of Nokounam , Session 484
Within the spiritual journey of the seekers upon the Path of Truth, the station of uma'nnah (tranquillity) shines forth as a resplendent jewel amongst the various manzil al-s'irn (stations of the travellers). This station manifests as the full blossoming of sakinah (calmness), an abiding and intrinsic serenity that springs forth from divine love and intimate communion with the Exalted Truth. Unlike sakinah, which is a transient tranquillity contingent upon the majesty and awe of the Divine, uma'nnah is akin to a clear, pure stream that carries the seeker's heart safely to the shore of certainty and steadfastness.
uma'nnah represents the quintessence and distilled essence of the station of sakinah. It constitutes a sublime degree wherein the serenity and assurance of the seeker's heart reach their utmost perfection. Sakinah itself is a repose born from certitude in the Divine Reality and the awe-inspiring majesty of the Divine Presence; dignity and composure serve as its outward manifestation. Yet uma'nnah appears as a blossom upon the branch of the world of sakinah, bestowing a stable and intrinsic serenity. This exalted station shields the seeker from wavering and anxiety, guiding the heart to become like a polished mirror reflecting the light of the Truth.
The stillness inherent in the station of sakinah is a momentary and reactive state, accompanied by fear and hope. This stillness sometimes dwells within the seeker's heart, and at other times recedes due to the overwhelming majesty and grandeur of the Divine. Contrastingly, the stillness of uma'nnah is an enduring attribute that eradicates wavering and anxiety from the seeker's being. Whereas sakinah resembles a breeze that intermittently blows and then subsides, uma'nnah is like a sun that continuously shines upon the seekers hearts firmament, safeguarding it from all disturbances.
uma'nnah unfolds through three distinct degrees, each constituting a step in the seeker's ascent towards Divine proximity. The first degree, uma'nnah al-qalb (tranquillity of the heart), is intimately linked with the Divine remembrance (dhikr). This degree immerses the heart of the seeker into profound serenity and liberates him from both outward and inward anxieties. The succeeding degrees, which shall be elucidated forthwith, guide the seeker towards the stations of intimate communion (uns) and divine governance (ukm).
The seeker's heart attains uma'nnah through the illumination of Divine remembrance. As declared in the Holy Quran: Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.
(Surah Ar-Ra'd, 13:28; Translated by ). This remembrance acts as a pure, crystalline spring that cleanses the heart from the rust of anxiety, leading it to a realm of certainty and peace. Divine remembrance is the key that unlocks entry into the station of uma'nnah, steering the seeker from the vicissitudes of the self towards existential stability.
Within the station of sakinah, the seeker's assurance arises from fear and reverence inspired by the Divine Majesty. The seeker beholds the Truth as magnificent and thereby finds repose in this grandeur. However, in the station of uma'nnah, this fear transmutes into hope and love. The seeker obeys the Divine not out of dread but motivated by love and intimacy. This transformation resembles the passage from the shadow of Divine Majesty to the radiance of Divine Beauty, guiding the seeker's heart to a realm of affection and closeness.
Obedience within the station of uma'nnah arises from love and intimacy rather than awe and majesty. Such obedience is pure, sincere, and devoid of coercion or reluctance, much like a child's love for their parents. Conversely, obedience originating from awe and reverence may be accompanied by compulsion or constraint. uma'nnah elevates the seeker to a level where his submission to the Truth is not motivated by fear but by ardour and longing.
At the degree of uma'nnah al-uns (tranquillity of intimacy), the seeker attains the station of ukm (divine governance or decree). In this station, hardships, difficulties, and afflictions are borne with certainty and divine acceptance. The seeker, firm in the belief that all matters emanate from the Divine Will, is freed from anxiety and wavering. This station represents a summit from which the seeker regards all adversities with sweetness and delight, exalting divine decree and destiny with heart and soul.
Within the station of ukm, the seeker embraces difficulties and calamities with joy and sweetness, perceiving them as from the Divine. This acceptance stems from certainty in divine justice and love for the Divine. Much like a lover who drinks poison as if it were nectar, the seeker endures hardships eagerly and bows in humble submission to divine decree and destiny.
uma'nnah (tranquillity) leads the spiritual wayfarer to the station of ri (contentment), as explicitly stated in the Holy Quran:
رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ
(Srah At-Tawbah, 9:72; : God is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him.)
