Lectures of (Session 462)
The esteemed book Mansel al-Sairin, authored by Khawaja Abdullah Ansari, shines as a beacon, illuminating the path of those journeying towards the Truth. The second lesson of the chapter on Knowledge in this book elaborates on the levels of knowledge, with a particular emphasis on the subtle knowledge (Ilm Khafi) and the conditions for its manifestation in spiritual journeying. This section delves deeply and specifically into the nature of knowledge from both a religious and mystical perspective, offering practical guidance for the correction of the seekers path. The subtle knowledge, like a jewel nestled in the heart of pure souls, manifests only through sincere spiritual discipline, solitude, and the purity of the inner being.
Knowledge at the first level is acquired, based on essentials derived from primary truths. This type of knowledge, akin to a solid foundation, is built upon primary, self-evident principles (awwalayat) and stands distinct from imitation and ignorance. Prior to this stage, everything existing in the mind is mere imitation or compounded ignorance. Primary truths, like the roots of the tree of wisdom, form the foundation of manifest knowledge, and any deviation from this single principle turns knowledge into conjecture and fantasy.
True knowledge depends on the singular principle (awwalayat), and the multiplicity in essentials leads it away from the domain of genuine knowledge.
Knowledge, much like a light that dispels the darkness of ignorance, can only form through reliance on primary truths. Anything before this is either blind imitation or compounded ignorance. This distinction, clear as a line, directs the seeker towards self-awareness and inquiry. The human mind, at times, resembles an inn filled with baseless thoughts and fabrications that have no scientific value.
Scientific claims without grounding in primary truths are like bubbles upon water, fleeting and without worth. The minds of many are filled with thoughts and conjectures that have neither evidence nor connection to the truth. This critique, like a clear mirror, demonstrates the necessity of purging the mind of unsubstantiated information.
Speculations, such as estimating the number of stars or the size of the universe, without reasoning or evidence, fall outside the realm of true science. These utterances, like fruitless ramblings, divert the seeker from the path of truth. Knowledge, like a clear stream, requires reasoning and evidence.
The subtle knowledge (Ilm Khafi) represents the second stage of knowledge in the mystical path. It grows like a sapling within the pure and secretive soul, nurtured by sincere spiritual discipline. This knowledge manifests in the hearts of the sincere and devoted, during moments free of distractions, with attentive and receptive ears. Unlike manifest knowledge, which is acquired and oretical concepts, subtle knowledge arises from within the pure being and is engendered through spiritual exercises. The conditions for its manifestation are purity of the inner being, sincerity, and high ambition.
The subtle knowledge, like a gem in the shell of pure hearts, appears only through sincere spiritual discipline and inner purity.
The subtle knowledge, like a lamp in the darkness, reveals the hidden and conceals the apparent, guiding the seeker towards the state of "gathering" (majmu'). This knowledge grants the seeker the ability to perceive unseen truths and transcends the mundane. The state of gathering, akin to a lofty peak, is a condition where the seeker, while present among the people, remains inwardly focused on the Divine.
Purity of the inner being, like clean soil for the growth of the sapling of subtle knowledge, is an essential condition. Without clarity and health of the soul, the pursuit of subtle knowledge will not be fruitful. The consumption of unlawful food, like a lethal poison, prevents purity and the acceptance of worship, rendering subtle knowledge impossible. There is a narration which states that unlawful food erases purity from the heart for forty days.
Solitude, like a clear space to receive divine favor, is essential for the manifestation of subtle knowledge. Material distractions, even if they involve outward worship, prevent this solitude. The seeker must experience idleness in the dark of the nightwithout thought and free from distraction. This idleness, like an empty vessel, is ready to receive the light of the Divine.
Solitude and idleness, like an empty container, provide a space for receiving divine blessings and the manifestation of subtle knowledge.
Certainty, like a golden key, opens the gate to the perception of unseen truths. As the Quran states: If you knew with the knowledge of certainty, you would certainly see the Hellfire (Al-Takathur: 5-6). If the seeker does not attain certainty, they will be deprived of witnessing the truth. Certainty is the result of worship and solitude and is granted to the seeker naturally.
Unlawful food, constant occupation, and baseless conjecture stand as formidable obstacles on the path to subtle knowledge. In the end times, the prevalence of what is unlawful has made the attainment of this knowledge even more challenging. There is a narration which states that in this era, few are protected from the dust of what is unlawful, and this makes worship ineffective.
Reducing consumption and exercising caution in the use of resources, like a shield against the effects of unlawful actions, helps maintain purity. Simple living and avoiding excess lead the seeker towards clarity. Repentance from futile discussions and acknowledging ignorance before God, like pure water, purifies the heart from hardness.
Repentance and simple living, like keys to unlock the heart, guide the seeker towards subtle knowledge.
Scientific arrogance, like a dark veil, prevents self-awareness and reform. The seeker must remain humble before the masses, like a divine scholar who greets all first, while striving to acquire virtue. Arrogance, like a solid barrier, obstructs the path of spiritual journeying.
Concealment, like a priceless treasure, safeguards spiritual secrets and prepares the seeker to receive divine blessings. The true scholar behaves as an ordinary person by day but whispers with God in private. The disclosure of secrets indicates a deficiency in ones spiritual journey.
The state of gathering, like a lofty peak, is a condition in which the seeker behaves as an ordinary person among the people, yet their heart is focused on God. This state requires humility and concealment. The seeker should not seek distinction with vanity but should, like the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), be present with the people during the day and ascend to the Divine in the night.
In the state of gathering, the seeker is like a flower in the garden, present among ordinary people, but the fragrance of their heart rises towards the Divine.
Spiritual discipline, like clear water, nurtures subtle knowledge in the pure heart. This effort requires perseverance and steadfastness, not simplicity. High ambition, like a firm pillar, brings the seeker to the state of submission, where their will aligns with the Divine.
The second lesson of the chapter on knowledge from Mansel al-Sairin outlines a precise map for attaining subtle knowledge. Subtle knowledge appears in pure secrets, nurtured by sincere spiritual discipline and received in solitude with attentive ears, within the hearts of the sincere. This knowledge reveals the hidden and conceals the apparent, guiding the seeker towards the state of gathering. In contrast, manifest knowledge is based on primary truths and without inner purity, subtle knowledge remains elusive. Obstacles such as unlawful food, constant occupation, and self-exaltation hinder the spiritual path, but solitude, repentance, and concealment, like golden keys, make this path smoother. This text offers profound insights and practical solutions for seekers, stressing the importance of purity, spiritual discipline, and humility.
With sincere oversight by Sadegh Khademi
