of Nokounam, may his sanctity remain (Session 102 Chapter of Remembrance Section Eight)
The Chapter of Remembrance in the venerable Manzil al-Sirn constitutes a foundational stage in the mystical path, guiding the seeker from heedlessness towards insight and divine knowledge. This chapter functions as a bridge that emancipates the soul from carnal fetters, steering it towards the realms of intellect and spirit. Remembrance is a process commencing with awakening, progressing through attentiveness to the Divine Essence, and ultimately culminating in the fruition of discernment and edification.
The insight of admonition signifies the blossoming of discernment in understanding admonitions and transcending the carnal stages towards divine cognition. This concept, rooted in the phrase وَإنَّما يُستَبصَرُ العِبرَةُ بِثَلاثَةِ الأشياء: بِحَياةِ العَقلِ، وَمَعرِفَةِ الأيّامِ، وَالسَّلامَةِ مِنَ الأغراضِ, depends on three essential pillars: the vitality of intellect, the knowledge of times, and freedom from base motives. The vitality of intellect refers to the activation of the faculty of perception and discernment, liberating the seeker from the dominion of the commanding self. Knowledge of times entails an awareness of the quality of actions and states across temporal intervals, leading to a profound analysis of behaviours and their consequences. Freedom from base motives demands liberation from carnal and satanic incentives that obstruct the realisation of insight.
The vitality of intellect is akin to the ignition of an engine that sets the motor of knowledge in motion. Absent this vitality, the seeker remains bound to desires and carnal instincts. Knowledge of times resembles a ledger in which the seeker registers and reflects upon their deeds, extracting lessons from pleasures and adversities alike. Freedom from base motives acts as the polishing of the mirror of the heart, cleansing it of all rust of hypocrisy and duplicity. These three pillars form a tripod, fortifying the structure of remembrance and guiding the seeker towards discernment and transcendence of carnal obstacles.
The insight of admonition represents the zenith of the remembrance process, achieved through the activation of intellect, awareness of temporal states, and emancipation from carnal inclinations. These pillars guide the seeker from heedlessness towards knowledge and prepare them to transcend the carnal stages towards intellectual and spiritual ranks.
Remembrance unfolds through three stages: the prelude to remembrance, the receptacle of remembrance, and the perpetuation of remembrance (the insight of remembrance). The prelude encompasses awakening, repentance, return, and reflection constituting the initial conditions of this process. The receptacle stage is the moment of the emergence of attention towards the Divine Essence, wherein the seeker directs their entire focus towards God. The perpetuation stage is the blossoming phase, in which attention transforms into insight and admonition, guiding the seeker beyond carnal obstacles.
Awakening functions as a clarion call that rouses the seeker from the slumber of heedlessness. This awakening commonly arises through a spiritual or external shock, such as calamity or profound contemplation. Repentance and return are subsequent stages guiding the seeker to recognise their shortcomings and the necessity for reform. These stages resemble the preparation of the soil for planting the seed of knowledge, without which remembrance fails to bear fruit.
The text, referencing the sacred verse إِذَا زُلْزِلَتِ الْأَرْضُ زِلْزَالَهَا (Srah Az-Zalzalah: 1; transl. : "When the earth is shaken with its [final] earthquake"), interprets the earthquake not merely as a physical phenomenon but as a tremor within the human existence. The human earthquake resembles a profound shock that propels the seeker from heedlessness to awakening and attentiveness. This metaphor, further illustrated by verses such as وَزُلْزِلُوا زِلْزَالًا شَدِيدًا, emphasises the profound impact of spiritual jolts in the mystical path.
The stages of remembrance commence with awakening and repentance, reaching consummation through the emergence of attention and blossoming insight. These stages constitute steps by which the seeker ascends from the darkness of heedlessness towards the light of knowledge. Awakening and repentance are the genesis of this journey, priming the heart through spiritual jolts for attentiveness towards God.
Remembrance is delineated in three receptacles: prerequisites, manifestation, and purification. The prerequisites include awakening, repentance, return, and reflection, which prepare the seeker for attentiveness. The manifestation stage is the moment when attention towards the Divine Essence flourishes within the seekers heart. Purification constitutes the stage of complete blossoming, wherein attention is transformed into insight and admonition. These three receptacles resemble stages of spiritual alchemy, transmuting the soul from dormancy into radiance.
Admonition signifies learning from experience and transcending carnal obstacles. This process necessitates the clarity of intellect and liberation from the commanding self. Transcendence is akin to crossing a bridge that leads the seeker from self-centredness towards God-centredness. Absent the clarity of intellect, remembrance and attention become futile, much like turning a rosary without comprehension is akin to wandering blindly in darkness.
The vitality of intellect is a fundamental requisite for the insight of admonition, as emphasised in the phrase بِحَياةِ العَقلِ. A purified intellect enables the discernment of good from evil and beauty from ugliness, freeing the seeker from the dominion of the commanding self. This vitality is akin to the illumination of a lamp within the heart, illuminating the path of the mystical journey.
