the sixty-first session of the lectures of Nokounam Chapter on Repentance, Part Eight
Repentance, akin to a luminous gateway leading towards Divine Reality, occupies a pivotal station within the spiritual journey, guiding the seeker from the darkness of transgression towards the illumination of return. Lesson sixty from the esteemed Manzil al-Sirn, authored by Khwja Abdullah Ansari, is devoted to expounding the subtleties and esoteric secrets embedded within repentance, presenting it as the inner essence of disobedience and an opportunity for the cognition of Divine Will. This lesson, through profound insight, delineates three subtleties of repentance as the innermost secret of this spiritual station and invites the traveller to contemplate their encounter with sin, the Majesty of the Truth, and the role of Divine grace. From this perspective, repentance transcends mere renunciation of sin, emerging as an epistemological journey which guides man to recognise his own limitations and the grandeur of the Divine.
From the mystical vantage point, repentance is not merely a turning away from sin, but the inner reality of disobedience, by which man becomes conscious of his own obstinacy against Divine Will. Rebellion, like an untamed steed, incites the nafs (self) to riotous defiance; yet repentance, as the rein of Divine Wisdom, directs it towards proximity. This spiritual station provides the seeker an opportunity to discern, amid the trial of sin, the verity of his own existence and the Majesty of the Truth. God places man, equipped with volition and choice, before sin as if setting him in an arena of champions, declaring: "Khallka wa al-dhanb" He left you with sin alone, so that your strength, power, and will might be tested.
Repentance harbours mysteries and subtleties that, like the concealed layers of a jewel, lie hidden within its core. These secrets themselves comprise further subtleties which point to the innermost secret of repentance. These threefold subtleties each open a gateway to a deeper knowledge of the Divine Reality. The innermost secret of repentance, like a brilliant light within the heart of a lamp, leads the seeker to comprehend the interior of sin and the Will of the Truth. This classification elevates repentance beyond a mere external act to a multi-layered station, in each layer of which a novel cognition emerges.
God places man with volition and choice before sin so that in this arena of struggle he may test himself. This encounter resembles a wrestler in the heroic arena, affording the seeker an opportunity to measure his strength, will, and capacity. "Khallka wa al-dhanb" as if the Almighty has set man in an arena with sin and commanded: wrestle with it so that the reality of your existence may be unveiled. This trial is not intended for mans defeat but rather to guide him towards the knowledge of Divine Majesty and Proof.
Within this arena, man is both free and captive; both powerful and powerless. This paradox reflects like a mirror, revealing to him the limitations of the nafs and the grandeur of the Divine. The seeker recognises through this encounter that despite possessing will and choice, without Divine grace he lacks the capacity to resist sin. This knowledge leads him to humility and servitude, as if descending from the heights of pride to the depths of Divine abasement.
Man, in defiance, discovers the Majesty and Power of the Truth and realises that his apparent honour is as straw before the mountain of Divine greatness. Pursuing grandeur and sanctity, he beholds his humiliation within the vessel of rebellion. This humiliation is not for abasement but for awakening; as if the Almighty shows man the reality of the self through the mirror of sin. The seeker in this station perceives Divine Majesty against his own incapacity and inclines in reverence before Divine Lordship.
Facing sin, the seeker perceives the Divine Proof within himself. He is free, endowed with will and choice, yet becomes captive. This captivity, like a wise awakening touch, guides him to comprehend his powerlessness against Divine Will. The Proof of the Truth, like light within darkness, leads man towards self-awareness and directs him towards repentance. This vision pulls the seeker from self-conceit towards God-consciousness, as if awakening from the slumber of heedlessness to the vigilance of knowledge.
From the mystical perspective, sin is not solely a defect but a perfection for man. Unlike the angels, deprived of choice and sin, man through his encounter with rebellion discovers Divine abasement within himself. This abasement, like a seed in the soil of the nafs, fosters the growth of knowledge and servitude. Sin provides the seeker an opportunity to witness Divine Majesty, Proof, and Power within himself and to bow before the Glory and Beauty of the Truth. This viewpoint transforms sin from an obstacle into a means for self-knowledge and the knowledge of God.
Within the arena of sin, the seeker perceives himself both free and captive, both strong and weak. This paradox, like two sides of a coin, unveils the truth of human existence. Immersed in the Power of the Truth, he realises his will is powerless without Divine grace. This recognition leads him to surrender to Divine Will, as if arriving from the sea of pride to the shore of servitude. This station guides the seeker to the understanding of the unity of Divine Will and his own incapacity.
The first subtlety of repentance is that the seeker contemplates the crime (sin) and the affair (incident) in order to recognise the Divine intention therein: "You thereby recognise the Will of God therein". The affair is the event which has not yet culminated in sin, and at this stage the seeker is faced with a choice. He must perceive Divine Will in this trial, as if recognising Gods purpose through the mirror of Divine Wisdom. This contemplation diverts the seeker from egocentrism to God-consciousness and guides him to understand Divine wisdom in the encounter with sin.
Without Divine facilitation, man with all his capabilities is powerless against sin: "When He left you and let it come to you". This incapacity, like a wise awakening stroke, makes the seeker humble and ready for Divine grace. He perceives that although he has the power and will, without Divine help he cannot overcome sin. This perception leads to the station of repentance as the true return to Divine Will and servitude.
