Introduction

The "Chapter of Knowledge" in the Mansel al-Sa'irin serves as a luminous gateway to the truth, guiding the wayfarer towards the knowledge of the Divine. This chapter, which resides in the "Section of Ends," defines knowledge in three stages: the knowledge of attributes, the knowledge of the essence, and the all-encompassing knowledge. The all-encompassing knowledge, as the third and most exalted stage, represents the pinnacle of mystical progression, guiding the seeker towards complete immersion in the essence of the Divine and the pure attainment of the Presence of the One (al-Ahad). This state, particular to the perfect saints, especially the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the infallible Imams (AS), eradicates all intermediaries, reasonings, and forms, making the witness and the witnessed one in absolute unity. The lecture of session 613 elaborates on this state with reference to Quranic verses, mystical allusions, and poetic metaphors, unfolding its depth and delicacy.

Section 1: The Concept of All-Encompassing Knowledge

All-Encompassing Knowledge: Immersion in Pure Definition All-encompassing knowledge is an immersive form of knowledge that drowns the seeker in the pure definition of the Divine, meaning the self-definition of God without intermediaries. This form of knowledge is free from reasoning, evidence, and means, and leads the seeker to direct attainment of the essence of God. Unlike the diver who descends into the depths of the ocean and returns, the seeker in this stage is akin to a drowning person who dissolves completely in the boundless ocean of the Divine, leaving no trace behind.

This stage, the most exclusive of the exclusive, lies in the station of al-Jam' al-Jam', where duality, forms, and even human, intellectual, and spiritual desires vanish. In this state, the seeker sees nothing but God and finds themselves annihilated in His existence. This truth is clarified by the noble Quranic verse:

Pure Definition: The self-definition of God without intermediaries The pure definition is the direct self-introduction of God to the seeker. This definition is like a light that shines directly upon the heart of the seeker, guiding them to the witnessing of the essence of God in a state of proximity. This stage is illuminated by the verse revealed to Prophet Musa (AS):

In contrast, the verse revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH):

points to the level of revelation, which, due to the intermediary of revelation, is lower than the stage of pure definition. This distinction highlights the superiority of the all-encompassing state of the Prophet (PBUH), as manifested in the verse:

Section 2: The Pillars of All-Encompassing Knowledge

The First Pillar: The Witnessing of Proximity (Mashhad al-Qurb) The first pillar of all-encompassing knowledge is the witnessing of proximity, which is achieved through the obliteration of created forms. The more the forms and determinations of the soul and creation are dissolved, the closer the seeker draws to God. In this state, the primary veil is the seeker themselves, and with their annihilation, the truth of God shines forth like an unclouded sun. This truth is beautifully expressed in mystical poetry:

Key Point: The witnessing of proximity is realized through the dissolution of created forms, and the more forms are eradicated, the closer one becomes to God. This verse illustrates the disappearance of the seeker and the appearance of the truth, like the vanishing of a shadow in the presence of the sun. Another verse further strengthens this concept:

This poetry beautifully depicts the annihilation of the seeker and the manifestation of the truth. The Second Pillar: Ascension Beyond Knowledge (As-Su'ud 'an al-Ilm) The second pillar is the ascension beyond knowledge, meaning surpassing knowledge, which is itself a veil between the knower and the known. Knowledge, due to its multiplicity and intermediary nature, prevents the seeker from directly reaching the Divine. In this stage, the seeker sets knowledge aside as a curtain to unveil the truth without veils. This truth is supported by the verse:

Key Point: Knowledge is a veil that separates the seeker from the known, and ascension beyond knowledge removes this veil to directly attain the Divine. Knowledge is like a container that holds the truth in the form of multiplicity, whereas the all-encompassing knowledge leads to the pure unity where no multiplicity exists. The Third Pillar: The Study of Unity (Mutala'at al-Jam') The third pillar is the study of unity, the emergence of essential unity in the manifestation of the essence of the Divine after the complete annihilation of the seeker. This study is not in the sense of textual study but refers to the appearance of the light of unity that, like the rising sun, eradicates all darkness of multiplicity. This stage is the gathering of the gathered, which leads the seeker to complete immersion in the Divine. Key Point: The study of unity is the emergence of essential unity in the manifestation of the Divine, which, through the complete annihilation of the seeker, leads to immersion in the Divine. The metaphor of "dawn" illustrates the emergence of the light of God after the darkness of multiplicity, like the dawn that lights up the world after the night of darkness.

Section 3: Features of All-Encompassing Knowledge

Overcoming Reasoning and Witnessing The all-encompassing knowledge transcends reasoning and witnessing, as both are sources of multiplicity. Reasoning, due to its triadic nature (the evidence, the object, and the intermediary), and witnessing, due to its path-dependent nature, prevent direct access to the Divine. In this state, all intermediaries are obliterated, and the seeker reaches pure unity in the Presence of the One. This truth is affirmed by the verse:

Key Point: The all-encompassing knowledge, by eliminating reasoning and witnessing, liberates the seeker from multiplicity and leads them to pure unity in the Presence of the One. This elimination is like the removal of the veils of multiplicity, revealing the singular truth without any obstruction. Unity of Witness and Witnessed In all-encompassing knowledge, the witness is the same as the witnessed because, through complete annihilation, the seeker no longer sees themselves and nothing remains except the Divine. This unity is like a drop dissolving in the ocean, where neither the drop remains nor does the ocean change. In this state, even the knowledge itself dissolves in the pure definition, for the seeker is lost in the Divine, and no trace of them remains.