Four Doors

 ( Sufi Philosophy ) 

Four Doors is a concept in Sufism and in branches of Islam heavily influenced by Sufism such as Isma'ilism and Alevism. In this system, there are four paths to God, starting with Sharia, then to Tariqa, then to Marifa, and then finally to Haqiqa.

In Alevism, ten stations are listed for each of the Foor Doors. Hence, in full, the Four Doors are also known as the Four Doors and Forty Stations (Turkish: Dört Kapı Kırk Makam). These Forty Stations are listed below.

1. The Door of sharia/Divine Law

1. to believe
2. to learn knowledge ( ‘ilm)
3. to worship
4. to earn only what sustenance is permitted ( halal) by its creator in a way that is also permissible
5. abstaining from that which one's creator has forbidden ( haram)
6. to perform marriages
7. to marry oneself
8. to abstain from sexual relation during inappropriate times
9. to be a member of the community following the tradition of Muhammad
10. to be compassionate, to dress simply and to consume simple foods
11. to enjoin that which is right and for abstain from that which is wrong

2. The Door of tariqa/Sufi Path

1. taking the hand of a Sufi sheikh and repenting
2. willfully becoming a disciple ( murid) of a Sufi sheikh
3. keeping one's clothes, hair: beard both clean and in order
4. struggling against the desires of one's flesh ( nafs)
5. serving others
6. being in a state between excessive fear and hope
7. taking lessons from and providing guidance to others
8. distributing God's bounties to others
9. reaching a state of intense love and a high level of enthusiasm
10. seeing his inner essence as poor

3. The Door of Ma'rifah/Divine Knowledge

1. proper morals ( adab)
2. fear
3. abstinence
4. patience and frugality
5. feeling embarrassment
6. generosity
7. knowledge ( ‘ilm)
8. intense poverty
9. maʻrifah
10. knowing oneself

4. The Door of haqiqa/Truth

1. becoming earth
2. not scorning the 72 nations of humanity
3. being as merciful and compassionate as possible
4. not seeing anyone's faults
5. to be in agreement with the principles of singleness, uniqueness: oneness of God ( tawhid)
6. speaking of the secrets of truth with others
7. following a specific spiritual path ( sayr-i sulûk)
8. secret ( sirr)
9. beseeching God ( munâjât)
10. witnessing God's manifestation in creation ( mushâhadah)