THE THREE STATIONS OF

THE DEEN/RELIGION
{MAQAAMAAT
{MAQAAMAAT ADAD-DEEN
ATHATH-THALAATHA}
By: SHEIKH IBRAHIM
ABDULLAH NIASS
elel-Kaolacky, Senegalist (Sheikh ElElIslam wa Qudwatul Arifina)

Translation and Exegesis by:

SHEIKH ABUBAKAR SIDIQ
YUSUF
(Khadeemul Hadaraat wa Miftaahul
Wusul ilaa Asalil Usuul) Founder
of Medinat Failat Tijaniya Abayawo,
Ilorin, Nigeria. {+2348033541992}

Retyped and Shared on Pristine Sufism facebook group and page by;
Isma'eel Bakare, with the permission of the owner of this work (Shaykh Abubakr Sidiq Abayawo,
RTA) on 26th June, 2013.
He says and I Quote;
"This book was prepared for the Sufi Scholars only. To be able to benefit from it, you have to
undergo a course of TARBIYYAH (SPIRITUAL TRAINNING)". - Shaykh Abubakr Sidiq Abayawo.
May Allah be pleased with Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse and his Muqaddam whom translated and
explained this momentous work; Ameen. May Allah grant us their barakah and himmah; Ameen.

BISMILLAHI RAHMANI RAHEEM

Wa salaasalaa-llahu alaa sayiddinaa Muhammad alal-faatihi
faatihi lima ugliqa wa alaa aalihi wa ashaabihi wa
salim.

INTRODUCTION
Islam has three positions (ISLAM, IMAN, IHSAN) all within LAA ILAHA ILLA LLAH. Each of the
positions has three grades and within each grade there are three categories of people, i.e. The
General, The Special and The More/Exceptionally Special who will be the most pious of the
people within that group.
We may feel that there is difference amongst them, whereas there is no difference, as they are all
within LAA ILAHA ILLA LLAH.
A Muslim grows from grade to grade especially when he has the knowledge and follow the trend
with the fear of Allah.
The nine grades with the three groups of people in each and Allahs reference to each group in
the Quraan are revealed by Sheikh El-Islam, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi Niass, Senegalist (RTA) as
follows:

THE NINE GRADES WITH THE THREE GROUPS OF PEOPLE IN EACH AND ALLAHS
REFERENCE TO EACH GROUP IN THE QURAAN AS REVEALED BY SHEIKH ELEL-ISLAM, ALHAJI
IBRAHIM ABDULLAHI NIASS, SENEGALIST (RTA)
{THE
{THE NINE GRADES/STAGES}
ISLAM
AT--TAWBAH (REPENTANCE)
1ST STAGE = AT
2ND STAGE = ALAL-ISTIQAAMAH (STEADFASTNESS)
AT--TAQWA (PIETY)
3RD STAGE = AT
IMAN
AS--SIDQU (TRUTH)
4TH STAGE = AS
AL--IKHLAS (PURITY)
5TH STAGE = AL
AT--TAMAANEENAH (REST OF MIND)
6TH STAGE = AT
IHSAN
IHSAN
7TH STAGE = MURAQABAH (WATCHING)
8TH STAGE = MUSHAHADAH (WITNESSING)
9TH STAGE = MAARIFAH (GNOSIS) YAQEEN (CERTAINTY)

{THE NINE GRADES WITH THE THREE GROUPS OF PEOPLE IN EACH}

1ST STAGE *ISLAM* = ATAT-TAWBAH (REPENTANCE)

a) Repentance of the General:

-Repentance from Disbelief (Kufr) to Islam
- Repentance from Bad deeds to good deeds.

b) Repentance of the Special (of the higher group):

What they regard as Bad/Forbidden (Haram) is the leaving of Sunnah and practice of Innovation
(Bidah) and Culture (Al-Adat) which is not Islamic.

c) Repentance of the More/Exceptionally Special (of the highest group):

Bad deeds in the presence of the highest group is the turning away from Allah, i.e. Seeing or
attributing powers to any other thing other than Allah.
This is the real Repentance (Tawbah), as it means Nullification of the mind (Qatlu Nafs). Allah
says: So turn to your Creator (in repentance) and kill your passions, i.e. lustful
desires..Fatuubuu ilaa baariikum, Faqtuluu anfusakum Quraan 2:54

See that you have no intention, desire or passion but (total reliance) on the will of Allah. This is
the real repentance and Allah says: Verily, Allah loves the Repenting ones..Inna-llaha yuhibu-tTawaabeena.

