  of  God's  power,  when  he  mentioneth  a  favour  of 
God's  favours  to  himself. 

Muhammad  said  :  — 

At  the  earth,  I  glanced — east  and  west. 

He  said  not  — 
I  saw. 

By  not  mentionino-  the  deed,  to  himself  he  concealed  his  own  existence  ;  and 
thus  was  nearer  to  adab. 

6.  The  preserving  the  mysteries  of  God. 

When  the  slave  gaineth  knowledge  of  a  mystery  of  the  mysteries  of  God  ;  and 
becometh  the  place  of  deposit  and  one  with  whom  is  desposited  aught, — its  reveal- 
ing he  should  hold  unlawful. 

Otherwise,  far  from  the  degree  of  propinquity,  he  goeth  and  becometh  the  place 
of  punishment. 


j,g  SUFI.ISM. 

In  the  Hadis  — 

The  betraying  of  secrets  is  kufr. 

7.  The  observing  the  times  : — 

of  asking.  t  of  resting. 

„  praying.  |  „  keeping  quiet. 

This  sense  is  dependent  upon  the  ma'rifat  of  the  times  : — 
of  grace  (of  God). 
„  mercy       „ 
„  bast  (expansion  of  heart). 

in  the  times  of  grace,  is  the  plunder  of  leisure — 
for  praying. 
„  asking. 

In  the  times  of  wrath,  of  severity,  and  of  kabz  (contraction  oi  heart),  is  the 
season  : — 

of  being  silent. 

„  abstaining  from  asking. 

Who  preserveth  not  this  adab ;  who,  at  the  time  of  prayer,  is  silent ;  who,  at  the 
time  of  being  silent,  is  vociferous, — his  time  is  the  ti:<ie  of  hate. 

At  the  time  of  prayer,  the  slave  should  ask  (of  God)  according  to  his  hal 
and  makam. 

If  he  be  in  the  first  of  the  makams  of  propinquity  and,  notwithstanding  that,  in 
respect  of  joy,  he  be  not  permitted, — not  possible  is  it  that  on  the  carpet  of  joy, 
he  should  place  the  foot  of  inquiry. 

Against  asking  for  trifling  matters,  cometh  the  forbidder,— the  majesty  of  God's 
grandeur. 

One  day,  Shibli  sent  to  one  of  the  sons  of  the  world  ;  and,  from  him,  desired  some- 
thing of  the  world. 

That  one  replied  : — 

From  God,  desire  this  world  also,  since,  from  Him,  thou  desirest  the  next  world. 

Reply,  Shibli  sent  back  : — 

Thou  art  ignoble ;  ignoble  is  this  world  :  God  is  noble ;  noble  is  the  next  world. 
The  ignoble  from  the  ignoble,  I  seek;  the  noble  from  the  noble. 

If  he  be  at  the  end  of  propinquity,  and  in  respect  to  joy  permitted  by  God,  it  is 
lawful  to  travel  the  path  of  joy — in  praying  and  asking. 

In  the  beginning  of  hal,  on  account  of  the  world's  contempt  and  reproach,  Musa 
used  not  to  seek  from  God  worldly  needs;  otherwise,  the  need  of  the  Djext  world  and 


ADAB  OF  GOD.  j  ,q 

of  asking  trifling  matters  in  the  veil  of  grandeur  would  have  been  until  thattime  when 
God  conveyed  him  to  another  degree  in  propinquity  (to  Himself),  superior  to  that 
(previous)  degree  ;  and,  in  the  asking  of  mean  matters,  permitted  him  saying  : 

O  Musa  !  ask  of  Me,  even  if  it  be  the  salt  of  thy  (worthless)  ferment  (the  dust  elements  of  the 
body). 

When  he  became  necessitous  for  food,  Musa  said : — 

O  God  !  on  me  whatever  thou  causeth  to  descend  is  the  best  for  the  fakir. 

Known,  it  became  that  there  is  an  adab  for  eve'"y — 

wakt  (period). 

hal. 

makam. 

Hence,  is  the  kaul  of  Aba  Hafas  Huddad : — 

All  adab  is  tasawwuf ;  for  adab  is  all  wakt,  hal,  and  makam.  Who  performed  the  adab  of 
wakt  reached  the  pinnacle  of  manliness;  who  wasted  the  adab  was  far  from  propin- 
quity (to  God)  and  rejected  of  His  acceptance. 

Whoever  guardeth  as  to  keeping  these  seven  adab,  the  hope  is  that,  from  observ- 
ing the  subtleties  of  the  other  adab,  he  will  not  be  portionless. 

In  short,  from  off  the  slave,  the  adab  of  God  should  fall  in  no  hal  except  in  the 
hal  of  fana  and  in  the  immersion  in  the  essence  of  jam'.  For  the  observance  of  adab 
demandeth  change  of  wujud  and  acquireth  duality. 

In  the  hal  of  fana,  the  slave's  existence  (the  demander  of  change)  becometh  up- 
plucked.     Hence  the  kaul — 

Saith  God  the  great,  the  praised — 

Necessary  is  adab  for  him  who  observeth  kiyam  in  My  name  and  with  love  for  Me ;  necessary 
is  destruction  for  him  to  whom  is  revealed  the  truth  of  My  zat.  Adab  or  'atab  (destruc 
tion),— either  of  the  two,  — he  can  choose. 

The  explanation  is  :— 

The  glory  of  God's  zat  demandeth  fana;  in  fana,  adab  weakeneth  ;  the  glory  of  names  and  of 
qualities  demandeth  existence;  in  existence,  the  protection  of  adab  is  necessary. 

Junid  saith  ; — 

When  love  becometh  true,  dropped  are  love's  conditions. 

Because  the  end  of  love's  demand  is  this — 

When  the  lover  becometh  fani  in  the  beloved,  and  the  twofold  custom  ariseth  (to  depart! ; 
the  way  of  adab  becometh  the  change  of  existence.  Nay,  in  a  hal  such  as  this,  the  ob- 
serving of  adab  is  the  abandoning  of  adab. 

Once  Abu-l-'Abbas  bin  'Attar,  while  in  the  midst  of  some  of  his  sahaba,  extended 
his  foot,  denying  : — 

In  the  midst  of  people  of  adab,  the  abandoning  of  adab  is  adab. 


150  SUFi.lSM. 

Once  when  Muhammad  was  sitting  with  Abu  Bakr  and'  Umar,  a  part  of  his  auspi- 
cious thigh  became  exposed. 

Suddenly  'Usman  approached  Muhammad,  covered  his  thigh  saying  : — 
Him,  whom  the  angels  regard  I  must  regard. 

Though  this  hal  pointeth  to  'Usman's  esteem  in  Muhammad's  opinion  ;  yet  com- 
pared with  that  bal  (which  was  between  Muhammad,  Abu  Bakr,  and  'Umar)  it  was 
lower — for  nearer  to  concord  was  that  hal. 


Adab-i-Ma'lshat  (the  rule  of  livelihood). 

VI.  7. 
Diverse,  according  to  contrariety  of  degrees,  are  the  hals  of  the  <iiya3U  (muta- 
sawwifa)  in  causation  and  in  reliance  (on  God). 

(a)  Some,  through  weakness  of  hal,  for  the  amending  of  time,  in  search  of  daily  food  rely  on 

chattels.  These  are  called  i_-'    '.»  (mutasabbib). 

(b)  Some,  through  power  of  hal  and  denial  of  will,  suffice  themselves  with  the  surety  of  God  ; 

on  Him,  rely  ;  and  in  no  way  seek  reliance  on  daily  distributed  food  (through  man's 
effort).    These  are  called  JSJm  (mutawakkil). 

(c)  Some  strive  in  kasb  (acquisition);   some  in  beggary;  some  (for  the  amending  of  their 

time)  now  in  kasb,  now  in  beggary. 

Ibrahim  Adham,  sometimes  for  the  maintenance  of  the  saliaba,  used  to  obtain  a 
morsel  of  lawful  food  by  watching  over  sown  fields,  or  by  reaping;  and  sometimes 
when  alone,  at  the  time  of  need  and  to  its  extent,  used  to  travel  the  path  of  beggary. 
Awhile,  he  was  a  dweller  in  the  jam'  (masjid)  at  Bisra  and  used  to  break  his  fast  every 
three  nights ;  on  the  night  of  breaking  the  fast,  he  used  to  come  forth,  and  to  take 
morsels  from  the  doors  of  houses ;  to  the  eating  of  these  morsels,  he  restricted  him- 
self. 

