The station of truth (*Maqm al-Sidq*) stands as one of the foundational pillars in the mystical journey (*sr wa sulk*) as delineated in the *Manzil al-Sirn* (The Stations of the Pilgrims) by Khwajah Abdullah Ansari. It acts as a bridge guiding the seeker from the outward appearances to the inner truth of God. This station, explored with unparalleled depth and profundity in the lectures of Nokoonam, places emphasis on sincerity of intention and the purity of the heart. Truth, like a divine light within the heart of the seeker, protects them from duplicity and hypocrisy, leading them toward complete submission to the divine will.
Truth, as a spiritual essence, resides within the heart of the seeker, and its sign is the rejection of any invitation that calls them to violate their covenant with God:
*وَعَلَامَتُهُ أَنْ لَا يَحْتَمِلَ دَاعِيَةً تَدْعُوَ إِلَى نَقْضِ عَهْدِهِ فَإِنَّهُ مَغْلُوبٌ فِي قَصْدِهِ مَجْذُوبٌ إِلَى الْحَقِّ بِاسْتِعْدَادِهِ الْفِطْرِيِّ مَطْلُوبٌ...*
This sign indicates the firmness of the seeker on the path of truth, where their heart, drawn by divine attraction and innate readiness, is irresistibly drawn to the truth and remains immune from any deviation. Truthful intention (*Sidq al-Qasd*), like a gem within the heart of the seeker, protects them from hypocrisy and duality. This purity, which is rooted in the divine nature, places the seeker on a path where their will is governed by the divine will. This concept is in harmony with the verse of the Holy Quran:
*وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ* (Surah Bayyinah, 98:5) "And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, being sincere to Him in religion."
One of the foundational aspects of the station of truth is the distinction between true intention (an internal matter) and external action. True intention is the purity and sincerity within the heart and should not be confused with outward behaviour. A truthful seeker, while maintaining internal purity, should not impose their sincerity on others nor approach differences with rigidity or violence. This distinction prevents the confusion of concepts in some mystical interpretations, where true intention is mixed with external action, leading to misguided training. Truth, like a pure spring flowing in the heart of the seeker, should not lead to the imposition of beliefs or harshness toward others. This concept aligns with the mystical principle:
*کُنْ فِي النَّاسِ وَلَا تَکُنْ مَعَهُمْ*
"Be among the people but do not be with them."
Violence and rigidity in mystical spirituality are incompatible with the essence of true truth. The seeker of truth, whose heart is illuminated by the light of sincerity, must behave with mercy and compassion toward others, not with violence or imposition. Violent behaviour, seen in some extremist groups like the Khawarij or the Taliban, results from the confusion between true intention and external action. This confusion leads to misguided spiritual training and estrangement from divine mercy. This critique aligns with the following verse of the Holy Quran:
*فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ لِنتَ لَهُمْ ۖ وَلَوْ كُنتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ الْقَلْبِ لَانفَضُّوا مِنْ حَوْلِكَ* (Surah Al-Imran, 3:159)
"And by the mercy of Allah, you were gentle with them, and had you been rough, hard-hearted, they would have dispersed from around you."
Intolerance toward the opponent, as reflected in the phrase *لَا يَصْبِرُ عَلَىٰ صُحْبَةِ ضِدِّهِ*, is a sign of weakness in the spiritual path. The seeker of truth, drawn to God, should not resort to violence in the face of differences but must, with patience and compassion, guide others toward the truth. This intolerance results from self-centeredness and an improper understanding of truth. This concept is in harmony with the following verse from the Quran:
*وَاصْبِرْ وَمَا صَبْرُكَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ* (Surah An-Nahl, 16:127)
"And be patient, and your patience is not but through Allah."
Society, like a garden of various flowers, must be diverse, and the attempt to homogenize individuals leads only to failure. The seeker of truth must accept this diversity, which is part of divine creation, and treat others with mercy and compassion. This concept is confirmed by the Quranic verse:
*وَخَلَقْنَاكُمْ أَطْوَارًا* (Surah Nuh, 71:14)
"And We created you in various stages." The attempt to standardize individuals, whether in appearance, behaviour, or beliefs, not only contradicts the teachings of the prophets and Imams but also leads to division and estrangement from divine mercy. The seeker must interact with others with flexibility and compassion while preserving their internal sincerity.
Incorrect education, which is based on strictness and the imposition of beliefs, does not lead to the guidance of people; rather, it distances them from religion and spirituality. A sincere spiritual seeker must, inspired by the conduct of the prophets and imams, who dealt with their enemies and opposers with patience and kindness, avoid harshness and rigidity. This concept is aligned with the following noble verse of the Holy Quran:
The prophets and imams, despite their inner sincerity and purity, behaved with simplicity, gentleness, and kindness towards the people, even their opponents and enemies. This simplicity, which sometimes led to ridicule, was a sign of spiritual strength and divine mercy, not weakness. The Holy Quran states:
This simplicity, which is rooted in humility and caring for people, has made the prophets an ideal model for the sincere seeker. Despite their high spiritual status, they treated the weak and the common people with gentleness and kindness, a manner which led to the attraction of their hearts and their guidance.
Key Point: The simplicity and care of the prophets is a sign of spiritual strength and divine mercy. The sincere seeker must, inspired by their conduct, treat everyone, from the believer to the disbeliever, with love and patience.
True courage lies in spiritual and divine strength, not in violence and imposition. The misconceptions about the courage of some saints, such as Amir al-Muminin (Ali) peace be upon him are inconsistent with the essence of their spiritual conduct. Their courage was rooted in surrender to the will of God and in their behaviour with mercy and kindness, rather than external violence.
Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him), despite his unparalleled courage, was a soft-hearted and people-oriented individual who treated his enemies and opposers with patience and compassion. This merciful courage serves as a model for the sincere seeker, who must avoid violence and imposition.
Violence, like a fire that burns unity and mercy, is incompatible with sincerity and the spiritual path. The sincere seeker must avoid violence and treat everyone, even their opposers, with love and patience. This critique emphasises the importance of mercy and tolerance in the spiritual journey, considering violence a trait worse than disbelief.
The conduct of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the Imams, who dealt with their enemies with patience and kindness, serves as a model for the sincere seeker. This conduct aligns with the following noble verse of the Holy Quran:
Key Point: Violence is a trait that is incompatible with sincerity and the spiritual path. The sincere seeker must, inspired by the conduct of the prophets, treat others with mercy and kindness.
The gate of sincerity, as a portal to the truth, invites the seeker to purity of intention and a clean heart. This station, which has been explained in depth by Nakonam (may his soul rest in peace), emphasises the distinction between sincere intention and outward action. The sincere seeker, while maintaining inner purity, must treat others with mercy, patience, and kindness, avoiding violence and the imposition of beliefs. Accepting diversity in society, akin to the different branches of a strong tree, is a sign of proper understanding of divine creation. The conduct of the prophets and imams, who treated the people with simplicity and kindness, serves as an unparalleled model for the sincere seeker.
With the sincere supervision of Khadimi (servant).
