By Prof Zaid Gul Khattak

Ibn e Arabi (ra) says the direction of your focus and attention should always be Allah (face).

All creation is the manifestation of Allah's irada. All creation is from Allah and their focus and attention is also towards Allah. Thus wherever you look, you look at Allah's Face. Whether you apparently are looking at mountains, rivers, trees, rain, flowers, parents, children, birds the sky, sea world under the sea etc. In actuality you are looking at its Creator, Allah.

According to Ibn e Arabi (ra) and the philosophy of Sufism - we call this itibar, imkaan and majaaz.

Creation is physical and metaphysical. We cannot see the metaphysical world, like ruh, thoughts, emotions, alam e misaal, alam e misaak, alam e malakoot, angels. Angels can be seen as humans, like were seen by Beloved Rasoolallah's (s) wives, daughter and companions. We cannot see the metaphysical world with our dunya or zahiri eyes. However, we can see it with our Batini eyes.

Our world is itibar o imkaan o majaaz. Allah has created it.

By Prof Zaid Gul Khattak

Ibn e Arabi (ra) says Real Maratib (status) is what is determined according to Qur'anic ilm. For example the first few lines of Surah Baqarah mention the Mutaqeen. It means that Aqeeleen are those who gain Hidayah from the Qur'an. If we consider anyone Aqalmand, we must see, has he obtained Hidayah from the Qur'an? If he has, only then can he be considered Aqalmand.

Qur'an mentions Sabireen. Mutaqaleen. Saeymeen. Saeymaat. Muslaymeen. Muslaymaat. Momayneen. Momaynaat. Mohsayneen. Mohsaynaat. Thus we see that Ilmillah has different status. Ilmillah is also ilm e Rasool (s) because Allah says my Nabi (s) doesn't even speak from his own desires. It is his tongue but Allah's words.

Therefore whoever follows Beloved Rasoolallah (s) follows Allah.

Ibn e Arabi (ra) says Status Martaba is in direct accordance with Marifat, in front of Allah, Rasoolallah (s), in Akhibat and in Spirituality Ruhaniyat.

The Ainiyat of these Maratib on the day of Rueeyat will be disclosed. Rueeyat is Allah's deedar, which is in Batin.

A salik seeker does Mujahida, Muraqaba and eventually Mushahida. Mushahida is to see Rabb's Husn in your Batin. This is not possible in Khaarij. Only in Batin.

The second possibility is if a person reaches Allah in the Afterlife as a reward deserving person. These are the ones that will have radiant and shinning faces on that day and they will be looking towards their Rabb.

By Prof Zaid Gul Khattak

Ibn e Arabi (ra) says if there is anything against Haq, one should stand against it. And if there is anything that is Haq or in line with Haq, then one should accept it and support it. One should hold it in high esteem.

There are two types of "seeing". One is with the bodily eye. The other seeing is with the Qalb's spiritual eyes. Ambiya alayhis salaam and other enlightened people have tasted and enjoyed this type of Qalbi "seeing". These people are Arif.

Then there are people who see only with the eyes of the body, the Nafs. Ibn e Arabi (ra) says these people's relationship with Allah is based only on their wants and needs and they are not enlightened people. They can be muslim and even momin but they are not Arif.

And those who have not seen their Rabb with their nafsi eyes nor their qalbi eyes - they may be muslim but they are jaahil.