Aba  Ja'far-i-Haddad  (Junid's  murshid)  used  to  go  forth,  every  two  or  three 
nights,  in  the  first  two  watches  (of  the  night);  and  to  the  extent  of  his  need,  at  doors, 
used  to  beg. 

In  the  beginning  of  hal,  Abu  Sa'id-i-Kharaz  used,  when  he  was  very  necessitous 
to  hold  forth  the  hand  (of  beggary);  and  to  say  : — 
"  The  prophet  of  God  !  " 

So  long  as  the  necessity  for  concord  was  not  complete,  they  have  not  seen  this 
crowd  in  beggary  whereof  they  are  full  of  caution.  Because  of  it  the  shari'at  hath 
cautioned  them  in  the  way  of  inciting  and  of  terrifying. 

[a]   Inciting. 

In  the  history  of  Sauban,  it  is  related  that  one  day  Muhammad  said  to  the  ashab  : — 
Who  in  one  thing  will  join  me,— him,  in  Paradise,  I  will  meet. 


ADAB-l-MA'iSHAT.  ,^j 

I  said : — 

O  prophet  of  God  !     I  will. 

He  said  : — 

Of  the  people,  ask  naught. 

{d)  Terrifying. 

In  the  Hadis,  it  is  said  : — 

Urge  not  thy  prayer  (of  beggary)  till  God  permitteth  ;  till  only  a  piece  of  flesh  remaineth  on 
thy  cheek. 

The  adab  of  the  beggar  is  : — 

So  long  as  no  necessity  ariseth,  he  should  not  enter  upon  beggary.     As  long  as  he  hath 

power,  be  maketh  nafs  desirous  of  patience  of  its  handfuis  till  from  the  hidden,  the  door 

openeth. 
When,  in  places  of  need,  by  giving  patience,  nafs  displayeth  levity,  true  wealth  from  all 

exterior  to  God  is  acquired. 

The  second  crowd  J{ji*  (mutawakkil)  on  account  of  perfection  of  being  en- 
gaged with  Him, — viewing  the  grandeur  of  tauhid  and  the  light  of  yakin,— seek  the 

causing  in  no  cause  of  the  causes  of  daily  food  ;  and  from  no  created  beino-,  seek  aid 

so  that  the  Causer  of  causes  (God)  may  as  He  desireth  convey  to  them  daily  food. 

One  day,  they  inquired  of  Bayizid,  saying: — 

Thee,  we  see  engaged  with  none:  whence  is  thy  livelihood  ? 

He  replied  :— 

The  (unclean)  dog  and  the  (filthy)  pig,  my  Master  feedeth,  wherefore  should  he  not  feed  Abu 
Yazid  ? 

Some  are  those  who,  whatever  they  ask,  ask  of  God,  so  that  He  giveth  them  one 
of  these  things  : — 

(i)  the  giving  of  the  desired  object, 
(ii)     „    power  of  patience, 
(iii)    „  erasing  of  desire  from  the  heart. 

Some  ask  naught,  either  from  the  people,  or  from  God  ;  because  in  His  'ilm,  they 
have  effaced  their  own  'ilm  and  desire  ;  they  know  that  in  their  affairs,  more  compre- 
hending is  the  'ilm  of  the  Eternal  than  their  own  'ilm  ;  attachment  to  their  affairs, 
on  the  part  of  Universal  Desire  (God)  is  greater  and  more  complete  than  partial  desire 
on  their  part;  therefore  on  account  of  His  'ilm,  they  are  independent  of  begging. 

They  call  the  mutawakkil  "the  companions  of  gratuitous  income";  because 
their  taking  is  from  the  income  received  gratuitously  from  the  hidden.  Although  he 
seeth  that,  from  the  hidden  is  gratuitous  income  without  their  nafs  being  desirous, 
they  accept  it,  even  if,  in  need  of  it  they  be  not. 

Some  are  slow  in  taking  and  in  giving;  because,  in  both  hals,  they  have  suspect- 
ed the  residence  of  desire  in  their  own  nafs. 


,-2  SUFi.lSM. 

Some  are  slovv  in  taking,  not  in  giving;  because  in  giving  they  less  regard  the 
pleasure  of  nafs. 

Some  are  slow  in  giving,  not  in  taking;  because  in  taking  they  regard  only  the 
will  and  the  act  of  God, — in  giving,  their  own  will  and  act. 

Some  are  slow  neither  in  taking  nor  in  giving;  because  their  existence  is  annihila- 
ted in  the  light  of  tauhid,  their  giving  in  divine  causes,  is  their  safety  from  the  cala- 
mity of  desire.  In  the  world,  the  existence  of  this  crowd  is  more  precious  and  less 
often  found  than  (rare)  red  sulphur. 

The  adab  of: — 

the  mutasabbib  (or  tarik). 
„    mutawakkil. 

is  this,  that  before  arrival  at  the  degree  of  the  glory  of  zat,  of  qualities,  and  of 
deeds  (which  are  the  source  of  glories),  they  haste  to  taking  gratuitous  income  and  to 
o-ivino-  it  without  the  connection  of  a  new  permission,  or  of  a  ready  knowledge. 

Before  the  rules  of  the  makam  of  freedom,  they  plant  not  the  foot,  in  the  foot- 
place  of  the  free. 

In  respect  to  the  Ashab  of  tamkin  and  to  the  Lords  of  yakin,  they  regard  not 
their  own  hal  without  a  true  proof. 

By  the  residence  of  the  veil  of  seduction,  the  truth  of  the  shaikh's  hal  may  ap- 
pear to  him  obscure  ;  but  at  the  time  of  examination  (the  fact)  that  the  cash  of  his  hal 
is  counterfeit  is  not  concealed  to  the  assayer  of  vision. 

As  long  as  he  is  bound  by  the  residence  of  the  residence  of  his  own  habits,  for 
him  is  not  reserved  the  makam  of  freedom. 

Shaikh  Hamad  used  to  eat  no  food  unless,  in  dream  or  in  sleep,  he  sav/  the 
order  : — 

(a)  Certain  food  of  such  a  quantity  from  such  a  one,— take. 

[b)  „  „  „  to  Hamad  take. 
Then  he  used  to  take  it. 

To  one  of  the  crowd  of  his  own  murids,  Shaikh  Abdu-1-Kadir-i-Hibli  sent,  despite 
that  the  depositor  was  absent,  saying  : — 

In  thy  presence,  a  certain   one  hath  a  desposit;  thence,  some  gold  and  some  food  thou 
shouldest  send  me. 

That  murid  came  before  the  shaikh  and  said  : — 

Rule  over  the  deposit,  how  is  it  lawful  for  me  to  exercise  ?  If  they  ask  thee,  thou  wilt  give  a 
decision  that  it  is  not  fit  (to  do  so). 

With  compulsion,  the  shaikh  ordered  him  (to  take  from  the  deposit). 

Immediately  after  that,  from  the  master  of  the  deposit  arrived  a  letter  saying 
so  much  gold  and  so  much  food,  take  up  from  the  deposit ;  and  take  to  Abdu-1- 
Kadir.  > 


SALAT.  ^53 

Its  quantity  was  exactly  as  the  shaikh  had  stated. 

Then  in  respect  to  his  delaying  in   (the  matter  of)  submission   (to  his  order)  the 
shaikh  reproved  that  murfd  and  said  : — 

Void  of  the  truth  of  'ilm,  thou  thoughtest  was  the  commanding  of  the  fukara. 
The  truth  of  gratuitous  income  is  this  :  — 

From  God,  they  should  take  it,  not  from  the  people-whether  its  cause  be  the  hand  of  man 
or  not;  whether  it  be  known  or  not- on  the  condition  that  in  its  preface  there  be  no' 
wishfulness. 

The  Shaikhu-1-Islam  relateth  that  once  to  Shaikh  Abu-1-Sa'id  a  man  came,  and 
said  : — 

I  wish  to  make  a  f^xed  quantity  of  a  daily  allowance  that  they  should  bring  for  thy  use ;  but  I 
think  that  the  sufis  have  said  :  "Sinister,  is  what  is  known." 

