General Islamic Matter - Of Annihilation and Consciousness.

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Of Annihilation and Consciousness.

Printed From: IslamiCity.org
Category: Religion - Islam
Forum Name: General Islamic Matter
Forum Description: Discuss Islamic matters/issues that not covered by other sub catagories
URL: https://www.islamicity.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=46092
Printed Date: 21 November 2024 at 9:40pm
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Topic: Of Annihilation and Consciousness.

Posted By: Abu Fauzi
Subject: Of Annihilation and Consciousness.
Date Posted: 30 August 2023 at 4:42am

As-Salaam alaikum,

Sheikh Ali Hujwiri (d. 463/1071) in his 'KASHF AL-MAHJUB' wrote that annihilation is experienced by the mystic "through vision of the majesty of God and through the revelation of Divine omnipotence to his heart, so that in the overwhelming sense of His majesty this world and the next world are obliterated from his mind and states and stations appear contemptible in the sight of his aspiring thought...he becomes dead to reason and passion alike, and even to annihilation itself, and in that annihilation of annihilation his tongue proclaims God, and his mind and body are humbled and abased."

So, annihilation is a means to knowledge and higher consciousness. With this in view, without annihilation of the ego, spiritual consciousness cannot exist. In the language of theology, one cannot be said to possess a soul unless one passes beyond the level of "There is no god.." (La ilaha) and reaches the level of "but God" (illa'llah). Thus, the process of raising consciousness paradoxically consists in negating self-hood.