A brief overview concerning a lens through which to engage the notions of witnessing and visions.
The wayfarer must pass through all the remaining several thousand realms, and in each appropriate witnessings and visions will appear to him. It sometimes happens that a single kind of vision is seen at several stations; in each case, it bears a different significance appropriate to the station.
Not everyone can perceive these differences and variations; they can be distinguished only by the perfect shaikh. Since the wayfarer is not versed in visions, he is hampered by them and unable to proceed on the path. This is one of the reasons for the need of a shaikh.
For example, fire is to be seen at several stations, and it has a different meaning at each. Sometimes it may be a sign of traversing an attribute of fire; sometimes it may be a sign of the ardor of the quest; sometimes it may be a sign of the dominance of the attribute of anger; sometimes it may be a sign of the dominance of the attribute of devilry; sometimes it may be the light of ẕekr, appearing in igneous form; sometimes it may be the fire of longing that effaces all human attributes; sometimes it may be the fire of wrath; and sometimes it may be the fire of guidance, as it was with Moses, upon whom be peace—“He perceived a fire from the side of the mountain.” (20) Sometimes it may be the fire of love that bums all other than God; sometimes it may be the fire of gnosis—“Though the fire has not touched it, light upon light. God guides to His light whom He wills”; (21) sometimes it may be the fire of sainthood—“God is the protector of those who believe; He brings them forth from darkness into light”; (22) sometimes it may be the fire of witnessing—“Blessed is he who is in the fire and he who stands near to it.” (23) There are also other types of fire which only an experienced shaikh can distinguish. Other visions and the differences between them may be deduced by analogy from the foregoing.
20. Qur’an, 28:29.
21. Qur’an, 24:35.
22. Qur’an, 2:257.
23. Qur’an, 27:8.
Al-Din Razi, Najm. The Path of God's Bondsmen from Origin to Return [translated by Hamid Algar] .