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 man mingles with the ovum of a woman— then the spiritual condition of man moves from nutfah [sperm drop] to عَلَقَة ]alaqah-clot] and some relation with the Exalted Creator begins to emerge—just as the word عَلَقَه ]'alaqah-clot] indicates a relation- ship. Then the علقة ] alaqah-clot] turns into مضغة ]mudghah-piece of flesh] with the help of righteous deeds, just as the blood changes from علقة ] alaqah-clot] into مضغة ]mudghah-piece of flesh] with its relationship with the menstrual blood. Yet its organs are uncompleted. As is the case with مضغة ]mudghah-piece of flesh], which lacks the organs containing the bones, it lacks ardour, perseverance, and stead- fastness for the sake of Allah, though it does have humility and soft- ness. Although it does not have full vigour and hardness at this stage, like the مضغة ]mudghah-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 عَلَقَة ] alaqah-clot], being liq- uid, is incapable of withstanding the act of being ground down, but the مضغة ]mudghah-piece of flesh] can withstand mudgh [being ground down]-that is why it is called مضغة ]mudghah-piece of flesh[. The stage of مضغة ]mudghah-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 jalāl [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 مضغة ]mudghah-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