Derived from the Discourses of Nokounam, may his sacred spirit be sanctified (Session 467)
The chapter of Bb al-Barah constitutes one of the foundational stations in the venerable treatise Manzil al-Sirn authored by the eminent Khwaja Abdullah Ansari. It shines forth as a luminous beacon illuminating the trajectory of the mystical journey. This chapter delineates insight (barah) as an exalted spiritual station whereby the seeker is liberated from the obscurities of perplexity, polytheism, and oppression, and is thereby guided towards the direct witnessing of Divine Reality and the attainment of divine gnosis. Insight functions as a key unlocking the locks of the ego, illuminating the heart of the wayfarer with the light of truth.
From the perspective of the mystical tradition, insight (barah) denotes a station whereby the wayfarer is emancipated from states of perplexity, the vision of otherness, multiplicity, delusion, suspicion, and illusion, thereby being guided to the direct witnessing of the Divine Truth. The Noble Quran affirms the foundational role of insight in divine invitation in the exalted verse:
قُلْ هَٰذِهِ سَبِيلِي أَدْعُو إِلَى اللَّهِ عَلَىٰ بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِي ۖ وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
Say: This is my path; I invite to God with insight, I and those who follow me. Glory be to God; and I am not of the polytheists. [Yusuf: 108]
The word هَٰذِهِ in this verse emphatically underscores the clarity and lucidity of the path of insight, as though this way is a brilliantly illuminated road before the seeker, devoid of any ambiguity or darkness.
Insight resembles a polished mirror that unveils the truth unveiled and without veils before the wayfarer. This station not only equips the inviter with complete cognizance of the destination and trajectory of the invitation but also absolves him from any form of polytheismwhether covert or overt. The emphasis on the glorification of the Divine and the negation of polytheism in this verse indicates the profound nexus between insight and pure monotheism. The insightful wayfarer is akin to a traveller bearing the lamp of gnosis, safeguarded from the abysses of suspicion and illusion, beholding nothing but the truth.
قُلْ هَٰذِهِ سَبِيلِي stresses the clarity of this path and the indispensability of conscious invitation to God.The possessor of insight is an individual liberated from the shackles of perplexity, the vision of otherness, multiplicity, delusion, suspicion, and illusion, beholding nothing before his eyes except the light of truth. This station is akin to a summit reached by the wayfarer after traversing the arduous path of purification of the soul. His heart, like a sincere witness, directly perceives the truth and internalizes reasoning without need for external proofs or arguments. Insight is the intellect illumined by the sacred light, which is kohld with the radiance of divine guidance, thus precluding error therein. The possessor of this station discerns the manifest truth and sees falsehood as utterly nullifiedakin to a shadow before the sun, vanishing in the presence of the light of insight.
Such attributes form a ladder whereby the seeker ascends from the darkness of the nafs towards the divine luminosity. The insightful heart is like a crystal-clear spring, cleansed from any defilement of the soul and reflecting only the truth.
Insight manifests in various degrees, ranging from transitory and partial illumination to permanent and complete presence. Some seekers occupy the station of transient insight, attaining it momentarily, while the perfected saints dwell perpetually in this station like resplendent stars. A disciple (murd) may also attain transient insight through the manifestation of the spiritual guide (murd). These degrees resemble the layers of a precious gemwhose radiance intensifies the deeper one delves.
The initial degree of insight is the knowledge that the prophetic message, grounded in the Shariah, has proceeded from a truthful essence such as the Seal of the Prophets (peace be upon him), and that one ought not to fear its consequences. This message is akin to a spring gushing from the truth, culminating in welfare and felicity. The seeker in this station acts with certainty upon the rulings of the Shariah and is freed from groundless doubts and fears.
The first section elucidates the definition and status of insight, portraying it as a divine light that liberates the seeker from perplexity and polytheism, guiding him to the witnessing of truth. The sacred verse قُلْ هَٰذِهِ سَبِيلِي underscores the paths clarity and the necessity of conscious invitation. The attributes of the insightful individual, such as freedom from suspicion and illusion and immediate witnessing of truth, elevate this station to a lofty summit in the mystical journey. The degrees of insight, ranging from transient to permanent, facilitate seekers at varying levels along the path.
