The maqām al-waḥdat al-jāmiʿa (station of the all-encompassing unity) is the station of unity (waḥdat) that encompasses the names and attributes of Allah. It is the station of the realized ones (muḥaqqiqūn) who, after witnessing Allah Most High, perceive beings and their essences (aʿyān). The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him)'s khalīfa (successor), Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq, said: "I have not seen anything except that I saw Allah Most High before it."
The ʿārifūn (gnostics) have also said: Beings are the effects of the names and attributes, and they indicate them. The realized ʿārif sees Allah before His effects and infers the effects through Him. One who is veiled from this sees the effects before Allah and infers Allah through the effects. Thus, the station of seeing Allah before the effects is the maqām al-khāṣṣa al-khāṣṣa (station of the elect of the elect). These are the people of rusūkh (firm rootedness) and tamkīn (spiritual establishment). Whenever they are given to drink from the sharāb (wine) of ḥaqīqa (inner reality), their states of ṣaḥw (sobriety, lucidity) increase and their intellects deepen.
It is said that the possessor of unity (waḥdat) is in the station of baqāʾ (subsistence in God) because he witnesses the Real (al-Ḥaqq) as present in everything. He is the ocean and all things are waves; the ocean raises and lowers them. Everything subsists through Him. (Rihla, 216)
The maqṣad al-asmāʾ / maṭlab al-aʿlā (the highest aspiration and the loftiest aim) is to know the majestic Lord. Then, to perform worship to Him as a humble servant (ʿabd dhālīl). (Bughyat, 11)
The maqṣad al-asmāʾ (the highest aim) is to draw near to Allah Most High. The difference of opinion concerns the knowledge that leads to this lofty aspiration. (Bughyat, 12)