Marriage and the Individual Twin Flame

The Quran in al-Nisaa:1 states clearly that all human kind was created from a female consciousness from which a male partner/spouse was created and from the both sprung many men and women. The consciousness from which Human Beings are birthed is female. The potential and intended sacred nature of marriage between two compatible human beings is well known. Marriage, appropriately undertaken serves as more than just a union between two mates for pleasure, procreation and parenting; it serves as a bridge to the Divine and a sacred space of discovery of ones self in and through the spouse. In the highest sense we are all one; one with our spouse and ultimately one with all Life and the Divine. The Quran indicates that our spouses are created from ourselves. This, when contemplated, bears rich meaning as I proceed to discuss further. Everything in Life has a physical/outer and a spiritual/inner dimension; The Quran indicates clearly the principle that reality commences within the self and only thereafter reflected externally (Al-Anfal: 53). Thus, if one wishes to shift their external reality, one must work to shift their internal reality first. The well-known adage; as within, so without; as above, so below, is an approximate enunciation of what the above Quranic principle indicates. This principle is true for marriage, too.

The physical, outer manifestation of, marriage undertaken between two seemingly separate human beings joining together to share life and/or procreate can manifest at one or both of the following two levels. The lower level is simply a union of two people to procreate and live together; whilst the higher level is of realizing ones self in the other and enshrining the union as a bridge to the Divine. At either level, the outer/physical undertaking of marriage involves its own process whereby one discovers their future partner and commits to a union with them promising to love, cherish and care for the other. Once in the union, life is different for each as the union births its own set of joys and responsibilities. This is well known. Consider now that marriage also has an inner/spiritual dimension at two levels that, though involving two seemingly different portions, takes place within one (single) human being. The spiritual dimension of marriage does not require or involve an external other. The first level is known as the marriage of the inner male and female parts (aka twin-flame) within a human being. Each human being is comprised of both male and female (opposite) parts regardless of their physical gender. The union of the male and female and their co-existence within the human being in balance and harmony is of profound importance on ones spiritual path and God realization. This is spoken of in many traditions and religions, not just Islam. The second level of the inner/spiritual dimension of

marriage is more profoundly involves the human self melding with the Higher Self (the Divine within) to form a human being; whole and complete unto him/herself. This union is exemplified through the being-ness of the prophets and masters that walked Earth. This described (not defined) marriage between the human and beingness is the pre-requisite of vicegerency (Khilafa) on Earth for only such a human being who comprises a whole, indivisible entity sovereign unto him/her self connected directly to the Divine (Ali-Imran: 79-80) is capable of this assignment. The solitary (soul-itary) nature of those human beings who attain this inner union between their self and Higher Self may be the reason that spirituality has been associated with celibacy in some traditions; this is an unnecessary imputation as those like Abraham and Muhammad demonstrated. It is, however, that spiritually attuned humans are more predisposed to consummate this inner union, first between the inner male/female (twin flame) and, perhaps further, between their self and Higher Self. The ensuing wholeness of being manifests in some such realized human beings as remaining unattached to a physical spouse (as Jesus, or Joseph the son of Jacob). Such were the exemplifiers of Unity Consciousness; they exemplified the potential of a human being who attained that level of unity within ones self and with the Divine within. Now, it may be that those who successfully consummate

the inner marriage, be it at the level of the twin flame, or the second level of the self with the Higher Self, nonetheless continue to have or keep physical spouses. However, the relationship between the physical partners of opposite genders after one has attained the inner union is palpably different from that of spouses in which one or both have not. In fact, where both have consummated the inner union, the external marriage is palpably different yet from one where only one spouse has consummated the inner union. The difference is one that only those who are internally united with their male/female parts and, those melded with their Higher Self, respectively can perceive and appreciate. Otherwise, it as unfathomable to humans as is to a fish contemplating life on land. An example of such a marriage in the Quran is that of the Pharaohs wife (who is therein acknowledged as a Muslim) and who spoke directly to Allah asking for an abode in Heaven distancing her from her husband (the Pharaoh). She had attained the state of inner union with the Divine whilst the pharaoh was still enmeshed in the ego-based reality of separation and duality.

The human being who has united with the male/female within and, perhaps further, with the Higher Self has an undeniable effect on all those around him and equally on his/her spouse/s. This is exemplified by the effect Jesus, the Buddha, Muhammad, and other such realized beings had on all those around them for in their state of Unity

Consciousness (Tawheed), there were one with all around them. They were a part of them (not apart from them) and thus could affect, uplift and heal them. The nugget of gold in this discussion, at least for me, is that only empowered human beings find their way/path to the union of the male and female (twin flame) within and, perhaps further, to the union of their self with their Higher Self. An empowered human being does not oppress another nor allow one self to be oppressed; they know who they are and likewise understand their relationship with themselves, others and the Divine. They understand that ALL is One; and thus see Truth in the universal principle of treating the other as one would like to be treated. More importantly, given that the inner union, first with ones own counter female/male within and ultimately with ones Higher Self is the ultimate union all human beings aspire to, the sooner one realizes their oneness with their physical spouses and treat them as they would like to be treated, the sooner one can progress to the levels of inner union, respectively. This, then, is a wake up call to all Muslims who assume to mistreat any other for this reflects their abiding illusion of separateness and in that illusion, the reality of Unity (tawheed) as the corner stone of Islam eludes them. It is a wake up call for Muslims to realize that they are not separate from those they denigrate, mistreat or oppress and as long as their continue to abide in this illusory state, their claim to being Muslims is equally illusory for it defies

every indication (ayat) of the Quran and example/saying (hadith) of Muhammad. Realizing the Divine within ones marriage to a spouse of the opposite sex is an express purpose of Islam as expressed in the saying of Muhammad that marriage is 50% of Islam. It is also exemplified through Muhammads marriages and behaviour towards his wives. Muslims would be wise to heed the words and example of Muhammad towards their wives and women generally because by continuing their culturally oppressive behaviour towards women they forfeit attaining unity consciousness (tawheed), which is the very basis of Islam. It is thus for the benefit of those who call themselves Muslims to realize the wisdom Muhammad embodied through the respectful treatment of women and all beings; Muhammad realized (made real) his oneness with them in being. In closing, I reiterate the consideration that each one has within them both male and female. I urge the consideration that it is the embrace and union of the male and female within Muhammad that reflected externally his deeply compassionate nature towards all beings, especially towards children, women, the indigent and animals. Autobiographical accounts of Muhammad are filled with instances of Tenderness, Love and Compassion towards these groups, sometimes to the consternation of his male companions and society at large. It is not a matter of shame to acknowledge the female or male

within but rather a natural path to wholeness. The Quran repeatedly reminds us of this by indicating that everything in the natural world is created in equal yet opposite pairs for wholeness, balance and completion. Mention may also be made of the fact that Muhammad remained married and continued to marry even after attaining the levels of inner union because of his role as the messenger of Allah. His exemplified life and treatment towards his wives and women generally was pivotal to realizing his vision of empowerment and unity in Arabia. Muhammad was held up as the example par excellence and was emulated by everyone who acknowledged the spiritual message he delivered. Had he remained unmarried, people would assume (as people did of Jesus) that celibacy was necessary for union with the Divine. After Jesus, Muhammads exemplified message of Islam was keen to avoid this pitfall. Further, marriage served a social cohesive function of uniting the tribes of Arabia, a core part of Muhammads mission.