the lectures of Nokounam Session 98: Chapter of Remembrance, Part Four
Within the trajectory of the mystical path, remembrance functions as a pivotal gateway guiding the spiritual traveller towards awareness and presence before the Divine Reality. This chapter, derived from the esteemed work Manzil al-Sirn authored by Khwja Abdullh Ansr, elucidates the essence, foundations, and conditions requisite for the actualisation of remembrance. Remembrance understood as attentive presence and heartfelt existence within the domain of inner conscience transcends mere recollection of the Truth; it entails living within the realm of awareness and connection to the Divine Reality. In this context, three fundamental conditions for remembrance (intif bi-l-iah, istibsr bi-l-ibrah, and afar bi-thamarat al-fikr) are examined in detail, their semantic richness further cultivated through literary metaphors and allegories.
Remembrance is akin to a flame that illuminates the seekers heart amid the darkness of heedlessness. This concept, actualised within the vessel of inner conscience, extends beyond mere recollection; it signifies an active and conscious presence before the Truth. Remembrance constitutes the point of departure for the mystical journey, awakening the traveller from the slumber of heedlessness and directing them towards knowledge and righteous action. Contrary to mental preoccupation or neglect which imprison the heart within transient concerns remembrance guides the heart towards awareness and connection with the Divine Reality.
| Key Point: Remembrance is the heartfelt presence and active awareness before the Truth, which directs the seeker from heedlessness towards Divine knowledge. |
Remembrance serves as a key that unlocks the lock of heedlessness, preparing the heart to receive Divine grace. This heartfelt presence forms the groundwork for knowledge and righteous deeds, liberating the seeker from mental distraction and bondage to worldly matters. Absent remembrance, devotional acts become mere lifeless shells devoid of spiritual efficacy.
The actualisation of remembrance necessitates three essential conditions, which stand as the pillars upholding this exalted mystical station:
These conditions respectively underscore acceptance of admonition, rational insight, and epistemic conclusion. The absence of any one of these conditions precludes the full realisation of remembrance, much like a structure collapsing without one of its essential pillars.
| Key Point: Remembrance is a structure founded upon three pillars: acceptance of admonition, rational insight, and dynamic epistemology. The lack of any pillar obstructs the realisation of genuine remembrance. |
Benefiting from admonition requires a heart unshackled from heedlessness and mental preoccupation. A heedless heart resembles barren, arid soil in which the seed of admonition cannot take root. The Holy Quran states:
Fa-dhakkir fa-inna al-dhikr tanfau al-muminn
(Surah Adh-Dhriyt, 51:55)
: So remind, for indeed remembrance benefits the believers.
This verse emphasises that remembrance exerts effect solely within a heart of faith and receptivity. The believer, by virtue of innate aptitude, is capable of embracing admonition and turning towards attentiveness. This readiness of the heart resembles fertile soil wherein the seed of admonition flourishes and leads to remembrance.
Similar to the principles of enjoining good and forbidding evil, remembrance proves effective only when there exists potential for impact. If the seekers heart lacks receptivity, remembrance remains fruitless, akin to enjoining good without possibility of effectuation. This analogy underscores the criticality of a suitable context for efficacious influence.
The believers heart, owing to inherent aptitude, is moved by divine promises and warnings, thus progressing towards remembrance. Conversely, the non-believers heart, devoid of such aptitude, derives no benefit from remembrance. This aptitude is comparable to a prepared field in which the seed of admonition takes root and bears fruit.
The living heart receives admonition from any source, even from a child or spouse, whereas the heedless heart, encumbered by pride, repels acceptance of truth. The narrative of a woman persistently performing ablution improperly in the bathhouse, heedless to others counsel, exemplifies heedlessness and the absence of benefit from admonition. The heart engaged in remembrance resembles an attentive ear seeking knowledge and wisdom from all sources.
| Key Point: The living heart embraces admonition from every source, even the humblest individuals, and benefits thereby, while the heedless heart, shackled by pride, turns away from the truth. |
Istibsr bi-l-ibrah denotes attaining insight through reflection and intellectual contemplation on admonitory examples. The seeker must possess the capacity for discernment and self-critique to actualise remembrance. Without insight, remembrance degenerates into a mechanical, soulless practice, akin to the rote repetition of a supplicant devoid of spiritual effect. Remembrance is exclusive to the rational and insightful person, for it is within the living, discerning heart that remembrance bears fruit.
