The Higher Realms

INTRODUCTION This short article is based on the English translation of the Arabic book  Ikseer Al 'Arifeen (The Elixir of the Gnostics). Ikseer Al 'Arifeen is  one of the works of the great Muslim scholar and philosopher, Sadr Al Din Muhammad Shirazi (1572 - 1640), commonly known as Mulla Sadra. The English translation was carried out by William C. Chittick and the book is available as a parallel Arabic-English text. We feel that it is necessary to highlight a few points as an introduction to what follows: This is not a book summary. Rather, it is a selection and presentation of a few of the dozens of points made within the book. In some places we have borrowed the exact text from the book (without quotations). In most locations, we have modified the language or added to the text. Also, in some instances we have made slight modifications to the Arabic translation as it was seen fit. The points discussed below are not necessarily in the order in which they appea

When the sources of knowledge converge to universal truth One of the glorious features of the religion of Allah is the verification of realities from multiple sources. By sources we mean the Holy Quran, and the authentic traditions, supplications, and visitations associated with the holy infallibles. We may list these four sources as follows:  Quran : Allah communicating with man Hadith : Infallible communicating with man Du'a : Infallible communicating with Allah Ziyarat : Man communicating with infallible The focus of this discussion will be verses 54-55 of Chapter 5 of the Holy Quran, Surah Al-Ma'idah - Primarily, verse 54.  يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَن يَرْتَدَّ مِنكُمْ عَن دِينِهِ فَسَوْفَ يَأْتِي اللَّـهُ بِقَوْمٍ يُحِبُّهُمْ وَيُحِبُّونَهُ أَذِلَّةٍ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَعِزَّةٍ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ يُجَاهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ وَلَا يَخَافُونَ لَوْمَةَ لَائِمٍ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ فَضْلُ اللَّـهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَاللَّـهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ

There is something worth pondering over in Chapter Al-Imran, verses 190-194 and verse 195. (Indeed, all the verses of the Holy Quran are worth pondering over.) Verses 190-194 refer to some individuals who are in communication with their Lord. These people call out to Allah five times, by exclaiming Rabbana (Our Lord!). Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of night and day, there are signs for those who possess intellect. Those who remember Allah standing, sitting, and lying on their sides, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth [and say], ‘ Our Lord  , You have not created this in vain! Immaculate are You! Save us from the punishment of the Fire. Our Lord  , whoever that You make enter the Fire will surely have been disgraced by You, and the wrongdoers will have no helpers. Our Lord  , we have indeed heard a summoner calling to faith, declaring, ‘‘Have faith in your Lord!’’ So we believed. Our Lord  , forgive us o