The Mirror of the Excellences of Islam — Page 238
PREFACE SUB-FOOTNOTE 237 of the spiritual world. For example, a little reflection would reveal that there are six stages in spiritual creation. In the beginning, akin to sperm, it only has a far-fetched capacity to absorb the influence of truthfulness. Thereafter, after that capacity is mingled with a drop of the mercy of God-just as the sperm of a a man mingles with the ovum of a woman— then the spiritual condition of man moves from nutfah [sperm drop] to [‘alaqah—clot] and some relation with the Exalted Creator begins to emerge just as the word [alaqah-clot] indicates a relation- [muḍghah—piece ship. Then the ['alaqah—clot] turns into of flesh] with the help of righteous deeds, just as the blood changes from ['alaqah—clot] into [muḍghah-piece of flesh] with its relationship with the menstrual blood. Yet its organs are uncompleted. As is the case with [muḍghah-piece of flesh], which lacks the organs containing the bones, it lacks ardour, perseverance, and stead- fastness for the sake of Allah, though does have humility and soft- ness. Although it does not have full vigour and hardness at this stage, like the [muḍghah-piece of flesh], it is capable of bearing the impact of Divine decrees and determination to some extent. In other words, it is capable of being ground down by destiny and withstanding its impact to some extent. This is because ['alaqah-clot], being liq- uid, is incapable of withstanding the act of being ground down, but the [muḍghah—piece of flesh] can withstand muḍgh [being ground down]—that is why it is called [muḍghah-piece of flesh]. The stage of [muḍghah-piece of flesh] is thus when some taste of the sweetness of the love of God is experienced by the heart, and it invites the manifestation of the attribute of jalal [grandeur]. He is then tested with calamities, and like the lump of flesh, he is ground down under the teeth of providence like ground meat. In short, the [muḍghah-piece of flesh] is the third stage of the life of the spiritual pilgrim. Then there is the fourth stage when, after steadfastly enduring the blessing of being tested with calamities, it earns the reward of the human shape—that is, he is granted a human form in terms of spirituality. Like