Introduction: Kashf, a Gateway to Divine Mysteries The Chapter of Kashf is akin to a window opening towards the secrets and divine mysteries. It is one of the deepest stages in the mystical journey described in *Mazaal al-Sairin* by Khwaja Abdullah Ansari. This chapter, by elucidating the concepts of revelation (Wahy), inspiration (Ilham), unveiling (Kashf), and miracles (Karamat), guides the seeker towards the comprehension of inner truths and a direct connection with the ultimate reality. Nakoonam, in his lecture on Session 568, provides an insightful explanation of this stage verses of the Quran and the conduct of the Divine saints. He portrays this stage as a mirror that only reflects the light of truth when polished with purity and sincerity.
Chapter of Truths: Spiritual Mysteries and Divine Secrets The Chapter of Truths, akin to a hidden treasure within the depths of the mystical path, is dedicated to spiritual mysteries and divine secrets, which are accessible only to the select few and the true seekers. This chapter includes concepts such as Kashf, Wahy, Ilham, and Karamat, whose understanding, beyond verbal explication and conceptualization, requires practical experience and a lived mystical existence. Just as describing the sweetness of honey is insufficient without tasting it, articulating mystical truths without experiential practice is akin to a mark on water, which vanishes quickly. The seeker must, much like a gardener who introduces a flower not through description but by showing it, come to touch the truth through action and spiritual struggle.
Kashf: A Meeting of Two Realities Kashf is like an immediate dialogue between two inner realms, a two-way process where the seeker resonates with inner truths and perceives the ultimate reality with the eye of the heart. This perception, which may occur through the external eye or the internal eye, frees the seeker from material veils and directs them towards the unmediated understanding of universal and divine meanings. Kashf, unlike a one-way revelation which is simply a view of the truth, is a dynamic conversation between the seeker and the truth, where the heart speaks and the truth responds. Difference Between Kashf, Wahy, and Ilham Kashf, Wahy, and Ilham, though common in the domain of inner realities and the unseen, differ in their nature and stages. Wahy, which is specific to the Prophets, descends through Gabriel and serves to legislate and guide, while Ilham is a direct inspiration into the hearts of the saints. Kashf, however, is a reciprocal encounter between the seeker's inner world and the truth. These distinctions are like lines on the canvas of the mystical path, each drawing a different figure. Mixing them up will divert the seeker from the true path.
Night Vigil and Solitude: Keys to Unveiling Reaching Kashf, like opening a door to the treasures of the unseen, requires certain conditions such as night vigils, solitude, spiritual vigor, purity, and sincerity. The night vigil, which is emphasized in the Qur'an, is like a seed planted in the quiet soil of the night, nurtured by the light of worship. Allah says in verses 3 and 7 of Surah Muzammil:
These verses introduce the night as the time for solitude and worship, preparing the seeker to receive divine truths.
Permissible Sustenance and Freedom from Mundane Concerns Permissible sustenance (Halaal) and freedom from worldly distractions are like pure streams that cleanse the seeker's heart and mind from worldly impurities. The seeker must, like a traveler who sets down their heavy burdens, abandon mental preoccupations with mundane affairs, so their heart can be prepared to receive divine inspirations. This freedom does not imply renouncing the world, but rather prioritizing the spiritual path and focusing on the truth. Sincerity and Purity: The Mirror of the Heart Sincerity and purity are like a polished mirror, preparing the seeker's heart to reflect the light of truth. Without these, the heart is like a murky spring, unable to reflect the truth clearly. Sincerity, which is freedom from worldly attachments, and purity, which is the clarity of the heart in relation to the Divine, elevate the seeker to a station where only the truth remains in their heart.
Wahy: Specific to the Prophets Wahy, as the divine message revealed through Gabriel to the hearts of the Prophets, is exclusive to them and serves the purposes of legislation and guidance for creation. Allah mentions in verse 10 of Surah Najm:
This verse emphasizes the hidden nature of Wahy, which even the saints cannot fully comprehend. The phrase "what He revealed" indicates the depth and mystery of Wahy, which is beyond the reach of normal intellect and perception.
Inspiration, akin to a breeze that blows directly into the hearts of the saints, enters the inner vessel of the saint's soul unmediated. Unlike revelation, which is mediated, inspiration is unmediated and akin to a secret shared between the lover and the beloved. This distinction mirrors the difference between the light that directly radiates from the sun and the light reflected from a mirror.
