7. The soul existed before the body, and is now confined within it as in a cage. At death the soul returns to the Divinity from which it emanated.
8. The principal occupation of the Súfí is to meditate on the unity, and so to attain to spiritual perfection—unification with God.
9. Without the grace of God no one can attain to this unity; but God does not refuse His aid to those who are in the right path.
The power of a Sheikh, a spiritual leader, is very great. The following account of the admission of a Novice, called Tawakkul Beg, into an Order, and of the severe tests applied, will be of some interest.[[88]] Tawakkul Beg says:—"Having been introduced by Akhúnd Moollá Muhammad to Sheikh Moolla Sháh, my heart, through frequent intercourse with him, was filled with such a burning desire to arrive at a true knowledge of the mystical science that I found no sleep by night, nor rest by day. When the initiation commenced,
I passed the whole night without sleep, and repeated innumerable times the Súrat-ul-Ikhlás:—
"Say: He is God alone:
God the eternal:
He begetteth not, and He is not begotten;
And there is none like unto Him." (Súra cxii.)
Whosoever repeats this Súra one hundred times can accomplish all his vows. I desired that the Sheikh should bestow on me his love. No sooner had I finished my task than the heart of the Sheikh became full of sympathy for me. On the following night I was conducted to his presence. During the whole of that night he concentrated his thoughts on me, whilst I gave myself up to inward meditation. Three nights passed in this way. On the fourth night the Sheikh said:—'Let Moollá Senghim and Sálih Beg, who are very susceptible to ecstatic emotions, apply their spiritual energies to Tawakkul Beg.'