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Sacred-texts Islam

Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan

A SUFI MESSAGE OF SPIRITUA I!ERT"

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GO&

!elo'ed ones o( God) you may *elon+ to any race) cast) creed) or nation) still you are all

im,artially *elo'ed *y God "ou may *e a *elie'er or an un*elie'er in the su,reme!ein+) *ut .e cares not .is mercy and +race (lo/ throu+h all .is ,o/ers) /ithout

distinction o( (riend or (oe

0E'ery lea( o( tree) Allah0s ,raise dis,lays)

Only the ,ious mind can hear their sacred lays0

The sun) moon) and stars +i'e li+ht1 the timely chan+e o( seasons ,romotes health andcheer(ulness1 the rain +ro/s corn) (ruits) and (lo/ers1 and the alternation o( day and ni+ht

,ro'ides the o,,ortunity (or /or2 and rest

0Earth) /ater) (ire and air)All /or2 harmoniously

For thee they al/ays (ood ,re,are)

Thou shouldst not eat unthan2(ully

For ho/ each day the sun shines and ser'es)All ,raise (rom thee Allah deser'es0

I( you study your o/n *ody) you /ill (ind its mechanism to *e the ori+inal model o( the

arti(icial mechanism o( the /orld Art and science (ail i( com,ared /ith that o( .is

nature The ear) eyes) and all other or+ans) ho/ ,er(ectly they are ada,ted in sha,e andmechanism to the ,ur,ose /hich they must ser'e3 .o/ li*erally the needs o( li(e) /ater)

air) and (ood) are su,,lied1 e'en mil2 is ,re,ared in the mother0s *reast (or the un*orn

in(ant Should /e not a,,reciate the li*erality o( the 4reator) and than2 him each moment/ith all humility and +ratitude5 0Praise *e to Allah) the /orshi, o( /hom is the means o(

dra/in+ closer to .im) and the +i'in+ o( than2s to /hom in'ol'es an increase o(

*ene(its E'ery *reath /hich is inhaled ,rolon+s li(e) and /hen exhaled it 6uic2ens the(rame In e'ery *reath) there(ore) t/o *lessin+s are contained) and (or e'ery *lessin+ a

se,arate than2s+i'in+ is due0 7Sa'di8
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.e has (ashioned and molded you a(ter .is o/n ima+e) and made you Ashr9 ( al-

Ma2hlu9 t) the hi+hest o( all *ein+s and the ,ride o( the uni'erse) ha'in+ +i'en you

command o'er all other *ein+s o( *oth /orlds As is said in the :ur0an) 0&o you not seethat Allah has su*;ected all thin+s on earth to you50 And at the same time .e has +i'en

you) *y .is +race) the attri*utes o( humanity< 2indness) +ratitude) (aith(ulness) ;ustice)

modesty) ,iety) sym,athy) re'erence) *ra'ery) ,atience) lo'e) 2no/led+e) and /isdomThis is an o,en ,roo( o( your *ein+ the real o*;ect o( creation and the most *elo'ed o(

God

=ATURE

The ar+ument has *een raised that all mani(estation is due to the interaction o( naturalelements) /or2in+ *y their o/n (orce1 e'ery cause has its e((ect) and the e((ect a+ain

*ecomes a cause (or the reaction1 thus nature /or2s unaided The ans/er is) that e'ery

cause must ha'e some ,recedin+ cause) or (irst cause) to ,roduce it1 and lo+ically onecause may ,roduce many e((ects) /hich e((ects a+ain *ecome second causes) ,roducin+

ne/ reactions) 0>hile intellectual minds are see2in+ second causes) the /ise man only

,ercei'es the (irst cause Air) earth) /ater) *ein+ second causes) the ,recedent cause)

/hich ma2es them act and ,ause) is hidden0

T.E PERSO=A !EI=G

Grantin+ that /e see nature) and also admittin+ its ori+inal cause) u,on /hat +rounds do

/e consider the cause to *e a ,ersonal God) meritin+ /orshi,5 The ans/er is that nature

itsel( consists o( di((erent ,ersonalities) and each o( them has its ,eculiar attri*utes Thesum total o( all these ,ersonalities is One) the only real ,ersonality In relation to that One

all other ,ersonalities are merely an illusion ?ust as) in a limited (orm) a nation or a

community is the sum o( many ,ersonalities ?ust as nature mani(ested in numerousnames and (orms is still called nature) sin+ular not ,lural) ;ust as the indi'idual com*ines

/ithin himsel( the di((erent ,arts o( his *ody) arms) lim*s) eyes) ears) and is ,ossessed o(

di((erent 6ualities yet is one ,erson) so the sum total o( all ,ersonalities is called God

.e is the ,ossessor o( all the 'isi*le and in'isi*le attri*utes o( the A*solute) and hasdi((erent names in di((erent lan+ua+es (or the understandin+ o( man It may *e said that

the ,ersonality o( a man is 6uite com,rehensi*le) since his actions exhi*it him as a sin+le

indi'idual) /hereas God0s ,ersonality has no clear identi(ication o( its o/n The ans/eris) that 'ariety co'ers unity 0.idden thin+s are mani(ested *y their o,,osites) *ut as God

has no o,,osite .e remains hidden God0s li+ht has no o,,osite in the ran+e o( creation

/here*y it may *e mani(ested to 'ie/0 7Jelal-ud-Din Rumi8


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The /ise man *y studyin+ nature enters into the unity throu+h its 'ariety) and reali@es the

,ersonality o( God *y sacri(icin+ his o/n 0.e /ho 2no/s himsel( 2no/s Allah0 7Sayings

of Mohammed8 0The Kin+dom o( God is /ithin you0 7Bible8 0Sel(-2no/led+e is the real/isdom0 7Vedanta8

God0s relation to nature may *e understood *y analysin+ the idea ex,ressed in the /ords)0I mysel(0 This a((irmation means the one indi'idual1 at the same time it identi(ies the

dual as,ect o( the One In this ,hrase 0I0 is the ,ossessor) and 0mysel(0 is the ,ossessed Soalso God) the unmani(ested) is the ,ossessor1 and nature) the mani(estation) is the

