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MYSTICISM OF DARVISHES: RELIGIOUS PRACTICES
131
held on Thursday evenings; but there seems to be no such attempt to make public displays of them as is the case in Egypt at the present time, and as used to be the case in Turkey.
According to the early School of Sūfis the Initiate must pass through our stages before he can gain reunion with God. Four veils obscure his sight one of which is removed at every stage until Perfection is attained. The first stage is humanity called Hast. The second is called Tarīqat, or the obtaining of potentiality. At this stage the disciple may lay aside all religious observances and think only on the delights of contemplation. The third stage is 'Araff signifying a condition of knowledge akin to inspiration equalling that of the Indian yogi through ‘Samadhi' or that of the angels. He now possesses occult powers. The fourth stage is Haqīqut-Truth. The utmost degree of purity and spiritual thought makes this possible; the man now becomes a saint. He can now commune direct with God, the Divine Sun of whom he is but a spark.
The Qadiris, unlike the Naqshbundis recite in a loud voice the names and attributes of God. There is practically no difference between the Qadiris and Chishtis. The method is two-fold; the recitation of God's name and the recitation of negative and affirmative Kalimā viz. confession of Islamic faith as to God's unity.
“The former is divided into four manners, the first being the recitation of the words, Allāh, Allāh, Allah-God, God, God, with utmost vigour and zeal, in a loud voice, till he becomes out of breath. Then he should tarry awhile and after regaining his breath the wayfarer should begin the recitation in the same way, and continue the process.
“The second manner is that he should repeat the word "Allah" once over his right knee and then over his left knee while sitting in a knee-folded attitude of prayer.
"In the third manner he should proclaim the name of Allāh in a loud voice once over his right knee, then over his left knee, and the third time over where his heart is situated, sitting, as he may be, during the process, with his legs folded.
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