Forgiveness & Spiritual Advancement

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The following is extracted from Kashif al-Ilbas, by Shaykh Ibrahim ibn ‘Abdullah Niyas al-Kawlakhi (q.s.). 

Shaykh Ibrahim (q.s.) said, “Some of the misguided have become stagnant, contenting themselves with the majalis adz-dzikr, the gatherings of remembrance, in the mornings and evenings, while remaining heedless of Allah (s.w.t.) in between.  But this practice is of no use for the spiritual wayfarer seeking the stations of the Sufis.  Perhaps, he who contends with this will cite the prophetic saying, ‘If the servant remembers his Lord for a time at beginning and at the end of the day, he will be Forgiven whatever comes in between.’ 

Forgiveness, however, does not include spiritual advancement.  The result of Forgiveness is to equate the sinner with someone who has not committed that sin, not to equate him with the one who has performed acts of worshipful obedience. 

Understand that the desire of the Sufis is continuous spiritual elevation, with each breath, through all the stations  This is achieved by the constant remembrance of Allah (s.w.t.), so that they do not regard themselves as having fulfilled one atom of Allah’s (s.w.t.) Rights on them.”