The Nine Stations of Arrival on Earth

 

There are nine spiritual stations through which the soul descends to this physical world—from the realm of the unseen (Ganj-e-Mukhfi) to birth in the material world:

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1. Ganj-e-Mukhfi (The Hidden Treasure / Realm of Souls or Alam-e-Arwah)
This is the original station where all souls reside before coming to Earth, and to which they return after death.

2. Jamadat (Mineral or Inert Stage)
This is the second station. From Ganj-e-Mukhfi, the soul begins its descent in the form of "mist" (symbolic explanation) and enters the mineral world.

3. Nabatat (Vegetative or Plant Stage)
Descending further as mist, the soul settles onto a tree or plant, attaching itself to it.

4. Haywanat (Animal Stage)
This is the fourth station.
When a male animal (or human) consumes that particular plant, the soul enters his brain and remains dormant there.

5. Nutfa (The Drop / Sperm Stage)
The soul, now dormant, resides within the sperm in the male's brain.
If a human eats the plant, the soul enters the human brain; otherwise, it remains within the animal that consumed it.

6. Alaqa (Clotted Blood or Hanging Embryo)
From the father’s brain, the sperm reaches the mother’s womb, where it takes the form of congealed blood.
This is referenced in the Qur’an, Surah Al-‘Alaq, verse 2: “Created man from a clinging substance.”

7. Janin (Imperfect Form or Embryo)
At this stage, the body starts forming but is still incomplete and not fully developed.

8. Dayra (Perfect Form)
Eventually, in 280 days (i.e., 9 months and 10 days), the embryo reaches its complete shape.
Some say "10 months 10 days," but that is inaccurate.

9. Tifli / Telefi Kamil (Child / Complete Human Birth)
Finally, the being is born into the world as a fully developed child, now called Tifli Kamil—a soul that has fully manifested in the physical body.

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The Cycle of Return

After death, we all return to Ganj-e-Mukhfi.
Thus, this journey of coming and going is known as "Urooj" (ascension) and "Nuzul" (descent)—a constant cycle of formation and dissolution.
The purpose of all spiritual practice is to end this cycle of breaking and remaking.

When the being is able to renounce all desires through deep spiritual discipline, it attains Nirvana, and only then is true liberation (moksha) achieved.