The  Shaikh  said  : — 

This,  we  say  not :  because  the  known  that  God  willeth  for  us,— in  it.  His  deed  we  see;  and  it 
auspicious,  not  sinister,  we  regard. 


Salat  (prayer). 

VII.  5- 
When  a  person  wisheth  to  begin  the  salat  (namaz,  prayer),  its  sunnat  is  that    in 
its  preface,  if  it  be  an  enjoined  ordinance,  he  should  prefer  the  ikamat.* 

Generally  in  the  salawat — except  in  the  nawafil  of  safar  in  respect  to  the  rahila 

the  condition  is  : — 

In  body,  he  should  look  towards  the  kibia  and  in  heart,  towards  the  Master  of  the  kibia  ■ 
from  the  wickedness  of  the  temptations  of  Shaitan  and  from  the  thoughts  of  nafs  should 
take  shelter  in  God;  and  to  himself  should  utter: — 

the  Suratu-n-nas,  chapter   114,  the  Kuran. 


*  The  azan  the  ikamat. 

(a)  4  takbir  ,. 

(b)  4  Shahadat      2  of  God  ,, 

2  „  Muhammad         „ 

(c)  4  Hayy-i-'ala  2  for  salat  „ 

2   „   falah 

(d)  2  ikamat. 

(e)  2  takbir  „ 
(/)  2  tahlil                                         1  tahlil. 

After  the  four  hayy-i-'ala  the  sunni  muslims  add  twice — 

As  salatu  khairun  min-an-naum  (prayer  is  better  than  sleep). 

The  shi'a  muslims  say :  — 

(d)  Hayy-i-'ala  khair  il  'amal  (rise  for  the  best  deed,  prayer). 

(ij  Either  one  (or  two)  shahadat  of  the  vilayat  (waliship)  of  Ali  after  the  two  shahadats  o( 
Muhammad. 


154  suFi.iSM. 

Both  hands,  he  should  uplift  in  such  a  way  that  the  two  palms  are  level  with  (and 
parallel  to)  the  two  shoulders,  the  two  thumbs  near  to  the  two  lobes  of  the  ear,  and 
the  finger-tips  level  with  the  the  ears. 

According  to  the  appointing,  he  should  in  his  heart,  perform  the  established 
salat ;  if  he  urge  it  also  orally  it  should  be  continuous  as  in  the  namaz  (prayer)  of 
morn.     He  should  say  : — 

"  I  utter  the  enjoined  prayer  of  this  morn." 

In  confirming  resolution  in  his  heart,  he  lowereth  his  hands  and  saith : — 
ji<)    iJUl   Allahu  Akbar,  God  is  greatest, 

so  that  the  first  portion  of  the  takblr  may  agree  with  the  falling  of  the  two 
hands.  With  the  takbJr  should  be  associated — the  end  of  the  takbir,  the  end  of  the 
falling  of  the  hands,  and  the  niyyat. 

In  <)JJI,  he  observeth  the  madda  (the  lengthening  of  alif)  ;  in  the  zamma  ( — )  of  the 
«  he  exaggerateth  not. 

In  jaJ'I  he  addeth  not  an  I  (alif)  between  the  v  (ba)  and  the  j  (ra),  but  maketh  it 
niajzum. 

In  letting  fall  the  hands,  he  avoideth  swinging  so  that  he  may  be  with  delibera- 
tion, dignity,  and  khushu'  (humility). 


At  the  time  of  takbir,  he  should  be  the  beholder  of  God's  majesty. 

In  his  glance,  the  people  should  appear  contemptible  and  feeble  ;  he  should  not 
turn  his  attention  as  to  their  being  informed  about  his  lial.  Thus,  may  he  come  into 
the  crowd,  of  the  sadik  (the  sincere  ones)  and  draw  not  on  himself  the  line  of  false- 
hood. 

The  most  excellent  of  the  takbirs  is  the  first  takbir  (the  ihram)  as  Junid  saith  : — 
Of  every  thing  is  a  chosen  part ;  the  chosen  part  of  the  prayer  is  the  first  takbir. 

The  first  takbir  is  the  place  of  resolution  ;  resolution  is  the  life  of  practice. 
Whenever  resolution  is  for  God,  and  free  from  the  impurities  of  causes, — its  order  is 
applicable  to  (other)  parts  of  deeds. 

If  through  the  beholding  of  shaitan,  through  error  or  neglect,  practice  becometh 
defective, — resolution  hath  no  great  effect. 

From  Ibn  Salim,  Abu  Nasr  Siraj  quoteth  : — 

Resolution  is  to  God,  for  God,  from  God  ;  otherwise  is  destroyed  whatever  is  added  to  the 
slave's  prayer  after  the  resolution,  even  if  it  be  to  God  and  for  God. 

After  the  takbir,  and  the  falling  of  the  hands,  he  should  advance  h's  hands  mid- 
way between  his  breast  and  his  navel  ;  should  place  the  right  hand  on  t^ie  left  hand, 


SALAT.  ,53 

the  fore-finger  and  the  middle-finger  on  the  left  wrist ;  should  seize  with  the  three 
other  fingers  both  sides  of  the  end  of  the  wrist ;  should  lower  his  head  ;  should  keep 
his  glance  on  the  place  of  prostration  ;  should  stand  so  that  his  stature  may  be  firm 
and  erect ;  should  not  bend  his  knees  ;  should  keep  his  feet  apart  to  the  extent  of 
four  fingers  ;  should  make  effort  to  keep  his  feet  parallel  to  each  other  ;  should  not 
lift  a  foot ;  should  not  place  one  foot  on  the  other. 

In  the  shari'at,  zaghn  (the  lifting  of  the  feet)  and  safd  (the  joining  of  the  feet) 
are  prohibited. 

Thus,  he  standeth,  and  saith  : — 

To  Him,  who  created  the  heaven  and  the  earth,  obedient  and  faithful,  my  face,  I  turn  :  not 
of  the  crowd  of  mushrik  (believe's  in  partnership  with  God)  are  we  ;  verily,  from  God,  the 
Provider  of  the  world,  are — my  prayer,  my  devotion,  my  life,  my  death.  His,  is  no 
partner;  to  this  belief,  we  are  commanded  :  of  the  crowd  of  mushirs,  are  we. 

In  the  preface  to  the  talawat  (reading)  to  this  extent  (if  he  have  not  the  power 
of  prolonging  it)  he  should  not  abridge  the  enjoined  ordinances. 

If  he  have  the  power  of  prolonging  the  reading,  he  should,  after  reading  the  ayat 
of  tawajjuh,  utter  the  prayer  istiftah  (asking  aid)  : — 

To  Thee,  O  God— glory  !  to  Thee,  praise  !  Auspicious  is  Thy  name,  lofty  Thy  rank  ;  save 
Thou,  is  no  God.  O  God  !  Thou  art  king;  there  is  no  God  but  Thou  my  Lord  ;  Thy 
slave,  I  am  ;  I  have  oppressed  my  nafs ;  I  confess  my  sins  ;  my  sins,  forgive.  Verily  none 
forgiveth  sins  save  Thou;  lead  me  to  goodness  of  heart;  to  goodness  of  heart,  verily 
none  leadeth  save  Thou  ;  pass  over  my  sins  ;  over  sins,  verily  none  passeth  save  Thou  ; 
I  stand  in  service  of  Thee;  by  Thee,  1  stand  ;  in  Thy  hands,  is  all  good  and  evil  none. 

To  Thee,  I  cry  ;  to  Thee,  I  approach ;  Thee  I  extol  ;  of  Thee,  I  ask  forgiveness  ;  to  Thee,  I 
repent;  from  the  accused  shaitan,  I  flee  to  God.  In  the  name  of  God,  the  merciful,  the 
compassionate. 

After  this,  he  will  utter  the  Fatihaand  that  Sura  that  he  desireth  ;  between  them 
if  there  be  an  Imam,  he  should  delay  awhile  and  slowly  utter : — 

O  God  !  between  me  and  my  sins,  place  distance— as  distance.  Thou  hast  placed  between 
the  east  and  the  west;  cleanse  me  from  my  sins  as,  out  of  the  filthy  garment.  Thou 
hast  made  the  white  garment.  O  God !  with  water,  with  snow,  with  hail,— wash  out  my 
sins. 

