26/08/2025
When Shaykh Nurjan Mirahmadi refers to "being a donkey," he is using a profound Sufi metaphor rooted in both Qur’anic imagery and the teachings of the saints. In Sufi terminology, the "donkey" often symbolizes the lower self (nafs al-ammara), the ego, or the physical body that is stubborn, ignorant, and resistant to spiritual discipline. This metaphor is not meant as an insult, but as a mirror for self-reflection and spiritual humility.
Key characteristics of the "donkey" in Sufi thought include:
Stubbornness and Ignorance:
Like a donkey that refuses to move or learn, the ego resists submission and spiritual growth. The body and ego are naturally inclined towards desires, heedlessness, and ignorance until disciplined through spiritual practices.
Carrying Knowledge Without Benefit:
The Qur’an (62:5) compares those who carry sacred knowledge without acting upon it to a donkey loaded with books. The Shaykh warns that memorizing or accumulating knowledge without transformation of the heart makes one like a donkey—bearing weight but not benefiting from it (The Secret Book of Hu).
The Need for Taming:
Just as a donkey must be tamed to be useful, the lower self must be disciplined through submission (Islam), faith (Iman), and spiritual excellence (Ihsan). Only when the "donkey" is tamed can true faith enter the heart and spiritual light shine forth (The Star of Prophet Muhammad).
In Sufi stories and analogies, the donkey is a reminder of our need for humility and self-awareness. The Shaykh teaches that recognizing our "donkey" nature is the first step toward spiritual progress. When we acknowledge our ignorance and stubbornness, we open the door to discipline, purification, and the taming of the ego. The ultimate goal is not to remain a donkey, but to transform—through love, service, and spiritual struggle—into a servant whose heart is illuminated with Divine light.
May Allah ﷻ grant you deep self-knowledge and the strength to discipline your lower self, so that the light of faith and love may shine through your being. May your journey be filled with humility, sincerity, and the blessings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the Awliya.