Remembrance devoid of insight resembles the movement of a corpse, lacking spiritual vitality. Such remembrance is not only ineffectual but may induce scepticism regarding the value of remembrance itself. This critique emphasises the paramount importance of quality in remembrance; remembrance conducted without heartfelt presence and insight is comparable to sowing seeds on barren ground, yielding no harvest.
| Key Point: Genuine remembrance necessitates heartfelt presence and rational insight; absent these, remembrance becomes a soulless and fruitless act. |
ظفر بثمرة الفکر denotes the successful attainment of knowledge and truths within the heart of the spiritual seeker. This fruit serves as an indicator of the heart's vitality and the dynamism of spiritual recollection (dhikr). The heart engaged in remembrance is akin to a tree that daily produces fresh blossoms and fruits, whereas a heart that remains unchanged day after day is devoid of life and mindfulness.
The heart engaged in remembrance resembles a tree whose buds and blossoms continually emerge anew each day. Such vitality signals spiritual life. Conversely, a heart that is identical to its state on the previous day is comparable to a shop whose shelves are emptied and receive no replenishment. Such a heart is heedless and lacks mindfulness.
A heart that merely repeats the prior days state is like empty cartons that outwardly appear full but are inwardly hollow. This condition, especially prevalent in the eschatological era, signals heedlessness and the absence of spiritual recollection. A living heart encounters new knowledge daily, just as a tree continually produces fresh leaves and blossoms.
A sage who felt ashamed of the writings from the previous day exemplifies the dynamism of knowledge and the living heart. He attained new insights daily and avoided stagnation. This example underscores the imperative of continuous spiritual growth in the path of wayfaring (suluk).
| Key Insight: The heart engaged in remembrance is like a living tree that daily blossoms with new knowledge and truths, whereas the static heart resembles empty cartons, bereft of spiritual vitality. |
Before undertaking remembrance and supplication, the heart must be revived. Remembrance in a dead heart is akin to sowing seeds in barren soil that yields no fruit. A dead heart resembles a calcareous garden in which nothing planted flourishes. To revive the heart, the preparatory conditions must be furnished, like adding fertiliser to soil.
Excessive recitation of the Quran, supplication, and dhikr without regard for the hearts capacity results in misguidance and spiritual barrenness. The example of one who has read the Mafatih but found no fruit reveals the absence of heart vitality. Ritual acts are like medicine which must be administered according to the hearts capacity; otherwise, instead of cure, they inflict harm.
The agricultural principle of preparing the soil, watering, and sowing seeds equally applies in the spiritual realm. The heart is like a field that must be irrigated for the seed of remembrance to take root. Without such preparation, ritual acts are analogous to sowing seed on rock or lead, destined to be wasted.
| Key Insight: The heart, like arable land, requires preparation and watering for the seed of remembrance to root deeply and bear fruit. |
The recitation of the Noble Quran must lead to the hearts renewal and dynamism. The Quran states:
فَاقْرَءُوا مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ
(Surah Al-Muzzammil, Verse 20)
s Translation: Therefore, recite what is easy of the Quran.
This recitation should daily bring the heart to new knowledge. Recitation without effect signifies heedlessness and a lack of mindfulness.
| Key Insight: Quranic recitation is effective only when it leads the heart to freshness and new understanding; otherwise, it signifies heedlessness and spiritual stagnation. |
The chapter on Spiritual Recollection (باب التذکر) from Manzil al-Sirn functions as a luminous beacon illuminating the path of mystical wayfaring. Emphasising the three fundamental conditions of recollectionbenefiting from admonition, gaining insight through example, and attaining the fruit of reflectionit provides a precise framework for the realisation of heartfelt presence. A living heart resembles a tree that daily produces fresh blossoms and fruits, while a heedless heart resembles empty cartons devoid of vitality and dynamism. The critiques within this chapter highlight the perils of heedlessness, stagnation, and excess in ritual acts performed without prior spiritual readiness. Preparing the heart before engaging in ritual practice is analogous to preparing the soil before sowing seeds.
| Supervised by Sadegh Khademi |
s
