Bismillahi r-Rahmani r-Rahim
The seven states to give an idea of what we are talking about and how one could find the source of the Sufi Teaching in the Holy Qur'an.
State of Belief: Islam (Outward Submission)
"The desert Arabs say "We believe" ['amana'] say: Ye believe not, but rather say, we submit [aslama] for the faith hath not yet entered your hearts." Holy Qur'an [49:14]
State of the Self: Nafs al-Ammara (The Animal Self/The Ego Self)"
The (human) soul is certainly prone to evil" Holy Qur'an [12:53]
State of Belief: Iman (Belief)
"Each one (of the men of faith) believeth in Allah and His angels, His books, and His Messengers." Holy Qur'an [2:285]
State of Self: Nafs al-Lawwama (The Complaining Self)
"And I do call to witness the self reproaching spirit: (eschew evil)" Holy Qur'an [75:2]
State of Belief: Ihsan (Perfection)
"Verily in the Messenger of Allah ye have a beautiful example…" Holy Qur'an [33:21]
State of Self: Nafs al-Mulhamma (The Inspired Self)
"By the soul and the proportion and order given to it; and its enlightenment as to its wrong and its right." Holy Qur'an [91:7-8]
State of Belief: 'Ilm al-Yaqin (Knowledge of Certainty)
"Nay, if you could understand with an understanding of certainty"Holy Qur'an [102:5]
This knowledge comes from hearing about the Divine Love.
State of the Self: Nafs al-Mutma'inna (The Self at Peace)
"(To the righteous soul will be said): O' (thou) soul in (complete) rest and satisfaction."Holy Qur'an [89:27]
State of Belief: 'Ayn al-Yaqin (The Eye of Certainty)
This knowledge comes from seeing the Light of Love with the Inner Eye (Basirah).
"Moses said to his household, verily, beyond all doubt, I have seen a fire. I will bring you tidings of it (i.e.: 'ilm al-yaqin) or I will bring you a flaming brand that ye may warm yourselves (i.e.: 'ayn al-yaqin)" Holy Qur'an [27:7]
State of Self: Nafs al-Radhiyya (The Well-Pleased Self)
"Come back thou to thy Lord - well pleased (thyself)" Holy Qur'an [89:28]
State of Belief: Haqq al-Yaqin (The Truth of Certainty)
To be consumed by the Divine Love. To become one with Reality.
"When Moses came to the Fire, a Voice was heard, 'O' Moses, verily, I am thy Lord. Therefore put off they shoes, thou art in the Sacred Valley Tuwa." Holy Qur'an [20:11-12]
State of Self: Nafs al-Mardhiyya (The Well-Pleasing Self)
"And well-pleasing unto Him." Holy Qur'an [89:28]
State of Belief: The Pinnacle of Islam - Total Submission to Allah
Islam - the very essence of Islam is istislam which is going to meet the Divine Will in utter compliance.
"Behold, his Lord said to him (Ibrahim), "Surrender," he said, 'I have surrendered to the Lord of all Worlds." Holy Qur'an [2:30]
State of Self: Nafs al-Kamila (The Perfect Self)
The Life of the Senses (Hayat ash-Sha'ur)
"Enter thou then, among My slaves." Holy Qur'an [89:29]
The Seven stages of journeying to Allah come under slightly different names, such as:
3. Journeying under the care of Allah
5. Journeying within Allah
Islam and the Psychological/Spiritual Teaching of Islam has a beginning, but has no end to its unfolding. The Holy Prophet ﷺ has demonstrated, by the Grace of the One Who is All-Seeing and All-Hearing, the spiritualization of all his self on the Night of Ascension (Isra wa-l Mi'raj). He traveled through time and space physically to show that the Human Being has the potential to do the same. It could be achieved if we are all for Allah, then Allah will be for us.
That is to die before you die, or as the Saints of Allah say, "O' friends, *if you seek life, then die before you die."*
The transformation of the ego is what it means, because the Beloved Allah wants us to live for His sake, not to die for His sake.
The Gift of Life is very precious and the chance we have through being alive in this moment in time is a great opportunity to say 'Bismillahi' and take the first conscious step by helping to remove the unpleasantness which surrounds humanity and could trigger a chain reaction of annihilation. So say 'Bismillah' and let the Love of Allah penetrate all aspects of our life, so that we may be counted amongst those who made a difference.
May the Merciful Allah illuminate your hearts and ours and make us a source of bringing this Glad Tiding to reality.
