Self-Building

Human beings are the most complicated and astonishing creation of God, the creation who in addition to having its primordial animalistic desires also possesses their peculiar nature and spiritual personality. The creation that has been assigned the divine vicegerency upon earth, accepted the divine trust when heavens, the earth and the mountains shrank from bearing it, and in its upward heavenly ascent even surpassed the Allah’s favorite angels. A creation, who selects, thinks and through combination of his mental power and physical endeavors is capable of removing all obstacles from his path for betterment of his life. The one who creates his own life history through enrichment of knowledge inherited from his predecessors and makes, the path smoother for further advancement by the forthcoming generations in the future. Unfortunately, in the midst of man’s struggle with nature for improving the quality of his living environment, the most precious reality that has been forgotten is the─human self (nafs) and the jewel of human personality. Or in other words, what has been forgotten is the man himself, his training and self-purification and making him an ideal or perfect human being. A human being who has been called by the God, the most superior creation, and about whose identification the authentic commentators of the revelations have said: “Whoever has recognized his self─in reality has indeed recognized his Creator.” Self-forgetfulness, negligence shown towards recognizing the infinite dimensions of human celestial soul and under estimation of human inner potential for attaining self-purification or moral perfection is the pain which has inflicted plenty of suffering upon the modern human societies. The domination of technology, fast pace of modern life, usurpation of power by materialists and world-worshippers over vast regions of the world on one hand and the failure and in competency of various school and ideologies in presenting a clearly illuminated path and satisfactory interpretation of human being on the other hand have made this journey of retrogression and self alienation further complicated. But in the Islamic Ideology, the greatest aim in the life’s struggle is to become victorious over the self. In the Holy Qur’an Allah (SWT) after repeated oaths has emphasized the importance of spiritual purification as follows: “He is indeed successful who causeth it to grow, (the self) and he is indeed a failure who stunteth it.” ─The Holy Qur’an (91: 9-10). In accordance with divine Islamic ideology, the most exalted aim is training and guidance of human beings in their spiritual journey from the earthly temporary abode towards the celestial kingdom. The aim consists of creation of a society and environment where only God-Almighty is worshipped; in which the light of servitude, devotion, and manifestation of faith towards the unseen will destroy the darkness of selfish whims and passions, thus, enabling the human eyes to witness God’s infinite glory all over upon his existence and introducing the rule of Monotheism (Touheed) and its relevant vast dimensions over all human relations and transactions. The Western people and the Muslim immigrants now settled in the Western countries in general are curious to know more about Islamic Mysticism or Gnosticism (Irfan). Thanks God-Almighty that He has bestowed upon this humble servant His Special Grace for completing this translation of Ayatollah Amini's Persian Book─Self-Building, Purification and Cleansing of the human Self (Khud Sazi, Tazkiyeh wa Tehzibe Nafs). The book presents a detailed description of special deeds as per formed by God’s most devoted sincere servants during their lives, the self-restraint and asceticism practiced by them during these worships, and the spiritual purification achieved by them. In their spiritual migration towards God-Almighty the more they endeavored to advance forward the nearer they reached to God’s countenance (laq’a). In Islamic Mysticism the Gnostic journey is called: Sayr-wa-suluk and the wayfarer who undertakes this journey is called: Salik, who strives to utilize all his energy, strength and courage in his spiritual migration towards God-Almighty; takes all necessary precautions to remain purified in his march; is not tired of restrictions and limitations; guards his breaths day and night lest he transgresses and becomes deviated; strictly supervises all entries leading to heart’s domain lest illicit desires, forbidden thoughts make their entries thus, making his beloved's promises contaminated with alien's presence. The most famous mystic poet of Iran, Hafiz-e-Shirazi has so beautifully summarized the wayfarer's above mentioned endeavors in his following verse: “I remained vigilant guarding the heart’s premises every night. So that no alien thought (except my beloveds) could make its entry.” After going through the hardships of his Gnostic journey, those who succeed attain the nearness of their beloved (i.e. God-Almighty); the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (AS) has described this Gnostic stage in the following tradition: “Truly when a wayfarer (salik) succeeds in making his wisdom alive and in letting his self die, his body becomes gradually weaker and thinner, his heaviness turning into slimness. A divine illumination whose manifestation was intermittent becomes clearly visible for him, thus making his path clearly brightened, guiding and moving him through it; passing through various gates (of asceticism) he eventually reaches to the permanent abode of prosperity and with a tranquil and contented heart places his feet in a place of ease and comfort. This is because; he had utilized his reason properly and had made his Creator pleased.” ─Sharhe Nahj al-Balagheh, Ibne abi al-Hadid, p.111-127. A Gnostic after attaining God’s learning (ma’refat) becomes some one whose physical body is with the people but his heart is always engaged in God's Remembrance. A Gnostic is the trustee of God’s trust and is the treasurer of divine mysteries; is the source of His light and proof of His blessings upon the mankind; is the carrier of divine knowledge and scale of divine mercy and justice; is needless of mankind, desires and world; doesn’t have any other companion except God-Almighty; and doesn’t have any indication, speech and breathing but by means of God, for the sake of God, from the God and with the God.