Seven Stages of Self Development

A Prayer and Two Preludes (Javed Nama)

Iqbal declares that this book is for the younger readers and especially not for those who belong to the old school, since it describes a world as yet unknown. He prays to God that the book becomes easier for the youth to understand.

In a flashback, we see the beginning of the world. The sky taunts the earth for being lightless, and the earth complains to God. A voice from across the skies answers it that from its clay would be created the human being whose light would outshine the stars of heaven. Angels sing a song about the impending glory of the human being.
In his own time, Iqbal is yearning for immortality. The spirit of Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi appears before him and says, “You should seek three witnesses on your existence. The first witness is you, yourself. The second is the consciousness of the other – to behold oneself through the other. The third witness is the light of God. If you can sustain yourself in the presence of God, then you can count yourself amongst the immortals.”
Zurvan, the angel of Time and Space, appears to reveal the mysteries of Miraj (the ascension of the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him). The world of Iqbal dies for him and he opens his eyes in a new world, where the stars are singing a song to welcome him above.

you can read chapters from the abridged edition
at the Republic of Rumi Website:(a) Prayer; (b) Prologue

SELF-DEVELOPMENT THROUGH IQBAL

Here I shall explain self-development as I perceive it from the passage given above.

First step in self-development would be to Start making efforts to develop your SELF at a very early age.

Second Step is to never rely on what you learn only from “what belongs to the old school, and try to discover a world as yet unknown.”

Third step = think of yourself as SOMEONE “whose light would outshine the stars of heaven. And Angels would sing a song about the impending glory of you.” Take aide  from Characters like Khalid Bin Walid (R.A)

Fourth step could be to try to live an “immortal” life .i.e to live a life that is worth appreciation for Centuries. Like Allama Iqbal and many others.

Fifth step. Yes now you need a witness. “You should seek three witnesses on your existence. The first witness is you, yourself.(stay firm). The second is the consciousness of the other – to behold oneself through the other(win hearts). The third witness is the light of God (win HIM). If you can sustain yourself in the presence of God, then you can count yourself amongst the immortals.”

Sixth step.  It is difficult !!! but it is possible . TO BREAK THE CHAINS OF TIME AND SPACE …..

Now how to do that. How to break This qayd e zamaan o makaan ?

Learn from Prophet (S.A.W)

Learn to pray five times a day properly. Namaz is the real tool which can teach us how to break this qaid e zamaan o makaan. NO Wonder that Prophet Muhammad (SAAW) was gifted with Namaz on completion of his ascension till ALMIGHTY.

We do not value this tool but nothing else is more beneficial than praying five times a day for real self-development. And this is only possible with the help of ZEAL OF LOVE FOR AL MIGHTY. When one cuts off him self form this world and stand right in front of God to have a word with him.
When people cannot disturb!
 satan cannot corrupt!
and even angles cannot interrupt!

یا اللہ ہماری نماز کو ہمارا تصوّف ، ہمارا مراقبہ، ہماری معراج بنا دے ۔ آمین 

! 

شوق ترا اگر نہ ہو ميري نماز کا امام

ميرا قيام بھي حجاب ، ميرا سجود بھي حجاب

Seventh step is  none other than selfdiscovery, that further leads to selflessness.

Khudi

کرن چاند ميں ہے ، شرر سنگ ميں

يہ بے رنگ ہے ڈوب کر رنگ ميں

these lines explain khudi very well

1.      Kiran  is the khudi of Chand / Moon

How much importance will anyone give to this dark blackheavenly materialistic body (MOON) if it was not illuminated by an immaterial factor? (Kiran)

KUdhi is exactly the same immaterial factor in human beings.With out khudi Human being are of no importance. Khudi is the light of imaan in insaan


2.      Sharer (spark)  is the khudi of sung (stone)

Again .. a stone would be of  comparatively very less value , if it did not possess the power of igniting fire. Again this power is some immaterial factor in a materialistic stone.

Khudi is the spark of ishq ki agg in human heart.

 بجھي عشق کي آگ ، اندھير ہے

مسلماں نہيں ، راکھ کا ڈھير ہے

3.      يہ بے رنگ ہے ڈوب کر رنگ ميں


What is bay rang? its light . As we know this invisible light around us is made up of seven different colors knows as spectrum
Remember we studied in our school “ a ray of light can be seperated by using a prisim” Actual ray of light ceases to be original light after being separated. it can be called red light green light or yellow light but not the original light.

 (view images)

Similarly if our khudi is bay rang it is the original light that is the united power of all colors. In other words, Khudi of a human ceases to be Khudi ,if it is divided on the basis of cast, color, status, sects, nationality or language.


More over,

I also remember playing with magnifying glasses to burn tree leaves.  This happens because the convex lense of the magnifying glass unites all rays of light passing through it on one focal point. Focusing the suns rays on one focal point intensifies the heat energy in these rays that burns the leaf

If we succeed in uniting atleast only few people who bear Khudi in their wojood this will intensify their efforts and burn the enemy.
That’s why our enemies don’t want such bearers of khudi to be united , they use the ‘prisim of media’ to dissolve the original light of Khudi and project its different shades in order to cease its existence.
This is their plan but what about us .. have we sorted out what can we use as a 'magfnifying glass' that could unite a few hamil e khudi together on one focal point to burn our enemies like hell?

Our Prophet Muhammed (Sall Allah o Aleih e wa aalihe wasahbehi wa sallam) has set an example for us. let’s research how he succeeded in bringing 313 Such khudi bearers on one focal point and defeated the enemies.