Page:Thomas Patrick Hughes - Notes on Muhammadanism - 2ed. (1877).djvu/251

 230 and God is the Beloved One (Mʾashuq). This Divine love is the theme of most of the Persian and Pushtu poems, which abound in Sufistic expressions which are difficult of interpretation to an ordinary English reader. For instance, Sharáb, "wine," expresses the domination of Divine love in the heart. Gísú, "a ringlet," the details of the mysteries of Divinity. Mai Khána, "a tavern," a stage of the journey. "Mirth," "wantonness," and "inebriation," signify religious enthusiasm and abstraction from worldly things.

The eight stages which we have given are those usually taught by Súfí teachers in their published works; but in North India we have frequently met with persons of this sect, who have learnt only the four following stages:—

The first, Násút, "humanity," for which there is the Shariʾat, or law. The second Malakút, "the nature of angels," for which there is Taríqat, or the pathway of purity. The third is Jabarút, "the possession of power," for which there is Mʾarifat, or knowledge. And the fourth is Láhút, "extinction," for which there is Haqíqat, or truth.

The Súfí mystic seeks, by concentration of