Like ecstatic love, impotence is a path which, by way of worship, leads to winning God's love; but it is safer. Poverty too leads to the divine name of All-Merciful. And, like ecstatic love, compassion leads to the name of All-Compassionate, but it is a swifter and broader path. Also like ecstatic love, reflection leads to the name of All-Wise, but it is richer,

broader, and more brilliant path. This path consists not of ten steps like the ten subtle faculties of some of the Sufi paths employing silent recollection, nor of seven stages like the seven souls of those practis­ing public recitation, but of four steps. It is reality (hakikat), rather than a Sufi way (tarikat). It is Shari'a.

However, let it not be misunderstood. It means to see one's impotence, poverty and faults before Almighty God, not to fabricate them or display them to people. The method of this short path is to follow the practices of the Prophet (PBUH), perform the religious obligations and give up serious sins. Espe­cially, it is to perform the prescribed prayers cor­rectly and with attention, and following them to say the tesbihat.

The verse, "Therefore, do not justify yourselves,"^[1]points to the first step.

The verse, "And be not like those who forget God, and He therefore makes them forget their own selves,"^[2] points to the second step.

The verse, "Wliatever good liappens to you is from God, but whatever evil befalls you is from yourself?^[3] points to the third step.

The verse, "Everything will perish save His coun­tenance"^[4] points to the fourth step.

A brief explanation of these four steps is as fol­lows:

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l.Qur'àn, 53:32.
2.Qur'an,59:19
3.Qur'an,4:79
4Qur'an, 28:88.