The Relation of Mystical Journey and the Rejection of Disposition in the Teachings of Ibn  Aṭa Allah Iskandarani

Ib ‘Aṭa’ Allah Iskandaranī is the first Shādhlī mystic who compiled and wrote the teaching of Shādhlī order. These teachings are entirely based on the concept of Rejection of Disposition (isqaṭ tadbīr). For Ibn ‘Aṭa’ the novice, in the early stage of his spiritual journey, should reject to make any disposition because God’s will is all-inclusive, so man’s disposition is a hindrance in the path to God. There are nine stations in this path: penance, asceticism, patience, gratitude, fear, hope, cheerful submission, trust in God, compassion. In the seventh station the Rejection of Disposition is more evident than the others. Moreover there are five states: affability, compression, dilation, annihilation, abiding. For Ibn ‘Aṭa’ good deed is the fruit of good state and good state is the fruit of good station. The final phase of spiritual journey is the knowledge of God, which is the fruit of good station, good state and good deed.