Ma'rifa (Spiritual Knowledge of God)

Ma'rifa literally denotes skill or talent, a special capacity belonging to certain people, means and knowing by means of something. According to travelers on the path of God, it is the station where knowing is united with the one who knows, where knowing becomes second nature, and where each state reveals what or who is known. Some have defined ma'rifa as the appearance and development of knowledge of God in one's conscience, or knowing God by one's conscience. In other words, one has attained self-realization and has realized his or her humanity with all of its intrinsic values and dimensions. This may be what is meant by: The one who knows himself knows his Lord. [1]

The first rank of ma'rifa is discerning the manifestations of the Divine Names surrounding us, and traveling in the amazing climate of the Attributes behind the door of mystery that is half-opened through these manifestations. During this traveling, lights flow continuously from the traveler's eyes and ears to his or her tongue, and one's heart begins to direct those acts that serve as a tongue confirming and proclaiming the Truth. This tongue becomes, so to speak, a diskette of "good words," and various lights from the light-giving truth of: Unto Him good words ascend, and the righteous deed causes them to rise (35:10) begin to be reflected on the screen of his or her conscience.

One who has acquired such ma'rifa is closed to all evil and is enveloped by breezes blowing from the realms beyond. Corridors of light are opened from his or her spirit toward the One known by the heart, as Ibrahim Haqqi of Erzurum stated allegorically: God said: I can be contained by neither the heavens nor Earth. He is known by the heart as if a hidden treasure in the heart. The traveler is so enraptured with observing such scenes that he or she does not think of returning to a normal life.

A traveler who is completely closed to all else save God, who has resisted all corporeal desires and impulses in order to be carried by the tides of peace, has reached the stage of ma'rifa. One who travels around this point is called a traveler to ma'rifa; one who has reached it is called an 'arif (a Gnostic, or one who has spiritual knowledge of God).

The differences found in commentaries on ma'rifa are based on the temperaments and schools of thought or levels of the Gnostics. Some have sought ma'rifa in the Gnostics themselves, and have seen the feeling of awe observed in them as the manifestation of ma'rifa. Others have seen it as connected with serenity and judged the former's depth according to the latter's profundity; as the heart's complete closure to everything but God; or as the heart's wonder and admiration amidst the tides of Divine manifestations. Such hearts always beat with wonder and amazement, for the eyes of their owners open and close with amazement, and their tongues pronounce with wonder and admiration: I acknowledge that I am unable to praise You as You praise Yourself. [2]

With the spirit always flying upward toward eternity, and the heart enraptured with the pleasure of finding peace or being at rest but always self-possessed and cautious, a life lived in ma'rifa is as calm and peaceful as that lived in the gardens of Paradise. Side-by-side with angels, those who have acquired ma'rifa are included in the meaning of: They do not disobey God in whatever He commands them, and carry out what they are commanded (66:6). With feelings like buds waiting for daylight to open, such souls open fully with ma'rifa in "daylight" and experience the pleasure of intimacy with Him at every moment with a new dimension of ma'rifa. So long as they keep their eyes fixed on the door of the Truth, they are intoxicated with meeting Him several times a day or even every hour, and are enraptured with a new manifestation at every moment.

While those supposing themselves to be scholars continue to "crawl" and philosophers continue to philosophize and build on the information they have with great difficulty, an 'arif always tastes peace and talks about peace in a downpour of "light." Even when others quake with fear and awe of the Almighty, an 'arif feels infinite pleasure and, while his or her eyes weep, his or her heart smiles.

There are differences of manners and tendencies among Gnostics based on temperaments and schools of spiritual training. While some are deep and silent like whirlpools, and thus hard to identify because of their simple, quiet appearance, others "gurgle" like waterfalls. Some always weep for fear of committing sins and their inability to do a single good thing, and never tire of praising their Lord; others continuously travel in awe, modesty, and familiarity and never think of leaving this "ocean" Still others are like the earth which everybody else "treads" as no one shows them respect or thinks that they are Gnostics; or like clouds sending "water" to everyone under them; or like breezes, for they touch our feelings and blow us good and favor.

A Gnostic can be recognized in several ways: such a person expects favor from and becomes intimate only with the Known One; lifts his or her eyelids and the doors of his or her heart only to Him; turns only to Him in love; and experiences the greatest suffering when anyone other than Him is desired. One who has not acquired true knowledge of God Almighty cannot distinguish between the Beloved and others, and one who is not intimate with the Beloved cannot know separation's torment and pain.

Jun 1991, Vol 13, Issue 149