Teachings from the Al Qadariyah tarika, given by the sheik Shah Muhammad Badi-Ul-Alam. Bengal, 1914.

                                                    

Human nature is so subtle, complex, diverse and  mysterious in its intimacy or bottom, causality and dynamism, that it is difficult to categorise it with precision but, over the centuries, many proposals have been formed, and we can mention the most easily accepted ones: animal, human, and psychic nature. Or physical, psycho-animic and spiritual, each person having developed more or less of each. Or still, physical, subtle, spiritual and divine.

A Bengali spiritual teacher, Shah Muhammad Badi-Ul-Alam, from the Iranian lineage of the Qadariyah order (founded by Abdul Qadir Jilani), being a disciple of Mouland Muklisar Rahman and his son Moulana Muhammad Abdul Hai, presented in a very substantial book printed in Bengal in 1914, a division worthy of consideration: animal, satanic, angelic and divine, which almost reminds us of Pico della Mirandola in his "Oration on the Dignity of Man" (which the unforgettable portuguese master of Humanism and Utopia, J. V. Pina Martins so appreciated and cited, and the way he characterises those levels is quite instructive. Let's listen to him:

«The nourishment for the development of Animal Character lies in eating, sleeping, lighting and killing, and in satisfying other animal propensities. If you think that you are only an animal and have no other functions to discharge, then your plain duty is to keep yourself engaged, day and night, in satisfying these animal cravings, i. e. in eating, sleeping and fighting to your heart's content &c.
The nourishment for Satanic Character lies in cheating, intriguing and doing evils to others. If you think that you are originally a satan, then your plain duty is to remain, day and night, engaged in doing mischief to other creatures of God, and in misguiding the world by your intrigues ; and to make yourself the commander of the army of Hell, so that you may reign there. [So visible in our days specially in Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth, Benjamim Netanyahu and Givr.]
The nourishment for Angelic Character lies in remaining constantly engaged in submissive prayers and dutiful services to God (or Allah), and in the blissful vision of that vast, beautiful and etherial creation, known as "the Spiritual Region." Anger, avarice, lust and other animal passions and evil propensities, and the intrigues of Satan, have no existence in that pure and peaceful sphere. If you think that you are originally an angel, then your plain duty is to pay no attention to the cravings of the two preceding characters ; but to keep them under proper control and subjugation, and to try always to revive the Angelic Character by means of peaceful prayers and faithful services, so that you may enjoy the blissful and enchanting vision and companionship of the Spiritual World, called the Behesht (paradise). And the nourishment for Divine Character lies in acquiring Divine attributes which are classified in the ninety-nine attributive names of Divinity, called Asmad-i-Sifat or Asmad-i-Husud and in the love for, and in charming vision and companionship of, the Great Allah or Divinity Himself. 

Animal, Satanic and Angelic characters have no access to that Holy, Sublime and Divine environment. If you think that you have come from that Divine Personality or Essence, then your plain duty is to pay no attention to the three preceding characters, but to keep them under proper control, and find out the way to the acquirement of the knowledge of the Divine Being, the Great Allah, in his three spheres or stages of existence: (1) Af, al, actions, (2) Sifat, Attributes e (3) Zat, Essence. 

By such a knowdlege you will be able to enjoy the vision and companionship of the great Allah (or God) and to acquire His attributes. On this point a poet saint says: "Put your first step on your own self (by renouncing your personanlity) nad next step in the streer of your Friend (Allah)"»

Let's strive to further develop angelic qualities and divine attributes and be creatively and corageously on the spiritual path towards the Spirit and the Divine Being!