Transitioning from the Outside In: A Necessity
In Islam, the spiritual journey does not reach its peak instantly; just like the steps of a ladder, it has specific stages, stops, and trials. The first step is to strictly adhere to the outward commands of religion, that is, to show complete submission within the framework of Sharia (Islam). However, this is only a beginning. Shaykh Geylani (q.s.) warns those who try to skip steps, saying: “You are not yet truly Islamic; how will you reach the stage of faith? Your faith has not gained strength; how will you find the state of certainty? Your state of certainty has not been perfected; with what will you find the state of knowledge and sainthood?” For a person to aspire to higher stations without fully feeling faith in their heart and reinforcing it with their actions is like trying to build a building without a foundation.
The Station of Ikan (Certainty): Belief Free from Doubt
When faith takes root in the heart and reaches a level that no storm can shake, one progresses to the station of “Ikan” (or Yakîn). Ikan is the state where all doubts, suspicions, and hesitations are completely erased from the heart, and the existence and promise of God are seen as clearly as the sun. For a believer at this level, paradise and hell are as real as objects they see with their eyes. A person whose faith is not strong is shaken by calamities and rebels against fate. But a servant who possesses certainty knows that everything that happens to him – whether it be calamity, illness, or blessing – comes directly from the powerful hand of his Lord. This profound understanding frees him from fears and enables him to show absolute acceptance of divine decree.
The Ultimate Goal: Knowledge and Sainthood
A righteous servant who perseveres in the station of Ikan and continues their struggle against the self eventually reaches the summit of “Marifetullah” (knowing, recognizing God). A person of knowledge observes the attributes of the Creator in every particle of creation and is a distinguished saint always in communion (heartfelt conversation) with Him. “If a believer follows the paths of certainty and sincerity, he acquires the essence of intellect. With this intellect, he leaves behind worldly people… The Most High gives him what he did not know,” 30. At this station, the servant is completely purified from worldly desires, has tasted the state of “Fana” (annihilation), and has been resurrected only by the love of God. The true purpose of Sufism is to carry humanity to this station and make them a perfect being.