In Islamic Mysticism there are three stages of knowledge: 1 – The knowledge of certainty (ilm’ul Yakin), 2 – The eye of certainty (Ayn’ul Yakin) and 3 – The truth of certainty (Hak’ul Yakin). At the first stage one tries to find God by means of intellectual proof. At the second stage, one being more unaware of the lower self observes the Divine secrets. At the final stage one reaches the reality and sees It with his spiritual eyes.

In addition to these stages there are four paths towards God: 1- The Orthodox path (according to the tradition of Muhammad), “Shari’ah“, which is essential for the discipline of the individual. 2- Choosing a path “Tarikat“. This path can be any Sufi order under the guidance of a Shaiykh of that tarikat. One must surrender his egoist intellect to him sincerely. 3- Ma’rifet = “Gnosticism”. It is attained when the mind of the Sufi is cleansed of all worldly worries. 4- Hakikat = “Reality” is the last goal which all religions aim at.

Sufis–which is what practitioners of Sufism are called–see themselves to be on a spiritual journey towards God. In order to guide spiritual travelers and to express the states of consciousness experienced on this journey, Sufis produced an enormously rich body of literature, often using a specialized technical vocabulary.

This journey is referred to as the path (tareeq’ah). While all Muslims believe that they are on the pathway to God and will become close to God in Paradise–after death and the “Final Judgment”– Sufis believe as well that it is possible to become close to God and to experience this closeness–while one is alive.

Furthermore, the attainment of the knowledge that comes with such intimacy with God, Sufis assert, is the very purpose of the creation. Here they mention the hadith qudsi in which God states, “I was a hidden treasure and I loved that I be known, so I created the creation in order to be known.” Hence for the Sufis there is already a momentum, a continuous attraction on their hearts exerted by God, pulling them, in love, towards God. They experience the joyful ecstasy of being gently drawn to their Eternal Beloved, yet this primordially blissful return seems to have been interrupted. The Persian poet Hafiz remarked,

O Wine giver, pour me a cup and pass it around for love seemed easy at first, but later the difficulties arose.

Sufism is known as the Way of the Heart, the Way of the Pure, the Mystical Path of Islam. By whatever name it is called, it is the path, which takes the seeker to the Divine Presence. In essence Sufism is a means and a way by which the seeker will move from the gravity of his or her lower self, to ascend, with the assistance of a mystical guide, and through the methods and practices defined by the Way he or she has chosen, to the state wherein the Vision of God is presented to her or him. The ways to God are as numerous as the breaths of mankind. Each individual person has his or her own, personal and private way to the Divine Presence.