FIFTH CHAPTER · SEVENTH SECTION · Seventh Article
Seventh Article
When the sālik (traveler) who enters the path of the muqarrabūn (those brought near to Allah) is at the stage of the nafs al-mulhima (the inspired self),
the accursed shayṭān (Satan) reveals the ways in which he appears to him as if from the Truth in order to divert him from the right path.
O dear one! It should be known that the friends of Allah (awliyāʾ) have said: When the traveler on the path of Truth is at the station of the nafs al-mulhima, the accursed Iblīs tries to penetrate him through suitable means in order to block his way. For the sālik at this station has passed through the obstacles mentioned in the previous articles and has reached the degree of maʿrifa (gnosis) in the third station. He has become safe from being deceived by those aforementioned traps. Therefore, to such a ʿārif (gnostic), the accursed shayṭān comes appearing as if from the Truth and says:
“You, who have become well acquainted with the states of the world and have recognized the doctrine of waḥdat al-wujūd (the oneness of being), thus say, ‘Lā mawjūda illā Allāh = In reality, there is no existent but Allah.’ You have found the radiant light of the verse, ‘He is the First and the Last, the Manifest and the Hidden’ (al-Ḥadīd 57:3). For you have known the indication, ‘Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth’ (al-Nūr 24:35) through the glad tidings, ‘Wheresoever you turn, there is the Face of Allah’ (al-Baqara 2:115). We all come from the Truth and to Him we shall return, as He has said, ‘Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return’ (al-Baqara 2:156). Again, the place from which we first came is His presence, and the place to which we will return is also His presence, as He has specified with the ruling, ‘All matters originate from Him and will return to Him.’ Ultimately, the people of Paradise are for Paradise, and the people of Hell are for Hell, as the saying, ‘What is decreed has come to pass and the Pen has dried’ [156] expresses this reality. Nothing that moves departs from its place unless it is Allah Most High who moves it. As the noble verse states: ‘Allah created you and what you do’ (al-Ṣāffāt 37:96). No one knows this indication except that He has made it known through inspiration to ʿārifūn (gnostics) like you. After this, why should you trouble your nafs (lower self) with difficult deeds! What befits your rank now is to leave all these outward acts of worship and ascetic disciplines—which are considered external acts—to ordinary people (the people of the outward) who are veiled from Allah by other things. Do not occupy yourself with the works of the people of imitation, but rather wander within your own qalb (heart) with pleasure and longing. Occupy yourself with more important and necessary inward matters such as murāqaba (spiritual vigilance) and mushāhada (witnessing), and taste their delight.” [350/a]
If the foot of this ʿārif slips and he listens to these words full of whisperings and deceit, abandoning worship and spiritual struggle, and follows the desires of his nafs, his heart will darken in a way he never expected. Then the accursed shayṭān settles there and says to him: “Your Lord is your reality, and you are His reality, as He has said, ‘He is the Hearing, the Seeing’ (al-Shūrā 42:11). Therefore, whatever you wish to do, do it, for with the word, ‘He is not questioned about what He does’ (al-Anbiyāʾ 21:23), He has made it known that you too are not to be questioned about what you do.”
At that point, the dark veils of his nature bind his insight so much that his eyes see nothing. He steals, commits betrayal, engages in fornication and sodomy. He drinks alcohol and commits all kinds of forbidden acts. His faith is corrupted, he no longer fears Allah, and he goes astray. He becomes such a plaything of the accursed Iblīs that he abandons the friendship of the Merciful Allah and takes Iblīs as his friend. Such is the state of the heedless one who turns to the darkness of his nature, follows the word of the accursed Iblīs, and pursues his desires.
If, however, the help of the Exalted Allah reaches this ʿārif and he stands firm in worship and spiritual struggle without his foot slipping, then surely his nafs attains itmiʾnān (serenity), and with a lofty aspiration, he ascends to the fourth station. He finds the happiness and joy of both worlds, becomes secure from the tricks and traps of the accursed shayṭān, and attains salvation.
Poetry
1- Awaken from heedlessness, O heart, for the breeze of the morning has come.
The wind of love has blown; know that joy has come to the soul.
2- O spiritual lover and O gnostic of the Merciful!
Find Him in the solitary night, for guidance has come to the soul.
3- Give sleep to the dead, come to the fulfiller of needs.
Begin supplication joyfully, for the time of praise has come.
4- Leave sleep and dreams, abandon impossible things.
Find the spiritual states with love, for the ecstasy of union has come.
5- Pass beyond the sorrow of multiplicity, drink the pure wine of unity.
Do not count your existence as anything; the light, the radiance has come.
6- Sorrows are in sleep, unions are in love.
Be aware, O sons of Adam, for the help of Allah has come.
7- Leave these strangers, find the beloved in the heart.
Do not miss the dawns, for the time of the call has come.
Simplified version of the poetry
1- Awaken from heedlessness, O heart! The breeze of the morning has come. The wind of love has blown; know that joy has come to the soul.
2- O spiritual lover and O gnostic of the Merciful! Find Him in the solitary night, for guidance has come to the soul.
3- Give sleep to the dead, come to the fulfiller of needs. Begin supplication joyfully, for the voice of praise has come.
4- Leave sleep and dreams, abandon impossible things. Find the spiritual states with love, for the ecstasy of union has come.
5- Pass beyond the sorrow of multiplicity, drink the wine of unity. Do not count your existence as anything; He, the light, the radiance, has come.
6- Sorrows are in sleep, unions are in love. Awaken, O sons of Adam, for the help of Allah has come.
7- O Truth! Leave these strangers, find the beloved in the heart. Do not miss the dawns, for the time of the call has come!