This  prayer,  he  should  (if  alone)  utter  before  the  Fatiha.     In  uttering,  in  praying, 

he  should  be  fully  present  (conscious).     The  words  of  the  Kuran  that  he  urgeth  on 

his  tongue, — their  meanings  with  the  desire  of  being  present  (conscious),  he  should 
comprehend. 

Thus,  the  speech  of  the  tongue  (which  is  the  interpreter  of  the  heart)  may  be  the 
author  of  the  speech  of  the  heart.  For  the  credit  of  the  heart's  speech  is  not  the 
tongue's.  If  the  tongue's  speech  be  not  the  author  and  the  interpreter  of  the  heart's 
speech,  the  prayer-utterer  is  neither  the  speaker  in  the  way  of  needs  to  God,  nor  the 
hearer  in  the  way  of  understanding  Him. 

w  2 


1-6  SUFi.ISM. 

In  respect  to  the  hearing  together  the  word  of  God,  the  men  full  of  presence 
(consciousness)  and  the  Lords  of  propinquity,  are  comprehenders  of  three  hals,  only 
found  among  them. 

i.  Regarding  the  outward  signification  of  the  world  of  dominion.     This  is  the  special  power  of 

nafs,  so  that  it  may  stand  in  the  place  of  its  liadis. 
ii.  Regarding  the  inward  signification  of  the  world  of  angels.     This  is  the  special  power  of  the 

heart,  so  that  it  may  forbid  the  heart  from  turning  to  the  world  of  dominion, 
iii.  Regarding  the  pomp  of  the  Speaker  (God)  from  the  world  of  jabarut.     This  is  the  special 
power  of  the  ruh  (the  soul),  so  that  it  may  protect  men  from  turning  to  other  than  God; 
and  may  reach  a  place  where  the  soul  is  so  immersed  in  the  sea  of  shuhud   that  the 
prayer-utterer  is  hidden  from  feeling  (consciousness). 

One  day,  Muslim  bin  Yasar  was  offering  prayer  in  the  masjid  of  Bisra.  Sudden- 
ly a  column  fell,  and  of  the  fall  thereof  all  the  people  of  Bisra  knew ;  but  he,  in  the 
masjid,  knew  of  it  naught. 

Awhile,  he  should  rest ;  and  then  proceed  to  the  ruku'  (bowing  the  body  from 
the  hips). 

In  the  ruku',  he  should  keep  his  stature  well-bowed,  the  neck  and  the  back  straight;  should 
place  the  palms  of  the  two  hands,  with  extension  of  the  fingers,  on  the  two  knees;  should 
not  bend  the  knees  ;  should  keep  in  the  state  of  standing,  the  lower  half  of  the  body  (hips 
downwards),  and  his  glance  on  the  feet. 

When  he  establisheth  himself  in  the  rukfl',  he  should,  three  times,  say  :  — 
To  my  God,  the  greatest, — glory;  to  Him,  praise. 

If  he  say  it  ten  times,  it  is  full. 
Then,  he  saith  :  — 

O  God  !  to  Thee,  I  bow;  to  Thee,  I  make  humble  my  limbs;  to  Thee,  I  incline;  to  Thee 
applied  are  my  ear,  my  eye,  my  flesh,  my  limbs,  and  tendons. 

Restricted  to  it,  he  should  keep  all  his  spirit ;  for  these  significations  become 
the  qualities  of  his  zat. 

When  from  ruku',  he  uplifteth  his  head,  he  saith : — 
Him,  who  praiseth  Him,  God  heareth. 

When  he  standeth  erect,  he  saith  : — 

O  God !  the  praise  of  the  heaven  and  of  the  earth — to  Thee ! 

After  that,  if  it  be  in  the  second  raka't  of  the  enjoined  ordinances  of  the  morning 
or  of  the  witr  of  the  latter  half  of  the  month  Ramazan,  he  should  utter  the  prayer  of 
kunut.* 

O  God  !  guide  us  whereto  Thou  wishest  to  guide ;  protect  us  whereto  Thou  wishest  to  pro- 
tect; cause  us  to  love  what  Thou  wishest  us  to  love;  make  auspicious  to  us  what  Thou 

*  The  up-lifting  of  both  hands  and  joining  them  before  the  face,  at  a  distance  of  a  foot,  palm 
upwards,  parallel  to  the  prayer-mat.  ' 


SALAT.  jr^ 

bast  bestowed.  Save  me  from  the  evil  of  what  I  have  neglected  ;  give  benediction  to 
Muhammad,  the  noblest  of  the  prophets  ;  forgive  and  pity,  for  Thou  art  the  Most 
Merciful. 

Before  standing  in  kiyam,  he  should  go  to  sujud  (prostration).  The  Hadis 
saith  :  — 

Him,  who  raiseth  not  erect  his  spine  between  ruku'  and  sujud,  God  looketh  not  at. 

Then  into  sujud,  he  goeth ;  and,  as  he  goeth,  uttereth  a  takbir.  He  placeth  on 
the  prayer-mat  first  the  lower  limbs,  then  the  upper  limbs. 

That  is — 

He  placeth  on  the  ground  first  the  knee,  then  the  hand,  the  forehead,  and  the  nose  : 
keepeth  open  the  eyes,  and  his  glance  on  the  tip  of  his  nose  ;  placeth  on  the  pvayer- 
mat  his  two  bare  palms  ;  keepeth  the  head  right  between  the  two  hands  ;  placeth  on 
the  prayer-mat  his  hands  parallel  to  the  shoulder  and  the  tip  of  the  elbow  against  his 
side  ;  holdeth  joined  together  the  fingers  opposite  the  kibla  ;  extendeth  on  the  prayer- 
mat  the  wrist ;  and  saith  three  times  : — 

To  my  God,  the  loftiest,— glory  ;  and  praise  to  Him. 

If  he  say  it  ten  times,  it  is  full.     Then  he  saith  : — 

To  Thee,  I  prostrate  myself:  in  Thee,  faith  I  have;  to  Thee,  I  bow.     Auspicious,  is  God 
the  best  of  makers. 


In  the  presence  of  God,  a  crowd  in  sujud  seeth  its  own  nafs  fallen  on  the  dust  of 
fana. 

By  reason  of  the  residue  of  existence,  this  crowd  is  affected  by  the  majesty  of 
pomp,  and  humility  is  the  custom  of  its  hal. 

A  crowd  of  the  men  of  revelation  and  of  beholding,  in  the  state  of  sujud  becometh 
described  with  the  truth  of  fana;  in  the  light  of  the  shuhud  of  the  zat  of  Wahid  (God 
the  One),  seeth  the  existence  of  created  beings,  high  and  low,  obliterated, — like  to 
the  obliterating  of  the  shadow  in  the  sun's  light;  and  seeth  itself  entered  in  sujud 
into  the  spaciousness  of  fana  on  the  border  of  the  sheet  of  the  grandeur  of  God. 

By  reason  of  fana,  this  crowd  is  not  impressed  with  the  form  of  the  grandeur  of 
zal ;  in  the  essence  of  affection  it  is  plucked  forth  from  the  garment  of  submission. 

Besides  these  two  crowds  of  the  manifestations  of  the  mysteries  of  sujud,  is  a 
crowd  (in  which,  for  the  sake  of  prolonging  prayer,  and  of  the  loftiness  of  being  de- 
scribed with  baka  after  fana, — are  collected  affection  and  fear). 

This  crowd  is  : — 

(a)  in  heart  and  in  nafs  submissive  through  the  manifestation  of  the  fire  of  grandeur  (of  God) 
(6)  in  soul  and  with  head  uplifted  and  exalted,  through  the  viewing  of  the  light  of  affection  of 
the  beauty  (of  God). 


