the Lectures of Nokounam, may his secret be sanctified (Session Thirteen Introduction Section 13)
The noble book Manzil al-Sirn, authored by Khwja Abdullh Anr and elucidated by Kaml al-Dn Abd al-Razzq Qsn, stands as one of the most eminent treatises in Islamic mysticism. It delineates the stages of spiritual wayfaring with a structured framework and harmonious eloquence. The thirteenth lecture of this work centres upon the principle of testimony, introduced as the gateway to practical mysticism and mystical progression. Through expounding the gradations of testimonyfrom verbal affirmation to visionary witnessingand correlating these with the Divine Names al-Awwal, al-khir, al-hir, and al-Bin, this lecture provides a comprehensive schema for apprehending Tawd (Divine Unity) and the position of the seeker along the path of unveiling.
The thirteenth lesson of Manzil al-Sirn opens with a verse from the Holy Qurn encapsulating the testimony to the essential and attributive oneness of God:
وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، الْأَوَّلُ الْآخِرُ الظَّاهِرُ الْبَاطِنُ
And I bear witness that there is no deity except Allh, Alone, without partner; the First, the Last, the Manifest, the Hidden.
This declaration guides the wayfarer to the station of intrinsic and attributive Tawd, positioning it as the foundational principle of practical mysticism and the inception of mystical journeying. The testimony to Divine Unity transcends mere verbal assertion; it serves as the key unlocking the doors of knowledge (marifah) and unveiling (shuhd) to the seeker. The attributes al-Awwal (the First), al-khir (the Last), al-hir (the Manifest), and al-Bin (the Hidden) collectively signify the comprehensiveness of the Divine Essence and its manifestation across all existential levels. Al-Awwal denotes the primordial origin within the Essence; al-khir the ultimate return to the Essence; al-hir the manifestation of the Essence in the phenomenal realm; and al-Bin the concealed reality beyond all appearances. This testimony guides the seeker towards profound comprehension of Tawd and Divine Unity, leading them from apparent multiplicity to inner oneness.
Within practical mysticism, testimony transcends verbal declaration to embody the blossoming of truth within the seekers heart. This blossoming resembles the blooming of a flower in the garden of the heart, bestowing upon the seeker the honey of Divine knowledge. Attaining the capacity for testimony entails experiencing the sweetness and delight derived from witnessing Divine Reality. The honey of the heart is an esoteric metaphor signifying the existential and visionary experience of Tawd, an experience illuminating the seekers heart with the light of knowledge and guiding them towards ultimate truth. This honey, like crystal-clear nectar, quenches not only the heart but also bestows tranquility and serenity upon the seekers spirit.
Testimony, in this sense, is the fruition of reaching a station wherein the seeker not only believes in the truth of Tawd but apprehends it with the fullness of being. This apprehension is akin to a light emanating from the sun of truth shining upon the seekers heart, transitioning them from the darkness of multiplicity into the radiance of unity. Such an experience constitutes a pivotal moment on the mystical path, steering the seeker from outward confession to inward witnessing.
Although both worship and testimony occupy stations on the path of nearness to the Divine, they differ in essence and degree. Worship is an innate and communal act, as articulated in the Holy Qurn:
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help. (Srah al-Ftiah, 1:5)
This verse alludes to the innate nature of worship, encompassing all humanity, even those apparently heedless of it. Worship resembles a stream flowing from the spring of Divine fitrah (innate disposition), embracing all beings. Conversely, testimony is a personal, voluntary phenomenon contingent upon the seekers capacity for unveiling. Testimony is a precious gem manifest only in the shell of the heart of the seeker who has attained insight and witnessing. This distinction delineates various ranks along the path: worship is a universal and foundational act, whereas testimony results from individual effort and attainment of the witnessing station.
Unlike worships collective nature, testimony depends upon the seekers volition and conscious choice, guiding them from public confession to personal witnessing. This differentiation is akin to distinguishing a broad, well-paved road for all from a narrow, arduous path reserved for the elect.
Within Manzil al-Sirn, testimony is categorised into three levels: Islamic (verbal), Faith-based (intellectual and spiritual allegiance), and Visionary (unveiling). Each level functions as a rung on the ladder of mystical progression, leading the seeker to a higher station.
