ÜÇÜNCÜ FEN · BİRİNCİ BAB · DÖRDÜNCÜ FASIL · On Üçüncü Madde
The Thirteenth Article
Describes how the human soul finds imperfection in the realm of bodies and with what it attains perfection.
O esteemed one! It is known that the friends of God have said: All souls descend from that exalted realm to this low and worthless realm, finding human bodies. Therefore, humankind is divided into three classes. The first class does not know why they came to this world, nor do they understand their desire for perfection; they worship "three simple idols." That is, they devote themselves to eating, drinking, sleeping, and procreation. This class, being deeply deluded, cannot ascend to their original stations in that exalted realm; they are misled and confused. For they have cast aside the attributes of angels and filled themselves with animalistic qualities.
The second class of humankind knows that the purpose of descending into this low and worthless realm is solely to attain perfection. Yet, even these fail to abstain from interest in four specific idols: excessive love of the self, love of relatives, love of wealth and possessions, and love of status and position. This class can return to their original stations, but they remain confused. They have passed beyond themselves with these four idols. For by perfecting the self (the perfectioning of the self), they do not reach a station higher than their own. The purpose for which they descended into this world has not been realized within them. The third class of humankind knows that they came to this low and worthless realm to attain perfection. Since God’s guidance is their companion, they consider themselves guests here. They have shattered and cast aside the seven idols mentioned above, thereby attaining perfection. This class ascends to stations higher than their original ones. For in this world, he who perfects his self is a complete human being. The Exalted One has revealed these three classes of humankind through His manifestation.
As it is stated in His Eternal Word: "Among them [humans] are those who wrong themselves, and those who are moderate, and others who strive to excel in good deeds by God’s permission" (The Creator, 35:32). For the bodies of angels are subtle and luminous; some are close minds (proximate intellects), and some are spiritual souls, and their stations are in the heavens of the exalted realm. They have a world, not much different from this one. The souls of animals are all darkness. Their stations are the pillars of the low and worthless realm. They partake not of the exalted realm. They too have but one world, no more than that.
Humankind has two worlds. One is the lower world of property, by virtue of body and animal soul. The other is the highest reaches of the angelic realm, by virtue of intellect and human soul. For the Exalted One created angels solely from intellect. He created animals solely from desire. He created humankind from both intellect and desire. Therefore, he who subdues his desire with his intellect, breaks the seven idols, becomes independent of others, and serves the Self-Subsisting God, the Lord of Sameness, is superior and more blessed than the angels. For the stations of each angel are known; they remain there constantly. But humankind can ascend to higher stations through perfecting their self. If desire overcomes a person’s intellect, making him a slave of the seven idols, he becomes one who forgets God, the Self-Subsisting One. His heart hardens. Though in that state, he is still human, but in reality, he is considered lower than animals in character. For the services of animals are counted as worship. He who is heedless of God is even lower than animals.
"O God! Do not make us among those who are heedless!"
The perfection of the human soul is to abandon transient pleasures, break the seven idols, understand the pleasure of tranquility, pass beyond created things, and descend deep within the heart. Thus, he knows his place of origin and return, and becomes acquainted with spiritual mysteries. He knows his self and his Lord in essence. He remains alive eternally with the relative soul. The Most Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "O Ali! Know thyself, lest you waste your life; lest your heart remain unknown to you.”
Verse
1-The interior of the soul is indeed the abode of the beloved;
the heart has always been the refuge of the beloved.
2-If the heart were a pure mirror;
the beautiful countenance of the beloved would appear within it.
3-Within the blackness of the knowing heart,
the passion for the beloved makes one joyful, continually.
4-If the heart is emptied of all worldly conflict,
it becomes filled with the conflict of the beloved.
5-Like a ship’s turning in the heart,
it stirs up the ocean of the beloved.
6-Abandon pride; it is the lowest of the low,
for this is how one attains nearness to the most intimate [278].
7-This makes the soul radiant with splendor;
the sweet and sugary lips of the beloved.