,ossessed) /hich has its source hidden /ithin itsel(

The ,ossessed could not ha'e *een created (rom anythin+ other than the ,ossessor0s o/nsel() as there existed none *ut the ,ossessor Althou+h the ,ossessor and the ,ossessed are

considered to *e t/o se,arate identities) in reality they are one The ,ossessor reali@es the

,ossessed throu+h the medium o( his o/n consciousness) /hich (orms three as,ects) the

Trinity) o( the one !ein+ The German ,hiloso,her .e+el says) 0I( you say God is one) it

is true1 i( you say .e is t/o) that is also true1 and i( you say .e is three) that is true too)*ecause it is the nature o( the /orld0

God is re+arded (rom three ,oints o( 'ie/< ,ersonality) morality) and reality Accordin+ to

the (irst 'ie/) God is the most hi+h1 man is de,endent u,on .im and is .is most o*edientser'ant Accordin+ to the second 'ie/) God is the all-merci(ul and all-+ood Master o( the

&ay o( ?ud+ement) /hile all e'il is (rom Satan The third is the ,hiloso,hic 'ie/ that

God is the *e+innin+ and end o( all) ha'in+ .imsel( no *e+innin+ nor end As a Su(imystic has said) 0The uni'erse is the mani(estation o( Allah) /here (rom .is o/n unity

.e created) *y in'olution) 'ariety the state o( 'arious names and (orms ) there*y

distin+uished as Allah) /orthy o( all ,raise and /orshi,0

&UA ASPE4T

Accordin+ to Su(i tenets the t/o as,ects o( the su,reme !ein+ are termedZ tand Sifat)

the Kno/er and the Kno/n The (ormer is Allah and the latter Mohammed B9t *ein+

only one in its existence) cannot *e called *y more than one name) /hich is Allah1 andSi(at) *ein+ mani(old in (our di((erent in'olutions) has numerous names) the sum o( them

all *ein+ termed Mohammed The ascendin+ and descendin+ (orms o( B9t and Si(at (orm

the circle o( the A*solute These t/o (orces are calledNuzuland Uu!) /hich means

in'olution and e'olution =u@ul *e+ins (rom B9t and ends in Si(at1 Uru; starts (rom Si(atand ends in B9t) B9t *ein+ the ne+ati'e and Si(at the ,ositi'e (orce

B9t ,ro;ects Si(at (rom its o/n sel( and a*sor*s it /ithin itsel( It is a rule o( ,hiloso,hy

that the ne+ati'e cannot lose its ne+ati'eness *y ,ro;ectin+ the ,ositi'e (rom itsel()thou+h the ,ositi'e co'ers the ne+ati'e /ithin itsel() as the (lame co'ers the (ire The

,ositi'e has no inde,endent existence) yet it is real *ecause ,ro;ected (rom the real) and it

may not *e re+arded as an illusion .uman i+norance ,ersists in considerin+ B9t to *e

se,arate (rom Si(at) and Si(at inde,endent o( B9t


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>ORS.IP

>e may as2< /hy /e should /orshi, God) and /hether the theoretical 2no/led+e o( .is

la/ in nature is not su((icient For the hi+hest reali@ation The ans/er is< no Theoretical2no/led+e o( a su*;ect can ne'er ta2e the ,lace o( ex,erience) /hich is necessary (or

reali@ation >ritten music cannot entertain us unless it is ,layed) nor the descri,tion o(

,er(ume deli+ht our senses unless /e smell it) no reci,es o( the most delicious dishessatis(y our hun+er =or can the theory o( God +i'e com,lete ;oy and ,eace1 /e must

actually reali@e God or attain that state o( reali@ation /hich +i'es eternal ha,,iness

throu+h the admiration and /orshi, o( nature0s *eauty and its source 0The !elo'ed is all

in all) the lo'er only 'eils him1 the !elo'ed is all that li'es) the lo'er a dead thin+0 7Jelal-ud-Din Rumi8

TRUT.

&i((erent methods called reli+ions and ,hiloso,hies ha'e *een ado,ted *y di((erent

nations at 'arious ,eriods Thou+h the (orm and teachin+s o( the se'eral reli+ions a,,earso unli2e) their source is one and the same !ut (rom the 'ery *e+innin+ the di((erences

ha'e created ,re;udice) en'y) and anta+onism *et/een man Such dissensions occu,y a

lar+e ,ortion o( the histories o( the /orld and ha'e *ecome the most im,ortant su*;ect inli(e

0So many castes and so many creeds)

So many (aiths) and so many *elie(s)

All ha'e arisen (rom i+norance o( man)

>ise is he /ho only truth concei'es0

A /ise man reali@es that the (undamental *asis o( all reli+ions and *elie(s is one


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reali@ation is one1 in its re,resentation it is many) since its re'elations are made under

'aryin+ conditions o( time and s,ace

As /ater in a (ountain (lo/s in one stream *ut (alls in many dro,s) di'ided *y time ands,ace) so are the re'elations o( the one stream o( truth =ot e'eryone can com,rehend the

idea o( di((erent truths *ein+ deri'ed (rom the one truth 4ommon sense has *een sonarro/ly trained in this /orld o( 'ariety) that it naturally (ails to reali@e the *readth and

su*tlety o( a s,iritual (act so (ar *eyond the reach o( its limited reasonin+

T.E SUFIS

The /ord Su(i is deri'ed (rom Safameanin+ ,ure) ,uri(ied o( i+norance) su,erstition)

do+matism) e+otism) and (anaticism) as /ell as (ree (rom limitations o( caste) creed) race)

and nation The Su(is *elie'e in God as the A*solute) the only !ein+1 and that all creationis the mani(estation o( .is nature

There ha'e *een Su(is at all ,eriods o( human history Thou+h they ha'e li'ed in di((erent

