of Nokounam, (Session 100 Chapter of Remembrance Part Six)
Within the path of mystical spiritual progression, remembrance (tadhakkur) stands as one of the pivotal stations, assuming a fundamental role in awakening the heart and directing the seeker towards Divine knowledge. The esteemed treatise Manzil al-Sirn by Khwaja Abdullah Ansari delicately and profoundly elucidates this station, emphasising the prerequisites and conditions necessary for benefiting from admonition as a principal pillar of remembrance.
In the course of mystical progression, remembrance denotes the awakening of the heart from heedlessness and its attentive orientation towards the Divine Reality. Khwaja Abdullah Ansari, in Manzil al-Sirn, introduces remembrance as a station that guides the seeker toward knowledge and awareness. This station functions like a beacon in the darkness of neglect, illuminating the seekers path and inviting contemplation upon the Divine verses and instructive signs.
Khwaja Abdullah Ansari explicates the foundations of remembrance in three stages:
This hierarchical progression sketches a gradual system in mystical practice, extending from initial awakening to exalted knowledge. Admonition lays the groundwork for awakening; insight leads to deeper understanding, and the fruit of reflection presents the pinnacle of knowledge to the seeker.
In the chapter of Remembrance, Khwaja Abdullah Ansari stipulates three conditions for deriving benefit from admonition:
The intensity of need for admonition signifies a deep and heartfelt necessity for guidance. This condition, analogous to the thirst of a parched land, prepares the seekers heart to absorb counsel and admonition. Even scholars and saints, despite their elevated knowledge, require admonition, as this need reflects humility and a thirst for guidance.
Some commentators have posited that admonition is exclusively suitable for the weak; however, this view contradicts the logic of the Holy Quran. The verse فَإِنَّ الذِّكْرَىٰ تَنْفَعُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (Adh-Dhriyt: 55), translated by as: "Indeed, admonition benefits the believers," underscores that admonition is beneficial to all believers regardless of their rank. Even a figure such as the Commander of the Faithful (Amir al-Mu'minin), peace be upon him, may benefit from admonition, for its acceptance depends on faith and readiness of heart, not on weakness. This critique regards admonition as a universal tool for guidance that operates within the capacity of acceptance and faith rather than weakness alone.
This condition entails focusing on the substance of admonition while disregarding the possible faults of the preacher. Supported by the verse, Look to what is said, not to who says it (Y unur il m qla wa l tanur il man qla), it emphasizes attention to the truth of the admonition.
This condition has been subject to serious critique. The Quran in the verse لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ (aff: 2), translated by as: "Why do you say that which you do not do?", underscores the necessity of congruence between the preachers speech and conduct. Blindness to the preachers faults amounts to self-deception and conflicts with Quranic logic and rationality. The preacher must embody piety and sincerity to render the admonition effective; otherwise, the preachers words resemble a perfume from an unpleasant mouth, devoid of spiritual influence.
The third condition involves contemplation of Divine promises (rewards) and threats (punishments). This condition urges the seekers heart to reflect on the consequences of actions in this life and the Hereafter. The remembrance of the blessings of obedience and the repercussions of sin, like a fire in the heart, incites motivation for behavioural reform. This condition harmonizes fully with Quranic and mystical logic and is recognised as one of the principal pillars of the efficacy of admonition.
The Holy Quran, as a comprehensive source of guidance, delineates three principal educational methods:
These methodologies collectively manifest the Qurans inclusivity in guiding diverse societal strata. Admonition, as one of these methods, occupies a distinctive position in spiritual cultivation.
The stance of certain commentators who confine admonition solely to the weak has been critically examined with reference to the Holy Quran. The verse فَإِنَّ الذِّكْرَىٰ تَنْفَعُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (Adh-Dhriyt: 55) demonstrates that admonition benefits all believers. This restrictive viewpoint contradicts Quranic logic, as admonition exerts its influence within the context of receptivity and faith, rather than mere weakness.
The requirement to overlook the preachers faults is subject to criticism for promoting self-deception and neglecting insight. The Holy Quran, in the verse قَدْ جَاءَكُمْ بَصَائِرُ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ (Al-Anm: 104), translated by as Insight has indeed come to you from your Lord, underscores the importance of fostering insight. The preacher must himself embody piety; otherwise, his admonition will lack spiritual efficacy.
Social insight prevents the acceptance of admonitions lacking authenticity. When people view preachers with discernment, learned divines will supplant preachers devoid of piety. This insight functions like a radiant torch, guiding society towards genuine guidance.
In contemporary society, due to increased public awareness and a decline in the piety of some preachers, the status of admonition has deteriorated. The more discerning populace has become increasingly sensitive to the faults of preachers and rejects admonitions lacking authenticity. This phenomenon highlights the necessity of reforming preachers and a return to piety and sincerity.
The chapter Bab al-Tadhakkur in Manzil al-Sirn, as one of the pivotal stations in the mystical path, explicates the fundamentals of remembrance and the conditions for benefiting from admonition. Three origins of remembrance (admonition, insight, and the fruit of contemplation) and three conditions for admonition (intense indigence, blindness to the preachers fault, and the reminder of promise and warning) have been analysed from mystical and Quranic perspectives. The conditions of intense indigence and the reminder of promise and warning are congruent with Quranic logic; however, the condition of blindness to the preachers fault and limiting admonition to the weak have been critiqued. The Holy Quran, emphasising insight and awareness, regards admonition as beneficial to all believers. The preacher must himself be a paragon of piety for his admonition to be effective. This analysis underscores the imperative to revisit traditional exegeses and harmonise them with Quranic standards.