The receptacles of remembrance, from prerequisites to purification, guide the seeker from heedlessness towards insight. Admonition and transcendence, reliant on the vitality of intellect, liberate the seeker from carnal bonds and direct them towards spiritual ranks. This process resembles the polishing of the gem of existence, which shines with increasing brilliance at every stage.
The human being comprises three existential levels: the nafs (basic faculty), the heart (intermediate faculty), and the spirit (exalted faculty). The nafs is subject to the sway of passions and instincts; the heart is activated through the vitality of intellect and an active heart; and the spirit attains divine knowledge and proximity. These levels resemble lamps emitting ascending degrees of light: one lamp for the nafs, two for the heart, and three for the spirit, each signifying an increasing illumination of knowledge.
Remembrances such as يا حَيُّ يا قَيُّوم and لا إلهَ إلا أنتَ are recommended to vitalise the intellect and heart. These invocations act as keys unlocking the shackles of heedlessness, opening the heart towards knowledge. Here, remembrance transcends mere verbal repetition, embodying a profound and conscious attentiveness to God.
The existential ranks of the human being, ranging from the nafs (self) to the r (spirit), delineate the path of spiritual progression. Dhikr (remembrance) functions as the fuel that sets the intellect and heart into motion, guiding the seeker towards the loftier spiritual stations. This process necessitates profound and continual attentiveness to the Divine Essence.
Awareness of time signifies cognizance of the quality of ones actions and states throughout the days of life. The seeker must examine the factors that have engendered states of well-being or distress. This process is analogous to solving a mathematical equation, whereby the seeker analyses the determinants influencing his states and thereby derives formulas for enhancing his spiritual progression.
Freedom from desires constitutes the third prerequisite for istibr ibrah (the insight of spiritual lessons). Desires act like an acid that corrodes intellect and spiritual insight. Liberation from these desires requires sincerity and distancing from ostentation and hypocrisy. Sincerity acts as the decisive arrow that frees the nafs from the shackles of self-centredness.
Hall therapy is a method for regulating the states of the soul in accordance with jurisprudential and spiritual criteria. Just as a machine functions properly only with suitable fuel, so too does the seeker attain balance through lawful deeds. Prohibited deeds function as incompatible fuel, disturbing and burdening the nafs.
Awareness of time and freedom from desires represent two fundamental pillars of the spiritual journey, guiding the seeker towards precise analysis of actions and liberation from inner obstacles. Hall therapy acts as a remedy that restores the soul from turmoil to equilibrium.
The narrative of Moses and Khidr epitomises the tension between Sharah (exoteric legal rulings) and aqqah (esoteric insight). Both perspectives are valid yet occupy distinct spiritual ranks. This story serves as a mirror reflecting the complexities of spiritual progression and invites the seeker to contemplate the distinction between the lovers and the Beloved.
Rabb-Shens constitutes a specialised domain within the spiritual path, guiding the seeker to the recognition of God through his own actions, intentions, and states. This process resembles a map that delineates the course towards Divine proximity.
The tension between Sharah and Truth encourages the seeker to reflect upon the various ranks within the spiritual journey. Rabb-Shens acts as a lantern illuminating this voyage, steering the seeker from self-centredness towards God-centredness.
Sincerity represents the prerequisite for freedom from desires, liberating the seeker from ri (double-facedness) and hypocrisy (disparity between outward and inward). This sincerity is like a flood that washes away all spiritual rust from the heart.
Within the sr il Allh (journey to God), asceticism and worship arise involuntarily. The seeker is akin to a bird, which with wings of attention to God, is freed from the bonds of worldly attachments and soars towards the heavens of gnosis.
The culture of do not without offering constructive guidance resembles a signpost that merely indicates the destination but does not illuminate the path. In contrast, admonition proposes two positive actions (the purification of intellect and spiritual crossing) and only forbids desires.
Drawing upon the sacred verse قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ زَكَّاهَا (Srah Ash-Shams: 9; s translation: Indeed, he succeeds who purifies it), success in the spiritual path depends upon the quality and purity of actions rather than their mere quantity.
Sincerity and the journey towards God liberate the seeker from spiritual impediments and guide him towards Divine knowledge. Emphasis on the quality of actions and critique of prohibition without positive solutions clarify and brighten the spiritual path.
The chapter on dhikr in Manzil as-Sirn shines like a beacon amidst the darkness of heedlessness, guiding the seeker towards Divine gnosis. This chapter, by emphasising the vitality of the intellect, awareness of time, and freedom from desires, provides a coherent framework for spiritual progression. The stages of dhikr, from awakening and repentance to insight, lead the seeker from negligence towards illumination. The concepts of spiritual lessons, crossing, hall therapy, and lordship cognition constitute instruments that facilitate this journey. Metaphors such as earthquake, lamp, and polishing the mirror render profound mystical concepts tangible and highlight the distinction between Sharah and Truth. Ultimately, the journey to God serves as a destination where asceticism and worship naturally flourish within the heart of the seeker.
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ
