In the Name of Allah, All Merciful, Most Merciful
Embarking upon a spiritual journey of this magnitude is a momentous undertaking, and it is natural to feel daunted by the path ahead. While we rely entirely upon the inherited wisdom of the great masters, the sheer vastness of their legacy can be overwhelming for a beginner. It is impossible to encompass the ocean of their knowledge in a single glance. Our approach, therefore, is one of gradual immersion.
He is the Truth
Shaykh Najmuddin Kubra teaches that the fundamental purpose of human existence is for the heart to journey toward Allah and witness His transcendent Glory and Beauty. This objective, rooted in Surah adh-Dhariyat (51:56), is described as the ‘ultimate end of all purposes’ and the ‘pinnacle of all bounties.’
To achieve this, the seeker must remove spiritual veils and overcome obstacles to reach stations of Divine proximity. This journey unfolds through four primary stages:
- Knowledge: The antidote to ignorance, comprising of Yaqin (Certainty), Tawhid (Oneness), and Light of Faith.
- Obedience and Servitude: Living in total submission to the Divine.
- Exemplary Conduct: Adopting praiseworthy character traits as a means of drawing near to the Lord.
- Contemplation of the Divine: Journeying through the Beautiful Names and Exalted Attributes of God.
It is deduced that every wali (saint) has a unique station assigned by God, dictated by their inherent capacity. Once the heart reaches this designated rank, the mystical wayfaring finds its ultimate fulfillment and destination.
Here, by `journey’ is meant the removal of the veils that obstruct the vision of the heart and the light of Divine Attributes from shining in the wayfarer’s heart. This is the same journey for which man has been created.
The Spiritual Journey
We are slaves of Allah and wayfaring to Him. He, by His Perfect Might and Wisdom, has destined two journeys for us: Involuntary and Voluntary. The involuntary journey consists of six stages:
- Loins of the father
- Womb of the mother
- Physical world
- Grave
- Day of Ressurrection
- Real Abode
Each breath is a step; each day like a parasang (a historical unit of measurement used to measure walking distance); each month a stage; each year like a station. Yet we are heedless of the station of the grave and the onward journey to the station of the Day of Resurrection and your eternal and real home.
Meanwhile the voluntary journey is of two kinds:
- Journey of hearts and souls to Allah.
- Physical journey on earth
Each breath is a step; each day like a parasang (a historical unit of measurement used to measure walking distance); each month a stage; each year like a station. Yet we are heedless of the station of the grave and the onward journey to the station of the Day of Resurrection and your eternal and real home.
The Outward Principles of this Journey
- Detachment: One must give up material possessions and means so that the heart can be detach itself from worldly engagements.
- Seclusion: In order to seek Allah, we must seclude and distant ourselves from those that hinder us in our wayfaring.
- Self-Control: The seven organs, namely (1) eyes; (2) ears; (3) tongue; (4) belly; (5) feet; (6) hands and (7) private parts, must be protected from what is abominable to Allah.
- Greater Struggle: The lower self must be opposed to save oneself from the Fire.
- A Guide: An aware, perfect and wise Shaykh is like a doctor who helps the patient.
- Steadfastness: Instead of reading a medley of litanies, one must have a fixed set that one must be persistent in.
- Constant fasting: This is to further weaken the nafs but it must be done moderately.
- Cleanliness: One must keep the body clean as it is a weapon and a means of evoking enlightment.
- Night Vigil
- Striving to have a halal means of livelihood.
The Inward Principles of this Journey
- Keeping an eye over the lower self
- Humility, poverty and abasement before the Lord of the world.
- Sincere repentance and penitence
- Surrendering to the command of Allah
- Rida
- Having a greiving heart
- Good opinion
- Be aware of Allah’s scheme
- Love
- Giving up reliance on one’s own will and relying solely on Allah