Arcs of Descent and Ascent
The Arcs of Descent and Ascent (
Islamic and Sufi cosmology, mainly inspired by the works of Ibn al-Arabi. In the Arc of Descent ("qaws al-nuzuli"), from unity to diversity, God creates successively the Intellect (Supreme Pen), the Universal Soul (Guarded Tablet), Prime Matter, Nature, the Universal Body (including the imaginal world) and the Earth. The Arc of Ascent ("qaws al-su'ud") is the way back to the Presence of God, the process of spiritual perfection.[1][2]
In a
Shi'i Islam, the arc of descent is described as having seven stages. These stages have been commented on in Shaykhism.[3]
In Bábism and the Baháʼí Faith
In the
'Abdu'l-Bahá states that "man is in the ultimate degree of materiality and the beginning of spirituality; that is, he is at the end of imperfection and the beginning of perfection. He is at the furthermost degree of darkness and the beginning of the light. That is why the station of man is said to be the end of night and the beginning of day."[3]
The
Bahá'u'lláh is another example of the arc of ascent. It describes the valley of search, the valley of love, the valley of knowledge, the valley of unity, the valley of contentment, the valley of wonderment, and the valley of true poverty and absolute nothingness.[5][6] 'Abdu'l-Bahá describes the following: The depraved soul, the self-accusing soul, the inspired soul, the assured soul, the contented soul, the accepted soul, the perfect soul, the soul of the Kingdom of God (malakút), the soul of the Dominion (jabarút) and the Divine Soul (lahút).[7]
See also
References
- ISBN 978-1-317-67765-9.
- ISBN 978-1-136-85866-6.
- ^ OL 8685020M.
- ISBN 978-1-55458-056-9.
- ISBN 978-0-85398-522-8.
- ^ Achieving Coherence: The Ontological Circle
- ^ Makátíb-i-‘Abdu’l-Bahá, vol. 1, pp.65-98 (62-102), provisional paraphrase and discussion in Savi, 2008, Chapter 9: Ṣúfí Concepts and Ciphers Revised by Bahá’u’lláh: Man.