ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Elixir of Love The Basis of Self-Building "Salvation" is in fact an epitome of all the human virtues and perfection and the way to attain it, from the Qur' anic viewpoint is through self-building and purification of the soul.

Following numerous swearing, the Exalted Allah asserts: (قد أفلح من زكّـاها) (Truly he succeeds (attains salvation) that purifies it,) (al-Shams: 9) All that the Divine Messengers have brought from the Almighty God for guiding man, are preliminary steps to "Salvation" and actualization of human potentials. The significant issue in purification of the soul for mankind is to find out how to begin self-building and what its basis is from the viewpoints of Divine Messengers.

The basis of self-building and the first step in purification of soul is "monotheism". Thereupon, the first message of all Divine messengers was, "*La ilaha illa Allah-*there is no god-but Allah": (وما أرسلنا من قبلك من رسول الا نوحي اليه انه لآ اله الا انا فاعبدون) (Not a messenger did we send before you without this inspiration sent by Us to him: that there is no god but I; therefore worship and serve Me.) (al-Anbiya: 25) The first sayings of the Holy Prophet (s) addressed to the people was: "يا ايها الناس!

قولوا: لا إله الله، تفلحوا" O people! Say 'There is no god but Allah', so that you attain Salvation."[^1] Nevertheless, mere utterance of "La ilaha illa Allah" is not sufficient by itself, as what forms the basis of self -building and leads to Salvation and actualization of human perfection, is the truth of monotheism and turning into a true monotheist.

The sign indicating that man has attained true monotheism-in the perfect and real sense of the word-is that he can like Divine angels and through Divine Essence witness the oneness of the Exalted God Almighty: (شهد الله أنه لآ اله الا هو والملئكة واولوا العلم) (There is no god but He: that is the witness of Allah, His angels, and those endowed with knowledge...) (Ale 'Imran: 18) One of the Shaykh's disciples said about him: 'May God bless his soul!

All his endeavors were toward attaining la illaha illa Allah, and all his words were dedicated to reach the reality of this pure phrase. ' Another of his disciples said: 'The Shaykh was an expert in this discipline. He did his best to transmit to others what he had attained himself and to enhance his disciples to the rank of intuitive monotheism. The Shaykh said: "Monotheism is the basis of self-building.