2ND STAGE *ISLAM* = ALAL-ISTIQAAMAH

ISTIQAAMAH (STEADFASTNESS)

a) Steadfastness of the General:

This is the following of the right path without turning to any other side or other path. Allah listed
ten performances which he regards as the straight path for Muslims in Surat Al-Anaam (Chapter
6:Verses151-153);

Ten Performances Which Allah Regards As the Straight Path for Muslims - Surat Al-Anaam
(Chapter 6:Verses151-153)
Verse 151;
1. Associate nothing (in worship) with Him (Allah)Al-laa tushrikuu bihi shayhaan.
2. Be Good and Dutiful to your parents.Wa bil waalidayni Ihsaanaan.
3. Kill not your children because of poverty We provide sustenance for you and for
them..Wa laa taqtuluu awlaadakum min imlaaqin Nahnu narzuqukum wa iyaahum.
4. Come not near to Al-fawaahish (Shameful deeds), whether committed openly or
secretlyWa laa taqrabuu-l-fawaahisha, maa zahara minhaa wa maa batana.
5. Kill not anyone whom Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause..Wa laa taqtuluu nafsa-llatee harama-llahu, ilaa bi-l-haqqi.

Verse 152;
6. Come not near to the orphans property, except to improve itWa laa taqrabuu maala-lyateemi, ilaa bi-latee hiya ahsanu.
7. Whenever you give your word, say the truth, even if a near relative is concernedWa izaa
qultum, faadiluu, wa law kaana dhaa-qurbii.
8. Fulfil the Covenant of AllahWa bi Ahadi-llahi awfuu.
Verse 153;

9. Verily, this (above commandments) is the straight path, so follow itWa anna aazaa
siraatii mustaqeemaan, fa-tabbihuuhu.
10. Follow not other paths, for they will separate you from His path.Wa laa tatabihuu
subula, fatafaraqa bihi an sabeelihi.

End of Verse 153;

This He has ordained for you, that you may become of the Al-Muttaquun (Pious).
This is the path of the General Muslims. Allah wants every muslimto hold fast to these.

b) Steadfastness of the Special (of the higher group):

This is to be firm in the love and practice of Islam as done by Prophet Muhammad (SAW). To
dissolve in his love, practice, behaviour, imitation and prayer (salat) for him all the time.

c) Steadfastness of the More/Exceptionally Special (of the highest group):

This is to dissolve completely in Prophet Muhammad (SAW) without leaving out anything, even
hair.
They are the people Allah described as;
Verily, those who say: Our Lord is Allah, and they are steadfast on the claimInna lazeena
qaaluu: Rabbunaa-Allahu, thumma-s-taqaamuu. Quraan41:30 and Quraan46:13.

3RD STAGE *ISLAM* = ATAT-TAQWA (PIETY)

a) Piety of the General Muslims:

Piety is the third and last stage of the positions in ISLAM. Piety with the General, is the following
of Allahs instructions and abstaining from all that He has forbidden, openly and in the hidden.
All the Compulsory Sunnat (Waajib Sunnat) and Desirable/Necessary (Mustahab) are fully
observed and the Haram (Forbidden) and Makruuhaat (Reprehensibles) are shunned/avoided. To
this group, Allah says: Fear Allah as much as you can..Itaquu-llaha maa-statahatum.

b) Piety of the Special (of the higher group):

This is the Remembrance of Allah all the time. Be always grateful to Allah in all conditions. Be
submissive to His will and do not deviate. To these people, Allah says: Oh you who believe!
Fear Allah, as he ought to be feared.Yaa ayuhaa lazeenaa aamanuu! itaquu-llaha, haqqa
tuqaatihi

c) Piety of the More/Exceptionally Special (of the highest group):

This is the mind that gets stick to/immersed in Allah always and being concious of Him in all
circumstances and conditions. Such people do not see, nor hear, nor love any other thing than
Allah.
To them, Allah says; Surely, Allah likes the Pious ones.....Inna-Allaha yuhibu-l-Mutaqeen.
One of the people in this group said; Even if my thought mistakenly brings any other thing
besides you, rule me out of believers.
These can only be expressed by people on the grade of Qutbaaniyyah (Divine Pole-ship).
May we be blessed as much, Ameen!
This is the highest position in the group of people in the grades in ISLAM.
The next position is IMAN (FAITH). The first stage in Iman is As-Sidq;

4TH STAGE *IMAN* = ASAS-SIDQU (TRUTH)

a) Truthful ones of the General:

