Preamble
The Manzil al-S'irn, the immortal masterpiece of Khwja Abdullah Ansr, stands as one of the most eminent texts in Islamic mysticism, intricately and profoundly delineating the stages of the spiritual path. The thirty-ninth lecture of this work is devoted to explicating the maqm al-Awlthe realm of statesas the seventh category among the tenfold divisions of mystical progression. The Awl represent an interior sphere attained by the wayfarer after traversing the prior stations of Badayt (beginnings), Abwb (gates), Mumalt (transactions), Akhlq (ethics), Ul (principles), and Awiyah (valleys). This station is the locus of the manifestation of inward states such as love, zeal, longing, restlessness, thirst, awe, astonishment, bewilderment, turmoil, illumination, and taste. These states are concomitant with an existential fervour and total detachment unto the Divine Truth.
Section One: The Concept of Awl and Its Station in the Spiritual Path
Definition and Hierarchies of Awl
The Awl, as the seventh division within the spiritual itinerary ofManzil
Analysis and Exposition of the Introduction to Manzil al-Sirn
of Nokounam Session Thirty-Nine (Introduction) Part 39
Preface
Manzil al-Sirn, the immortal work of Khwaja Abdullah Ansari, stands as one of the most eminent texts in Islamic mysticism, masterfully delineating the stages of the spiritual path with unparalleled subtlety and profundity. The thirty-ninth lecture of this work is devoted to elucidating the station of Ahwl (states), considered the seventh category among the tenfold divisions of mystical wayfaring. Ahwl comprises an inner realm which the seeker attains after traversing the preceding stages of Badyt (beginnings), Abwb (gates), Mumalt (transactions), Akhlq (ethics), Ul (principles), and Awiyah (deserts). This station manifests the emergence of inner states such as love, zeal, ardour, agitation, thirst, awe, bewilderment, agitation of spirit, lightning, and taste, all suffused with the warmth of existence and absolute detachment unto the Truth.
Section One: The Concept of Ahwl and Its Position in the Spiritual Path
Definition of Ahwl and Its Degrees
Ahwl, as the seventh segment in the mystical progression outlined in Manzil al-Sirn, constitutes an inner station that the wayfarer reaches upon surmounting prior ranks, namely the Badyt, Abwb, Mumalt, Akhlq, Ul, and Awiyah. This station is the domain of the revelation of inward states such as love, zeal, longing, agitation, thirst, awe, bewilderment, spiritual turbulence, lightning, and taste all inherently accompanied by the fervour of being and a complete detachment from all but the Divine Reality. Unlike Akhlq, which is confined to outward qualities, Ahwl pertains fundamentally to the innermost essence of the seeker, shaping his intrinsic dispositions and modes of inner conduct. This station functions as a portal that guides the wayfarer from the coldness of duty-bound obligation to the warmth of divine love and passion.
Ahwl is the realm of inner states that elevates the seeker from external duty to divine love and leads him towards absolute union with the Truth.
Distinction between Ahwl, Akhlq, and Awiyah
Ahwl, contrary to Akhlq, which is limited to external behavioural manifestations, belongs intrinsically to the seekers inner being. Akhlq, preceding Awiyah and Ul, refers to outward virtues such as propriety and commendable conduct, which can even exist in the absence of heartfelt sincerity. In contrast, Ahwl, reached after enduring the trials of Awiyah and Ul, is directed towards inner states like love, longing, and taste. Awiyah, likened to a desert rife with lashes and trials, confronts the wayfarer with hardship and calamities, whereas Ahwl is the domain of fervour and ardour that enkindles the heart, leading it to heartfelt receptivity and existential warmth. This differentiation presents Ahwl as a transcendent stage, transporting the seeker from hardship and compulsion towards inner delight and passionate yearning.
Ahwl, unlike the external nature of Akhlq and the severe testing ground of Awiyah, belongs to the seekers inner states and existential warmth.
Section Two: The Role of Determination (Himmat) in Entering Ahwl
Himmat as the Outcome of Awiyah
Himmat (determination) constitutes the driving force that enables the seeker to transcend the rigours of Awiyah and prepares him for entry into the realm of Ahwl. Within Awiyah, the seeker confronts barren deserts, mountains, extremes of cold and heat, and these trials serve to refine and elevate him to the station of Himmat. This faculty is a divine gift bestowed by the Lord upon the seeker, guiding him towards purposeful action and movement. It acts as a key that unlocks the closed gates of Awiyah and leads the wayfarer towards Ahwl.
