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KNOWLEDGE OF LA AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF ILLA


When something is cognized, it is cognition any how, even if it is that of the nescience. And, every cognition, according to the law of Preserved Scripturum, enjoys the status of a reality. We are, therefore, left with no other alternate but to denominate the cognition of the nescience, too, as knowledge. Cognition of nescience termed, by the Sufis, as the Knowledge of La (llm-e-La) and the cognition of knowledge as the Knowledge of Illa (Ilm-e-Illa). Both these cognitions are two Beatific Vision of the Alpha-Luminescences - one, the La Beatific Vision and the other, the Illa Beatific Vision.

When someone preserves both these realities in his mind then it becomes easy for him to understand the ingredients of the Observation (Shahood). Thus, every observation has only these very two components. The first of the two, the knowledge of La, is called the unconscious. When a student of spirituality wants to be acquainted with the unconscious i.e. Knowledge of La, he has to forget about all the fantasies, ideas and thoughts of the external world. He is required to cogitate about his inner self, i.e. to get to the inner most recesses of his mind.

 This contemplation is such an activity which cannot be limited to a particular form of any sort of thinking. We call this thinking as the Cogitation of La, to wit, for a short while or for a considerable length of time we try to remain in that state of mind when every angle is only that of nescience. This cogitation of La could be acquired by practising Istarkha' (gazing in the dark). Reiteration of Istarkha causes the internal circles of mind to be vacated from every thought or idea of any sort. Or to ay, the mind fully absorbs in cogitation of La at that particular moment and the unconscious is Observed in this state of absorption.

 The luminescences of La are the part of the luminescences of Alif-lam-Meem. Understanding of the luminescences of Alif-lam-Meem is associated with the understanding of definition and analytical study of the luminescences of La. The luminescences of La are those Attributes of Allah which introduce us with the the Oneness and uniqueness of Allah, the Most Exalted.

 This oft-repeated question is asked many times by the people: What was there before Allah?' When the mind of a Sufi is fully trained for the spiritual association and he is versed with the properties of the luminescences of La, this question is eliminated altogether from his mind. Because after having the knowledge of Allah's Attribute of La this idea becomes alien for him that there could have been a possibility of any existence before the existence of Allah. The concept of Oneness of Allah is comprehensively grasped by the spiritual associate when his mind familiarizes with the luminescences of La.

 This is the first point from where a Sufi or a spiritual associate takes the first step in cognition of Allah. Initially, n the circling limits of this step, he get the opportunity of acquaintance with his own self i.e. He finds himself nowhere despite searching and thus, real sense of Oneness of Allah and the true spirit of cognition of Allah starts taking shape in his feeling. This is the state which has been termed as Lostfulness’ (Fannaiyat), few call it ‘Lost-in-Diety’

 A devout or a spiritual associate cannot acquaint himself with the tenor or perception of La’ unless his mind is able to accommodate the whole expanses of the luminescences of La. Initially, the luminescences of La are felt in the depths of his perception. This feeling remains beyond the limits of consciousness at a remote distance, therefore this sensation could rightly be called the Unconscious or the ultra-conscious feeling but the flight of thought finally has its access to it. The state Produces this pattern of thinking and trains him to think on these lines.

Practice of remaining awake, the first lesson in the course of Discernment, helps in achieving this absorption to a great extent. Foundations of this lesson forms the pattern of absorption in the mind of the Sufi and some power of intuition is produced in him. Then, this thinking is further activated, strengthened and polished by Istarkha’. After consolidation of this strength the luminescences of La begin to appear before the inner sight during 'Reminiscence' (Warood). The Reminiscence further refines this thinking causing origination of Substantial Non-observation (Li Shahood-e-Nafsi). In the mind of Non-observation Khizar (peace be upon him), the Administrative Auliya and the angels start coming into visual contact and one occasionally gets a chance to converse with them. The translation. Of the signs and notations expressed by them start reaching the hearing of the spiritual associate in his own language because of 'one of the characteristics of this state of Non-observation. Gradually conversation starts taking place in the form of question - answers and many unseen arrangements are revealed through the angels thereby. 

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Loh O Qalam

Qalandar Baba Auliay (R.A)

Alshaikh Khwaja Shamsuddin Azeemi, Chief Editor of the monthly Roohani Digest, the renowned spiritual scholar, founder of the chain of Muraqba Halls the world over has had the honour of learning the spiritual sciences from his spiritual mentor, His Divine Grace Qalander Baba Auliya, the sage of this age. In order to teach him the spiritual sciences Qalander Baba Auliya made Alshaikh Azeemi to pen down the words that he used to narrate. Alshaikh Azeemi being a devoted disciple not only noted the contents but also did his best to understand what he was taught. The eventual out come of his dedicated work took the form of the ‘Loh-o-Qalum’, the first ever book that comprises the whole syllabus of the spiritual science. Who else was more suitable to explain the contents of this document but Alshaikh Azeemi, the very able student of Qalander Baba Auliya. Dissemination of that knowledge, which is the legacy of prophets and had reached him in disciplic succession, has become an obsession for Alshaikh Azeemi because, according to him, this knowledge is the only elixir and the antidote for the ailing humanity in present times.