BY NAZIR JAHANGIR
The ‘Mansion’ of human is his heart (the Qalb).
God has created human heart as the best and the most chief organ. This is not the heart which consists of muscular and connective tissues with some venous and arterial blood that we see in the left side of the chest but it is an instrument which has been given the capability of perceiving divine attributes.
Dr. Rafiq Sahib (D.B.) in his book “Instrument of understanding Quran” says:
“You have different instruments for knowing different things, say for example, you need thermometer to know the temperature, you need sphygmomanometer to know the blood pressure of a person, so what instrument Allah Ta’ala has created in this universe which can perceive him, get his ‘Mau-arifat’ and has the capability of receiving and perceiving the rays of attributes of Allah Ta’ala. You have got the answer that it is the Qalb. Since, it is closely associated with the human heart so the two are usually thought to be synonymous and both words are usually used for describing the same thing though there is a
difference.”
Abu-AI-Hassan Bin Muhammad (R.A.) used to say:
From the time of Adam (A.S.) up to the day of resurrection, people would continue to say Qalb, Qalb (heart). I like to see a person who would tell me as to what is Qalb and how it is like but I don’t see anyone. People call a piece of flesh as Qalb but that is present in children as well as insane people (even that lump of flesh is present in animals also). Then what is Qalb? I may call intellect as Qalb but that is also not Qalb and I may call soul as Qalb but that is also not Qalb and I may call its knowledge as Qalb but that is also not Qalb and all the deponents of reality are related to Qalb but Qalb is something other than these.
Anyhow, we are talking about the human heart. The heart is not matter. It is the treasure of mysteries. The lump of flesh which we take as a human heart is in fact the seat of Qalb (heart).
Sufis say there are six “Latayif” in a man. These are called “Lataif-e-sitta” , means special “Organs of Perception” in Sufi terminology — subtle human capacities for perception, experience, and action.
It is said that Allah Created two worlds. One World of Creation (Aalmi Khalq) and second World of Command (Aalmi Amr).
When it comes to “Aalmi Khalq”, Allah says, He Created heavens and earth in six days.
“Lo! Your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then mounted He the Throne.”
(7:54)
When it comes to “Aalmi Amr”, Allah says, when I intend anything, I have only to Say to it, “Be, and it is”.
“His command, when He intends anything, is only to say to it, ‘Be, and it is’.” (36:82)
It is said that the human body has been divinely bestowed six positions. These positions are filled with “Noor” (Light). But it all remains dormant. Sufi does very hard mystic exercises to activate and illuminate this “Noor”. They give an example of matches box. The material of fire is in match head, but to ignite it we need to strike it on the match box. Then it ignites and generates heat. Similar is the case with this “Noor” which exists at six positions in human body. To inflame it, a Shaikh puts a seeker “Talib” on mystic exercises.
According to Islamic scholars, first “Latifa” is “Latifa Qalb”. This is on the left side almost one inch below the heart. Its Light is Red, which is called “Noor-e-Surkh”. When a mystic does mystic exercises as per the guidance of his spiritual guide, this “Noor” appears him in Red color.
Some Sufis say these “Lataif” are actually around the “Arsh” in a shape of circle. The upper half of the circle consists “Aalim Amr” and the below half “Aalmi Khalq”.
There are many poets, sufi and non sufi, who have used the term “Seyah” (Black) in their poetry. Some say this “Seyah” (Black) is symbol for ‘Nothingness’. Some critics are of the view that Sufis refer to it as “the black light” (Noor-i-Siyah). Between the white and the black, the extremes of light and darkness, lies the spectrum of colours like the degrees of existence.
About the second “Latifa” it is said that it is “Latifa Rooh”. Its position is on the right side. Its Light is said white, “Noor e Safaid”.
Third position is below one inch of the naval. The color of this “Noor” (Light) is yellow. It is called “Noor e Zard”.