The people in this group accepts Allah with all Truth, they worship Allah for the sake of Allah
and serve Allah truthfully.
To them, Allah says; But the Righteous is the one who believes in Allah and the last day, the
Angels, the Book, the Prophets and gives wealth, inspite of love for it, to the kinsfolk, to the
orphans, and to the needy, and to the wayfarer, and those who set slaves free, and performs
salat and gives Zakat (obligatory charity), and who fulfils their covenant when they make it, and
who are patient in extreme poverty and ailment (disease) and at the time of striving (in the way
of God). Such people are the Pious (Al-Muttaquun). - Qur'aan2:177
They are in the first stage of the three groups.

b) Truthful ones of the Special (of the higher group):

This are those whose highest interest is to exist in Allah, recitation of the Qur'aan, remembrance
of Allah (Dhikr-Allah). This is the stage of the more truthful ones. Their minds never like what
Allah does not like. The prefer His wordss to any other, His names and His service to anyother.
On this group, Allah is calling us to; Be with the truthful ones (Kuunuu ma'ha-s-Saadiqeen).
To reach this grade is a gift from Allah and He gives it to those He wishes....Dhaalika fadlu-llahi,
yuutee'hi man yashaa'u. Wa-llahu dhuu fadli-l-Azeem.

c) Truthful ones of the More/Exceptionally Special (of the highest group):

This is the group of those who believe all that the Prophetic Presence (Hadratu Nubuuwah)
collects from the Divine Presence (Hadratu-l-Uluuhiyah). They accept with respect, regard and
trust. Whoever reaches this stagehas got to the highest stage of accepting Allah with all Truth.

5TH STAGE
STAGE *IMAN* = ALAL-IKHLAS (PURITY)

a) Purity of the General:

At this stage of Purity, the people carry out all services for the sake of Allah and shun all
prohibitions for Allah's sake. But they do it conciously. This is the purity of the general (in this
stage).

b) Purity of the Special (of the higher group):

This is to serve Allah, not for reward nor fear of punishment, nor for attaining a position or
wealth or even respect from people or Crown from Allah. It bases on serving Allah because He
has created you, He is to be worshipped. No right of any reward is due to you. You see the
service as a job from the Creator to His creature as a Grace. You see yourself a s a tool being used
by the owner.

highest
c) Purity of the More/Exceptionally Special (of the high
est group):
This is the nullification or removing any other thing or associates with Allah entriely. To see that
all deeds are from Allah, to Allah, in Allah.
A person has nothing, no concern nor contribution.
To this set of people, Allah says: Surely, Allah loves the Pure ones....Inna-llaha yuhibu-lMukhliseena.

6TH STAGE *IMAN* = ATAT-TAMAANEENAH (REST OF MIND)

a) Rest of Mind for the Special (of the higher group):

This mind has passes through and worked in many stages and achieved Peace in Allah and needs
nothing else. No benefit nor harm from any other thing than Allah. This position cannot be
attained, except by those on the higher stage (that is, it's not for the General).

b) Piety of the More/Exceptionally Special (of the highest group):

This is for those who are certain that there is nothing other than Allah. They are from Him,
existing in Him, with Him, by Him and to Him.

They are the people who worth the call by Allah in the Qur'aan: "Oh Soul that is at rest! Return
to your Lord, well-pleased, well-pleasing....Ya Ayatuhaa-n-Nafsu-l-Mutma'eenah! Ir'jihee ilaa
Rabbika, Raadiyatan, Mardiyyatan". - Qur'aan 89:27-30

7TH STAGE *IHSAN* = MURAQABAH (WATCHING)

a) Muraqabah of the Special (of the higher group):

Remaining with Allah all the time, watching His deeds in everything. Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse said;
When such person talks you will regard him as someone who has been cleared of all
Hijaabs(Veils), whereas he is seeing through a thin curtain. He will also be understanding some
signs from the interest he has for the Divine Presence (Hadrat).

b) Muraqabah of the More/Exceptionally Special (of the highest group):

This is the stage of he who is receiving knowledge at this stage, i.e. before the whole Hijab(Veil)
is cleared before him. Gaining knowledge before the clearance of Hijab, that is the position of
the greatest people in MURAQABAH.

