of Nokoonam, (Session 220)
The revered book Manzil al-S'irn, authored by Khwaja Abdullah Ansari, illuminates the path of mystical progression for the seekers of the Truth as a brilliant torch. Within this seminal work, the stages of spiritual ascension are elucidated with profound and insightful exposition, wherein the chapter on Murqaba (vigilance or watchfulness) is presented as one of the pivotal stations directing the wayfarer towards awareness and surrender to the Divine Will. The 220th lecture by Nokoonam delineates the third degree of Murqaba, namely True Murqaba and the Abandonment of Murqaba. This highest station of mystical wayfaring is characterised by the seekers liberation from the fetters of self-conscious vigilance and the assumption of direct Divine protection and guidance.
Murqaba constitutes a fundamental station within the mystical progression in Manzil al-S'irn, signifying the seekers conscious vigilance and awareness in the journey of nearness to the Exalted Truth. This station guides the wayfarer towards submission and annihilation in the Divine Will. The lecture classifies Murqaba into three levels: the nafs (of the self), the qalb (of the heart), and the aqq (true or real), each representing a successive stage in the seekers spiritual refinement. The nafs murqaba constitutes the initial stage, wherein the seeker supervises their outward deeds, endeavouring to align their conduct with legal and ethical injunctions. This vigilance resembles the gardeners exertion to protect a tender sapling from pests. The qalb murqaba, the intermediate level, involves the purification of the heart, whereby the seeker abstains from ara (self-display), ir (objection), ir (aversion), and taarru (resistance) towards the Divine Decree. This stage is analogous to a mirror wherein the seeker purifies their heart from the dust of egocentrism. The ultimate level, aqq murqaba, entails Divine guardianship itself, whereby God assumes the protection and guidance of the seeker, preserving them from every error and slip. This station is like an infinite ocean into which the seeker immerses, liberated from selfhood.
The third degree of murqaba, known as aqq murqaba or the abandonment of vigilance, is a transcendent station where the seeker is freed from the conscious bond of vigilance and entrusts the matter of their guidance and preservation entirely to God. This degree signifies the absence of the need for consciously applying rules and regulations, as the seekers behaviour has been transformed into a Divine disposition, naturally aligned with the Truth. The lecture elucidates this concept through an analogy drawn from logic and literature: just as a novice consciously applies rules, the master attains a level where these rules become inherent, enabling correct action without deliberation. In aqq murqaba, God acts as a vigilant guardian who preserves the seeker from harm and error. This state resembles a bird flying in the sky of Divine Mercy, each movement harmonised with the breeze of Divine Grace.
The lecture considers Khwaja Abdullah Ansaris exposition of the levels of murqaba as incomplete, especially regarding the second degree (qalb murqaba), which only addresses the removal of ara (self-display) but neglects other obstacles such as ir (objection), ir (aversion), and taarru (resistance). Nokoonam expands this description to encompass the removal of all egoistic hindrances at the second stage and elevates the third to the station of aqq murqaba. This critique is akin to adding missing links to the chain of spiritual progression, thereby ensuring its cohesion and comprehensiveness. Contrary to the complex terms of eternity and perpetuity used by Khwaja, the third stage is clearly defined as vigilance without vigilance or riqbat al-aqq (the Divine neck).
The first part explicates the tripartite levels of murqaba and the special station of aqq murqaba. The nafs, qalb, and aqq stages chart the seekers progression from egocentrism to Divine-centredness. The aqq murqaba represents the summit of this journey, where the seeker is freed from vigilance and placed under Divine protection. The critique and completion of Khwajas exposition strengthen the conceptual coherence of this station. This section lays the groundwork for a deeper understanding of the characteristics and effects of aqq murqaba.
In aqq murqaba, God renders the seeker infallible and preserves them from all harm and error. This infallibility is the result of Divine selection, election, and approval, elevating the seeker to a station whereby even in the presence of poison or unlawful sustenance, they instinctively abstain. The lecture clarifies this protection with a vivid example: the seeker at this rank is like one whose throat does not swallow poison or whose disposition is altered by unlawful bread. This safeguarding is a sign of special Divine grace, shielding the seeker from the afflictions of the self and satanic influences. This state is akin to a Divine shield, protecting the seeker against spiritual storms.