Then one more position or “Lataifa” is called “Cir”. Its position is in the middle of the chest, between “Qalb” and “Rooh”. Its color is green, which is called “Noor e Sabz”.
Fifth “Lataifa” is called “Khafi”. Its color is blue. Its position is above the eyebrows, almost in the forehead.
Then it is the sixth “Lataifa” which as per Sufis is called “Lataifa Akhfa”. Its color is black, “Noor e Seyah”. This Light (Noor) appears to Sufi in black color. Its position is on the perpendicular side of the brain. Almost in the middle of head. It is such a Light (Noor) that all other Lights (Noors) seem faded comparing to it. This Noor overshadows all other Noors.
Islamic scholars who deal with the mystic subject say that there lies a “Kholq e Bud” in “neighborhood” of every Noor, which persistently tries to extinguish the Noor near it. This “bad creation” wants to put down the Noor positioned at its neighborhood.
They say the “Khulq e Bud” in the neighborhood of Qalb is “Shehwat” (Lust). While “Khulq i Bud” of “Gaiz o Gazb” (Anger) lies in the “neighborhood” of “Lataifa Rooh”. The “Khulq i Bud” of “Jinsi Shewatein” (Appetites of baser self) is near the “Lataifa Nafs”. “Khulq i Bud” of “Hirs (Greed) lies near “Lataifa Cir”. “Khulq i Bud” of “Hasd aur Bukhl” (Envy and Stinginess) is near “Lataifa Khafi”. In the “neighborhood” of “Lataifa Ikhfa”, it is “Takabor o Garoor” (Hubris and Arrogance)
All the “Noors” except “Noor e Nafs” are from “Aalm i Amr”, while “Noor i Nafs” is from “Aalm i Khalq”.
With the mystic exercises the characteristics of “Khulq i Bud” get weakened and the Noor of Lataif illuminates and brightens.
Purification of heart is a journey which takes you to the inner depths where you recognize the Truth which is not learned by mind. Some spiritual thinkers are of the view that our soul is covered by three bodies which they call physical (or I may say physiological), etheric (I may call it ethereal) and astral (or I may name it cosmic). Life is related to soul and life is not product of matter. Physical laws don’t apply on it. A thinker says that true Wisdom is not mere temporal learning but the “ability to see the finite through the eyes of infinite”. Heart can be understood in many dimensions. I think consciousness too can be a dimension of heart. So when it is purified axiomatic truths are known and heart gets the ability to cognize true and untrue.
There is a second line of a verse by Sufi Poet Samad Mir:
“Jis padne se sahib miley, wo padna hai aur”!
(that reading [which] ‘Sir’ (Lord) meet, that reading is different).
Some people interpret this hemistich very wrongly. From this line of the verse some analysts infer that there is some other knowledge than what we are being taught by the Ulema/scholars to reach the Lord. While that is not meant by the Poet. He actually wants to convey that our routine praying is not enough to realize the God, and one needs to adopt a different approach in praying which is possible only by purifying the heart from all bad morals and annihilating baser self and worldly appetites. Praying after passing through that purification process is different than praying with a malicious heart. Praying with a purified heart would take you near to your Lord. That is what Shaik-ul-Aalam Shaikh Noor-ud-Din Wali (Rehmatullahi alaih) says in the following verses:
“Quran paraan kono modok
Quran paraan kona goy soor
Quran paraan zinda kith rodok
Quran paraan dod mansor”
(Means, How are you still living after reciting holy Quran? You ought to have ceased to exist on its reciting. I wonder you still living even reading the Word of Allah!! Mansur lost his own existence on reading the Word of the Deity, he read it with his heart).
Wallaho alam
(Allah knows better)
(My own belief is that the one who firmly follows the teachings of Sharia, purifies its heart from all evils and always guard own heart lest evil enters it, succeeds and will receive salvation In Sha Allah. I give you clue of a treasure with this hope that if I couldn’t reach it may be someone among you succeeds to get at).
Nazir Jahangir is a writer & columnist
