Irtifaqat

Definition of "Irtifaqat"

Lit: Adopting convenient ways, helping devices, beneficial methods, useful technology and good manners in one’s life. Tech: Shah Wali Allah used it to denote four stages of socioeconomic development. The first stage is primitive society. The second stage is when the society organizes itself, adopts division of labour, develops trade, hiring, credit, modes of fair dealings and mutual cooperation. At the third stage, a city state comes into being with proper governance. At the fourth stage, a super authority that controls and wields power over all the city states comes into being. Shah Wali Allah combines the concept of socioeconomic development with the concept of securing the pleasure of Allah (ridwan Allah) and termed it as iqtirabat that is, ways and stages of purifying and spiritually developing oneself.