,arts o( the /orld) s,ea2in+ di((erent lan+ua+es and *orn into di((erent (aiths and *elie(s)

they ha'e reco+ni@ed and sym,athi@ed /ith each other) throu+h the oneness o( theirunderstandin+ "et /ith their dee, 2no/led+e o( the /orld and o( s,iritual mysteries)

they ha'e concealed their *elie(s (rom the multitude) and ha'e ,ursued in secret their /ay

o( attainment to the hi+hest *liss

SEF-K=O>E&GE

=ature has *een in'ol'ed throu+h s,irit into matter) and e'ol'es throu+h di((erent sta+es

Man is the result o( the in'olution o( s,irit and the e'olution o( matter1 the (inal e((ect o(

this cause is 0sel(-reali@ation0) /hich means that the Kno/er arri'es at that sta+e o(,er(ection /here .e can 2no/ .imsel(

0Thou art a mortal *ein+)

And thou art the Eternal One1

Kno/ thysel() throu+h li+ht o( /isdom)

Exce,t Thee there exists none0

The human *ein+ is inherently ca,a*le o( sel(-2no/led+e1 *ut to 2no/ onesel( means notonly to 2no/ that one is ?ohn) ?aco*) or .enry) or short) tail) or o( normal hei+ht) or to

2no/ that one is +ood) *ad) and so (orth) *ut also to 2no/ the mystery o( one0s existence)

theoretically as /ell as ,ractically< to 2no/ /hat one is /ithin onesel() (rom /hence and(or /hat ,ur,ose one /as *orn on earth1 /hether one /ill li'e here (or e'er) or i( one0s


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stay is short1 o( /hat one is com,osed) and /hich attri*utes one ,ossesses1 /hether one

*elon+s to an+els) contem,latin+ the *eauties o( God0s nature) or i( one *elon+s to the

animals) /ho 2no/ nothin+ other than to eat) drin2) and *e merry1 or /hether one*elon+s to the de'ils It re6uires ,er(ection in humanity to attain sel(-2no/led+e To

2no/ that I am God) or /e are +ods) or to 2no/ that e'erythin+ is a ,art o( God) is not

su((icient Per(ect reali@ation can only *e +ained *y ,assin+ throu+h all the sta+es*et/een man) the mani(estation) and God) the only !ein+1 2no/in+ and reali@in+

oursel'es (rom the lo/est to the hi+hest ,oint o( existence) and so accom,lishin+ the

hea'enly ;ourney

OCE

The +reatest ,rinci,le o( Su(ism is) 0Ish6 Allah) Ma0*ud Allah0 7God is lo'e) lo'er) and

*elo'ed8

>hen Ahad) the only !ein+) *ecame conscious o( his >ahdat) only existence) throu+h

.is o/n consciousness) then0 .is ,redis,osition o( lo'e made .im ,ro;ect .imsel( toesta*lish .is dual as,ect) that .e mi+ht *e a*le to lo'e someone This made God the

lo'er) and mani(estation the *elo'ed1 the next in'ersion ma2es mani(estation the lo'er)

and God the *elo'ed This (orce o( lo'e has *een /or2in+ throu+h se'eral e'olutions andin'olutions) /hich end in man /ho is the ultimate aim o( God The dual as,ect o( God is

si+ni(icant in B9t and Si(at) in s,irit and matter) and in the mineral) 'e+eta*le) animal) and

human 2in+doms) /herein the t/o sexes) male and (emale) are clearly re,resented The

dual as,ect o( God is sym*oli@ed *y each (orm o( this /onder(ul /orld This /holeuni'erse) internally and externally) is +o'erned *y the source o( lo'e) /hich is sometimes

the cause and sometimes the e((ect The ,roducer and the ,roduct are one) and that One is

nothin+ *ut lo'e

0A church) a tem,le or a Ka0*a stone)

:ur0an or !i*le or a martyr0s *one)

All these and more my heart can tolerate)

Since my reli+ion no/ is o'e alone0 7A*ul Ala8

Su(is ta2e the course o( lo'e and de'otion to accom,lish their hi+hest aim) *ecause it is

lo'e /hich has *rou+ht man (rom the /orld o( unity to the /orld o( 'ariety) and the same(orce can ta2e him *ac2 a+ain to the /orld o( unity (rom that o( 'ariety

0o'e is the reduction o( the uni'erse to the sin+le *ein+) and the ex,ansion o( a sin+le

*ein+) e'en to God0 7Balza$8


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o'e is that state o( mind in /hich the consciousness o( the lo'er is mer+ed in that o( the

o*;ect o( his lo'e1 it ,roduces in the lo'er all the attri*utes o( humanity) such as

resi+nation) renunciation) humility) 2indness) contentment) ,atience) 'irtue) calmness)+entleness) charity) (aith(ulness) *ra'ery) *y /hich the de'otee *ecomes harmoni@ed /ith

the A*solute As one o( God0s *elo'ed) a ,ath is o,ened (or his hea'enly ;ourney< at the

end he arri'es at oneness /ith God) and his /hole indi'iduality is dissol'ed in the oceano( eternal *liss /here e'en the conce,tion o( God and man disa,,ears

0Althou+h lo'e is a s/eet madness)

"et all in(irmities it heals

Saints and sa+es ha'e ,assed throu+h it)

o'e *oth to God and man a,,eals0

PERFE4TIO=

The ideal ,er(ection) calledBa#a*y Su(is) is termed 0=a;at0 in Islam) 0=ir'ana0 in

!uddhism) 0Sal'ation0 in 4hristianity) and 0Mu2hti0 in .induism This is the hi+hest

condition attaina*le) and all ancient ,ro,hets and sa+es ex,erienced it) and tau+ht it to the

