Preface
In the Name of God the Beneficent and Merciful
Praise be to the Lord of the Worlds, salutations and greetings be upon the mast noble messenger and prophet, God’s beloved Abu’l-Qasim Muhammad (a.s) who was appointed to be a blessing for the humankind, to help them attaining spiritual purification and to teach them the book and wisdom and salutations be upon his Holy Household, Ahl al-Bayt (a.s)
Oh God! Please guide us towards the straight path leading to perfection: enlighten our darken hearts with the light of faith and Your Knowledge; remove the dark intense veils of egotism, selfishness, whims and passions of self; open our exoteric heart’s eyes for witnessing Your Unique Beauty; strengthen us on the path of self‑building and self-purification, remove from our hearts the love and desires of other than You; remove the veils of negligence and satisfy our thirst with the pure fountain of your Love and Nearness. Oh God! Please enlighten our hearts with the heavenly light of faith and certainty by awakening us from the deep sleep of ignorance, so that we may discover our lost selves and do not waste our precious lives in ignorance like before.
Anyhow, this servant of God, confused, bewildered, entangled, captive of selfish whims and passions, ignorant of the existence of various spiritual stations of perfection and stages of mystical journey towards Almighty God was suddenly inspired to move his feet inside this vast arena of spiritual fields dealing with self‑building, refinement and purification of human self. By utilization of enlightened verses of the Holy Qur’an and instructions given by the Holy Prophet (a.s) and Infallible Imams (a.s) of his Holy Progeny (Ahl al-Bayt)[10] abstraction of the overall basic principles of self‑purification and spiritual mystic journey towards Almighty God was accomplished. Maybe these efforts would be of some help and guidance for the truth seekers and wayfarers in their march on this road of spiritual perfection.
May Merciful God accept this insignificant work and may hold the hand of this deprived servant, leading from the intense darkness of ignorance and egotism towards the illuminated valley of invocations, love, enlightenment. and countenance of Almighty God. And if it happened, maybe it will compensate the omissions of the past for the coming life (if there is any left) of this servant.
An Important Reminder
Before entering into discussion, it must be emphasized that the monasticism, renunciation of worldly affairs and unacceptance of social responsibilities are not prerequisite for undertaking a self-purification program, on the contrary, as will be shown in the book later on that seclusion and relinquishment of individual and social responsibilities are inconsistent with the spiritual self‑building and self‑purification program.
Islam demands Muslims that simultaneous to living among the people and discharging their social obligations, they should not be ignorant about their spiritual requirements and, therefore, should pay special attention towards their self‑building and self‑refinement.
Ibrahim Amini
March, 1984
Qum, I.R. IRAN