158  SUFi.lSM. 

Then,  he  uplifteth  his  head  from  sujud  and  uttereth  the  takbir  ;  sitteth  erect  on 
the  left  foot ;  uplifteth  the  right  foot  so  that  its  toes  are  opposite  the  kibla ;  placeth 
his  hands  on  the  knees  without  an  effort  of  joining,  or  of  separating,  them  ;  and 
saith  : — 

0  God  !  me,  forgive;  on  me,  have  mercy|;  me  save;  pass  over  my  sins. 

Again  into  sujud,  he  goeth ;  and  when  from  it  he  raiseth  his  head.  If  again  he 
wisheth  to  rise,  for  the  sake  of  sitting  at  ease,  he  sitteth  and  lightly  riseth.  In  the 
last  tashshahud  (p.  45),  he  sitteth  on  the  prayer-mat  on  the  left  foot ;  placeth  his  hands 
near  the  tip  of  the  knee  on  the  thigh ;  draweth  to  the  palm  the  fingers  of  the  right 
hand,  except  the  forefinger;  keepeth  expanded  from  the  palm  the  fingers  of  the  left 
hand  ;  and  saith  : — 

O  prophet  I  auspicious  blessings,  holy  benedictions  from  God ;  to  thee,  salutation  and  the  mercy  of 
God  and  His  peace ;  on  us  and  the  pious  slaves  of  God,  salutation. 

1  declare  that  there  is  no  God  but  God ;  I  declare  that  Muhammad  is  His  slave  and  His  pro- 

phet. O  God  !  on  Muhammad  and  his  offspring,  bestow  Thy  benediction;  on  Muham- 
mad and  his  offspring,  have  mercy  ;  Muhammad  and  his  offspring,  congratulate  as  Thou 
hast  bestowed  benedictions,  congratulations,  and  mercy  on  Ibrahim  and  his  offspring. 
Verily,  Thou  art  glorious  and  honourable.  O  God !  me  forgive  what  is  past,  last,  secret,  and 
open  and  what  Thou  knoweth  more  than  I.  Verily  !  Thou  art  the  first  and  the  last. 
There  is  no  God  save  Thou. 

When,  in  shahadat  (p.  89),  he  reacheth  to (illa-1-lah),  he  uplifteth  the  fore- 
finger, and  inclineth  it  to  the  right  side. 

At  the  end  of  tashshahud  (p.  45),  for  loosening  the  knot  of  the  ihram  (p.  154),  he 
again  giveth  the  salutation  (p.  in);  turneth  his  face  to  the  right  side,  so  that  the 
people  on  the  right  may  clearly  see  over  his  cheek. 

In  that  state  of  resolution  of  issuing  from — 

salat, 

salam  (p.  Ill), 

he  bringeth  into  his  heart  those  present  of  the  angels,  of  the  faithful  jinn  and  men  ; 
and  a  moment  delayeth. 

Again,  he  turneth  his  face  slowly  to  the  left  side,  and  giveth  another  salutation 
(p.  III). 

Of  this  form,  motion,  resting,  words,  and  deeds  (which  in  the  form  of  salat  are 
mentioned)  are  some  enjoined  ordinances  and  some  sunnats.* 


*  These  are  described  in  the  Misbahu-1-Hidayat,  chapter  7,  section  6, 

1 


KADiRlS. 


'59 


The  (mystic)  rose  of  the  Kadiris.* 

(Brown's  darvishes,  pp.  Sg— 93.) 
Every  tarik  (path)  hath  its  sign  ;  the  sign  of  the  Kadiris  is  a  rose  which  is  green, 
because  the  word  ^  (the  Living  one)  was  manifested  in  green  colour  to  one  of  the 
shaikhs.      It  hath  :— 


White  rings.! 

Series  of  leaves. 

Colours. 

Petals. 

Number. 

Signification. 

Number. 

Signification. 

Number. 

Significa- 
tion. 

Number.!  Significa- 
tion. 

/•  I  sharftt     (mus- 

is  my  word    . 

I  five  leaves  . 

five   virtues     of 

I  yellow 

shari^t   . 

l          lim  law). 

musiims. 

'  beauteous 

outside 

< 

names  of 
God. 

1  2  tarikat       (the 

„    „  practice 

2  six        „     .    six    characteris-  2  white . 

tarikat. 

path). 

tics  of  faith. 

f  3  ma'rifat  (divine    „  the  chief  of 

3  seven  „     . 

seven  verses   of 

3  red     . 

ma'rifat. 

inside  . 

)          knowledge) . 

all  things. 

the  kuran  . 

(.4  hakikat  (truth). 

„  my     condi- 
tion. 

The  whole  se- 
ries         (iS 
leaves). 

Muhammad 
brought  mercy 
to        eighteen 
worlds. 

4  black 

hakikat. 

Shaikh  lsnna,ilu-r-Rumi,  successor  to  'Abdu-1-Kadir,  adopted  this  rose  as  emblem- 
atic of  the  seven  namesj  of  God  uttered  during  the  zikr  • 


Name  of  God. 

Signification.                        C"'"-"/ 

Number  of  times  the  name  must 
be  repeated. 

U  ilaha  iUa-l-Iah   . 

Allah 

Hu 

5  Hav 

6  Wahid 

'Aziz 

Wadud 

no  eod  but  God 

Allah,  (the  beauteous)  name 

He 

the  Living  One  . 

„  One 

„  Dear  One     .... 

„  Loving  „      .         .         .         . 

1  blue 
yellow 
red 
white 
green 
black 
none 

100,000 

?S,5S6 
44,630 
20,092 
93.420 
74,644 
30,202 

The  seven  colours  are  emblematic  of  the  lights  (splendours)  of  the  seven  names ; 
its  eighteen  gores  (tark),  of  the  numerical  value  of  the  two  letters  in  :^ 
,_ya-  (the  Living  One).§ 


*  This  order  was  founded  by  shaikh  Abdu-1-Kadir-i-Gilani  (6.  1078,  d    1 166),     His  titles  were  : — 
(a)  Pir-i-dast-gir,  the  hand-seizing  Pir, 
(6)  Muhyu-d-Din,  collected  in  faith. 
(c)  Ghausu-1-A^am.  the  greatest  Ghaus. 
t  The  white  colour  signifieth  submission  to  the  shaikh.     The  first  three  circles  signify  the  acquisition  of  hal,  that 
is   of  hakikat.     The  green  cord  surrounding  the  rose  signifieth  "  the  living  one." 

+  The  ninety.nine  beautiful  names  of  God  are  given  in  Brown's  Darvishes  (p.  1 16). 

%r    =    s 

L?      :=       10 


lota!       18 


,6o  SUFI.ISM. 

In  the  centre  of  the  rose,  is  the  seal  oi  J-<J~^  (Sulaiman),  the  signification  where- 
of is  :  — 

,_;»     freedom  from  defect, 

\J     gentleness  of  disposition. 

(S     power  of  spiritual  vision. 

f       familiarity  with  his  companions. 

c     prayers  and  salutations  belong  to  God  (the  Kuran  i.  4). 

The  rose  is  embroidered  on  felt  of  camel's  hair,  emblematic  of  the  felt  khirka 
that  Muhammad  gave  to  Uvais  Kami,  Sultan  of  faithful  lovers. 

In  the  word  J/ (gul)  the  rose,  the  letters  ^  and  J  arc  the  first  letters  of  the 
two  lines  of  the  Kuran,  xxxix.  37. 

The  origin  of  the  rose  of  the  Kadiris  is  as  follows  :  — 

Shaikh  'Abdu-1-Kadir  Gilani,  unde'  the  direction  of  Khzir  (Elias),  proceeded  to  Baghdad. 
When  he  arrrved.  Shaikh  'Ali,u-l-Vahidi-al-Kadiri  sent  him  a  cup  full  of  water,  which  meant 

the  Baghdad  being  full  of  holy  men,  there  was  no  room  for  him. 
Whereupon   'Abdu-1-Kadir  put  a  rose  into  the  cup,  which  meant    that  Baghdad  would  find 

a  place  for  him. 
Then  all  present  exclaimed  :  — 

"  The  shaikh  is  our  rose !" 


The  bai'at  (the  pledge)  of  the  murfd. 

(Brown's  Darvishes,  pp.  94,  95  ;  97-ioi ;  103,  215,  216.) 
As  appointed  by  its  Pir  (founder),  the  mubayi'at  (the  pledging)  of  a  murid  of  the 

Kadiris  is  as  follows  : — 

The  murid  sitteth  with  his  right  hand*  in  the  right  hand  of  the  shaikh  (the  mur- 

shid);   expresseth  his  repentance,  and  his  readiness  to  take  the  'ahd  (the  pledge). 

