Allamah Hunzai - Ascent of Soul

Introduction
From Ascent of Soul

By ‘Allamah Nasir al-Din Nasir Hunzai
(Translated from Urdu into English by Faquir Muhammad Hunzai and
Rashida Noormohamed-Hunzai)
www.monoreality.org
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Importance of “Mi‘raj”:
Since mi‘raj reveals the sublime spirituality and luminosity of the Holy Prophet, Hazrat
Muhammad (s.a.s.), and his closeness to God, it is therefore extremely important and necessary
to know about its realities and recognitions in the religion of Islam. Why not, since it is the most
perfect, consummate, comprehensive and universal recognition which comprises all realities and
recognitions? It is the greatest capital and the invaluable treasure of the true religion. It is the
same hidden treasure whose wisdom-filled mention is made in the sacred Hadith.
Mi‘raj of the closeness of God:
Those who can investigate everything in the light of Qur’anic wisdoms, know that the purpose
of mi‘raj is to be spiritually close to God. This honor is granted to the Prophets and Imams in
grades and degrees. Since it is obvious that the spirituality, recognition of and closeness to God
are in numerous ranks, therefore, mi‘raj also comprises many places of spirituality and luminosity.
Thus, the spiritual ascent and elevation of every Perfect Man is a mi‘raj of his rank.
A characteristic of Qur’anic Wisdom:
One of the characteristics of Qur’anic wisdom is that it explains and describes the same one
reality through different examples and words. For instance, if Hazrat Musa is called Kalimu’llah
(God’s interlocutor), it does not mean that this honor of talking to God was confined only to
him. The fact is that just as Hazrat Musa is praised for talking with God, so many other Prphets
are also praised in the same way, but as mentioned above, the same reality is exoterically
described through different examples and words, and therefore ordinary people cannot
understand it.
The purpose of this explanation is that although the highest mi‘raj is attained by the Holy
Prophet, its subsidiary ranks, in the form of spirituality, are attainable not only by all Prophets
and awliya’; (sing. wali), but also by those mu’mins who follow the pure character and excellent
example of the Holy Prophet in religion, as can be seen in verse (33:21).
Mi‘raj and Ma‘rifat (recognition)
1
If it is accepted as a principle that mi‘raj is within the domain of ma‘rifat and that ma‘rifat consists
of spiritual observations, then it is tantamount to saying that all the events of mi‘raj are among
the spiritual observations of the people of ma‘rifat.
Allah’s sunnat (law, habit):
Allah’s sunnat, i.e., habit or law, has always been the same (33:62) with no fundamental change
ever having occurred, and the way of merging in Allah has also remained the same. This means
that the religion of Islam is eternal and no fundamental change has occurred to any of its things.
Thus, the mi‘raj was hidden in the spiritual events of the previous Prophets, which became
completely manifest in the time of the Holy Prophet. This means that the event of miaj can be
explained by the example of the other Prophets mentioned in the Qur’an, as it is said in verse
(37:99) about Hazrat Ibrahim who said: “Verily, I am going to my Lord, He will guide me.” The
wisdom of this verse shows that Hazrat Ibrahim’s going to his Lord is correct in the spiritual
sense but not in the physical one. This spiritual journey of Hazrat Ibrahim can be considered as
his “spiritual mi‘raj” and it can be presented as a bright proof of the spiritual journey and
luminous mi‘raj of the Holy Prophet.
In the light of Isma‘ilism:
A specific part of the blessed farmans of Hazrat Mawlana Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah,
salawatu’llahi ‘alayhi, is about the realities of spirit and spirituality, by studying which, mu’mins
come to know that the mi‘raj of the Holy Prophet had taken place spiritually [ and not
physically]. There are also clear allusions to the spiritual nature of mi‘raj in the famous book
Wajh-i Din of Hakim Pir Nasir-i Khusraw. In chapter 15, section 4 particularly, he says that the
Holy Prophet in his spiritual mi‘raj had gone to the heaven of the Universal Soul.
In the light of Sufism

According to the Sufis as well, the mi‘raj of the Holy Prophet took place as an inner unveiling
and spiritual elevation, as Sarmad says:
An ra kih sirr-i haqiqatash bawar shud

Khwud pahntar az sipahr-i pahnawar shud
Mulla guyad kih bar shud Ahmad ba-falak
Sarmad guya falak ba Ahmad dar shud
He who becomes certain of the secret of his reality (i.e. his “I”)
Becomes more spacious (in his inner world) than the spacious heaven (i.e. universe)
Mulla says that Ahmad (s.a.s.) ascended the heaven (physically)
But Sarmad says that the heaven entered Ahmad (s.a.s.) (spiritually).
2
This Booklet
This booklet consist of three articles: 1) Mi‘raj of Soul, 2) Spirit and Spirituality, 3) The Nature
and Reality of Light. These articles were written on different occasions, without the intention of
being parts of a book, and therefore, the interconnection [between them] is not very apparent.
Yet, if they are studied carefully, it become clear that they discuss the same subject, which is
spirituality. Therefore, with respect to meaning and reality, we can say that there is complete
connection between them and that they are the explanation and exposition of one another.
Khanah-i Hikmat and ‘Arif
These are two organizations of learning for our ‘azizan. In reality they are not two, but a single
organization. How excellent and how joyous it is that they work as a single entity with the zeal of
service and spirit of unity and unanimity. They know the secret very well that neither the
sweetness or happiness of religion, nor God’s pleasure can be attained without unanimity and
unity. I deem their religious and spiritual brotherhood and unity a form of Divine mercy. Thanks
be to God for this great bounty that He, through His special mercy, has showered upon our
‘azizan the rain of favors, due to which, they have been purified from impurities of vanity and
selfishness.
According to the Wise Qur’an (57:19), true mu’mins in the eyes of God, are like the truthful
(siddiqun) and the martyrs (shuhada’) and He grants them recompense and light. The elaboration
of this purport is that there are two kinds of martyrs: 1) Those who unsparingly sacrifice their
precious lives for the sake of the protection, security, honor and progress of religion. 2) Those
who have the same ambiton and zeal, but from whom religion does not demand the sacrifice of
lives and therefore they are engaged in other great sacrifices to complete its goals. This explains
the excellence of the service which our ‘azizan render for the dissemination of knowledge.
O Sustainer! In your infinite mercy, grant the entire jama‘at peace and safety in this world and in
the next. Ease their difficulties and grant them success in all good deeds. O True Lord! It is not
beyond your infinite mercy to bestow greater favor upon our ‘azizan and bless them in their
lives, children, property and earnings, as well as increasing them in their knowledge, progress in
‘ibadat, rank of high ambition and determination and to enrich them with mercies and blessings
in this world and the next.
Your servant for knowledge,

Nasir al-Din Nasir Hunzai,
Friday 3 Sha‘ban, 1399/29 June, 1979.

Allamah Hunzai - Ascent of Soul

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Allamah Hunzai - Ascent of Soul

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Allamah Hunzai - Ascent of Soul

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Introduction

From Ascent of Soul

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Mi‘raj of the closeness of God:

A characteristic of Qur’anic Wisdom:

Mi‘raj and Ma‘rifat (recognition)

Allah’s sunnat (law, habit):

In the light of Isma‘ilism:

In the light of Sufism

An ra kih sirr-i haqiqatash bawar shud

Khanah-i Hikmat and ‘Arif

Your servant for knowledge,

You might also like