Excerpt from the lectures of Nekounam (Session 110 Chapter of Clinging Fifth Section)
Within the domain of Islamic mysticism, the station of clinging to the abl Allh (the Rope of God) is analogous to a firm and steadfast cord that guides the wayfarer towards divine proximity. This station, meticulously and profoundly delineated in the venerable text Manzil al-Sirn authored by Khwja Abdullh Ansr, occupies a distinguished position in the mystical journey. The lectures of Nekounam , centred on this station, engage in a rigorous examination of the concept of equity and the triadic conditions of clinging. With a critical and profound gaze, they explore the interrelation among certainty, wisdom, justice, and equity. The primary focus of discourse elucidates equity in the servantLord relationship, the threefold conditions of clinging (submission, acknowledgment, and veneration), and the roles of certainty and equity in the spiritual transaction. Furthermore, scholarly critiques addressing certain erroneous interpretations of equity and distinguishing concepts such as inzl and tanzl enrich the analysis.
Equity, within the framework of the servants relationship to the Lord, functions as a balance by which the servant measures his own standing before the Divine. This concept signifies the servants cognizance of his own abasement and submission vis--vis the exaltedness and sovereignty of God. As articulated in the lectures, equity entails that the wayfarer consciously chooses abasement and subjugation for himself whilst entrusting honour and wisdom exclusively to God. This deliberate selection is rooted in mystical epistemology that summons the servant to recognise the limits of his own existential reality and to delegate absolute authority to the Divine. Such equity harmonises with the principle of divine unity of action, wherein all attributes of perfection are ascribed solely to God.
Like a tree bending before a tempestuous wind, the servant, in the station of equity, surrenders himself to the breeze of divine mercy by embracing abasement and submission. This acceptance is not borne of degradation but emerges from the recognition of Gods grandeur. The lectures emphasise that equity is the key to the mystical path and that without it, no servant can attain the station of divine proximity.
The lectures, adopting a critical perspective, pose the question of how the division of abasement to the servant and honour to God can constitute true equity. At first glance, this division may appear unjust, as though all hardships and humiliation are allocated to the servant while honour and mastery belong to God. Yet, upon deeper reflection, servitude is not abasement but the pinnacle of perfect servanthood. As the noble hadith states, "Servitude is the essence of Lordship," servitude leads the servant towards godlikeness. This viewpoint conceives equity not as a superficial distribution but as the conscious acceptance of ones servile station.
Like a clod of earth that the gardener transforms into a beautiful flower, servitude elevates the servant from the soil of abasement to the garden of divine nearness. This critique invites reconsideration of superficial understandings of equity and underscores the profound spiritual significance of servitude.
Equity in the servantLord relationship signifies the precise recognition of the servile station and the delegation of honour and sovereignty to God. This equity stems from the knowledge of divine unity and calls the servant to the conscious acceptance of submission. The critique of the apparent division between abasement and honour reveals that servitude is not a sign of humiliation but a path towards perfection and divine proximity. This section, by underscoring the importance of equity, lays the groundwork for examining the conditions of clinging to the Rope of God.
Clinging to the abl Allh, symbolising a steadfast connection with God, is akin to a rope that leads the wayfarer from the whirlpool of worldly attachments to the safe shore of divine proximity. The lectures introduce three fundamental conditions for this station: submission (istislm), acknowledgment (idhnn), and veneration (tam). These conditions mark successive degrees of the spiritual journey, from outward to inward, and from inward to perfection.
Submission denotes complete surrender to God and liberation from arrogance, constituting the initial step along the path of clinging. This condition frees the wayfarer from self-exaltation and pride, guiding him towards humility and obedience. According to the lectures, submission falls under the grammatical form istifl, indicative of the preliminary stage of the mystical path, wherein the wayfarer has yet to attain complete submission but has distanced himself from arrogance.
Like a river flowing over hard stones and softening, the wayfarer, in the station of submission, moves from the hardness of pride to the softness of humility. This phase paves the way for subsequent stages of the mystical journey.
Acknowledgment represents the stage wherein acceptance of divine truth penetrates from the outward appearance into the inner heart of the wayfarer. Positioned under the grammatical form afl, this stage signifies the attainment of heartfelt faith, whereby knowledge evolves from an external condition to an internal conviction. This faith acts as a light illuminating the heart and directing the wayfarer towards divine realities.
Like a mirror reflecting sunlight, the wayfarers heart in the station of acknowledgment reflects the light of divine knowledge. This phase forms a bridge between outward humility and inward veneration.
Veneration constitutes the pinnacle of the mystical journey, situated under the grammatical form tafl, and denotes the gradual apprehension of divine majesty. This stage demands patience and perseverance, as the wayfarer progressively attains comprehension of the grandeur of the Lord. The lectures underscore that the tafl form, owing to its gradual nature, highlights both the difficulty and significance of this stage.
Like a mountaineer steadily advancing towards the summit, the wayfarer in the station of veneration draws nearer to the divine majesty with each step. This phase represents the zenith of perfection in the mystical path, illuminating the heart with the light of knowledge.
