| Station (Maqam) |
| Station (maqam) denotes anyone�s �standing� in the Way of God, and his fulfillment of the obligations appertaining to that �station� and his keeping it until he comprehends its perfection so far as lies in a man�s power. It is not permissible that he should quit his �station� without fulfilling its obligations thereof. Thus the first �station� is repentance (tawbat0, then comes conversion (inabat), then renunciation (zuhud), then trust in God (tawwakul); and so on. These stages are achieved step by step and none can be escaped in between. |
| Sufi States and Stations |
| Excerpts from Kashf-al Mahjub |
| Hal is something that descends from God into man�s heart; without his being able to repel it when it comes, or to attract it when it goes, by his own effort. |
| State (Hal) |
| The Distinction between State (hal) and Station (maqam) |
| Therefore, the term �station� means the way of the seeker, and his progress in the field of exertion, and his rank before God in proportion to his merit, the term �state� denotes the favor and grace which God bestows upon the hearts of His servant, and which are not connected with any mortification on the latter�s part. |
| �Station� belongs to category of acts, �state� to the category of gifts. |
| Hence the man has a �station� stands by his own self-mortification, whereas the man that has a �state� is dead to �self� and stands by a �state� which God creates in him. Station is something, which a Sufi achieves with personal effort, and state is something, which is bestowed by His Graciousness. |
| Satisfaction |
| Satisfaction is the lovers� choice. For some it is a state and for some the station.
Satisfaction is the result of Love; in as much the lover is satisfied with what is done by beloved, whether it is �pain of chastisement� or �The Pleasure of Bounty�. According to Muhassabi School, �The satisfaction belongs to the class of �states� and Divine gifts, not to the stages that are acquired by effort.� P. 179. Quiescence and tranquility of heart are not qualities acquired by Man, but are Divine gifts. God said to Moses, �O son of Imran, My satisfaction with thee consists in thy being satisfied with my decree.� Harith Muhasibi would say, �Satisfaction is the quiescence (sukun) of the heart under the events which flow from the Divine decrees.� As Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) had prayed from God, �O God, I ask of Thee satisfaction after the going forth of Thy ordinance (al rida ba�ad al-qada), i.e. �keep me in such a condition that when the ordinance comes to me from Thee, Destiny may find me satisfied with its coming�. Satisfaction is the end of �stations� and the beginning of the �states�: it is a place of which one side rests on acquisition and effort, and the other side on Love and rapture: there is no �station� above it: at this point mortifications (mujahadat) cease. Hence its beginning is in the class of things divinely bestowed. Therefore it may be called either a �station� (no more to go) or a �state� (which is going to last). |
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