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Intellectual knowledge is ordinary, limited to the human faculties. It deals with the finite objects of the world of the creation of God; it is not concerned with the Creator. Gnosis (Marifat) is higher knowledge and directly deals with the Creator and the Divine Attributes. It is a gift of God.

— Abu Bakr al-Kalabadhi The Sayings and Teachings of the Great Mystics of Islam (2004)

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More quotes by Abu Bakr al-Kalabadhi

The more inwardly pure a man is, the higher his rank and the nobler his station, so much he assiduously labors with sincere performance and a great fear (of God).

The Sayings and Teachings of the Great Mystics of Islam (2004)

The mystic never returns to his selfhood after having experienced the state of Fana.

The Sayings and Teachings of the Great Mystics of Islam (2004)

Love is of two natures; the love which is tranquil, which is found among both the elect and the common folk, and the love which is rapture, which is found only among the elect. This is road which leads direct to God.

The Sayings and Teachings of the Great Mystics of Islam (2004)

Detachment from everything is avbsolutely necessary for the saint's unification with God. The meaning of detachment is that one should be detached outwardly from accidents, and inwardly from compensation.

The Sayings and Teachings of the Great Mystics of Islam (2004)

The end of the gnostic is traceable 'when he is as he was where he was before he was.' The gnostic then has made easy effort to discharge his duty to God, and his gnosis is a realization of what God has given him; therefore he truly returns from things to God.

The Sayings and Teachings of the Great Mystics of Islam (2004)

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