Baqa (Sufism)

Although not distinguished by some from [fana]

, annihilation of human attributes, others see baqa as transformation into the cosmic self, when human attributes are replaced by the divine attributes of knowledge, justice and gratitude. Not so much united with God as totally subordinated to him, living and moving in the Godhead, [perfect man]

abides permanently in the world of divinity and becomes a pattern for his fellow men.

The fourteenth stage in a systematic account of various stations of the Sufi spiritual path. However, according to Shaykh Abu Sa'id ibn Abi'l-Khayr, this is the 22nd of 40 stations or maqamat the Sufi must possess for his journey on the path of Sufism to be acceptable. Idries Shah speaks of this state as being that attained on the second of four journeys towards total development.