/orld

!a6a is the ori+inal state o( God At this state e'ery *ein+ must arri'e some day)

consciously or unconsciously) *e(ore or a(ter death The *e+innin+ and end o( all *ein+s

is the same) di((erence only existin+ durin+ the ;ourney

There are three /ays in man0s ;ourney to/ards God The (irst is the /ay o( i+norance)throu+h /hich each must tra'el It is li2e a ,erson /al2in+ (or miles in the sun /hile

carryin+ a hea'y load on his shoulder) /ho) /hen (ati+ued) thro/s a/ay the load and

(alls aslee, under the shade o( a tree Such is the condition o( the a'era+e ,erson) /hos,ends his li(e *lindly under the in(luence o( his senses and +athers the load o( his e'il

actions1 the a+onies o( his earthly lon+in+s creatin+ a hell throu+h /hich he must ,ass to

reach the destination o( his ;ourney >ith re+ard to him the :ur0an says) 0.e /ho is *lind

in li(e) shall also *e *lind in the herea(ter0

The next /ay is that o( de'otion) /hich is (or true lo'ers Rumi says) 0Man may *e the

lo'er o( man or the lo'er o( God1 a(ter his ,er(ection in either he is ta2en *e(ore the Kin+

o( lo'e0 &e'otion is the hea'enly /ine) /hich intoxicates the de'otee until his heart

*ecomes ,uri(ied (rom all in(irmities and there remains the ha,,y 'ision o( the !elo'ed)/hich lasts to the end o( the ;ourney 0&eath is a *rid+e) /hich unites (riend to (riend0

7Sayings of Mohammed8


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The third is the /ay o( /isdom) accom,lished only *y the (e/ The disci,le disre+ards

li(e0s momentary com(orts) unties himsel( (rom all earthly *onda+es and turns his eyes

to/ard God) ins,ired /ith di'ine /isdom .e +ains command o'er his *ody) his thou+htsand (eelin+s) and is there*y ena*led to create his o/n hea'en /ithin himsel() that he may

re;oice until mer+ed into the eternal +oal 0>e ha'e stri,,ed the 'eil (rom thine eyes) and

thy si+ht today is 2een0) says the :ur0an All must ;ourney alon+ one o( these three ,aths)*ut in the end they arri'e at one and the same +oal As it is said in the :ur0an) 0It is .e

/ho multi,lied you on the earth) and to .im you shall *e +athered0

PROP.ETS

It is hard (or intellect alone to *elie'e in the ,ossi*ility o( ,ro,hetic ins,iration Intellectis the consciousness re(lected in the 2no/led+e o( names and (orms1 /isdom is

consciousness in its ,ure essence) /hich is not necessarily de,endent u,on the

2no/led+e o( names and (orms

The +i(t o( /isdom +i'es 'ision in to the real nature o( thin+s as the D-ray ,enetratesmaterial *odies >isdom has *een s,ecially *esto/ed u,on certain ,ersons) and in these

rare cases the recei'ers o( it are more than merely /ise) and may *e re+arded as the 'ery

mani(estation o( /isdom They are the ,ro,hets) /ho ha'e (oresi+ht) ins,iration)intuition) clair'oyance) and clairaudience as their in*orn attri*utes

A Su(i considers all ,ro,hets and sa+es) not as many indi'iduals) *ut as the one

em*odiment o( God0s ,ure consciousness) or the mani(estation o( di'ine /isdom)

a,,earin+ on earth (or the a/a2enin+ o( man (rom his slee, o( i+norance) in di((erentnames and (orms ?ust as one0s o/n su*-consciousness /ould a/a2en one at a certain

time) i( ,re'iously /arned) in the same /ay the consciousness o( God is the a+ency (or

a/a2enin+ .is mani(estation) ,ro;ectin+ itsel( throu+h di((erent names and (orms toaccom,lish .is desire o( *ein+ 2no/n All these causes o( /isdom are the mani(estation

o( the one cause) .a6

The ,ro,hetic mission /as intended to train the /orld +radually in di'ine /isdom

accordin+ to its mental e'olution) and to im,art it to man) accordin+ to his understandin+)in (orms suita*le to 'arious lands at di((erent ,eriods This is /hy numerous di((erent

reli+ions are still in existence) althou+h the moral ,rinci,les o( all are the same

Each ,ro,het had a mission to ,re,are the /orld (or the teachin+ o( the next1 each one

,ro,hesied the comin+ o( the next) and the /or2 /as thus continued *y all the ,ro,hetsuntil Mohammed) the%hatim al Musalin) the last messen+er o( di'ine /isdom and the

seal o( the ,ro,hets) came on his mission) and in his turn +a'e the (inal statement o(

di'ine /isdom< 0=one exists *ut Allah0 This messa+e (ul(illed the aim o( ,ro,heticmission This (inal de(inition is a clear inter,retation o( all reli+ions and ,hiloso,hies in

the most a,,arent (orm There /as no necessity le(t (or any more ,ro,hets a(ter this

di'ine messa+e) /hich created the s,irit o( democracy in reli+ion *y reco+ni@in+ God in


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e'ery *ein+ !y this messa+e man recei'ed the 2no/led+e that he may attain the hi+hest

,er(ection under the +uidance o( a ,er(ect murshid or s,iritual teacher

Su(is ha'e no ,re;udice re+ardin+ any ,ro,hets and masters They loo2 u,on all as di'ine/isdom itsel() the hi+hest attri*ute o( God) a,,earin+ under di((erent names and (orms1

and they lo'e them /ith all adoration) as the lo'er lo'es his *elo'ed in all her di((erent+arments) and throu+hout all the sta+es o( her li(e Su(is also res,ect(ully reco+ni@e and

o((er de'otion to their !elo'ed) the di'ine /isdom in all her +arments) at all times) andunder such di((erent names and (orms as A*raham) Moses) ?esus) and Mohammed

Mohammed teachin+s are studied and (ollo/ed *y the orthodox as reli+ion) and *y the

dee, thin2ers as a ,hiloso,hy

SUFISM

Su(is) /ho had recei'ed s,iritual trainin+ (rom all ,re'ious ,ro,hets and leaders) li2e/ise

recei'ed trainin+ (rom Mohammed The o,enness o( Mohammed0s essential teachin+s

,a'ed the /ay (or them to come (or/ard into the /orld /ithout the inter(erence they had,re'iously ex,erienced) and a mystic order called the Sahe*a-e-Sa(a) Kni+hts o( Purity)