The  shaikh  addresseth  him  thus: — 

The  Fakir  must  be  of  an  active  mind,  brilliant  in  thought,  of  good  repute,  near  in  approach  to 
God,  of  a  good  heart,  of  a  meek  demeanour,  of  serious  deportment,  uf  a  mind  easy  to 
acquire  knowledge,  prepared  to  teach  others  who  are  ignorant,  disposed  tu  trouble  no  one, 
though  they  trouble  him. 

It  is  incumbent  on  him  to  speak  only  of  those  things  which  belong  to  his  faith ;  to  be  gener- 
ous of  his  means;  to  avoid  what  is  forbidden  and  wrong;  to  be  careful  in  refraining 
from  what  is  doubtful ;  to  aid  those  who  are  strangers ;  to  be  a  parent  to  the  fatherless  ; 


*  The  two  thumbs  must  be  raised  against  each  other.     This  is  the  bai'at,  the  pledge. 

The  bai'at  (the  giving  of  the  hand)  of  the  murid  taketh  place  several  years  after  his  admission  to 
the  Order  of  Darvishes.  The  period  dependeth  on  the  shaikh  (murshid)  and  on  the  degree  of  know, 
ledge  (ma'rifat)  and  acquisition  (kasbl  of  the  murid. 

The  shaikh,  or  the  murid,  is  held  to  see  in  a  vision  either  the  Prophet  'Ali  or  the  Pir  (founder  of 
the  Order). 

This  ceremonial  is  a  secret  which  the  murid  takes  an  oath  never  to  divulge. 


THE  BAl'AT.  ,g, 

to  be  of  a  pleasant  countenance;  to  be  gentle  of  heart  and  joyful  of  spirit ;  to  be  agree- 
able and  happy. 
Even  in  poverty,  not  to  expose  his  secrets  to  others,  nor  to  divulge  them  ;  to  be  gentle  in  con- 
duct and  in  intercourse;  to  be  bountiful  of  his  benefits,  kind  in  language,  few  in 
words ;  to  be  patient  with  the  ignorant,  and  to  refrain  from  doing  them  an  y  wrong  •  to 
show  respect  to  great  and  small;  to  be  faithful  to  those  who  confide  in  him,  and  to  keep 
aloof  from  all  duplicity;  to  be  strict  in  his  religious  duties;  to  refrain  from  sloth  and 
slumber;  to  speak  ill  of  no  one;  to  be  sedate,  easily  satisfied,  and  thankful  for  benefits 
bestowed;  to  be  much  in  prayer  and  fasting,  truthful  of  tongue,  permanent  in  abode  ; 
to  curse  no  one;  to  be  without  calumny,  hatred,  of  a  grave  heart,  and  careful  of  the  per- 
fect performance  of  the  religious  duties  of  the  Order;  and  to  be  as  correct  in  thought  as 
in  deed. 

Having  uttered  this  counsel,  the  shaikh,  holding  the  murid's  hand  in  his  own  re- 
citeth  from  the  Kuran  : — 

i.  Suratu-1-Fatiha. 
X.        „     „  Yunas. 
xlviii.        ,,     „  Fath  (first  lo  verses). 
xxxiv.        „     „  Ahzab  (the  56th  verse). 
xxxvii.        ,,     -s-Saffat  (the  i8oth — 182nd  verse). 

Then  the  shaikh  offereth  the  istighfar  (prayer  for  pardon)  : — 

0  great  God,  I  beseech  Thee  to  pardon  me,— Thou,  like  to  whom  is  none  other. 

"To  Him,  I  repent  of  my  sins;  Him,  1  ask  to  pardon  me,  to  accept  my  repentance,  to  lead  me 
"  in  the  true  path,  and  to  have  mercy  on  all  those  who  repent  of  their  sins.  Accept  my 
"oath  of  fealty,  the  oath  which  Muhammad  administered  to  the  ashabs  (companions)." 

Then  the  shaikh  addresseth  the  murid  ; — 

All  muslims  are  bound  to  offer  up  their  devotions,  to  give  alms  and  religious  advice,  to  disbe- 
lieve any  association  with  God  (Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost),  to  abjure  wine,  not  to 
waste  their  means,  not  to  commit  adultery,  not  to  kill  forbidden  food,  not  to  calumniate 
any  one. 

These  I  command  you  to  observe  as  implicitly  as  the  dead  body  is  submissive  in  the  hands  of 
the  preparers  for  interment. 

Rebel  not  against  what  you  know  halh  been  commanded  thee  of  God;  commit  not  what  is 
forbidden;  make  no  innovations  in  your  prayers;  commit  no  sins,  distinguish  between 
the  wrong  and  the  true  path. 

Bear  your  shaiyi  ever  in  mind  in  this  world  and  in  the  next. 

The  Prophet  is  our  prophet,  and  the  Shaikh  'Abdu-1-Kadir-i-Gilani  is  our  Pir  (founder) ;  the 
oath  of  fealty  is  the  oath  of  God ;  this  hand  is  the  hand  of  Shaikh  'Abdu-l-Kadir-i- 
Gilani,  and  the  hand  of  the  Director  of  the  True  Path  is  in  yours ; 

1  am.  the  Khalifa  of  'Abdu-l-Kadir ;  he  accepted  this  hand;  with   it,  I  accept  you  (as  his 

disciple). 

The  murld  replieth  :— 

1  also  accept  you  (as  my  murshid). 

The  shaikh  respondeth  : — 
1  therefore  do  now  admit  you. 


l62 


SUFl.lSM. 


Then  the  shaikn  pronounceth  the  zikr,  which  the  murid  repeateth  three  times  after 
him  ;  and  directeth  him  to  recite  with  him  the  Fatiha  (Kuran  i.) ;  and,  the  saiat  va 
salam  (the  prayer  of  peace  for  the  Prophet). 

The  murid  kisseth  the  hand  of  the  shaikh,  and  of  all  the  darvishes  present. 

This  act  is  called  musafahat  (taking  by  the  hand). 

The  shaikh  offereth  up  the  istighfar  (the  prayer  for  pardon  of  the  sins  of  the 
murid)  and  addresseth  the  assembly  : — 

"The  acceptance  of  this  initiation  by  the  murid  is  a  source  of  future  advantage  to  him.  The 
prayer  which  we  have  offered  for  him  is  for  the  submission  of  his  body  to  his  spiritual 
will,  just  as  when  the  angels,  before  addressing  the  Creator,  prostrate  themselves  humbly 
before  Him,— so  hath  the  murid  by  his  acceptance  of  this  bai'at  (giving  of  the  hand)  sub- 
mitted to  my  rule." 

Our  shaikh  ('Abdul-1-Kadir)  hath  said — It  is  not  proper  for  the  shaikh  to  sit  in 
the  post  of  pillage,  nor  to  gird  on  the  sword  of  benevolence  until  he  becometh  qualified 
by  the  following  twelve  qualities  : — 


Name  of  person. 

Quality. 

Allah  (God)           .... 
Muhammad          .... 
Abu  Bakr             .... 

'Umar 

'Usman        

'Aii 

to  cover  up  and  to  forgive. 

to  intercede  and  to  accompany. 

truthfulness  and  benevolence. 

to  command  and  to  forbid. 

to  feed  the  poor  and  to  pray  when  others  sleep. 

to  be  knowing  and  brave. 

If  these  qualities  be  not  possessed  by  the  shaikh,  he  is  unworthy  of  the  submis- 
sion of  the  murid. 

When  he  doth  possess  them,  follow  under  his  banner.  When  he  doth  not, 
Shaitan  hath  made  him  his  friend  ;  and  he  will  participate  neither  in  the  benefits  of  this 
life  nor  of  the  next. 

The  prophet  hath  said  : — When  to  one  of  his  murids  a  shaikh  giveth  spiritual 
advice  ;  and  by  it,  he  refuseth  to  abide — God  abandoneth  him. 

Shaikh  'Abdu-1-Kadir  hath  said  : — When  any  one  of  my  murids  is  oppressed  with 
affliction,  let  him  walk  three  paces  to  the  eastward  and  say  : — 

O  Thou,  much  desired  :  Thou,  the  aid  of  all  in  the  hour  of  trouble,  in  the  deepest  of  dark- 
ness, as  in  the  dangers  of  the  desert.  Thou  seest  all  things. 

