🌟 Understanding BAST: Expanding the Divine Presence

Definition and Meaning of Bast

Bast (بسط): A profound involuntary spiritual state that overtakes a seeker, allowing them to feel the divine presence directly. Sufis describe it as when the veils between them and God are lifted, leading to an overwhelming sense of joy, exaltation, hope, and compassion. The opposite state of bast is qabd (contraction).

Etymology and Background

• Etymology: The Arabic term “Bast” (بسط) is derived from Quranic language. The verse “God contracts and He expands, and to Him you shall return” (Quran 2:245) serves as its basis, reflecting both the expansive and contracting divine nature.

Historical Context and Cultural Significance

• Historical Context: Historically, Sufi mystics and scholars have aimed to attain the state of Bast as part of their spiritual journey. It is perceived as an indicator of divine pleasure and acceptance.
• Cultural Significance: In different cultural contexts within the Muslim world, the experience and interpretation of Bast can vary, yet it is universally respected as a crucial state for spiritual development.

Cultural Differences and Similarities

• Similarities: Across diverse Muslim cultures, Bast is recognized as a transformative spiritual experience, often discussed in Sufi literature and gatherings (Mawlid or Dhikr sessions).
• Differences: The significance attached to achieving Bast may differ, for example, Persian Sufi poetry may articulate it differently than South Asian Sufi traditions.

Synonyms and Related Terms

• Synonyms: Spiritual Expansion, Divine Ecstasy
• Antonyms: Qabd (Contractive state), Spiritual Contraction
• Related Terms:
  • Qabd (قبض): A spiritual state of contraction where the heart feels tight and constricted as opposed to Bast.
  • Dhikr (ذکر): Remembrance of God, often a method leading to Bast.
  • Wajd (وجد): Intense ecstasy felt during spiritual practice.
  • Fana (فناء): The annihilation of the self, closely related to the journey of achieving states like Bast.

Exciting Facts and Quotations

• Exciting Facts:

  • Sufi mystic Jalaluddin Rumi often referred to the states of Bast and Qabd in his poetry.
  • The alternation between Bast and Qabd is seen as necessary in balancing one’s spiritual and worldly life.

• Quotations:

  • Jalaluddin Rumi: “When you venture into the infinite realm of divine love, you sway between Bast and Qabd, like a leaf in the wind, both are blessings in disguise.”
  • Ibn Arabi: “The soul must experience both Bast and Qabd, for it is in their dance that the divine secrets unfold.”

Suggested Literature for Further Study

• “Futuhat al-Makkiyya” by Ibn Arabi: A comprehensive source on Islamic mysticism, delving into states like Bast.
• “The Essential Rumi” translated by Coleman Barks: Offers poetic elaborations on many mystical states experienced by Sufis, including Bast.
• “Sufism: The Transformation of the Heart” by Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee: A modern exploration into the states of Sufi spirituality.

Linguistic Translations

• Arabic: بسط (Bast)
• Urdu: بست (Bast)
• Persian: بسط (Bast)
• Indonesian: Pemekaran Spiritual
• Bengali: বিস্তৃতি (Bistriti)

Inspirational Thought-Provoking Farewell

May your journey be adorned with both moments of spiritual expansion and contraction, for in this divine rhythm, true enlightenment and closeness to the Almighty are found. 🌟