Lectures of Nokoonam (May His Soul Rest in Peace) - Session 541
The Maqamat al-Sa'ireen (Stations of the Wayfarers), authored by the eminent mystic and gnostic Khwajah Abdullah Ansari, shines like a radiant lamp, illuminating the path of spiritual ascension for seekers of the truth. The chapter on al-Safa (Purity) in this invaluable work points to the cleansing of the heart from worldly attachments and guides the wayfarer towards the reception of divine illuminations. The second lecture of session 541, delivered by Nokoonam (May His Soul Rest in Peace), expounds upon the second stage of this chapter, namely Safa al-Haal (Purity of State), which is distinguished by three prominent qualities: witnessing the signs of realization, the sweetness of communion with the Divine, and the forgetfulness of the world. This stage elevates the heart from theoretical knowledge to the direct experience of truth, guiding the wayfarer towards perceiving divine manifestations, the joy of intimate supplication, and liberation from worldly attachments.
The chapter of al-Safa in the mystical framework of the Maqamat al-Sa'ireen refers to the purification of the heart from worldly distractions, rendering it receptive to divine illuminations. This chapter is comprised of three stages: Purity of Knowledge (Safa al-Ilm), Purity of State (Safa al-Haal), and Purity of Connection (Safa al-Ittisal).
The focus of this lecture is on Safa al-Haal, which elevates the heart from mere theoretical knowledge to direct spiritual experience, guiding the wayfarer towards perceiving divine signs, the joy of intimate supplication, and liberation from worldly attachments.
The first attribute of Safa al-Haal is witnessing the signs of realization, meaning the perception of the divine marks and traces, rather than the essence of the Divine itself. These signs are manifestations of divine attributes and serve as proof of the validity of the spiritual path, leading the wayfarer's heart to certainty in their journey.
The second attribute of Safa al-Haal is the experience of the sweetness of intimate supplication with the Divine. The wayfarer's heart, having received divine illuminations, tastes the delight of conversing with the Beloved. This supplication, unlike one-sided prayer, is reciprocal, bringing the wayfarer closer to the Divine.
The third attribute of Safa al-Haal is Nisyan al-Kawn (forgetfulness of the world), meaning the forgetting of all other than the Divine due to the overpowering presence of divine light. This forgetfulness is not a renunciation of the world but rather an attachment-free existence. The wayfarer's heart, having witnessed the signs of the Divine and experienced the sweetness of communion, sees the world without light and becomes fully absorbed in the Divine Presence. This state is akin to the sun rising, which dispels the shadows of multiplicity and immerses the heart in the unity of the Divine.
