THE AWARIFU-L- MAARIF

The term sufi was first adopted by Abu Hashim, a Syrian Zahid (780 AD) in his time was built the first takya (convent). But some say that the seed of Sufism

Was sown................in the time of Adam (Alaihis salam)
Germed ..................in the time of nuh (Alaihis salam)
Budded ..................in the time of Ibrahim (Alaihis salam)
Began to develop ............in the time of Musa (Alaihis salam)
Reached maturity ...................in the time of Christ (Alaihis salam)
Produced pure wine ..................in the time of Muhammad (sal)

Those who loved this wine have so drunk of it as to become self-less.

In Sufism there are four stages , which must be passed before mans corporeal veil can be removed.

1)Shariat: The mureed observe the shar and the rites of Islam; ever bereath his sheikh in mind; in him efaceth himself through meditation; make him his shield against evil thoughts; and regarde his spirit as his guardian spirit.

2)Tarikat: The mureed attaine power, entere Sufism and abandone the observance of religious form, exchanging outward for inward worship. Without great piety, virtue, and fortitude (based on a knowledge of the dignity of the soul of man) he cannot attain this stage. The sheikh passe the murid to the influence of the pir
(long since deceased); and then in all things, the mureed see the pir. This is effacement in the pir.

3)Marifat: The mureed hath attained to supernatural knowledge; and is therein equal to the angels, By the sheikh he is led to Muhammad , whom in all things he see.

4)Haqiqath: The mureed hath become joined to truth (god), whom in all things he seeth.
“This is effacement in God”.

Many reach the second stage; few the fourth

Some make eleven stages:

Muwakifat: The mureed bereath enmity to the friends enemy – the world , shaitan, imperious lust; and love for the friend (God).

Ma'il: The mureed incline to God, and from the hearts page, efface “other than God”.

Muwanisat: The mureed fleeth from all and seek God.

Mawaddat: The mureed has to engage in submission, in lamentation, in affection, and in agitation in the hearts chamber.

Hawa: The mureed has to keep the heart in austerity and in strife (against sin); and maketh it water (soft).

Khullat: The mureed make all the limbs full of recollection of God; and of aught else void.

Ulfat: The mureed make himself void of despicable qualities, and joined to laudable qualities.

Shafhf: The mureed through ardency of desire renden the hearts veil and considered the revealing of mystery of love for god- infidelity, save under the mastery of wajd (ecstasy).

Taym: The mureed make himself slave of love, and joined himself tajrid (outward separation), and to tafrid (inward solitude).

Walsh: The mureed keep the hearts mirror before God glory; and become intoxicated with its wine.

Ishq: The mureed has to engage the tongue in Zikr (creation of God), the heart in fikr (thought of God) , and the soul in mushahida (viewing Gods glory) that he considere himself non-existence.