Knowing Allah

Sharia, Tariqa, Marifa & Haqqiqa
The Shaykhs of the path have said that there are four gates that one must pass through on the journey to Allah. They are Sharia, The law; these are the rules of the contract between Allah and mankind. Tariqa, the path; this is the way that one approaches Allah more closely. Marifa, direct knowledge; when Allah brings His Servant closer. And Haqqiqa, the experience of The Divine Reality.

These four stages should not be thought of as a linear progression but rather as four quarters of an unbroken circle.

The Shaykhs say that Allah may be approached through these gates in any order but that one must pass through each to complete the journey.

In Muslim countries most people start their journey by the gate of Sharia. Here in the west it is often the case that a person will begin with Tariqa and then move to Sharia.

It is also the case that different schools of Sufism will approach the gates in a way that is unique to them. So one school will have a curriculum that follows Sharia, Tariqa, Marifa and Haqqiqa, while another may arrange things as Sharia, Tariqa, Haqqiqa and Marifa.

In general to approach Allah through the gate of Sharia means to arrange ones life to follow the instructions of the Qur'an and Suna. To approach Him through Tariqa means to strive to be in constant remembrance of Allah. To approach through Marifa means to be opened to Allah's will. To approach through Haqqiqa means to be granted a direct perception of Allah's Reality.

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