The Quran, in the noble verse:
وَمَا يُؤْمِنُ أَكْثَرُهُمْ بِاللَّهِ إِلَّا وَهُمْ مُشْرِكُونَ
And most of them do not believe in God except while they associate others with Him. [Yusuf: 106]
draws attention to the widespread subtle polytheism among the believers. This verse mirrors the reality of faith tarnished by polytheism. Polytheism, whether covert or manifest, resembles a dust settling upon the mirror of the believers heart, obstructing the witnessing of truth.
This polytheism may manifest through mundane attachments such as power, wealth, deeds, or even egotistical virtues. If the seeker does not liberate himself from these attachments, he cannot attain the light of insight. These attachments function as chains binding the spirit, preventing its flight towards the truth.
In the realm of practical wisdom, except in the station of infallibility, no one is entirely free from oppression, even the just and truthful. The Quran emphatically states:
لَا يَنَالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمِينَ
My covenant does not include the wrongdoers. [Al-Baqarah: 124]
This truth reveals that oppression acts as a poison contaminating the heart and hindering the manifestation of the light of insight. Even the minutest oppressionwhether in the form of backbiting, slander, or harming othersacts as a thick veil that blinds insight.
The purification of the soul from oppression becomes possible through the substitution of justice for injustice. Justice, like limpid water, cleanses the heart from the defilements of the soul and prepares it to receive the light of insight.
Insight is contingent upon the purity and refinement of the soul, achieved through the abandonment of ignorance in speculative wisdom and oppression in practical wisdom. The seeker must cleanse his heart from all forms of defilement, including polytheism, oppression, backbiting, and slander. Such purification is akin to polishing a mirror; only through complete purity can it reflect the light of truth. A pure soul resembles a spring from which nothing but truth flows, and insight is the fruit borne by this purification.
The second section expounds on polytheism and oppression as principal obstacles to insight, emphasising the necessity of the souls purification. Subtle polytheism, prevalent even among believers, obstructs the witnessing of truth, while mundane attachments act as chains preventing spiritual flight. Oppression, even present in the just, bars the fulfillment of the Divine covenant. Purification of the soul from ignorance and oppression, accompanied by the establishment of justice, paves the way for the reception of the light of insight.
Invitation to God, as delineated in the verse قُلْ هَٰذِهِ سَبِيلِي أَدْعُو إِلَى اللَّهِ عَلَىٰ بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِي, must be conducted with complete awareness and insight. This invitation resembles a stream that issues forth from the spring of truth and can reach the destination of felicity only through insight. The insightful inviter comprehends the nature of his action and its objective, thereby transforming the act of invitation from mere formality into a profoundly epistemic praxis.
The phrase أَنَا وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِي indicates that not only the Prophet (peace be upon him) but also his followers must invite with insight. This characteristic is like a light illuminating the path of truth for both the spiritual guide and the disciple alike.
The spiritual guide who has attained the path, like a lamp, illuminates the way of insight for the disciple. If the guide himself lacks insight, the disciple cannot attain this station. The anecdote of a disciple who saw in a dream the Devil fettered with chains for creation and a thick chain binding his guide illustrates the subtlety of the guides soul. The guide explained that this chain was due to the temptation of borrowing a trustful sum of money, as if even the minutest temptation becomes manifest before his insight. This story reflects the depth of the guides insight and its influence on the disciple.
The Path of Truth must manifest its effect within the soul of the seeker. Should an actsuch as congregational prayerfail to engender a spiritual influence upon the heart, it stands as a testament to its ineffectiveness. This efficacy resembles the nourishing rain that saturates the earth of the heart, preparing it for the germination of the seed of Truth. An act devoid of spiritual effect is akin to a hollow shell, bereft of the essence of Truths spirit.