8TH STAGE *IHSAN* = MUSHAHADAH (WITNESSING)

This is the seeing of the (divine) facts with the eyes plainly, without any doubt nor cloudy-ness.
Nothing remains except the fact, in the fact, with the fact.if it remains a single hair in a person,
then he has not got to the position. At this stage, he will be futuring the say that reads;
Wa lam yabqa ilaa-llahi laa shay'hin gayrahu..famaa thumma mawduuli wa laa thumma baayinun
At this stage;
There will be no name, no shape, no sign, no limit. This seeing has no how, no beginning, no
end.
Thus an Arif (Gnostic) said: "If nothing exists but Allah, then there is no knower, no ignorant, no
nearness, no distant, no Remembrabce(Dhikr), no Rememberer (Dhaakir), no Remembered
(Mazkur)".
At this stage, Allah says; "Say: The Truth has come/appeared and The Falsehood has vanished.
Surely the falsehood is ever bound to vanish.......Wa qul Jaa'a Al-Haqqu wa zahaqa-l-Baatila.
Inna-l-Baatila kaana zahuuqaan". - Qur'an 17:81
Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse said: Whoever is in this position is still behind. The stage of Maftuuhat
(Illuminated), i.e. The person whom the gate has been opened for.

9TH STAGE *IHSAN* = MAARIFAH

MAARIFAH (GNOSIS/PERFECT KNOWLEDGE OF ALLAH) YAQEEN
(CERTAINTY)
The highest stage is the position of Al-Aarifu bi-llahi. This is the melting of life in seeing the fact
and yet remaining awake in Allah, with Allah.
With the Sufis, Arif is he who sees the fact in any other thing.
But Shaykh Ibrahim said; "Al-Aarif with me is he who melts in an object once and melts in shape
twice or thrice, and brings the beings to be within the three rights and brings all names into one."
Getting to this position, one will have his livers tattered, worked on broken bottles and tasted
the real hardship in the search for Allah. One does not get to this position by giving or spending
money or giving children to Shaykh alone.
Whoever is in this position is fully at rest in Allah. He accepts with happiness whatever appears to
him in life. Whatever flows out is acceptable to him. He remains pleased with Allah and Allah
remains pleased with him.

This is the soul that is been called to join other beloved servants in the paradise. - Qur'aan 89:2730.

CONCLUSION
This is the end of the stages and what is beyond is what cannot be explained here, but even this
cannot be comprehended except by Scholars and Activists in the Knowledge of Allah.
The first step is Repentance (At-Tawbah) while it is greater because Ma'arifah is a product of AtTawbah. This is because the real repentance is lack of repentance and this cannot be understood
unless with Ma'arifah.

This is why our Shaykh, the Seal of Wilaayatil Muhammadiyyah..Shaykh Ahmad Tijani (RLA)
said; "Bi-llahi lazee laailahaillaahuwa, maa balagtu maqaama Tawbah"....Shaykh swore by Allah
that there is no other God except Him that he had not reaches the position of a real Repenter.
He meant that he was seeing his repentance while repenting. Whoever is seeing himself as a
repenter does not reach the position of a true repenter.

Note that: Shaykh said this out of humility, as he is the source of the knowledge.
ENDEND-NOTE;
This is the revelation of the HIERARCHY of the People of Allah (Awliyya) as explained by Shaykh
El-Islam and Tareeqah, the Khaleefa and Islamic Revivalist of this Century (and beyond), Shaykh
Ibrahim Abdullahi Niass (RLA) based on the Qur'aan and the practice of Allah's Mercy to
mankind, Muhammad and the last and seal of Allah's messengers (SAW).

In a Nut-Shell

He (Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse) said;

The three positions are;

ISLAM, which is the Believe in LAA ILAHA ILLAA LLAH.

IMAN, which is the time Knowledge of LAA ILAHA ILLAA LLAH.

&

IHSAN is the float on the directives of LAA ILAHA ILLAA LLAH, and his actions will read ALLAH.
These cannot be comprehended unless by a learned Sufi Scholar. These stages are nine and
appear to be different but if gone into, you will discover that it is all ONE. If you enter the
Divine Circle, your aim in Allah is met in the circle, your aim in Hadrat al-Muhammadiyyah and
Ahmadiyyah will be met there. If you enter into Muhamadiyyah circle, your aim in Allah and
Ahmadiyyat will be met, so also is the circle of Ahmadiyat..if you enter into it, your aim in Allah,
the Messenger and Wilaayyah will be equally met.
The circle becomes three in three. The circle of Shaykh is Islam, the circle of Muhammadiyyah is
IMAN while the circle of Allah is the stage of IHSAN.
Surely, to Allah everything Ends....Wa ilaa Rabbika al-Muntahaa!!!
END!!!

Retyped and Shared on Pristine Sufism facebook group and page by Isma'eel Bakare, with the
permission of the owner of this work (Shaykh Abubakr Sidiq Abayawo, RTA).