Himmat is a divine endowment that carries the seeker beyond the hardships of Awiyah and directs him towards the inner states of Ahwl.
Transition from Awiyah to Ahwl
Upon attaining Himmat, the seeker emerges from the domain of Awiyah and enters Ahwl. This passage signifies the seekers advancement from the external trials to the domain of inner states. Awiyah, through its hardships and afflictions, heats and prepares the seekers heart, readying it for the arrival into Ahwl. The realm of Ahwl is akin to a garden filled with fervour and ardour, wherein the seeker transitions from the coldness of obligation to the warmth of divine love and passion.
Section Three: The Degrees of Ahwl and the Seekers Inner Transformation
Love (Maabba): The Inception of Ahwl and the Warmth of Existence
Love, the initial degree of Ahwl, denotes the affection and attraction towards the Divine that transmutes the will governed by duty into a will driven by love. This station resembles a spark that ignites the seekers heart, rousing it from coldness and stagnation towards vitality and inner animation. The Holy Quran alludes to this love in Surah Al Imrn, verse 31:
Say, if you love God, then follow me, so God will love you and forgive your sins.
(Translated by )
This love liberates the seeker from calculation and ostentation, rendering his actions sincere and pure.
Love is the spark of existential warmth that transforms the seekers will towards divine love and emancipates him from hypocrisy and calculation.
Zeal (Ghayrah): Detachment from Self and Others
Zeal, the second degree of Ahwl, is the state wherein the seekers attention is severed from self and others, focusing exclusively on the Divine. This station acts as a shield purifying the seekers heart from non-divine attachments and leads to absolute detachment. Zeal signifies the intensity of inner warmth from which the indifferent and cold-hearted are bereft.
Longing (Shawq): Yearning for the Divine Encounter
Longing, the third degree, signifies an ardent desire for the Divine presence distinct from love. While love propels movement towards the Beloved, longing pursues the encounter and direct vision of the Divine. This station resembles a fire that kindles the seekers heart, propelling him towards union.
Longing is the yearning for the vision of the Divine that guides the seeker beyond movement towards ultimate union.
Agitation (Qalaq): Inner Restlessness and Anxiety
Agitation, the fourth degree, denotes a state of internal restlessness that keeps the seeker in expectant anticipation of the Divine. This station resembles an itch that torments the seekers heart, depriving him of superficial calm. Agitation is the sign of intense longing, sustaining the seeker in a state of unrest.
Thirst (Aash): Desire for the Vision of the Divine
Thirst, the fifth degree, represents an intense craving for the vision of the Divine, rendering the seeker independent from all but the Truth. This station resembles a thirst unquenched except by tasting the Divine. Thirst dispels sleep and illusion, driving the seeker towards union.
Thirst is an ardent craving for the Divine vision that frees the seeker from all else and directs him toward union.
Awe and Bewilderment (Dahshat wa ayrat): Dizziness Before the Majesty of the Divine
Awe and Bewilderment, respectively the sixth and seventh degrees, are states of dizziness and perplexity wherein the seeker is overwhelmed by the grandeur of the Divine. Awe is like a sudden dizziness that stupefies the seeker, whereas Bewilderment is a profound confusion plunging him into the Divine Majesty.
Spiritual Turbulence (Himn): Agitation in the Ocean of the Divine
Spiritual Turbulence, the eighth degree, is a state of unrest and bewilderment drowning the seeker in the ocean of Divine greatness. This station resembles a wave that engulfs the seeker, drawing him towards the infinity of the Divine.
Lightning (Barq): Manifestation of the Divine Epiphany
Lightning, the ninth degree, is the moment of the Divine epiphany that emerges after the turbulence of Himn. This station resembles a spark illuminating the darkness of the heart and leading the seeker from apparent veils to true vision. Lightning signifies the Divine presence that frees the seeker from doubt and hesitation.
Lightning is the moment of Divine epiphany guiding the seeker from turmoil and bewilderment to true vision.
Taste (awq): Experiencing the Truth of the Divine
Taste, the tenth and final degree of Ahwl, is a sensory and epistemic experience through which the seeker savours the reality of the Divine. This station is akin to drinking nectar that transitions the seeker from doubt to certainty and from vision to union. Taste guides the seeker to the station of Wilyah (sainthood), where he acts as the Divines representative, having tasted the Truth.
Taste is the experiential tasting of the Divine reality that leads the seeker from doubt to certainty, and from vision to union and sainthood.
