of , Session 615
In the realm of both theoretical and practical mysticism, the station of annihilation (Fana) stands as one of the highest levels, guiding the seeker toward the dissolution of the self in the Divine Essence and the attainment of absolute unity. This station, which holds a prominent place in the Manazil al-Sairin (Stages of the Seekers) by Khwajah Abdullah Ansari, not only involves the obliteration of individual and worldly determinations but also serves as a gateway to true existence in the Divine Essence. In his 615th lecture, provides an in-depth and precise exposition of the stages of annihilation, its foundations, and its relationship with the Qur'anic verses. This station, beginning with poverty (Fakr) as its starting point, manifests in three distinct stages: theoretical, visionary, and real, guiding the seeker from intellectual knowledge to direct perception and ultimately to existential unity.
Poverty is likened to the fertile soil in which the seed of annihilation is sown. Without descending into the valley of poverty, which is the emptying of oneself from worldly and egoic attachments, the seeker cannot attain the station of dissolution in the Divine. Existential poverty frees the seeker from the chains of individual determinations, preparing them to immerse in the infinite ocean of the Divine Essence. As emphasized in the lecture, poverty is a necessary precondition for entering the state of Fana, for how can one be annihilated in the Divine Essence unless they detach from their own self?
"Allah is the Self-Sufficient, and you are the needy." (Qur'an, Surah Muhammad, 38)
This verse vividly portrays the existential poverty of humanity in contrast to the absolute self-sufficiency of the Divine, underscoring the necessity of recognizing this poverty in the spiritual journey.
Poverty, as the origin of annihilation, frees the seeker from worldly attachments, preparing them for dissolution in the Divine. This emptying, which is accompanied by the awareness of one's existential poverty before the Divine's self-sufficiency, constitutes the first step in the mystical journey. Without it, reaching the station of annihilation is impossible.
Theoretical annihilation is like a light that dispels the darkness of ignorance from the heart of the seeker, guiding them towards the knowledge of the Divine. In this stage, the seeker recognizes the Divine as the only true existence, and everything else, even if outwardly existing, is seen as sheer non-existence. This knowledge, which forms the core of mystical understanding, guides the seeker towards awareness of the Divine Unity. As mentioned in the lecture, this stage is aligned with the phrase "By the power and strength of Allah I rise and sit," emphasizing that the movements of the servant are solely dependent on the Divine strength.
"He is the First and the Last, the Manifest and the Hidden." (Qur'an, Surah Al-Hadid, 3)
This verse introduces the Divine as the only true existence, highlighting the importance of this knowledge as the foundation of annihilation.
Visionary annihilation is like a mirror in which the Divine fully manifests, and the seeker, through direct perception, witnesses the Divine as the entirety of existence. In this stage, the seeker negates anything other than the Divine due to its absolute existence. This negation, referred to in the lecture as "Hajd," is essential for visionary witnessing and is not an independent stage in itself. The phrase "There is no power and strength except through Allah" captures this stage, as it negates the power and strength of anything other than the Divine and attributes everything to the Divine.
"Wherever you turn, there is the Face of Allah." (Qur'an, Surah Al-Baqarah, 115)
This verse emphasizes the perception of the Divine in all things, relegating the non-Divine to the periphery of non-existence.