/as inau+urated *y the Pro,het) and a(ter/ards /as carried on *y Ali and Siddi6 The

li'es o( these 2ni+hts /ere extraordinary in their /isdom) ,iety) *ra'ery) s,irituality) and+reat charity o( heart This order /as carried on *y their successors) /ho /ere called&i-

o-Mushid) Shaih) etc) one a(ter another) duly connected as lin2s in a chain

The s,iritual *ond *et/een them is a miraculous (orce o( di'ine illumination) and is

ex,erienced *y /orthy initiates o( the Su(i Order1 ;ust as the electric current runs throu+hall connected lam,s and li+hts them !y this means the hi+her de'elo,ment is attained

/ithout +reat e((orts Su(ism /as unostentatiously ,racticed in Ara*ia durin+ the ,eriod

o( Saha*is) Ta*a0in) and Ta*a0-i-ta*a0in 4harity) ,iety) s,irituality) and *ra'ery are the real,roo(s o( Su(i ad'ancement

The sensational Su(i mo'ements /hich too2 ,lace in Persia in the later ,eriods) ha'e /on

all the credit o( Su(ism (or the Persians) and Su(ism came to *e re+arded as a Persian

,hiloso,hy Imam al-Gha@ali) ?uneyd-e !a+hdadi) Farid-ud-&in 0Attar had ta2en the leadin ad'ancin+ Su(ism in the /orld at lar+e Shams-e-Ta*r @) Sa0di) Kha+ani) Firdausi)

Omar Khayy9 m) A*dul Ala and other +reat Su(i ,oets) ha'e 'ery su*stantially

esta*lished the re,utation o( Su(ism *y their ins,ired ,oetical /or2s on di'ine /isdom

Sa0adi0s /or2s 7(ulistanandBostan8 illuminate the intellect1 the &i'an o( .a(i@ ex,andsthe heart /ith di'ine lo'e1 ?elal-ud-&in Rumi0s ,oems) theMasna)i e Ma'na)iins,ire the

soul

These /or2s /ere ori+inally com,osed in Persian) *ut are no/ translated into many otherlan+ua+es They ha'e *een a most im,ortant source o( education (or humanity) and are

studied as the most ,o,ular treatises on the di'ine /isdom o( the East


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The s,iritual ,art o( Su(ism /as most miraculously reali@ed *y A*dul :adir ?ilani) Moin-

ud-&in 4hishti) !ahaud-&in =a6sh*and) Shiha*-ud-&in Sohra/ardi) and others

India) *ein+ +reatly addicted to ,hiloso,hy) /as /ell suited (or Su(ism) /here) in ancientand modern records) a +reat many Su(is /ith miraculous careers are to *e (ound The

tom*s o( Moin-ud-&in 4hishti) =i@am-ud-&in) Shari(-ud-&in) !andeh =a'a@)Mohammed Gauth) are 'isited /ith much re'erence and de'otion *y ,eo,le o( 'arious

nations and many *elie(s) in than2(ul remem*rance o( their +reat careers

Su(ism) as a reli+ious ,hiloso,hy o( lo'e) harmony) and *eauty) aims at ex,andin+ the

soul o( man until the reali@ation o( the *eauty o( all creation ena*les him to *ecome as

,er(ect an ex,ression o( di'ine harmony as ,ossi*le It is there(ore natural that the Su(iOrder should stand (oremost as a s,iritual ,o/er in the East) and that it is ra,idly

*ecomin+ reco+ni@ed in the >est

Many Su(i saints ha'e attained /hat is 2no/n as Godconsciousness) /hich is the most

all-inclusi'e reali@ation o( the meanin+ o( the /ord 0+ood0 attaina*le *y man Strictlys,ea2in+) Su(ism is neither a reli+ion nor a ,hiloso,hy1 it is neither theism nor atheism)

*ut stands *et/een the t/o and (ills the +a, Amon+ the reli+ious) Su(is are considered to

*e (ree-thin2ers1 /hile amon+ intellectual ,hiloso,hers they are considered reli+ious)

*ecause they ma2e use o( su*tler ,rinci,les in li(e to ele'ate the soul than can readily *e(ollo/ed *y material lo+ic

Su(is ha'e in many cases reali@ed and sho/n the +reatest ,er(ection in humanity And

amon+ the li'es o( the Su(i saints may *e (ound some o( the most di'ine models o(human ,er(ection in all ca,acities) (rom a 2in+ to a la*orer The idea that Su(ism s,ran+

(rom Islam or (rom any other reli+ion) is not necessarily true1 yet it may ri+htly *e called

the s,irit o( Islam) as /ell as the ,ure essence o( all reli+ions and ,hiloso,hies

A true Su(i remains in the thou+ht o( truth continually) sees the truth in all thin+s andne'er *ecomes ,re;udiced) *ut culti'ates a((ection (or all *ein+s A Su(i accom,lishes the

di'ine ;ourney and reaches the hi+hest +rade o( !a6a durin+ this li(e) *ut ,eo,le o( all

*elie(s arri'e) e'entually) at the same le'el o( understandin+ and reali@ation /hich Su(ism

re,resents

Su(ism contains all *ranches o( mysticism) such as ,sycholo+y) occultism) s,iritualism)

clair'oyance) clairaudience) intuition) ins,iration) etc) *ut that /hich a Su(i ,articularly

/ishes to ac6uire is not necessarily any o( the a*o'e-named ,o/ers1 *ecause the o*;ect

o( all these ,o/ers is to/ards +reater indi'iduality) and indi'iduality itsel( is only ahindrance on the Su(i0s ,ath to/ards the accom,lishment o( his hi+hest ,er(ection