The person endowed with insight exhibits anger and zeal against those who oppose the Shariah and those who transgress its rights. This zeal is a manifestation of love for the Truth, akin to a flame that purifies the seekers heart from indifference and hypocrisy. The Noble Quran, in the venerable verse وَيُؤْثِرُونَ عَلَىٰ أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَلَوْ كَانَ بِهِمْ خَصَاصَةٌ (al-Hashr: 9),
portrays the exemplary conduct of Imam Hasan (peace be upon him) in his repeated charitable expenditures. The of this verse reads: And they prefer others over themselves, even though they themselves are in need. This conduct is a tangible embodiment of insight that actualises the verse in practice.
The Quranic recitation by Imam Hasan (peace be upon him) was suffused with insight, unsettling both disbelievers and believers alike, as if the Quran in his voice transformed from mere narration to vivid manifestation. Such recitation resembled a luminous beacon drawing hearts towards the Truth.
Hypocrisy is more pernicious than immorality, for the immoral persons sin is limited, whereas the hypocrite is devoid of all principles. Even a thief abides by his own corrupted law, yet the hypocrite is like an empty shell containing no principle. In contemporary times, the diminution of zeal for the Truth is indicative of hypocrisy. While people react vehemently to the violation of someones honour, disrespect towards the Truth and Shariah elicits scant response. This frailty is akin to a malady that empties the communitys heart of zeal and love for the Truth.
The Shariah mandates the immediate execution of the penalty for disrespecting the saints of religion; however, in the present era, this ruling is seldom enforced due to a lack of zeal. This deficiency acts as a barrier preventing the implementation of divine laws. Religious zeal functions as a shield that preserves the Shariah from being undermined and obliges the insightful seeker to practical adherence to the divine ordinances.
The report founded upon the Shariah issues from a truthful essence such as the Messenger of God (peace be upon him), who speaks solely from vision and reality. This report is like a pristine spring, culminating in good and felicity. The seeker must, with the light of insight, accept this report with certainty and absolve their conscience thereof. Such acceptance resembles the sowing of a seed whose fruit is the tangible realisation of the Shariah in the seekers life.
The phrase مطلق خبره هو الممهد للدین القویم signifies that the prophetic report is the foundation of the true religion. This report serves as a map that guides the seeker towards felicity and liberates them from the fear of unwarranted consequences.
The seeker should not fear the consequences stemming from the report Shariah, for harm lies in abandoning it rather than following it. This assurance acts as a shield protecting the seeker from doubts and hesitations. The conduct of Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) and the utterance of Ali Akbar (peace be upon him) ألسنا بالحق؟ (Are we not upon the Truth?) exemplify this assurance. This declaration is like a flame that consumes the darkness of doubt and guides the seeker towards martyrdom upon the Path of Truth.
The right of the report rooted in the Shariah is its transformation into evident reality. The seeker must accept this report with certainty and embody it in practice. This embodiment is akin to the transmutation of narration into reality, which transforms the Quran from a formal recital to a living, dynamic practice. The conduct of Imam Hasan (peace be upon him) in repeated charity is an example of such embodiment, manifesting the verse وَيُؤْثِرُونَ عَلَىٰ أَنْفُسِهِمْ in his life.
The Bab al-Basirah, as one of the pivotal stations in the mystical journey within the Manazil al-Sairin, introduces insight as a rank that liberates the seeker from bewilderment, polytheism, and oppression, directing them towards the vision of Truth and adherence to the Shariah. This rank resembles a divine light that purifies the seekers heart from carnal impurities and guides them towards Reality. The Quranic verses, such as قُلْ هَٰذِهِ سَبِيلِي and وَمَا يُؤْمِنُ أَكْثَرُهُمْ, emphasise the clarity of the path of insight and the necessity of deliverance from polytheism. Purification of the soul from ignorance and injustice, zeal for the Truth, and the practical embodiment of Shariahs ordinances are among the fundamental prerequisites for attaining this station. The conduct of the saints, such as Imam Hasan (peace be upon him) and Imam Husayn (peace be upon him), represent the tangible embodiment of insight that transforms the Quran from narration to reality. The critique of hypocrisy and lack of zeal in the contemporary era highlights the urgent need to revive religious zeal. This text, like a luminous lamp, illuminates the path of knowledge for seekers and researchers, and by inviting to purification of the soul and adherence to the Shariah, it accentuates the exalted status of insight in the mystical journey.
Supervised by Sadegh Khademi