Section Four: The Warmth of Ahwl and Its Role in the Seekers Transformation
Warmth as the Essence of Ahwl
Ahwl constitutes the realm of existential warmth that rouses the seekers heart from coldness and stagnation towards inner vitality and animation. This warmth is likened to a fire that ignites the heart and manifests love within it. The cold-hearted remain devoid of love and passion, whereas the seeker, by virtue of the warmth of Ahwl, is guided towards divine love and yearning. This warmth is the fruit of enduring the hardships of Awiyah, which purify the seeker and prepare him to receive divine bounties.
Warmth is the essence of Ahwl that guides the seekers heart from coldness towards love and inner vitality.
The Impact of Awiyahs Hardships on the Warmth of Ahwl
The hardships encountered in Awiyah, including calamities, afflictions, and dangers, heat the seeker and prepare him to enter Ahwl. These trials function as a furnace that refines the seekers heart, transferring it from coldness and passivity towards warmth and dynamism. Within Ahwl, this warmth transforms into love, longing, and taste, guiding the seeker from terror and fear towards nearness and divine love.
Distinction Between the Seeker and the Non-Seeker in the Experience of Ahwl
(Text ended here)
Section IV: The Seekers Progress through Spiritual States
The seeker, upon entering the realm of ahwl (spiritual states), undergoes a profound transformation, elevating from coldness and mere obligation to warmth and love. In stark contrast, the non-seekers remain entrenched in inertia and coldness. The non-seekers harbor fear of the Divine Truth, and should they behold it, they are utterly annihilated by terror. Conversely, the seeker, invigorated by the warmth of ahwl, becomes prepared for the Divine encounter, transitioning from fear towards love and nearness. This distinction is analogous to the difference between cold earth and a blazing flame, demarcating the seeker from others.
Section V: Critique of Human Sciences and the Significance of Spiritual Sciences
Critique of Contemporary Humanities
In numerous educational systems, the humanities have been reduced to rote memorisation and mere historiography, thereby stripped of depth and meaning. Instead of addressing psychological, philosophical, and spiritual issues, these disciplines have devolved into superficial biographical accounts and narratives. This critique functions as a mirror reflecting the deficiencies inherent in the humanities and underscores the imperative to develop spiritual and mystical sciences.
Spiritual Sciences and Their Relation to the Warmth of States
Spiritual sciences, intimately linked with existential warmth and divine love, are intrinsically more arduous than material sciences such as physics and chemistry. These sciences concern the human interior and its subtle states, necessitating inner dynamism and vitality. They resemble a luminous light that illuminates the seekers heart, guiding him towards gnosis and sainthood.
Section VI: From States to Spiritual Authority (Wilyah)
Wilyah as the Consequence of States
The ahwl (spiritual states) steer the seeker toward wilyaha station where the seeker, having tasted the Truth, acts as its representative. Wilyah is akin to a summit reached after traversing the hierarchical levels of states. At this station, divine attributes are manifested within the seeker, who thus becomes Yadullah (the Hand of God), Aynullah (the Eye of God), and Abdullah (the Servant of God).
The Radiance of the Light of Wilyah
The luman (radiance) is the light of wilyah manifested in the Waliullah (friend of God), dispelling doubt and hesitation. This light acts as a radiant beam that enlightens the heart of the saint, liberating him from every semblance of uncertainty. It is the hallmark of certainty and assurance that brings the saint to perfection.
Taqah (Exchange of Essence) and Divine Substitution
Taqah in essence is a divine act wherein the saints self is exchanged with the Truth. At this station, God manifests within the saints being, perfecting him. This substitution constitutes an ontological renovation that empties the saint of selfhood and fills him with divine light.
The Burden and Difficulty of Wilyah
Wilyah is a formidable station attainable only by the spiritually prepared. It is a heavy burden borne solely by those endowed with capacity and inner readiness. The friends of God endure afflictions and hardships to reach this station, and through grace and silence, they guide others.
Section VII: Divine Testing and the Trials of Wilyah
Divine Test (Dl) and Affliction for Allegiance (Wilyah)
The dl is a divine trial through which God softens and prepares the seeker for wilyah. This test functions like a game placing the seeker before the grandeur of the Truth, thereby purifying him through self-annihilation. Affliction is the instrument for allegiance, refining the seeker through hardship and guiding him toward union with the Truth.
