Within the vast realm of Islamic mysticism, the station of Inbis (Expansion) shines as a luminous gem, guiding the spiritual wayfarer towards inner liberation and nearness to the Divine. This exalted station, meticulously articulated in Manzil al-Sirn by Khwja Abdullh Anr, is explored with profound depth in the discourses of yatullh Muammad Ri Naknm . Anchored in the noble verse, Would You destroy us for what the foolish among us have done? This is nothing but Your trial... (Arf: 155), this treatise critiques mystical commentariesparticularly those of Tilmsn and Kshnand explicates Inbis as a state of complete inner freedom, devoid of fear and hope, and rooted in primordial nature.
The lecture series, addressing the calamities preceding the appearance, underscores the indispensable necessity of purifying the community from impurities. These tribulations function analogously to water that washes away defilements, thereby preparing the environment for the emergence of Imam al-Zaman, may God hasten his reappearance. Such purification preserves the dignity and honour of the Imam and prevents his entanglement in conflicts with the unworthy.
The belief in the automatic unfolding of matters through mere invocations of blessings (salawt) is a superstitious notion that breeds laziness and complacency. The lecture critiques this fallacy by way of the parable of the baker who does not suffice with merely uttering blessings but must engage in active labour. Such superstitions, like a shadow obscuring effort, undermine responsibility and endeavour. The spiritual wayfarer must engage in diligent exertion and action in service of religion and society.
The lecture narrates the examination method of the Imam, who refrained from imposing hardship on his students, highlighting the paramount importance of justice in evaluation. The Imam, upon hearing the recitation of a student and pronouncing Accepted, alleviated the burden, enabling the students latent capabilities to emerge. This method, akin to a breeze ushering tranquillity, constitutes a paradigm for education and ethics.
Key Point: The impartial examination method, like a clear mirror, reflects fairness and compassion in teaching and judgment.
Tampering with the verses of the Quransuch as altering fitnah (trial) to ikhtibr (test) or taall (misguidance) to tahar (manifestation)is tantamount to unlawfully amending a legal document, thereby undermining the sacred texts integrity. The lecture employs the simile of a document losing its validity through a single erroneous strike to stress the imperative of safeguarding the authenticity of the verses. These verses, as a divine treasury, must be protected from spiritual distortion and unfounded exegeses.
The initial section, focusing on the noble verse أَتُهْلِكُنَا بِمَا فَعَلَ ٱلسْفَهَاءُ مِنَّا ۖ إِنْ هِيَ إِلَّا فِتْنَتُكَ, examined the notion of expansion (inbist) in relation to Divine Majesty. By critiquing interpretations by the Talmudists and Kashani, differentiating the concepts of sedition (fitnah), trial (ikhtibr), test (imtin), and affliction (ibtal), and elucidating the majestic conduct of Moses (peace be upon him), it demonstrated that expansion in this verse is negated due to the predominance of Majesty. Nevertheless, expansion as practised by the Infallibles, particularly Imam Ali and Imam Husayn (peace be upon them), shines forth as a luminous beacon and exemplar for the spiritual aspirant. Respect for God's servants and criticism of superstitions invite the wayfarer towards gnosis, decorum, and dignity.
In session 384, expansion (inbist) is defined as a degree of human perfection and complete inner freedom whereby the seeker is liberated from carnal constraints and guided towards the stages of fundamental principles (ul) and their sources (awiyah). This station resembles a summit in the spiritual journey, serving as a prerequisite for entering deeper esoteric knowledge. The lecture compares expansion to the chassis of a vehicle, foundational for progress along the spiritual path, in which the seeker transitions from carnal contraction to spiritual opening.
Key Point: Expansion, like the sturdy chassis of a vehicle on the path of spiritual travel, frees the seeker from constraints and leads towards fundamental principles and their sources.
