The Book of Certainty
The Sufi Doctrine of Faith, Vision, and Gnosis
In every esoteric doctrine there are references to three degrees of faith, and in Islamic mysticism, that is, in Sufism, these three degrees are known as
the Lore of Certainty (ilamu 'l-yaqin),
the Eye of Certainty (aynu 'l-yaqin),
and the Truth of Certaity (haqqu 'l-yaqin).
The difference between them is illustrated by taking the element fire to represent the Divine Truth.
The lowest degree, that of the Lore of Certainty, belongs to the one whose knowledge of fire comes merely from hearing it described, like those who received from Moses no more than 'tidings' of the Burning Bush.
The second degree, that of the Eye of Certainty, belongs to the one whose knowldedge of fire comes from seeing the light of its flames, like Moses before he reached the Bush.
The highest degree, that of the Truth of Certainty, belongs to the one whose knowledge of fire comes from being consumed by it and thus becomming one with it, for this degree belongs only to the One.
Abu Bakr Siraj ad-Din, "The Book of Certainty: The Sufi Docrine of Faith, Vision and Gnosis"
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