In this exalted station, the wayfarer, having beheld the Divine Truth, is liberated from every form of anxiety and tribulation, reaching perfect harmony with the Divine Will. Contentment is akin to a precious gem that illuminates the heart of the seeker and guides them towards an everlasting realm of serenity.
The term saknah in the Qur'an is frequently associated with the notion of inzl (descent), implying its transient nature. For instance, in the narrative of the Cave, it is said:
فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُ عَلَيْهِ
(Srah At-Tawbah, 9:9; : Then God sent down His tranquillity upon him.)
Furthermore, at the conquest of Mecca, God declares:
هُوَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ السَّكِينَةَ فِي قُلُوبِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
(Srah Al-Fath, 48:4; : He it is Who sent down tranquillity into the hearts of the believers.)
Such descent manifests in moments of awe and reverence, bestowing momentary calmness upon the hearts of the faithful.
The distinction between saknah and uma'nnah rests on two principal aspects: First, saknah is an awe-inspired authority derived from the majesty and grandeur of the Divine, which at times subsides, whereas uma'nnah is a permanent, secure stillness born of love and intimate closeness to the Truth. Second, saknah is described in the Qur'an as a descent, indicating its ephemeral quality, while uma'nnah denotes a steadfast, irreversible state.
Unlike saknah, which is sudden and dependent on Divine awe, uma'nnah is an enduring stillness originating from love and affection for the Divine Truth. Love kindles like a consuming fire within the seekers heart, emancipating them from all anxiety and wavering. This love is uncontrollable and directs the heart, home, and society towards spontaneous harmony and constructive activity.
A society governed by love and uma'nnah resembles a flourishing garden, every branch of which dances with the enthusiasm of life. In such a community, coercion and force become obsolete, as love naturally guides its members toward harmony and freedom. This stands in stark contrast to societies ruled by awe and authority, which lack efficacy and coherence.
Wilyah (spiritual guardianship) is fundamentally founded upon love and affection, not upon awe or authority. Prophets and saints, like luminous stars in the celestial firmament of guidance, govern hearts through love and intimacy. This form of wilyah stands opposed to tyrannical domination that relies on force and awe, which is inherently transient.
Awe, like a flame, sometimes blazes and at other times dies down; love, however, is akin to a continuous flowing stream. In the station of uma'nnah, love and affection for the Divine are enduring and efficacious, even under the harshest trials such as martyrdom. This permanence distinguishes uma'nnah from saknah.
The second distinction lies in their ontological status: saknah may be an attribute or a transient state, whereas uma'nnah is an inherent, immutable characteristic inseparable from its possessor. This constancy is rooted in love, which shines like a gem within the heart of the seeker, protecting them from any form of dissolution.
Love-based wilyah is like a deeply rooted tree, stable and forming the foundation of Divine governance. In contrast, the rule of falsehood resembles a fleeting whirlwind, leaving no lasting trace. This distinction becomes manifest upon comparing the wilyah of the saints, such as Al ibn Ab lib (peace be upon him), with the oppressive dominion of tyrants like Pharaoh.
The station of uma'nnah, like a summit in the mystical journey of the wayfarers, bestows a permanent and existential tranquility that springs from love and intimacy with the Divine Truth. In contrast to saknah, which is momentary and reliant upon Divine awe, uma'nnah guides the seekers heart to a realm of steadfastness and certainty. The Qur'anic verses, such as verse 28 of Srah Ar-Rad and verses 4 and 9 of Srah Al-Fath and At-Tawbah respectively, emphasise the role of dhikr (remembrance) and Divine descent in the actualisation of these spiritual stations. uma'nnah leads the wayfarer to the station of ri and acceptance of Divine decree and destiny, and socially, it directs communities toward harmony and freedom. This station not only liberates the seeker from anxiety and instability but, grounded in love and affection, establishes an enduring and effective wilyah within the hearts.
Supervised by Sadegh Khademii