The Relationship Between Thirst and Vision
Thirst is an ardent yearning propelling the seeker toward the vision of the Truth. This thirst resembles a fire igniting the seekers heart, rendering him independent of all but the Truth. It marks the inner vitality that leads the seeker toward union and tasting of the Divine.
Section VIII: Effects of Spiritual States and the Seekers Transformation
Reduction of Difficulties and Descent of Divine Bounties
Within the spiritual states, the seekers difficulties diminish while divine bounties cascade upon him. These bounties are akin to nourishing rains that satiate the seekers heart and propel him toward receiving further divine grace. The alleviation of hardship results from inner warmth that transports the seeker from trial to the pleasure of the states.
Spiritual Appetite and Increased Demand
The states amplify the seekers spiritual appetite, urging him to receive more divine blessings. This appetite resembles a hunger satiable only through divine grace. At this stage, the seeker transcends humble fare and progresses toward spiritual abundance, no longer content with minimal provision.
Humility and Gratitude to Divine Grace
Within the states, the seeker regards himself not as a debtor but as a recipient of divine favour, expressing gratitude rather than demanding recompense. He proclaims, Yamunnu alayya bil-Islam (s translation: God has bestowed a favour upon me by making me a Muslim). Such humility acts as a gateway opening the seekers heart to divine mercy.
The Love of the Saints and Freedom from Pain
The friends of God, through their profound love, transcend sensations of pain and suffering. As the poet articulates, They drink the sweetness of poison and endure pain with devotion. This love kindles a fire in their hearts so intense that wounds and arrows are imperceptible, much like Imam Ali (peace be upon him) extracting an arrow from his foot whilst in remembrance.
Section IX: Psychology of States and Existential Warmth
Warmth and Love in Psychological Perspective
From a psychological viewpoint, warmth signifies love and emotional vitality, whereas coldness obstructs love and affection. The seeker, animated by the warmth of states, is propelled toward divine love and yearning, whereas the cold-tempered are deprived of this grace. This perspective functions as a mirror revealing the dichotomy between seeker and non-seeker.
The Seekers Compassion versus the Non-Seekers Sympathy
The seeker, endowed with insight, perceives the absence of love in others as a calamity and is moved with compassion for them. Conversely, the non-seeker, trapped in coldness and inertia, pities the seeker, oblivious that the seekers love holds value surpassing a prolonged lifespan. This compassion is a light illuminating the depth of the seekers knowledge.
Intoxication and Sobriety within the States
Intoxication symbolizes abundance and self-sufficiency attained by the seeker within the states, while sobriety indicates deprivation and a need for assistance. The truly intoxicated never cry out for aid, but the sober continually lament, Cupbearer, take my hand. This contrast is akin to the difference between an ocean and a droplet awaiting rain.
Section X: Martyrdom and the Pinnacle of Inner Heat
Martyrdom as the Zenith of Inner Heat
Martyrdom represents the apex of inner heat and spiritual warmth that unites the seeker with the Divine Presence. This station is like a flame that ignites the seekers heart so intensely that he either attains martyrdom or draws others toward the Truth. Martyrdom is the culmination of a protracted spiritual journey, often spanning generations.
Ontological Hierarchies: From Self to Spirit
Human ontological levels are divided into the nafs (self), intellect, heart, and spirit. The spirit is a station manifest only within the saints and at the level of wilyah. This station resembles a summit reached after transcending the self, intellect, and heart. The spirit signifies the connection to the Truth, distinguishing the Waliullah from others.
Summary
Lesson thirty-nine of Manzil al-Sirn explicates the station of ahwl as the seventh division of mystical progress. The ahwl encompass subtle inner states such as love, zeal, longing, subtle unease, thirst, awe, bewilderment, fear, lightning, and spiritual taste, elevating the seeker from duty and compulsion to love and divine affection. This station, empowered by existential warmth and successive divine bounties, guides the seeker from coldness and stagnation toward inner life and vitality. Effort, borne from previous trials (awdiya), prepares the seeker to enter the ahwl, and the hardships polish the heart to receive divine gifts. The ahwl, by transforming volition into love, free the seeker from hypocrisy and calculation, leading him toward wilyah. Wilyah is the station where the seeker, having tasted the Truth and undergone taqah, represents the Divine and becomes Yadullah. The critique of human sciences and emphasis on spiritual sciences reveal the importance of existential warmth in the path. The friends of God, with love and grace, guide the servants and abstain from ostentation. These stations, accompanied by divine trials and afflictions, prepare the seeker for union with the Truth and place him on the path to perfection.
Supervised by Sadegh Khademi