This is a small pamphlet in Persian called Risala-i-Haq-numa (haq-truth; numa pointing; as a compass points out the North, so this points out the truth). It is from the pen of that enlightened prince Dara-Shikoh, the oldest son of Shah-i- Jahan, who died in 1659 A.l). In this book the author describes the four planes of existence, namely, the physical (Nisut), the super-physical (Malakut), the Blissful (Jabarut) and the Divine (Lahut), corresponding respectively with the four states of human consciousness, known as waking, dreaming, deep sleep and the trance-consciousness. The practices taught herein, are asserted by the royal author to have their origin in the holy Prophet himself, and since they were revealed to some few and well-chosen disciples, and not preached publicly, therefore, they are not so well known in the exoteric faith of Islam.

In the name of God, the Most Merciful and the Most Compassionate.

He is the first, He is the last, He is the manifest and He is the hidden. Praise be to that Essence who is the absolute existence. And reverence be to that Prophet, to whom is revealed everything and who is the Viceroy of Truth. And let profuse mercy shower on his descendants and companions. The best and most appropriate thing is this that we may not proudly attempt to exhaust this praise and reverence, and that we may not give latitude to our tongue to describe this Substance. Because whatever may be written on this point, is bound to fall short of truth, and in the eyes of men of knowledge, it will never be the complete truth, for they say:

Know, O friend, that the reason why the essence of man has entered this framework of body (in other words, why the Spirit incarnates at all) is that the seed of perfection, which lies in him latent, may become patent; that which is in the potentiality Why spirit comes into matter? may reach the actuality, and may return enriched with all experiences, to its original source.