The Seven Jewels of the Heart

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The following is the chapter on al-jawahir as-sab’ah, the seven jewels of the heart, from the Jawahir al-Ma’ani wa Bulugh al-Amani fi Faydh Sayyidi Abu al-‘Abbas at-Tijani of Shaykh Abu al-‘Abbas Ahmad ibn Muhammad at-Tijani (q.s.), as recorded by his khalifah, Shaykh ‘Ali al-Harazim ibn al-‘Arabi al-Barradah (q.s.).  This work was originally translated by Sidi Thalut Dawud. 

Shaykh Ahmad at-Tijani (q.s.) said, “The jewels of the heart are seven.  And the heart has within it seven treasures.  Each of these treasures is the location of a jewel from the jewels of the heart.” 

The first jewel is the jewel of dzikr, remembrance.  The second jewel is the jewel of shawq, longing.  The third jewel is the jewel of mahabbah, love, and ‘ishq, passion, for Allah (s.w.t.).  The fourth jewel is the jewel of the sirr, secret.  And it is ghayb min ghuyub Allah Taʼala, a hidden among Allah’s (s.w.t.) hidden things, Whose Essence is not perceived and not known.  The fifth jewel is the jewel of the ruh, soul.  The sixth jewel is the jewel of maʼrifah, gnosis.  And the seventh jewel is the jewel of faqr, poverty. 

As to the first jewel, the jewel of dzikr, when it is opened in the heart, the slave will always be isolated from his own existence and absent from his own witnessing.  This is called, by the salikin, travellers of the path, dzuhul, stupor, from Creation, and establishment of the heart in dzikrullah. 

As to the second jewel, the jewel of shawq for Allah (s.w.t.), it is that the slave should at all times be in longing and desire for Allah (s.w.t.), and seeking out death in each breath, due to the fire of that desire burning in him. 

As for the third jewel, the jewel of mahabbah and ‘ishq for Allah (s.w.t.), when it is opened in the heart, the slave will at all times be pleased with Allah (s.w.t.) and pleased with His Decree in bliss and affection.  Due to his preference of Him over all besides Him, if, at that time, the greatest misfortune should befall him, it would be more beloved to him than ash-shahawat, passionate desires. 

As for the fourth jewel, the jewel of the sirr, it is ghayb min ghuyub Allah Taʼala, a hidden thing among the hidden things of Allah (s.w.t.), Whose Essence is not known or perceived.  However, its sign is that the slave should be, in every state, not moving except for Allah (s.w.t.), not stopping except for Allah (s.w.t.); not having anything occur in him that contradicts the shari’ah, primarily due to his complete purity. 

As for the fifth jewel, the jewel of the ruh, it is that he uncover its reality and its essence through a real and true unveiling, by virtue of which nothing of it, not a portion or a particle, wholly or partially, is hidden from him.  This is the presence of isolation in intoxication, serenity and the truth. 

As for the sixth jewel, the jewel of ma’arifatullah, it is the capacity of the slave to function between the Haqq and ‘ubudiyyah, and his knowing each reality along with all of its rulings, decrees and requirements.  And this is the presence of baqa’, perpetuity, and sobriety after intoxication. 

The seventh jewel, the jewel of faqr before Allah (s.w.t.), when it is opened to the slave, he will witness his poverty before Allah (s.w.t.), as well as his needing Him with every last one of his breaths.  And his being established in that is not disturbed, by any outpouring of any address at odds with his poverty.  And however is established in this jewel, becomes the Creation of Allah (s.w.t.) most independent of all else, wherefore he will not care if all of Creation should love him, or hate him, accept him or reject him, because of his complete independence by Allah (s.w.t.).  So, whoever becomes established in this jewel is safe from deprivation in the presence of the Haqq.