There(ore the main o*;ect o( initiation in the Su(i Order is to culti'ate the heart throu+h

renunciation and resi+nation) that it may *e ,ure enou+h to so/ the seed o( di'ine lo'eand reali@e the hi+hest truth and /isdom) *oth theoretically and ,ractically) there*y

attainin+ the hi+hest attri*utes o( humanity


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&i'ine ,er(ection is ,er(ection in all ,o/ers and mysteries All mysteries) ,o/ers) and

reali@ations +radually mani(est themsel'es to the Su(i throu+h his natural de'elo,ment)

/ithout his s,ecially stri'in+ (or them

Sel(-reali@ation is the hi+hest and most di((icult attainment o( all1 it is im,ossi*le to

ac6uire it in the manner o( sciences and arts) nor is it ,ossi*le to attain it as health)

/ealth) honor) and ,o/er can *e o*tained *y certain means For the sa2e o(sel(reali@ation) thousands ha'e renounced (amily and all /orldly ,ossessions) and 2in+s

their 2in+doms) and they ha'e retired to desert) ;un+le) or mountain (astness) stri'in+ to

(ind in asceticism the secret o( this *liss

SUFI TRAI=I=G

The murshid ,re(ers a mureed /hose mind is unem*arrassed *y other methods o(

trainin+1 /ho is (ree (rom /orldly considerations) and is ,ossessed o( /hole-hearted

,erse'erance1 /ho is ca,a*le o( committin+ himsel( /ith ,er(ect (aith and de'otion to the

+uidance o( his murshid

The ,ractice o( harmony and tem,erance is essential) *ut the murshid ne'er ,rescri*es (or

his mureeds the ascetic li(e1 rather it is a ,eculiarity o( the Su(i trainin+ that the mureed is

6uic2ened to a,,reciate and en;oy the /orld more than others The murshid at (irstcreates di'ine lo'e in the mureed) /hich) in the course o( time) de'elo,s and ,uri(ies his

heart so much that it ,ermits the 'irtues o( humanity to de'elo, (reely o( themsel'es .e

then recei'es more and more di'ine /isdom (rom the a,,ointed channel) and at lastarri'es at com,lete sel(-reali@ation

There is no common course o( study (or mureeds1 each recei'es the s,ecial trainin+ *est

ada,ted to his re6uirements In other /ords) the murshid) as a s,iritual ,hysician)

,rescri*es a suita*le remedy (or curin+ e'ery mureed There is no limit o( time (or thead'ancement to a certain de+ree To one) reali@ation may come the moment a(ter

initiation1 to another it may not *e 'ouchsa(ed durin+ his /hole li(e Amon+ the Sayin+s

o( Mohammed one (inds< 0It de,ends u,on nothin+ *ut the mercy o( Allah /home'er .emay 2indly choose (or it0

Still) there is ho,e o( success< 0>hoe'er /al2s one ste, to/ards the +race o( Allah) the

&i'ine mercy /al2s (or/ard ten ste,s to recei'e him0 7id8


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MA=IFESTATIO=

The only !ein+ has mani(ested .imsel( throu+h se'en di((erent ,lanes o( existence) to

accom,lish .is desire o( *ein+ reco+ni@edahdat ,lane o( consciousness

# >ahdaniat ,lane o( a*stract ideas

Tash*ih

Ar/ah the s,iritual ,lane

H A;sam the astral ,lane

Insan the ,hysical ,lane

There are) a+ain) se'en as,ects o( mani(estationhoe'er 2no/s the mystery o( 'i*rations) he indeed 2no/s all thin+s Ci*rations are o(

(i'e di((erent as,ects) a,,earin+ as the (i'e elementshen s,iritual 'i*rations *ecome more

dense they turn into matter) and /hen material 'i*rations *ecome (iner they de'elo, intos,irit


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For a Su(i at the *e+innin+ o( his trainin+ the s,iritual li(e is desira*le) *ut a(ter masterin+

it) material and s,iritual li'es *ecome the same to him) and he is master o( *oth

T.E .EART A=& SOU

Man0s heart is the throne o( God The heart is not only a ,hysical or+an *ut is also the(unction o( (eelin+) ,laced in the midst o( the *ody and soul The heart o( (lesh is the

instrument /hich (irst recei'es the (eelin+ o( the soul) and transmits its e((ect throu+h the

/hole *ody There are (our as,ects o( the heartIS&OM

Intellect is the 2no/led+e o*tained *y ex,erience o( names and (orms1 /isdom is the

2no/led+e /hich mani(ests only (rom the inner *ein+1 to ac6uire intellect one must del'e

into studies) *ut to o*tain /isdom) nothin+ *ut the (lo/ o( di'ine mercy is needed1 it is asnatural as the instinct o( s/immin+ to the (ish) or o( (lyin+ to the *ird Intellect is the

si+ht /hich ena*les one to see throu+h the external /orld) *ut the li+ht o( /isdom

ena*les one to see throu+h the external into the internal /orld

>isdom is +reater and more di((icult to attain than intellect) ,iety) or s,irituality

&REAMS A=& I=SPIRATIO=S


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&reams and ins,irations are o,en ,roo(s o( the hi+her /orld The ,ast) ,resent) and (uture

are (re6uently seen in a dream) and may also *e re'ealed throu+h ins,iration The

ri+hteous ,erson sees more clearly than the unri+hteous There are (i'e 2inds o( dreams OF A4TIO=

The la/ o( cause and e((ect is as de(inite in its results in the realm o( s,eech and thou+htas in the ,hysical /orld

E'il done) /hen it is considered e'il) is a sin1 and +ood done) /hen it is considered +ood)

is a 'irtue) *ut one /ho does +ood or *ad /ithout understandin+) has no res,onsi*ility (or

his sins nor credit (or his 'irtues1 *ut he is lia*le to ,unishment or re/ard ;ust the same

Man (orms his (uture *y his actions .is e'ery +ood or *ad action s,reads its 'i*rations

and *ecomes 2no/n throu+hout the uni'erse The more s,iritual a man is) the stron+er

and clearer are the 'i*rations o( his actions) /hich s,read o'er the /orld and /ea'e his

