Sufism Sufism ( or ) is a mysticism, mystic body of religious practice found within Islam which is characterized by a focus on Islamic Tazkiyah, purification, spirituality, ritualism, and Asceticism#Islam, asceticism. Practitioners of Sufism are r ...

, maʿrifa ("experiential knowledge" or " gnosis") is the mystical understanding of

God In monotheistic belief systems, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator, and principal object of faith. In polytheistic belief systems, a god is "a spirit or being believed to have created, or for controlling some part of the un ...

or Divine Reality. It has been described as an immediate recognition and understanding of the true nature of things as they are. Ma'rifa encompasses a deep understanding of the ultimate Truth, which is essentially God, and extends to the comprehension of all things in their connection to God. Sufi mystics attain maʿrifa by embarking on a spiritual journey, typically consisting of various stages referred to as "stations" and "states." In the state of ma'rifa, the mystic transcends the temptations of the self and is absorbed in God, experiencing a sense of alienation from their own self. The term arif'', "gnostic" has been used to designate advanced mystics who have attained the spiritual station of ''ma'rifa''.

Concept

Ma'rifa is a central tenet of Sufism that embodies the notions of "gnosis" or "experiential knowledge." It is considered the ultimate pinnacle of the spiritual path. In Sufism, the supreme aspiration of human existence is the realization of Truth, which is synonymous with Reality and represents the origin of all existence. By attaining this Truth, individuals are set free, emancipated from the entanglements of ignorance. R. W. J. Austin describes ma‘rifa as "an immediate recognition and grasp not of something new or strange but rather of the state and status of things as they really are, have always been, and eternally will be." In essence, ma‘rifa involves recognizing that one's self is intricately connected to and an essential aspect of the divine Reality. In Sufi teachings, ma'rifa "is an apprehension of the divine unity in such a way that awareness of self is lost in awareness of God". The term 'arif, meaning "gnostic," has been employed to describe accomplished mystics who have reached the elevated spiritual stage of maʿrifa. According to al-Qushayri, a mystic attains the state of ma‘rifa when the inner temptations of his soul subside, and his heart is no longer drawn towards thoughts that deviate from God. In this state, the mystic is certain of his return to God with every glance of Him, and he is blessed with insights into the hidden aspects of his own destiny, inspired by God Himself. In this state, the Sufi is completely absorbed in God and experiences a sense of alienation from his own self. In Sufi construction, ma‘rifa surpasses "ordinary knowledge" (' ilm) as it encompasses a comprehensive grasp of reality. A Sufi proverb illustrates that ma‘rifa is like a mirror through which the gnostic sees his Master. According to Reza Shah-Kazemi, ma'rifa represents the highest level of knowledge accessible to an individual. However, its very essence transcends the limits of individual comprehension, leading to its characterization as "ignorance." On one hand, ma'rifa is said to be a source of enlightenment and clarity, shedding light on profound truths. However, on the other hand, its brilliance can be overwhelming, blinding, and ultimately extinguishing to the one who claims to possess this knowledge, known as the "knower" or al-a¯rif. This knowledge not only requires a state of "unknowing" but also demands the complete obliteration of the individual's sense of self. The ultimate degree of ma'rifa is defined by the inseparable combination of perfect knowledge and pure

being Existence is the state of having being or reality in contrast to nonexistence and nonbeing. Existence is often contrasted with essence: the essence of an entity is its essential features or qualities, which can be understood even if one do ...

. According to Junayd Baghdadi, marifa or gnosis "is the hovering of the heart between declaring God too great to be comprehended, and declaring Him too mighty to be perceived. It consists in knowing that, whatever may be imagined in thy heart God is the opposite of it".

'Ilm and ma'rifa

In Sufi teachings, ma'rifa is frequently contrasted with ilm, which signifies knowledge gained through learning, and " 'aql," which represents rational intellect. While 'ilm and ma'rifa might be considered synonymous by traditional theologians, Sufis place ma'rifa on a transcendent level. Sufi writers elucidate ma'rifa as a profound experiential understanding of the Divine, not something attainable solely through human efforts, but rather a bestowed gift from God, etching itself upon the seeker's heart. Ma'rifa signifies a transformative and intimate understanding of the Divine reality that surpasses mere intellectual comprehension. Ovamir Anjum, however, disputes the commonly held distinction between ma'rifa and 'ilm as depicted in Sufi writings. He argues that ma'rifa was originally synonymous with 'ilm, representing the process of acquiring knowledge, without specific reference to God's knowledge in the

Qur'an The Quran, also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation directly from God ('' Allāh''). It is organized in 114 chapters (, ) which consist of individual verses ('). Besides ...

. According to Anjum, the distinction between 'ilm as exoteric knowledge and ma'rifa as esoteric knowledge or gnosis lacks a solid etymological basis in earlier usage. He emphasizes that the Qur'an does not endorse this differentiation, as it considers the profound knowledge of God that inspires reverence to be encompassed within 'ilm alone. For example, a verse states, "Truly, only the possessors of 'ilm fear God" (Q. 35:28).

''Maqām''

According to Annemarie Schimmel, the final stages of the mystical path are represented by love (mahabba) and gnosis (maʿrifa). There have been different perspectives on the relationship between these two concepts. Sometimes they were seen as mutually reinforcing, while in other instances, love was considered superior, and at times, gnosis was regarded as higher. Ghazali expresses the view that love without gnosis is unattainable since one can only love what one truly knows. In one of the earliest accounts of the '' maqāmāt al-arba'īn'' ("forty stations") in Sufism, Sufi master Abu Said ibn Abi'l-Khayr lists ''ma'rifa'' as the 25th station:

Four Doors

Marifa is often considered one of the " Four Doors" of Sufism: *

Sharia Sharia, Sharī'ah, Shari'a, or Shariah () is a body of religious law that forms a part of the Islamic tradition based on Islamic holy books, scriptures of Islam, particularly the Quran, Qur'an and hadith. In Islamic terminology ''sharīʿah'' ...

(): legal path. *

Tariqa A ''tariqa'' () is a religious order of Sufism, or specifically a concept for the mystical teaching and spiritual practices of such an order with the aim of seeking , which translates as "ultimate truth". A tariqa has a (guide) who plays the ...

(): methodico‑esoteric path. * Haqiqa (): mystical truth/verity. * Ma'rifa (): mystical knowledge & awareness, mysticism. A

metaphor A metaphor is a figure of speech that, for rhetorical effect, directly refers to one thing by mentioning another. It may provide, or obscure, clarity or identify hidden similarities between two different ideas. Metaphors are usually meant to cr ...

to explain the meaning of ma'rifa involves pearl gathering. ''Shari'a'' is the boat; ''tariqa'' is represented by the pearl gatherer's rowing and diving; ''haqiqa'' is the pearl; and ''ma'rifa'' is the gift to see the true pearl perpetually.

References

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