Spiritual journeying, or Suluk, is a path that leads the seeker from the darkness of selfhood to the light of divine unity. In this context, the rank of Tafrid holds a most exalted place in the journey of the Mansil al-Sairin (Stages of the Wayfarer). Tafrid refers to the purification and singular focus on the Divine, which liberates the soul from worldly attachments and guides it towards complete union with the Divine Essence. This rank is manifested in three primary stages: Tafrid al-Qasd, Tafrid al-Mahabba, and Tafrid al-Shuhud, each of which serves as a ladder that elevates the seeker to higher levels of spiritual attainment.
The Nature of Tafrid al-Qasd and Its Place in the Spiritual Journey Tafrid al-Qasd, the first stage of Tafrid, pertains to the essence and heart. This stage invites the seeker to purify their intent and direct their heart towards the Divine. The heart, as the central organ of the spiritual journey, becomes purified of all doubt, fear, and attachment to anything other than the Divine. In this station, the seeker experiences an intense yearning for the Divine that can only be quenched through union with God. This yearning becomes a fire in the soul of the seeker, which cannot be contained by any obstacle.
At this stage, the heart is not only understood as the physical organ but also as a metaphor for the inner courage that protects the seeker from distraction, weakness, and fear. This aligns with the Qur'anic verse: "Say, 'Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds.'" (Al-An'am: 162) This verse beautifully depicts the purity of intent and the total orientation towards the Divine. The Thirst for the Divine: A Sign of Pure Intent The thirst in Tafrid al-Qasd is a manifestation of the seeker's overpowering desire for the Divine. This thirst, like a parched longing, is quenched only by the water of the divine union. The thirsty seeker turns to nothing but the Divine, just as a traveler in a desert yearns for water. This state, dominated by an intense craving for the Divine goal, purifies the heart of all attachment to anything other than God. This feature resonates with the principle of sincerity (Ikhlas) in Islamic mysticism, guiding the seeker towards the singularity of intent. Obstacles to Tafrid al-Qasd and How to Overcome Them On the path of Tafrid al-Qasd, the seeker faces obstacles such as doubt, attachment to other than God, and spiritual laziness. These impediments, which are rooted in the ego and worldly desires, hinder the heart from progressing towards the Divine. To overcome these obstacles, the seeker must sever all connections that lead to distraction and weakness. This severance must be realized not only inwardly but outwardly as well. Through firm will and divine guidance, the seeker frees themselves from worldly attachments, directing their intent towards singularity.
Tafrid al-Qasd is the initial stage in the journey of Tafrid, inviting the seeker to purify their intent and direct their heart towards the Divine. In this stage, through a burning thirst for the Divine and liberation from worldly obstacles, the heart becomes the center of the journey. The seeker, with courage and sincerity, takes the first steps towards divine unity.
The Nature of Tafrid al-Mahabba and Its Place in the Seekers States Tafrid al-Mahabba, the second stage of Tafrid, pertains to the purification of love and the intensity of affection for the Divine. In this station, love burns like a fire in the heart of the seeker, consuming their ego and worldly attachments. This love resonates with the Qur'anic verse: "And those who believe are stronger in love for Allah" (Al-Baqarah: 165)a verse that emphasizes the intensity of love that the believer holds for the Divine.
The seeker, in this stage, experiences a profound burning love for God that transcends the limitations of the self and leads to the annihilation of personal desires in the presence of the Divine. The fire of love purifies the heart, burning away all impurities and attachments, bringing the seeker closer to divine union.
In the realm of "Tafreed al-Mahabbah," love transforms into the state of intense affection or Ishq, which purifies the seeker from any attachment to other than the Divine. This love acts as a furnace, consuming all that is not in alignment with the truth. At this stage, after traversing twenty stations, the seeker is enveloped in the fire of Divine love, and nothing remains in their being except the beloved God. This state serves as the precursor to Fana fi al-Haqq, wherein the seeker perceives themselves as annihilated in the essence of God.
"Tafreed al-Mahabbah" reaches its perfection through annihilation in the Divine. Annihilation at this stage means the dissolution of the individuals created nature and the liberation from worldly attachments. The seeker, in this state, becomes like a moth drawn into the flame of the Divine Beloved, dissolving into it. This annihilation is not the obliteration of existence itself, but rather the liberation from ego and otherness, preparing the seeker for union with the Divine.
"Tafreed al-Mahabbah" is the station wherein the seeker is ignited by the flame of Divine love and freed from worldly attachments. This station, characterised by intense love and annihilation in the Divine, leads the seeker to the threshold of union with the Divine, transforming their heart into a vessel for Divine love.
"Tafreed al-Shuhud" represents the third and highest station in the realm of "Tafreed." At this level, the seeker is led to complete union with the Divine Essence, such that they see and desire nothing except God. The witness at this stage becomes like a pure mirror, reflecting solely the Divine Beauty. This union is the result of complete annihilation and liberation from all forms of seeing anything other than God.
"Tafreed al-Shuhud" represents the total union of the seeker with the Divine, wherein nothing other than God is seen, and all their actions and speech become manifestations of the Divine will.
In the state of "Tafreed al-Shuhud," the seeker reaches a stage where the perception of anything other than God is entirely negated. This negation is the outcome of the witnessing that leads to complete unity with the Divine. At this point, the seeker becomes like a droplet dissolving into the boundless ocean of the Divine, leaving no trace of otherness in their being. This state aligns with the station of Baqa Ba'da al-Fana and the unity of existence.
The Divine saints, at the level of "Tafreed al-Shuhud," attain a perfection in which all their actions, words, and states become expressions of the Divine. They may outwardly live in the world, engaging in mundane activities such as eating or walking in the markets, but inwardly, they see only God. This perfection is like a light radiating from their being, revealing the Divine wherever they go.
"Tafreed al-Shuhud" represents the highest station of spiritual journey, wherein the seeker reaches complete union with the Divine. In this state, freed from the perception of otherness and witnessing only God, the seeker becomes a manifestation of the Divine will.
The journey of "Tafreed" is a gradual process that involves passing through one hundred and twenty stations (forty primary stations in three levels: novice, intermediate, and advanced). These stages guide the seeker from the heart to the states of being, and ultimately to the Divine realities. Each station demands liberation from the barriers of the ego and the created world, and the seeker must traverse this path with firm will and Divine guidance.
The spiritual journey through the stages of "Tafreed" requires constant vigilance, for it is voluntary and requires sustained effort. Negligence at any moment can divert the seeker from their path. As the Holy Quran states: "And those who strive for Us, We will surely guide them to Our ways" (Al-Ankabut: 69). This verse emphasizes the necessity of spiritual struggle and vigilance in the path of the seeker.
The journey of "Tafreed" is a challenging and gradual process, guiding the seeker from the heart to the Divine realities. This path requires constant vigilance, willpower, and the liberation from egoic barriers. Any negligence can divert the seeker from their intended destination.
"Tafreed" is a bridge that leads the seeker from the multiplicity of creation to the unity of the Divine. This station, through the purification of intention, love, and witnessing, frees the seeker from ego and otherness, bringing them into complete union with God. The journey through the stages of "Tafreed" is a difficult but magnificent one, requiring willpower, sincerity, and constant vigilance. The Divine saints, having traversed these stations, reach a perfection where their entire being becomes a reflection of the Divine, and the light of God radiates from their every action and word.