(uture

The uni'erse is li2e a dome< it 'i*rates to that /hich you say in it) and echoes the same

*ac2 to you So also is the la/ o( action< /e rea, /hat /e so/

It is im,ossi*le to di((erentiate *et/een +ood and *ad) *ecause the thin+ seen is colored

*y the ,ersonality o( the seer1 to the *ad 'ie/) all +ood is *ad) and to the +ood 'ie/) e'enthe *ad seems +ood in a certain sense1 so the /ise 2ee, silence in distin+uishin+ +ood

(rom *ad The most essential rule is not to do to others that /hich you /ould not ha'e

done to you That action is desira*le /hich results (rom 2indness) and that action isundesira*le /hich is un2ind &ou*tless also) mi+ht is o(ten ri+ht) *ut in the end) ri+ht is

the only mi+ht


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There are di((erent ,rinci,les (or li(e in di((erent reli+ions) *ut a Su(i0s /ill is the

,rinci,le (or himsel( .e is the ser'ant) /ho surrenders himsel( to ,rinci,les1 and he is

the master) /ho ,rescri*es ,rinci,les (or himsel( One /ho has ne'er *een commanded inli(e) ne'er 2no/s ho/ to command1 in the same /ay) to *e the master) one must (irst *e

the ser'ant

The murshid as a ,hysician o( the soul ,rescri*es necessary ,rinci,les to the mureed)

/ho a(ter accom,lishin+ the trainin+) arri'es at that *lessed state /here he o'ercomes'irtues and sins) and stands *eyond +ood and *ad To him ha,,iness no lon+er di((ers

(rom sorro/) (or his thou+ht) s,eech) and action *ecome the thou+ht) s,eech) and action

o( God

MUSI4 AMO=G SUFIS

Music is called (hiza-i-uh) the (ood o( the soul) *y Su(is Music *ein+ the most di'ine

art ele'ates the soul to the hi+her s,irit1 music itsel( *ein+ unseen soon reaches the

unseen1 ;ust as only the diamond can *rea2 the diamond) so musical 'i*rations are used toma2e the ,hysical and mental 'i*rations inacti'e) in order that the Su(i may *e ele'ated

to the s,iritual s,heres

Music consists o( 'i*rations /hich ha'e in'ol'ed (rom the to, to the *ottom) and i( they

/ould only *e systematically used) they could *e e'ol'ed (rom the *ottom to the to,Real music is 2no/n only to the most +i(ted ones Music has (i'e as,ectsa;ad Althou+h it is the most *liss(ul and (ascinatin+ state) those

/ho +i'e themsel'es entirely to it *ecome un*alanced) (or too much o( anythin+ is

undesira*le1 as the day0s la*or is a necessary ,recursor o( the ni+ht0s rest) so it is *etter toen;oy this s,iritual *liss only a(ter the due ,er(ormance o( /orldly duties

Su(is +enerally en;oy >a;ad /hile listenin+ to music called +a,,ali) s,ecial music

,roducin+ emotions o( lo'e) (ear) desire) re,entance) etc

There are (i'e as,ects o( >a;ad< >a;ad o( der'ishes) /hich ,roduces a rhythmic motion

o( the *ody1 >a;ad o( idealists) ex,ressed *y a thrillin+ sensation o( the *ody) tears andsi+hs1 >a;ad o( de'otees) /hich creates an exalted state in the ,hysical and mental *ody1

>a;ad o( saints) /hich creates ,er(ect calm and ,eace1 and >a;ad o( ,ro,hets) the

reali@ation o( the hi+hest consciousness called Sadat al Manteha One /ho *y the (a'oro( the murshid arri'es at the state o( >a;ad is undou*tedly the most *lessed soul and

deser'es all adoration

4O=4E=TRATIO=

The entire uni'erse in all its acti'ity has *een created throu+h the concentration o( GodE'ery *ein+ in the /orld is occu,ied consciously or unconsciously in some act o(

concentration Good and e'il are ali2e the result o( concentration The stron+er the

concentration) the +reater the result1 lac2 o( concentration is the cause o( (ailure in allthin+s For this /orld and the other) (or material as /ell as s,iritual ,ro+ress)

concentration is most essential

The ,o/er o( /ill is much +reater than the ,o/er o( action) *ut action is the (inal

necessity (or the (ul(illment o( the /ill Per(ection is reached *y the re+ular ,ractice o(concentration) ,assin+ throu+h three +rades o( de'elo,ment< Fan9 -(i-Shai2h) annihilation

in the astral ,lane) Fan9-(i-Rasul) annihilation in the s,iritual ,lane) and Fan9-(i-Allah)

annihilation in the a*stract

A(ter ,assin+ throu+h these three +rades) the hi+hest state is attained o( !9 6i-*i-Allah)annihilation in the eternal consciousness) /hich is the destination o( all /ho tra'el *y this

,ath


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!reath is the (irst thin+ to *e /ell studied This is the 'ery li(e) and also the chain /hich

connects material existence /ith the s,iritual Its ri+ht control is a ladder leadin+ (rom the

lo/est to the hi+hest sta+e o( de'elo,ment Its science is to *e mastered *y the (a'or o(the murshid) the +uidin+ li+ht o( God

MAE A=& FEMAE ASPE4TS OF GO&

The only !ein+ is mani(ested throu+hout all ,lanes o( existence in t/o as,ects) male and

(emale) re,resentin+ nature0s ,ositi'e and ne+ati'e (orces In the ,lane o( consciousnessthere are t/o as,ects< *ahdat) consciousness) andhadiat) eternal consciousness) and

thus also s,irit and matter) ni+ht and day) si+ni(y the dual as,ect on lo/er ,lanes In the

mineral and 'e+eta*le 2in+doms sex is in a state o( e'olution) *ut the hi+hestmani(estation o( male and (emale is man and /oman

