Mystical travelers who put their hearts and focus solely on mystical knowledge are very effective in the attracting of divine assistant and divine blessing. The sessions need special reverence and courtesy. It is better to perform ablution and sit directly towards Qiblah in the position of tashahhud (the portion of salah). The session has to start with reflection and absolute silence and lasts for at least half an hour. After that, they have to read Quran for ten minutes. Then, they should recite some proper invocations for fifteen minutes. It is necessary that the contents of these invocations reflect the same state with a mystical traveler. This will quench the flame of their soul’s yearning (refers to intense passion toward God). It leads them towards absolute unification and ecstasy. Invocations like these can be mentioned: The Sha’baniyah Supplication, Khamsa ‘Ashar Supplications, Yastasheer Supplication, some chapters of Jawshan al-Kabir Supplication and other supplications like them.
It is observed that session concludes with a half an hour of talking by the master or his representative about one of the compiled practical mysticism books such as: “Manazil al-sairin” by Khwaja Abdullah Ansari or “Legha Allah” by Jawad Agha Malaki Tabrizi or “Lobo al-lobab” by (our brother) Allamah Tehrani and other similar books. In addition, the book “Al-matalib al-soloukieh” is an educational book as well. These sessions can either be in a fixed place or by rotation in the brothers’ houses. It is once a week with the presence of a master or someone who the master appointed. A mystical poem has a special role in the sessions like poems of Ibne Farid (in particular his Al-Ta’iyyah ode). Our Sir Seyyed Hashem Haddad used to croon this ode poem to himself and advised me to recite it. I have always memorized some of it and recite it to myself.
Ayatollah Mohammad Saleh Komeily (God graciously preserves him.)
Al-matalib al-solokieh
