The Seven Principles of the Maizbandari Tariqa:

In the spiritual practice of the Maizbandari Tariqa, Fana-e-Salasa or the threefold destruction of enemies (repulsive forces) is a crucial concept. It is considered a significant milestone in the spiritual advancement of a disciple. The term Fana refers to the process of annihilating oneself for the sake of Allah and destroying the three primary levels of internal enemies or negative forces, which helps a seeker to attain a higher spiritual position.

Fana-e-Salasa or The Threefold Destruction of Enemies:

First Level - The First Enemy (Nafs or Self):

At the first level, the disciple must annihilate his nafs (the inner self or negative tendencies). The human heart is dominated by arrogance, greed, vengeance, pride, and worldly desires, which prevent spiritual progress. In this stage, the disciple needs to remove the impurity, defilement, and ego from his heart. The disciple must abandon pride, ego, and worldly attachments to focus truly on Allah.

Second Level - The Second Enemy (Shaytan or Satan):

At the second level, the disciple must free himself from the influence of Shaytan (Satan) or negative thoughts. Shaytan sows bad thoughts and temptations in the heart, which can deviate a person from the path of Allah. In this stage, the disciple must overcome the temptations of Shaytan and become single-minded in remembering Allah. The disciple must discard bad thoughts and desires from the heart and strive to please Allah in every matter.

Third Level - The Third Enemy (Worldly Desires):

At the third level, the disciple must struggle against worldly desires and selfishness. He dedicates everything in the world to the path of Allah and learns to conduct life with only spiritual intentions. In this stage, the disciple renounces worldly desires, status, and the pursuit of fame across the world, focusing solely on seeking the pleasure of Allah.

The Purpose of Fana-e-Salasa or the Threefold Destruction of Enemies:

The primary objective of these three levels is for the disciple to rid himself of the influence of all enemies or negative forces and attain the closeness of Allah, thus reaching the pinnacle of spiritual progress. Fana-e-Salasa purifies the disciple’s heart from all impurities and negative tendencies, enabling him to walk on the correct path to reach Allah.

Conclusion:

The Maizbandari Tariqa’s Fana-e-Salasa or threefold destruction of enemies guides the disciple towards purity of the heart and spiritual advancement. By following these levels, the disciple frees himself from the influence of nafs, Shaytan, and worldly desires, successfully attaining the proximity of Allah. This practice represents a high level of spiritual knowledge and devotion, which completes the disciple's life and leads him towards true peace and purity.

Mawt-e-Arba or The Fourfold Death of Desires:

In the spiritual teachings of the Maizbandari Tariqa, Mawt-e-Arba or the fourfold death of desires is a profound and important concept. It is a process through which the disciple overcomes four major internal promises or deaths related to the soul's desires. This death helps the disciple attain spiritual purity and complete closeness to Allah.

It is divided into four stages, where the disciple frees himself from impurities of the mind, egoism, and worldly desires. Let’s explore these four stages of death in detail:

Death (Al-Mawt) - First Stage: Death of the Nafs or Self:

At the first stage, the disciple must overcome the nafs (the soul or the negative tendencies of the mind). The nafs contains arrogance, pride, worldly demands, and negative inclinations that lead the disciple astray from the spiritual path. At this stage, the disciple must abandon self-centeredness and submit to the path of Allah. This is considered a "death" because the disciple kills his own desires and ego, beginning to live for the service of others and seeking Allah’s pleasure.

Second Stage: Death of Shaytan (Satan):

At the second stage, the disciple must free himself from the influence of Shaytan or negative thoughts and temptations. Shaytan instills bad thoughts, hidden pride, and falsehood in the heart. In this stage, the disciple must eliminate Shaytan's temptations and purify the mind from all bad thoughts and desires. The disciple learns to purify his heart and deepens his relationship with Allah.

Third Stage: Death of Worldly Desires:

In the third stage, the disciple must liberate himself from worldly desires or material demands. The attachment to worldly matters, fame, money, and status can hinder spiritual excellence. At this stage, the disciple renounces worldly desires, ambitions, and material goals, dedicating himself solely to pleasing Allah.

Fourth Stage: Death of Spiritual Submission:

In the fourth stage, the disciple must annihilate all his thoughts and desires related to spiritual submission and self-will. At this stage, the disciple becomes one with Allah, dedicating all actions and thoughts solely to pleasing Him. The disciple realizes that he is entirely dependent on Allah’s mercy and grace.

The Purpose of Mawt-e-Arba (The Fourfold Death of Desires):

The purpose of these four deaths is for the disciple to purify his heart, mind, and soul spiritually. The disciple triumphs over his negative tendencies and worldly desires, reaching a higher spiritual station. This process is a journey of self-reliance where the disciple abandons all impurity, mental obstacles, and negative tendencies in pursuit of closeness to Allah.

Conclusion:

The Maizbandari Tariqa’s Mawt-e-Arba or fourfold death of desires leads the disciple to spiritual purity and greatness. Through this process, the disciple overcomes the influence of nafs, Shaytan, worldly desires, and spiritual ego, and successfully attains closeness to Allah. This is a significant milestone in the disciple’s spiritual life, guiding him towards true peace and the ultimate union with Allah.