Expansion is likened to professional driving wherein the seeker, as an expert driver, navigates the spiritual path without brakes (contraction) and employs natural manoeuvres (steering and acceleration). An inexperienced driver, constantly braking and accelerating, wears down the vehicle, whereas the professional driver masters the steering wheel and gas to move smoothly. This analogy portrays expansion as a dynamic and balanced state in which the seeker attains inner freedom through release from contraction.
The lecture further illustrates this with the example of drivers on the Chalus road who operated their vehicles with complete mastery, without brakes or even eyesight, emphasising that expansion demands skill and liberation from limitations. The professional driver, akin to the seeker in the station of expansion, relies on innate aptitude and instinct without dependency on restrictive aids, progressing along the path of truth.
Key Point: Expansion, like professional driving on the spiritual path, by releasing the brake of contraction and mastering natural manoeuvres, grants the seeker inner freedom.
Expansion is fundamentally incompatible with fear and hope: ٱلْإِنْبِسَاطُ لَا يَجْتَمِعُ مَعَ ٱلْخَوْفِ وَٱلرَّجَاءِ. Fear acts as a chain that draws the seeker towards contraction and withdrawal, whereas hope binds the seeker through flattery and dependence. Expansion is the condition of the gnostics and possessors of hearts, not of novices. The lecture stresses this incompatibility, presenting expansion as an exalted virtue transcending the carnal states of beginners.
Fear leads to cowardice and hesitation, obstructing free movement. The lecture compares fear to a singer who, gripped by terror, suppresses their voice within the throat, demonstrating fear as an impediment to expansion. Hope, by fostering expectation and flattery, deprives the seeker of liberation. Expansion, like a free breeze, remains untouched by these carnal fetters.
Key Point: Expansion, like a free breeze, is incompatible with fear and hope; fear shackles with chains of contraction, and hope entangles with cords of flattery.
Expansion is the state of the Masters of Hearts and Manifestations, yet the seeker at this stage has attained the heart but not its full decree. The lecture employs the simile of a newly appointed head of office who lacks the formal decree, portraying expansion as a transitional stage. The seeker has acquired heart and knowledge but has not yet reached the ultimate station of the hearts (the principles).
This distinction exemplifies the precision of the lectures exposition of the spiritual stages. The masters of hearts, possessing the chassis of the vehicle, stand ready to proceed but have not yet embarked upon the road of sources. Expansion, through inner opening, prepares the seeker to receive this formal decree.
Key Point: Expansion, like a bridge toward the station of hearts, equips the seeker with heart-readiness but postpones the full decree.
The lecture distinguishes between the realms of Majesty and Beauty, attributing fear to the realm of Majesty and expansion to that of Beauty: وَكَيْفَ لَا تَنَافِي وَهُوَ مِنْ عَالَمِ ٱلْجَمَالِ ٱلْإِنْبِسَاطُ وَٱلْخَوْفُ وَمَا يَلْزَمُوهُ مِنْ عَالَمِ ٱلْجَلَالِ. Fear leads to cowardice and contraction, whereas expansion brings about openness and nearness. This distinction identifies expansion as a beautiful virtue entwined with divine love and intimacy.
Expansion, like a flower in the garden of divine Beauty, draws the seeker toward the Beloved by liberation from the intensity of Majesty. Fear resembles a storm within the realm of Majesty, driving the seeker away. This correlation elevates expansion as an attractive and balanced virtue.
Key Point: Expansion, like a flower in the divine garden of Beauty, is incompatible with majestic fear; one leads to nearness, the other to remoteness.
In summary, session 384 illuminated the station of expansion as a pivotal degree of perfection and inner freedom in the spiritual journey. Through analogies of professional driving, office appointment, and the dichotomy of Majesty and Beauty, it portrayed expansion as the liberation from carnal contraction and the prelude to receiving the principles and their sources. Expansion is incompatible with fear and hope, and it distinguishes the masters of hearts from novices. This station constitutes the foundational chassis of the spiritual vehicle, vital for progressing deeper into divine knowledge and gnosis.