The concept of riqbat al-aqq or the Neck of the Lord symbolizes the exalted station of the Divine saints in aqq murqaba. At this station, the seeker attains a degree of submission and union with the Divine Will, unbreakable by any force. The lecture expounds this with a profound metaphor: riqbat al-aqq is like a neck that holds the skull of the Divine Truth, protected from any harm. The saints at this rank resemble a branch that moves with the breeze of the Divine Will, offering no resistance. This state is the complete manifestation of the sacred verse
The Hand of God is above their hands (Al-Fath: 10)
signifying the supremacy of Divine power over all forces.
The lecture cites historical instances from the lives of Divine saints, such as Imam , demonstrating how God protects His special servants from the harm of enemies. In one example, an ignorant person insults the scholars but, due to Divine safeguarding, fails to cause any harm to the saints. This protection is like an impenetrable wall, barring the enemies from reaching their objective. Another example illustrates Divine protection from assassins, manifested in the barzakh (intermediate realm), where God reveals how He has destroyed the assassins and preserved the seeker. These instances reflect the meaning of the verse
And God encompasses all things (An-Nisa: 126)
testifying to Gods comprehensive omnipresence.
The second part examines the characteristics and effects of aqq murqaba, including Divine infallibility and protection, the concept of riqbat al-aqq, and historical examples of Divine safeguarding. These attributes liberate the seeker from weakness and error, guiding them towards complete submission to the Divine Will. Riqbat al-aqq, as a symbol of union with Divine Truth, marks the exalted status of the saints. This section introduces aqq murqaba as a transcendent station wherein the seeker resonates with the Divine Light.
The lecture expounds the notion of aadiyyat al-ifatthe unity and indivisibility of the Divine Attributeswhich is glimpsed by the seeker in aqq murqaba. In this station, the seeker perceives the Divine attributes as a singular luminous reality, transcending all multiplicity and limitation. This perception is accompanied by the absence of any division between eternity and everlastingness, which are otherwise considered distinct metaphysical concepts.
The lecturer critiques the commonplace theological distinction between eternity (azal) and everlastingness (bq) as unnecessary, arguing that such dualism dissipates in the station of aqq murqaba. Here, the seeker experiences the oneness of Divine Reality in which time, space, and causality are transcended. This vision unites all apparent opposites and dualities under the indivisible light of Divine Unity.
The ultimate effect of aqq murqaba is the manifestation of the vision of Divine Unity (tawd) in the soul of the seeker. This vision removes all veils of multiplicity and opens the heart to the luminous reality of the Divine Essence, wherein all attributes converge into one. This state corresponds to the station of the greatest saints and Prophets, who possess direct knowledge and unmediated witnessing of the Divine.
The final part addresses the metaphysical implications of aqq murqaba on the seekers perception of Divine Reality, including the unity of Divine attributes and the vision of tawd. It challenges common theological distinctions and affirms the station as the culmination of mystical insight. This part highlights the experiential nature of Divine Unity attained through true murqaba.
The 220th lecture on Manzil al-S'irn unfolds the profound station of aqq murqabatrue vigilance and its abandonmentwithin the mystical journey. The lecture enriches Khwaja Abdullah Ansaris exposition by completing the levels of murqaba and emphasizing Divine guardianship and protection as the hallmarks of the highest station. Through detailed analogy, theological critique, and historical exemplification, the lecture unveils the characteristics of this supreme state, including Divine infallibility, riqbat al-aqq, and the vision of Divine Unity. This teaching invites the seeker to transcend the conscious exertion of vigilance and repose entirely in the hands of the Divine, experiencing an ineffable union that safeguards and elevates the soul beyond worldly vicissitudes. The true murqaba is thus not an act of the self, but the gift of the Divinean illumination of the heart that renders all vigilance superfluous.
Supervised by: Sadegh Khademi
