Marifa (Arabic: المعرفة), which literally means knowledge, is the term used by Sufi Muslims to describe mystical intuitive knowledge of spiritual truth reached through ecstatic experiences, rather than revealed or rationally acquired. Fethullah Gulen, in his book on Sufism, describes Marifa ("knowledge of God") as special knowledge acquired through reflection, sincere endeavor, using one's conscie
nce and inquiring into one's inner world. In this, it is distinct from scientific knowledge, or ilm, which is based on study, investigation, analysis, and synthesis. The opposite of scientific knowledge is ignorance, while the opposite of marifa is denial. A person realizing marifa is imperceptible to others, who are without such knowledge. The following words are narrated in books concerning Sufism as a hadith qudsi, a saying inspired by and received from God. One who knows his self also knows Me; one who knows Me seeks Me, and one who seeks Me certainly finds Me; one who finds Me attains all his aspirations and expectations, and prefers none over Me. Be humble that you can have knowledge of Me. In order to know Me, renounce your own self. A heart which has not flourished and been perfected is blind". In one of the earliest accounts of the Maqamat-l arba'in ("forty stations") in Sufism, Sufi master Abu Said ibn Abi'l-Khayr lists marifa as the 25th station: "Through all the creatures of the two worlds, and through all the people, they perceive Allah, and there is no accusation to be made of their perception." Marifa in the four spiritual stations
The stage of ma'rifat is described as imperceptible, and accordingly, it can not be communicated through corporeal means, but it can be attained by anybody. The four spiritual stations are as follows:
Shari'at
This station is an affirmation that Allah is the only God, the only one and whose command is to be followed, above even one's own desires)
Tariqat
The application of such oath is to follow all that God said in the Holy Qur'an. The result when one follows the Qur'an: one becomes a law abiding citizen of this universe, and harmless and a kind and a generous person. Haqiqa
The stage of haqiqa is the station of a man whereby all his affairs in life are consistent with all that God commands in the Holy Qur'an. At this time, his person reflects nothing but the truth.
