We have found the sidra as a maqām (spiritual station). There are eight stations of mushāhada (spiritual witnessing) there. In each station of mushāhada, there are such exalted vistas that, due to their great diversity, it is impossible to comprehend them. These various vistas are in accordance with the dhawq (spiritual taste) of the possessors of that station of mushāhada. What we have called a station above is the manifestation of the Real (al-Ḥaqq) in the loci of manifestation. This manifestation consists of the self-disclosure (tajallī) of the Real in the specific ḥaqīqas (inner realities) belonging to Him and in the meanings pertaining to creation.
We can enumerate these eight stations of mushāhada as follows: The first degree is the self-disclosure of the Exalted Real by His Name al-Ẓāhir (the Manifest), but from the servant's bāṭin (inward) aspect. The second is the self-disclosure of the Real by His Name al-Bāṭin (the Hidden), but from the servant's ẓāhir (outward) aspect. The third is the self-disclosure of the Real by the Name Allah from the servant's rūḥ (spirit) aspect. The fourth is the self-disclosure of the Real by the attribute Rabb (Lord) from the servant's nafs (lower self) aspect. The fifth is the degree of manifestation, which is the appearance of the Name al-Raḥmān (the Merciful) in the servant's intellect. The sixth is the self-disclosure of the Real by the Name al-Ḥaqq from the servant's wahm (imagination) aspect. The seventh is the maʿrifa (gnosis) of huwiyya (the Divine Ipseity). Here, the Real manifests in the enniyya (individual selfhood) of the servant's name. The eighth is the maʿrifa of the Divine Essence (Dhāt), but from the servant's mutlaq (absolute) aspect. In this station, the manifestation of the Real occurs through the servant's attainment of perfection (kamāl) in both the outward and inward form (haykal). When the situation is as described, the inward is with the inward, the outward with the outward, huwiyya with huwiyya, and enniyya with enniyya. The highest of the mentioned stations of mushāhada is this one. Beyond this is aḥadiyya (the station of absolute oneness). There, there is no trace of creation at all, for it is purely specific to the Real. This station is among the characteristics of the Essence (Dhāt) of the Necessary Existent (Wājib al-Wujūd).
If something of this manifestation comes to a kāmil (perfect) person, we say that it is a divine manifestation specific to him. There is no trace of creation there. In no way can that sidrat al-muntahā
manifestation be ascribed to creation; it necessarily belongs to the Real. For this reason, the people of God (ahl Allāh) have forbidden ascribing the manifestation of aḥadiyya to creation. (Insān, II, 85)