The second subtlety involves recognising the Divine Majesty hidden within the sin and the station of Divine Proof: "You recognise the Majesty of the Truth and the Proof in this crime". The crime, rather than a mere misdeed, becomes a signpost towards Divine Glory and Proof. The seeker is directed to perceive Divine Majesty through the mirror of his own rebellion, leading to awe and reverence.
The third subtlety reveals that repentance itself is a secret which completes the spiritual station. Through the secret of repentance, the seeker realises the imperfection of his power and acknowledges the necessity of Divine grace. This secret guides him beyond mere remorse towards transformation and true return. It is the culmination of the spiritual journey within the station of repentance.
The lesson on repentance from Manzil al-Sirn unfolds a profound understanding of sin, repentance, and the knowledge of Divine Will. Through its subtle secrets and inner realities, repentance is presented not as a mere external act but a multi-layered spiritual station guiding the seeker towards humility, self-knowledge, and ultimately Divine proximity. Sin, paradoxically a perfection for man, becomes a means for realising Divine Majesty and the necessity of grace. This transformative knowledge encourages the seeker to embrace the Divine Will with sincerity and perseverance, ascending from the darkness of rebellion to the light of servitude.
Existence is manifested thus: the heart, akin to a glass vessel, is the soul of the self; and the spirit, like a lamp, kindles the light of the heart. These stages delineate the hierarchical epistemic strata of human cognition.
The initial subtlety of repentance is the forgetfulness of the transgression, which leads the seeker to the spirit of the reality of repentance. This forgetting constitutes liberation from the burden of sin and concentration upon divine grace, as if the seeker steps forth from the darkness of rebellion into the illumination of perceiving Gods grace. At this station, the penitent harbours no arrogance toward the sinner, perceiving solely the Divine benevolence at work. Such humility guides the soul towards a deeper understanding of repentance.
Repentance is intimately intertwined with five Divine attributes: Honour, Benevolence, Forbearance, Acceptance of Excuse, and Forgiveness. The Honour of God leads the individual into abasement, so that their incapacity is acknowledged; Benevolence conceals the sin to preserve their dignity; Forbearance postpones punishment to afford the opportunity for repentance; Acceptance of Excuse embraces the penitent; and Forgiveness purifies them. These attributes, like streams of mercy, guide the seeker towards perfection.
Divine Benevolence conceals the human sin and does not expose the individual to disgrace before creation. This grace, like a silk veil, covers the faults of the soul and invites the seeker towards repentance. At times, God conceals the sin for years, granting the person the opportunity to return, much like a wise gardener who patiently waters the sapling of repentance.
Divine Forbearance delays retribution so that the seeker may find opportunity for repentance and seeking forgiveness. This patience is akin to a wise physician who prescribes the remedy of forbearance instead of immediate surgery, allowing the soul to recover. Yet, at times, Divine wisdom necessitates the enactment of punishment, as though the hand of justice unveils the veil of benevolence.
The lovers are seekers who must engage in struggle within the arena of sin, wrestling and at times falling, in order to recognize Divine honour and wisdom. This trial is like a furnace that purifies the gold of their existence from impurities. In contrast, the beloved are exempt from such struggle, as though they stand from the outset upon the pinnacle of knowledge, having reached the Truth without the necessity of trial.
Divine Wisdom sometimes compels man to confront sin so that he may comprehend the honour and power of God. This wisdom is like a lantern on the path, guiding the seeker from the darkness of heedlessness to the illumination of self-awareness. At times, sin appears as a towering mountain before him, and at others, like insignificant straw, removed by Divine grace all by the will and wisdom of God.
The forgetfulness of transgression leads the seeker to the vision of Divine grace. Having been freed from the burden of sin, the seeker, like a child awakened from sleep, perceives new beings previously beyond comprehension. This vision is as if a veil is lifted before their eyes, allowing them to behold the light of Gods grace at every moment. Sin may appear as a towering mountain at times, and as straw, by Divine favour, at others. This transformation directs the seeker towards gratitude for blessing and awe before the enormity of the transgression.
The seeker must cling steadfastly to Divine grace, for without it there is no strength or power: "There is no might nor power except with God, the Most High, the Most Great." This invocation, like a golden key, opens the doors of success and guides the seeker from the darkness of egocentrism to the illumination of monotheism. Without Gods grace, man is like a straw floating before the storm, yet with adherence to God, he stands firm like a mountain against sin.
The sixtieth lesson of Manzil al-Sirn presents repentance as an epistemic station wherein the seeker is guided from the darkness of rebellion to the illumination of return to the Truth. This lesson, elucidating three subtleties of repentance, introduces it as the innermost secret of the spiritual station, inviting reflection upon ones encounter with sin, Divine honour, and the role of Divine success. Repentance is a domain where man confronts the paradox of freedom and captivity, achieving servitude and humility through forgetfulness of transgression and adherence to Divine grace. The five Divine attributes (Honour, Benevolence, Forbearance, Acceptance of Excuse, and Forgiveness) within this process guide the seeker from the abasement of sin to the perfection of knowledge.