In  the  hour  of  shame  and  confusion,  me  only  Thou  canst  protect. 

When  I  am  overcome  with  affliction,  in  the  hour  of  danger,  me  Thy  supreme  intelligence 
will  support. 

O  Thou,  ever  present.  Thee  I  implore  to  free  me  from  grief.  ) 


THE  BAI'AT. 
The  ceremony  may  be  varied  as  follows  : — 


163 


When  a  murid  wisheth  to  enter  an  Order  he  is  received  in  an  assembly 
thereof. 

The  shaikh  toucheth  his  hand,  and  breatheth  three  times  into  his  ear- 
La  ilaha  illa-1-lah  (there  is  no  god  but  God). 

which  he  commandeth  him  to  repeat  daily  loi,  151,  or  301  times  (talkin). 

The  murid  voweth  to  spend  his  time  in  khilvat ;  and  to  repeat  to  the  shaikh  his 
mushahida  (manifestations). 

According  to  these  mushahida,  the  shaikh  knoweth  the  time  when  he  may  breathe 
into  his  ear  successively — 


Ya  Allah  . 
,.  Hu 
„  Hakk  . 
„  Hayy  , 
„  Kayyum 
„     Kahhar 


O  God. 
,,  He. 

„  Just        One. 
,,  Living       ,, 
,,  Existing    „ 
,,  Avenging  „ 


This  exercise  (chilla)  requireth  six  to  ten  months  according  to  the  murid's  capa- 
city. 

When  he  reacheth  the  last  makam  he  hath  acquired  takmil-i-suluk  (the  perfection 
of  travelling  in  the  Path),  and  is  fit  for  admission.  During  this  novitiate,  they  call  the 
murid — kuchak. 

The  murid  liveth  in  the  world  and  gaineth  his  livelihood.  The  shaikh  attendeth 
only  to  his  takya  convent  and  trusteth  to  God  for  his  support. 

The  shaikh  instructeth  the  murid  that  there  are : — 


JsLie  Station 
4a..jj  degree 
jy*  stage 
j^b  circle 
s:i<j:L,  hour 
J-^  section 


40 
360 
28 
12 
24 
4 


^t  dime  . 

»y  globe    . 

JU  world  . 

(j^j)  Kuranic  verse     . 

J>j^  letter  .         • 

i^li  Kuranic  openings 


Number 


7 

4 

1 3,000 

7 


164  SUFi.lSM. 

The   darvish  reacheth  kuwwat-i-ruhi-i-batini  (the   power   of   the   inward  soul) 
through : — 

tawajjuh,  turning  the  face  devoutly  in  prayer  to  God. 
murakiba,  fearful  contemplation  of  God. 
tasarruf,     self-abandonment  to  pious  reflection, 
tasawwuf,  mystic  spiritualism.     (See  pages  133—135,  138)- 

The  exercise  of  this  power  is  called  kuwwat-i-iradi  (the  power  of  the  will)  which 
is  traced  to  divine  power,  man's  soul  being  connected  with  the  supreme  Soul  (God). 

There  are  three  zikrs  : — 

zikr-i-khafi  (the  silent    zikr)  when  in  solitude. 
„    jahri  (the  audible   „  )      „     „  society. 
„    aliah,  the  zikr  of  God  (Kuran,  x.xiv.  37). 

Tarikat  is  composed  of  columns,  of  precepts,  and  of  principles  as  below  : — 

Tarikat. 


Columns. 

Precepts. 

Principles. 

Result. 

I 

"•Jy  repentance 

^  knowledge 

c^-~^'  benevolence  '. 

^■^^•^j*^  divine  know- 
ledge. 

2 

/•i^-~'  resignation  . 

'-'j'-=^  generosity 

J^  repetition  (of  God's 
name). 

(*^    meekness. 

3 

'.^h^  fidelity    to     the 
Order. 

V;^  nearness  to  God 

^Ux  Liy  abandon- 
"    ing  sin. 

yf"  patience. 

4 

^y^^^  J  f^"-^  humility 
(of  limbs   and     of    the 
heart). 

^^..^  faith      . 

UJJ  ^Sy  abandoning 
the  world.* 

'-^^'■^  submission. 

5 

^)  contentment    . 

y^J  meditation     . 

|j^  Oji.  fear  of  God 

V"^'  manners. 

6 

"^j^  retirement  . 

<J^  reliance  on  God     . 

1^  Jr^  love  for  „ 

t5}^  sincerity. 

Zikr,  Murakiba,  Tauhid,  Daur  and  Halat 

(Brown's  Darvishes,  pp.  215—227.) 
The  statutes  of  nearly  all  the  darvishes  require  them  to  repeat  daily  :— 
La  ilaha  illa-1-lah,      no  god  but  God. 


Ya  Allah 


O  God  ! 


*  Muhammad  said  :— 

This  world  is  forbidden  to  those  of  life  in  the  next  world  ;  life  in  the  next  world  is  forbidden 
to  those  of  this  world  ;  both  are  forbidden  to  the  slaves  of  God.  ' 


THE  DAUR.  ,^^ 

'OS 

VaHu  O    He. 

„  Hakk  „    Just  One. 

„  Hayy  „     Living  „ 

„  Kayyum  „     Existing      „ 

„  Kahhar  ,,     Avenging    „ 

These  names  (asma-i-ilahi)  refer  to  : — 

(a)  sab'  sama  (the  seven  heavens). 

(b)  anvar-i-ilahi         (  „     divine  splendours). 

The  exercises  of  murakiba  (fearful    contemplation),  and  of  tauhid  (the  unity  of 
God)  are  as  follows  : — 

(a)  on  their  heels,  elbows  touching,  the  darvishes  sit  in  a  circle;  and  simultaneouslv  make 

slight  movements  of  the  head  and  of  the  body. 

(b)  or  they  balance  themselves  slowly  right  to  left,  left  to  right ;  and  incline  the  body  forwards 

and  rearwards ; 

(c)  or,  seated,  they  begin  these  motions  in  measured  cadence  with  a  staid  countenance    eyes 

closed,  or  fixed  upon  the  ground  ;  and  continue  them  on  foot. 

The  convent-hall  (wherein  these  exercises  are  carried  out)  is  of  wood  ■  and  is 
called  the  tauhid-khana,  (the  house  of  unity). 


The  daur  (rotatory  dance). 

The  Darvishes  holding  each  other  by  the  hand  put  forward  the  right  foot,  increasing  at  every 
step  the  strength  of  the  movement  of  the  body. 

They  uncover  their  hands,  take  off  their  turbans  ;  form  a  second  circle  within  the  first ;  intertwine 
their  arms  ;  lean  their  shoulders  against  each  other ;  raise  the  voice ;  and  unceasingly  utter 

Ya  Allah!     Ya  Hu  ! 

They  do  not  stop  till  strength  is  exhausted.    Each  one  leaves  when  he  pleases. 

To  the  Shaikh  seated  before  the  kibla,  the  darvishes  offer  praise. 

The  four  senior  darvishes  approach  the  shaikh;  embrace  each  other;  and  place 
themselves,  two  on  his  right,  two  on  his  left. 

The  other  darvishes,  arms  crossed,  heads  inclined,  advance.  Each  one  boweth  to 
the  tablet  whereon  the  founder's  name  is  inscribed  ;  putteth  his  hands  over  his  face  and 
beard  ;  kneeling  before  the  shaikh,  kisseth  his  hand  ;  and  taketh  his  place  on  thepustin 
(sheep-skin)  spread  in  a  half  circle  in  the  hall. 

The  circle  being  formed,  they  all  chant  together — 

the  Takbir.  I  Allahu  Akbar. 

„    Fatiha.  I  The  Kuran.i. 

The  shaikh  repeatedly  pronounceth  the  words  :— 
La  ilaha  illa-l-lah  !     No  god  but  God  ! 

Balancing  themselves  from  side  to  side  and  placing  their   hands  on  their  face, 
breast,  abdomen,  and  knee — the  darvishes  exclaim  : — 
Allah ! 


1 66  SUFi.lSM. 

One  of  the  darvishes  on  the  shaikh's  right  chaunteth  the— 

Hamd-i-Muhammad. 

while  the  other  darvishes,  moving  their  body  to  and  fro,  continue  to  ex- 
claim— 

Allah ! 