Within the mystical journey, the transaction is conceived as a spiritual covenant contracted between the seeker and the Divine. This transaction rests upon two foundational pillars: certainty (an inner awareness and heartfelt assurance) and equity (justice in conduct and judgement). The discourse emphatically asserts that this transaction constitutes the very establishment or foundation of the spiritual path, which cannot remain steadfast in the absence of certainty and equity.
Analogous to a merchant who engages in the marketplace of knowledge with meticulousness and sincerity, the seeker, in the position of this transaction, offers themselves to God through certainty and equity. This covenant necessitates profound awareness coupled with just action.
Certaintysignifying knowledge, insight, and heartfelt assuranceis a prerequisite for equity. The discourse underscores that equity is unattainable without certainty, for equity demands judicious and conscious judgement. Certainty acts as a guiding light that illuminates the path of equity, liberating the seeker from the darkness of ignorance and heedlessness.
Like a lamp that illuminates the night, certainty prepares the seekers heart to render equitable judgement. This relationship reveals the profound interconnection between epistemology and ethics within Islamic mysticism.
The discourse presents a novel perspective examining the relationship between equity and faith. Equity is not inherently contingent upon faith; an unbeliever possessing awareness and strength may be equitable, whereas a weak believer may lack equity. This viewpoint emphasises the significance of inner reality and gnosis in mystical ethics. Equity is akin to a jewel that can shine in any heartbeliever or unbelieveryet within the spiritual journey, equity reaches perfection through certainty in God.
Like a flower that blooms in any soil, equity may flourish in the heart of the non-believer, but in the believers heart, it is perfected by the light of certainty.
Equity is like a scale that demands strength, knowledge, and insight. According to the words of the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) in Nahj al-Balagha, one must measure oneself in order to judge with justice and equity between oneself and others. This metaphor underscores the importance of self-knowledge in the actualisation of equity.
Like a scale calibrated with the weights of wisdom and justice, equity requires certainty, sagacity, and fairness to function correctly.
Equity is unattainable without certainty, wisdom, and justice. The discourse stresses that these three attributes constitute the foundation of equity, and in their absence, a just and equitable distribution is impossible. Certainty pertains to awareness, wisdom to comprehension of the effects of phenomena, and justice to equitable allocation.
Like a structure supported by three pillars, equity is constructed upon certainty, wisdom, and justice, and will collapse without them.
The discourse, by distinguishing between individuality and discernment, refers to the difference between certainty and equity. Certainty relates to individuality (the characteristic of the self), whereas equity pertains to discernment (the comparison between two entities). Equity requires equitable division between two parties, while certainty relates to the individual and their knowledge.
Like a mirror reflecting only itself, certainty is connected to the individual and their gnosis, whereas equity is like a scale that balances two sides equally.
Equity does not signify equal division but requires justice and wisdom. The discourse illustrates with an example of food distribution within a family, demonstrating that equity depends on considering the needs and circumstances of individuals rather than mere equal division. Equal division, without regard for needs, does not constitute equity.
Like a gardener who waters each plant according to its necessity, equity distributes resources based on wisdom and justice, not mere equality.
The discourse, adopting an innovative perspective, notes that the term equity is not explicitly mentioned in the Holy Qur'an, although the concept of half (division) appears in verses such as فَلَهُنَّ فَرِيضَةٌ فَنِصْفُ مَا فَرَضْتُمْ (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:237, : So for them is a prescribed share, and the half of what you have given [in marriage]). This absence points to the complexity of equity within the corporeal realm. Rather than emphasising equity explicitly, the Quran focuses on concepts such as justice and wisdom.
Like a rare gem hidden in the depths of the ocean, equity in the material world is scarce, and the Quran, as the Book of Truth, emphasises justice and wisdom.
Equity, due to its reliance on certainty, wisdom, and justice, is more challenging than charity and self-sacrifice. Charity and self-sacrifice may be performed without deep gnosis, but equity necessitates judicious and conscious judgement. The discourse elucidates this difficulty by comparing equity to the discernment of truth and falsehood, both requiring jurisprudence and knowledge.
Like a precious jewel attained only through effort and insight, equity is a rare and arduous quality that demands awareness and wisdom.
The spiritual transaction, relying on certainty and equity, constitutes the foundation of the mystical path. Certainty is a necessary condition for equity, and without it, equitable judgement is impossible. Equity holds a central position not only in the relationship between servant and Lord but also within human interactions. The distinction between individuality and discernment, the explicit absence of equity in the Holy Quran, and the difficulty of embodying this quality collectively underscore the complexity and significance of equity within the spiritual journey.
This treatise, through a reexamination of the lectures of Nokoonam within the framework of Manazil al-Sa'irin, investigates the station of adherence to the Divine Rope and the concept of equity. Equity is akin to a key that unlocks the doors of the mystical path and guides the seeker toward Divine proximity. The threefold conditions of submission, acknowledgement, and reverence delineate the stages of the journeyfrom the renunciation of arrogance to the comprehension of Divine grandeur. The spiritual transaction, grounded in certainty and equity, fortifies the foundation of the path. The critique of superficial division between humiliation and honour, the distinction between inzal and tanzil, and the explicit absence of equity in the Quran all highlight the complexity and profundity of these concepts. Equity, as a rare jewel, demands certainty, wisdom, and justice, and leads the seeker toward human perfection.