These gradations resemble streams flowing from the spring of Tawd, each leading the seeker to loftier goals. Visionary testimony is the commencement of genuine testimony, guiding the seeker towards the station of Isn (spiritual excellence).
Visionary testimony elevates the seeker to the station of Isn, described in the Prophetic tradition as to worship Allh as though you see Him. This station entails worship in the state of Divine vision, wherein the seeker attains direct comprehension of Divine Truth through the spark (brqah) and blade of witnessing (gh al-shuhd). The brqah is a spark that shines in the darkness of the heart, guiding the seeker towards the light of truth, while the gh is a sword that rends the veils of multiplicity, leading the seeker to unity.
The station of Isn is accompanied by serenity and dignitytranquillity born from the blossoming honey of testimony within the seekers heart. This serenity resembles a breeze that caresses the seekers heart after the storms of wayfaring, granting profound and lasting peace. Visionary testimony is thus not merely conceptual or symbolic but an experiential station where the seeker beholds Divine Reality face to face.
The introduction of the thirteenth lesson of Manzil al-Sirn sets forth the fundamental principle that testimony to Divine Unity is the essential gateway to practical mysticism and the spiritual path. This testimony is presented as a graduated phenomenon, culminating in direct witnessing, which elevates the seeker to the highest mystical station of Isn. It differentiates testimony from worship, highlights the spiritual significance of testimony as the honey of the heart, and connects the Divine Names al-Awwal, al-khir, al-hir, and al-Bin to the holistic understanding of Tawd.
This foundational analysis encourages the seeker to move beyond verbal affirmation towards heartfelt and visionary testimony, ultimately striving for intimate witnessing and closeness to the Divine Essence.
The noble verse from the Holy Qur'an in Surah Al-Imran explicitly refers to the testimony of God, the angels, and those endowed with knowledge concerning the principle of tawhd (divine oneness):
Translation : God testifies that there is no deity except Him, and the angels and those endowed with knowledge also bear witness, standing firmly in justice.
This verse delineates three tiers of testimony:
These testimonies collectively signify the intrinsic unity and singularity of the Divine and guide the spiritual wayfarer (slik) toward a comprehensive understanding of monotheism. The Divine testimony is akin to a luminous radiance emanating from the sun of truth, illuminating all levels of existence. The testimony of angels and learned ones respectively reflect this light in the celestial mirrors and the hearts of the mystics.
In the Divine testimony, the witness and the witnessed are one and the same, for the Divine Essence is itself both the observer and the observed. This unity alludes to essential oneness (ahadiyyat) and demonstrates that at the level of the Real (al-aqq), no distinction exists between the witness and the witnessed. This concept stands in direct contrast to exoteric jurisprudence, which maintains that the witness must be separate from the witnessed. Whereas in jurisprudence, separation is obligatory, in mysticism the unity of witness and witnessed constitutes the apex of visionary testimony. This unity is like a drop dissolved in the ocean of truth, leaving no trace of itself behind. Divine testimony guides the wayfarer to the realization that all forms of witnessing ultimately return to the singular Divine Essence. Such realization frees the seeker from duality and leads to the full perception of divine unity. At this level, testimony acts as a key that opens the doors to oneness and guides the wayfarer toward existential unity.
The invocation L Ilha Illa Allh is regarded as the most weighty dhikr, owing to its profound epistemological and existential significance. Unlike the salutation (alawt), which due to its lightness and freshness brings tranquility, this dhikr demands heartfelt presence and profound attention. The heaviness of this invocation is like a burden placed upon the shoulders of the heart, which, through repetition and perseverance, settles firmly within the seekers soul. This weight symbolizes the deep knowledge inherent in the invocation, directing the wayfarer to comprehend divine unity and liberation from multiplicity. Repeating this dhikr resembles engraving an inscription upon stone: with each utterance, the impression deepens and prepares the heart for truth. Its heaviness is particularly evident in prayers, the call to prayer (adhn), and the commencement (iqmah), where the testimony to monotheism is reiterated repeatedly to penetrate the soul of the seeker. This repetition guides the seeker toward presence and heartfelt attention, distancing them from mere lip service.
Testimony constitutes the principal sustenance of the Divine saints (awliy Allh), liberating them from dependency upon material nourishment. The simple lifestyle of the Commander of the Faithful (Amr al-Muminn Al) subsisting on barley bread and minimal living exemplifies the truth that the authentic sustenance of the saints is divine testimony and knowledge. This sustenance serves as spiritual nourishment, satiating the heart and bestowing tranquility and dignified serenity. Through this sustenance, saints are freed from attachment to worldly possessions and attain spiritual richness. Testimony quenches the appetite for materiality and turns the heart toward ultimate truth. This sustenance resembles pure water that slakes the thirst of the soul and renders the wayfarer independent of outward needs. The saints simplicity stems not from poverty but from their spiritual abundance attained through their testimony to divine unity.
As the foundational stage of spiritual progression, testimony is the prerequisite for practical manifestations such as wakefulness (yaqah) and self-accountability (musabah). A seeker who has witnessed the truth naturally becomes alert and aware. Wakefulness is likened to the opening of an eye that, after sleep, perceives the world by the light of truth. Self-accountability is akin to a mirror wherein the seeker reflects upon their actions and evaluates them against the standard of truth. These manifestations naturally flow from the act of witnessing, guiding the seeker toward righteous deeds and piety. Testimony leads the seeker to an existential awakening, in which the Divine Presence is felt across all levels of existence. This awakening is like the sunrise that dispels the darkness of heedlessness and directs the seeker toward the light. Self-accountability is the fruit of this awakening, prompting introspection and rectification of conduct.
Created beings in the cosmos bear witness, in a certain manner, to Divine monotheism, and the seeker may, by listening attentively, arrive at a deeper comprehension of tawhd. Such audition results from spiritual insight enabling the wayfarer to perceive the testimony of beings as humble as ants or chicks. This testimony transcends sensory perception, depending instead upon celestial intuition, and guides the seeker to discern the Divine Presence in all manifestations of existence. Listening to the testimony of created beings is like hearing the celestial hymn of the universe, resounding from every atom. This melody prompts the seeker to recall the presence of the Divine in all things and liberates them from heedlessness. The testimony of beings acts as a mirror reflecting divine reality in every form, leading the seeker through attentive audition to objective unity.
Testimony as presented in supplications and pilgrimage rites is introduced as the principle of objectivity and direct witnessing. Phrases such as "Ashhadu Annaka Tasma'u Kalam" (I testify that You hear my words) or "Ashhadu Annaka Qad Aqamta-alh" (I testify that You have established the prayer) signify the seekers direct presence before the Divine Reality and affirm the actions of the infallible saints in the path of monotheism. Such testimonies not only constitute verbal affirmations of monotheism but also exert profound effects upon the seekers heart, drawing them into intimate communion with the Divine and His saints. Testimony in supplications functions as a key unlocking the doors to emotional and spiritual presence. These prayers lead the seeker to an objective perception where the Divine and His saints appear visibly before them. This presence illumines the heart with the light of gnosis and guides the seeker toward practical monotheism.
The testimony to "Wadahu L Sharka Lahu" (He is One and has no partner) encompasses essential, attributive, and active monotheism, which together expose hypocrisy in all its forms. Essential monotheism refers to the unity of the Divine Essence; attributive monotheism to the singularity of Divine attributes; and active monotheism to the unity of Divine actions. This triadic principle is encapsulated in the slogan "Wadahu Wadahu Wadahu", presented as the distinctive hallmark of the monotheistic system. This slogan functions as a banner proclaiming the negation of all forms of polytheism across every domain. Essential monotheism purifies the heart from latent polytheism; attributive monotheism frees the Divine attributes from anthropomorphic resemblance; and active monotheism directs all actions toward the truth. This testimony leads the seeker to a profound comprehension of Divine unity and liberates them from apparent multiplicity.
The commentator emphasises that testimony is both experiential (ayn) and intuitive (dhawq), transcending mere doctrinal and faith-based testimony. Experiential testimony connotes direct and immediate encounter with the Divine Reality, nourishing the heart and far removed from dry verbal affirmation. This testimony is like water that satiates spiritual taste and leads the seeker toward existential comprehension of monotheism. Intuitive testimony resembles drinking from the spring of truth, bestowing not only knowledge but also the flavour of reality upon the seeker. It elevates the seeker beyond superficial acknowledgment and theoretical knowledge, guiding them to a direct and existential witnessing. This experience illumines the heart with the light of gnosis and grants the seeker spiritual tranquillity.