The definition of revelation as a subtle indication is fundamentally incomplete, as this notion encompasses inspiration, unveiling, and mystical visions. Such a definition is akin to a sketch that only outlines the broader contours without delving into the specifics. Prophetic revelation, due to its legislative nature and intermediary form, is distinct from other types of subtle indications. Blending these concepts is like mixing the water of the sea with that of a spring, rendering each devoid of its original quality.
Special revelation, which is exclusive to the prophets, differs from general revelation, which also includes non-prophets. The Qur'an mentions revelation to the mother of Moses, the honeybee, and the earth. However, this general revelation is like streams that do not originate from the spring of special revelation. Special revelation, conveyed through the archangel Gabriel and intended for legislation, contrasts with general revelation, which consists of divine inspirations in lower spiritual realms.
The seeker, at higher stages of mystical unveiling, perceives the truth both with the eye of the heart and with the physical eye. This dual perception is akin to seeing a flower that blooms both in the garden of truth and reflects in the mirror of the heart. At intermediate stages, the physical eye sometimes obstructs the perception of the inner reality, but at higher levels, the seeker becomes akin to a mystic who, with a thousand eyes, sees the divine light in both realms. As the poet says:
"People have heard of God, yet have not seen / We have seen that which others have only heard."
This signifies the unity of the external and the internal within the heart of the seeker.
General love, which pertains to divine realities, is like an endless ocean that liberates the seeker from material attachments and connects them to the divine essence. This love, in contrast to particular love, which is directed towards material matters such as home, children, and the world, only resides in pure hearts. Particular love is like a shadow that vanishes in the face of the light of general love. The seeker, in order to attain mystical unveiling, must pass from particular love to general love, just as one travels from the desert of animality to the realm of humanity.
The mixing of revelation and mystical unveiling is like blending thorns and flowers, each losing its true essence. Mystical unveiling, which encompasses various degrees of insight and perception, is broader than revelation, yet revelation holds a unique and distinct rank due to its legislative and mediated nature. This confusion arises from a lack of practical experience and from not walking the path of spiritual discipline, leading the seeker to conflate these concepts in their mind.
Key Point: The blending of revelation and mystical unveiling results from a lack of attention to the nature and stages of these concepts, causing the seeker to deviate from the path of truth.
Unveiling is like a spark that sometimes even shines in the hearts of the damned, yet the unveiling of a saint, due to their purity and connection to the Divine, is like a steady light that illuminates the path. The unveiling of a non-saint is often incidental and fleeting, while the unveiling of a saint is the result of spiritual struggle and the purification of the soul. This distinction is akin to the difference between the light of the sun and the spark that arises from a stone.
Success in the spiritual journey is like a voyage that requires a pre-drawn map. The seeker must take guidance from the conduct of the divine saints and successful travelers, just as the traveler follows the path of those who have gone before them. Studying the path of past travelers is like a torch that illuminates the darkness of the spiritual journey, guiding the seeker towards divine guidance.
Key Point: The spiritual journey requires practical experience and guidance from successful seekers who pave the way.
Spiritual struggle and the solitude of the night are like a furnace that purges the rust of alienation from the heart. The seeker, like a lover who converses with the beloved at dawn, must attune themselves with the Divine in the solitude of the night. This solitude, accompanied by wakefulness and worship, prepares the heart to receive divine truths.
The gate of mystical unveiling is like a window to the hidden divine realities, guiding the seeker towards an understanding of inner truths and unmediated connection to the ultimate reality. This station, defined by concepts such as revelation, inspiration, and mystical unveiling, requires certain conditions such as night vigils, solitude, purity, sincerity, and lawful sustenance. The differences between revelation, inspiration, and mystical unveiling, each of which occupies a specific rank, emphasize the importance of precision in mystical concepts. Mystical unveiling, as a reciprocal encounter between the inner self and the truth, with the vision of truth through both the eye of the heart and the physical eye, brings the seeker to the unity of the external and the internal. The critique of blending mystical concepts, including revelation and mystical unveiling, highlights the importance of practical experience and learning from successful seekers. This chapter, like a treasure, is only unlocked through the key of spiritual struggle and purity, leading the seeker to the land of monotheism.