Man *ein+ the (irst as,ect o( mani(estation) is the more s,iritual and nearer to God1

/oman *ein+ the next mani(estation) is (iner and more ca,a*le o( di'ine 2no/led+e

Man0s natural tendency is to/ards God) /hile /oman0s tendency is to/ards the /orldThese contrary tendencies result in *alance There(ore man needs /oman to direct his

li(e) and /oman needs man (or her +uidance and ,rotection) *oth *ein+ incom,lete in

themsel'es

The ,ro*lem o( the emanci,ation o( /oman may *e studied *y a com,arison o( her,osition in the East and in the >est

The Oriental /oman) /hose (reedom is restricted) is the *etter /i(e (rom the indi'idual

,oint o( 'ie/) *ut the en(orced inacti'ity o( hal( the ,o,ulation is not *ene(icial to the

nation The Occidental /oman /ho is +i'en entire (reedom is less anxious (or and lessca,a*le o( home li(e) *ut *ein+ out in the /orld her in(luence ,romotes the ad'ancement

o( the nation

At (irst si+ht it /ould a,,ear that /oman is more res,ected *y man in the >est) *ut in

reality the East +i'es her the +reater re'erence

Man has more (reedom than /oman throu+hout the entire /orld *ecause he has more

stren+th and ,o/er1 and the (ineness o( /oman needs ,rotection) ;ust as the eye) *ein+

the (inest or+an o( the *ody) has *een ,rotected *y nature /ith eyelids !oth excel in theiro/n characteristics

A 'ir+in is idoli@ed *y man *ecause she is the model o( hi+h mani(estation1 /oman0s

'irtue is a +reater ideal than her ,hysical and intellectual *eauty =ature has ,laced her

under the ,rotection o( man) *ut /hat is most desira*le is that man +i'es her (reedom andthat she a,,reciates it *y ma2in+ the *est use o( it


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There are three 2inds o( 'ir+ins One) commonly considered a 'ir+in) /ho has ne'er had

association /ith a man1 another is the 'ir+in in heart) /hose lo'e is centered in one

*elo'ed only1 and the third is the 'ir+in in soul) /ho considers man as God She alonecan +i'e *irth to a di'ine child

A /oman may *ecome a doctor) solicitor) or minister) *ut it is incom,ara*ly +reater i( shecan *ecome a +ood /i(e and a 2ind mother

Mono+amy and ,oly+amy are in*orn human attri*utes They also exist amon+ *irds and*easts Each indi'idual is *orn /ith one o( these tendencies) *ut sometimes one rather

than the other is de'elo,ed *y the e((ect o( the atmos,here and surroundin+s These

tendencies also de,end u,on the climatic and ,hysical conditions o( di((erent countriesand races Poly+amy may *e natural to man) and mono+amy to /oman) as the (ormer

hel,s mani(estation /hile the latter destroys it Ille+al ,oly+amy is /orse than le+al)

*ecause it creates deceit and (alsehood Mono+amy is the ideal li(e /hich is a com(ort in

this /orld and the next) and ,er(ects one in lo'e

A*solute renunciation is as undesira*le as is the *lind attachment to the /orld The ideal

li(e is detached interest in the /orld) /hich is *est accom,lished *y man and /oman

to+ether

>oman is a mystery /ithin hersel() o/in+ to her su*tle nature Sa+es /ho made themista2e o( considerin+ /oman to *e o( lesser s,iritual im,ortance (or+ot that they

themsel'es /ere the ,roduct o( /oman

The ma;ority o( ,ro,hets and masters ha'e *een men *ecause man is the hi+her

mani(estation) as is si+ni(ied *y the myth o( Adam and E'e) in /hich E'e /as *orn (rom

the ri* o( Adam) meanin+ that /oman is the later mani(estation1 the (ruit means that/oman directed man0s thou+hts to/ards ,rocreation The inter,retation o( Adam and

E'e0s exile (rom hea'en is the (ail o( man2ind (rom the state o( innocence to the state o(youth The se,aration and unha,,iness o( Adam and E'e sho/ the o*;ect o( God to

mani(est in the dual as,ect) that .e may accom,lish his real desire o( lo'e Accordin+ to

the Cedanta hal( o( the di'ine *ody) Ardhan+i) is /omanhood) ,ro'in+ that unity o( *oth

is the com,lete li(e

Su(is consider a li(e o( com,lete unity the most *alanced) i( it is true and harmonious

o'e and /isdom create harmony *et/een man and /oman1 *ut these *ein+ a*sent)

harmony ceases to exist

A child inherits more attri*utes (rom its mother than (rom its (ather) there(ore the motheris more res,onsi*le (or its merits and de(ects and i( she has 2no/led+e she can train the

soul o( her child e'en *e(ore its *irth *y the ,o/er o( her concentration) moldin+ the

child0s (uture accordin+ to her o/n /ill


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.armony *et/een truer ,ersons is more lastin+ than the a((ections o( a'era+e man2ind

Peo,le o( an+elic 6ualities ha'e e'erlastin+ harmony *et/een them) in /hich God

.imsel( accom,lishes .is o*;ect o( mani(estation

Man2ind is *orn /ith a /orshi,(ul attitude) and as all attitudes demand satis(action *y

ex,ression) so the attitude o( /orshi, (inds its o*;ect o( adoration The ancient Gree2sand Shi'a !ha2tas o( India /orshi,,ed *oth as,ects o( mani(estation in the names o(

+ods and +oddesses Su(ism) *ein+ the essence o( all reli+ions and ,hiloso,hies) loo2su,on *oth the o,,osite as,ects o( nature as one in reality) and calls it Safat llah Su(is

reach reali@ation o( God *y adorin+ .is nature) callin+ on .im sayin+) 0Kull-i shayin .9

l-i 2ull0) /hich means) 0E'erythin+ /ill ,erish exce,t .is o/n Face0 They loo2 u,on allnames and (orms as the means o( reali@in+ the One) the only !ein+

S. Message

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