After  a  few  minutes,  they  rise,  approach  each  other,  press  their  elbows  against  each 
other,  balance  from  right  to  left  and  then  from  left  to  right  —  the  right  foot  being 
firm;  the  left  foot  in  periodical  movement,  the  reverse  of  that  of  the  body. 

All  observe  great  precision  of  measure  and  of  cadence.  In  the  midst,  they 
cry : — 

Ya  Allah!     Ya  Hu, 

Pale  of  face,  languishing  of  eye,— some  sigh,  some  sob  ;  some  weep,  some  perspire 
great  drops. 

In  the  middle  of  a  hymn,  chaunted  alternately  by  the  two  darvishes  on  the 
shaikh's  right,  they  accelerate  their  movements.  One  putteth  himself  in  the  centre 
to  incite  them  by  example. 

During  this  hymn,  the  darvishes  take  off  their  turbans  ;  bear  their  shoulders 
agninst  each  other ;  and  compass  the  hall  at  a  measured  pace,  striking  their  feet 
against  the  floor,  and  all  at  once  springing  up  and  exclaiming: — 
Ya  Allah!     YaHu! 

When  they  would  stop  from  sheer  exhaustion,  the  shaikh,  making  violent  motions, 
inciteth  them  anew. 

The  two  senior  darvishes  take  his  place,  double  the  quickness  of  the  step  and  the 
motion  of  body,  and  all  dance  till  entirely  exhausted. 


Halat  (Ecstasy). 

Two  darvishes  take  down  from  niches  cutlasses  ;  heat  them  red  hot ;  and  present 
them  to  the  shaikh. 

After  breathing  over  them  prayers  and  invoking  the  aid  of  the  Pir  of  the  Order, 
the  shaikh  raiseth  them  to  his  mouth,  and  then  giveth  them  to  the  darvishes,  who 
eagerly  ask  for  them. 

Transported  by  frenzv,  the  darvishes  seize  upon  the  glowing  irons,  gloat  upon  them,  lick 
them,  bite  them,  hold  them  between  the  teeth,  and  cool  them  in  their  mouth ! 

Others  stick  cutlasses  into  their  sides,  arms,  and  legs. 

If  they  fall  under  their  sufferings  they  cast  themselves,  without  a  complaint,  or  a  murmur  or  a 
sign  of  pain,  into  the  arms  of  their  Brothers. 


THE  SAMA'.  jg„ 


Some  minutes  after  this,  the  shaikh  visiteh  each ;  breatheth  upon  his  wounds 
rubbeth  them  with  saliva,  reciteth  prayers,  and  promiseth  speedy  cure. 

It  is   said  that  twenty-four  hours  afterwards,  nothing  is  to  be  seen  of  their 


wounds 


They  call  the  red  hot  irons  gul  (the  red  rose),  because  the  use  of  them  is  as 
agreeable  to  the  soul  of  the  darvish  as  the  perfume  of  the  rose  is  to  the  voluptuary. 


The  dance  of  the  sama'. 

The  darvishes  (nine  to  thirteen)  sit  on  sheep-skins  on  the  floor  at  equal 
distances  from  each  other.  Thus  for  half  an  hour,  — arms  folded,  eyes  closed,  head 
bowed, — they  remain  in  profound  meditation. 

The  shaikh  on  a  seat,  on  a  small  carpet,  breaketh  silence  by  a  hymn  in  honour 
of  God.     Then  he  inviteth  the  assembly  (majlis)  to  chaunt  with  him  the  fatiha*: — 

"  Let  us  chaunt  the  fatiha,  in  glorifying  the  holy  name  of  God  ;  in  honour  of  the  blessed  religion 
of  the  Prophets,  especially  of  Muhammad  Mustafa,  the  greatest,  most  august,  magnificent 
of  all  heavenly  envoys;  in  memory  of  the  first  four  Khulafa :  of  the  sainted  Fatima  ;  of 
chaste  Khadija :  of  the  Imams  Hasan  and  Husain  ;  of  all  the  martyrs  of  the  memorable 
day,  (battle  of  Karbala,  680  A.D.) ;  of  the  ten  evangelical  disciples,  the  virtuous  sponsors 
of  our  Prophet ;  of  all  his  zealous  and  faithful  disciples  ;  of  all  the  imams,  mujtahids,  of 
all  the  'ulama,  of  all  the  auliya,  of  all  the  holy  women  of  Islam. 

"  Let  us  chaunt  in  honour  of  Hazrat-i-Maulana,  the  founder  of  our  Order,  of  Hazrat-i- 
Sultanu-l-'Ulama  (his  father),  of  Sayyid  Burhanu-d-Din  (his  teacher),  of  Shaikh  Shamsu- 
d-Din  (his  consecrator),  of  Valida  Sultan  (his  mother),  of  Muhammad  'Aliu-d-Din  (his 
son  and  vicar),  of  all  the  successors,  of  all  the  shaikhs,  of  all  the  darvishes,  and  all  the 
protectors  of  our  Order,  to  whom  the  Omnipotent  designeth  to  give  peace  and  mercy. 

"  Let  us  pray  for  the  constant  prosperity  of  our  society ;  for  the  preservation  of  the  verv  learned 
and  venerable  General  of  our  Order,  for  the  preservation  of  the  reigning  Sultan,  the  very 
majestic  and  clement  sovereign  of  the  Islam  Faith,  for  the  prosperity  of  the  Grand  Vazir 
and  of  the  Shaikhu-1-Islam,  and  of  all  the  Muhammadan  soldiery  and  of  all  the  hujjaj 
to  Makka. 

"  Let  us  pray  for  the  repose  of  the  soul  of  all  the  pirs,  of  all  the  shaikhs,  and  of  all  the  dar- 
vishes  of  all  other  Orders ;  for  all  good  people. 

"  Let  us  pray  for  all  muslims  of  one  and  of  the  other  sex,  of  the  east  and  of  the  west,  for  the 
maintenance  of  all  prosperity,  for  preventing  all  adversity,  for  the  accomplishment  of 
vows,  and  for  the  success  of  praiseworthy  enterprise. 

"  Finally,  let  us  ask  God  to  deign  to  preserve  in  us  the  gift  of  His  grace,  and  the  fire  of  His 
love." 

After  this,  all  chaunt  together ;  the  shaikh  reciteth  the  fatiha  and  the  salawat. 

This  being  ended,  the  darvishey,  standing  in  line  to  the  shaikh's  left,  arms  folded, 
head  bowed,  slowly  approach. 

*  The  shaikh  reciteth  first  the  fatiha,  then  uttereth  the  following  prayer. 


l6S  SUFMSM. 

The  first  darvish  having  arrived  nearly  opposite  to  the  shaikh  profoundly  saluteth 
the  tablet,  wherein  is  inscribed  the  founder's  name;  advancing  by  two  leaps  to 
the  shaikh's  right  side  he  turneth  to  him,  saluteth  him,  and  beginneth  to  dance. 

The  dance  consisteth  in  turning  on  the  left  heel,  in  advancing  slowly,  and  in  making  the  turn 
of  the  hall  with  closed  eyes  and  opened  arms. 

This,  in  succession,  all  the  darvishes  do. 

Interrupted  by  two  short  pauses,  during  which  the  shaikh  reciteth  prayers,  the 
dance  lasteth  for  two  hours. 

Towards  the  close,  the  shaikh  joineth  in  the  dance  ;  then  returning  to  his   seat, 
he  reciteth  Persian  verses  for  the  prosperity  of  religion  and  of  the  state  ;  and  saith  : — 
Let  us  pray  for  the  Sovereign  of  the  muslim  and  most  august  of  Monarchs  of  the  house 
of  'Usman,  Sultan,  son  of  a  Sultan,  grandson  of  a  Sultan  *  •  *  » 

and  for  the  darvishes,  present  and  absent;  for  all  friends  of  our  Order ;  for  all  the  faith- 
ful, dead  and  quick,  in  the  east  and  in  the  west. 

The  fatiha  is  chaunted  ;  the  sama,  concluded. 


GoTernment  o£  India  Central  Priming  Office.  — No.  lOO  D.  0.—s-s-9i.— 1,004. 


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