Proximity through the Performance of Supererogatory Rituals and Obligatory Rituals, and Appling Them to Mystical Stations

"Proximity through the performance of supererogatory rituals" and "proximity through the performance of obligatory rituals" are two mystical terms taken from religious texts and commonly used in mystical works. The present paper elaborates on the main views about the way of applying these two terms to the mystical stations in order to enquire further into some religious texts on the one hand, and to show the close relationship between Islamic mystical terms and religious texts on the other and also refers to the verses and traditions from which these terms are derived. Using an "analytical - descriptive" method, this article finally proposes that "proximity through performing supererogatory rituals" refers to attributive annihilation and "proximity through performing obligatory rituals" refers to annihilation in the Essence. Also, two stations which have a higher position than these two are recognized, and these are: the station of "the proximity through performing supererogatory rituals together with the proximity through performing obligatory rituals and " optional and dedicated station" in which the gnostic can choose between the station of proximity through performing supererogatory ritual, proximity through performing obligatory or performing supererogatory rituals together with obligatory rituals.