(Idrak). "Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth" and it is through the Light of Allah that all perception takes place. "Allah took a handful of His Light and said to it, "Be! Muhammad'". The creation, which is the outward manifestation of ...
The Prophet Enoch (Peace be upon him) through whose Word descended the Holy Wisdom (Al Hikmat al Quddusiyyah).
(Idtirar). Compulsion (as opposed to free choice). The angels are servants of Allah, but only by compulsion. Man is a servant of Allah by compulsion (idtirar) through his obligatory works and he is a servant by free choice (ikhtiyar) through his supe...
(Iftiqar). Poverty or essential need. All of creation is in a state of poverty and essential need towards Allah, the Creator, for it is only through Allah that the existent things have existence. The one who is totally aware of his essential need an...
(Ihsan). Excellence or perfection or sanctifying virtue or spiritual beauty. Ihsan has three degrees: 1).To do the good that should be done with one's property, words, acts and states. 2). To worship with total presence like one was actually seeing ...
(Ijad). To bring into existence or to bestow with existence. This bestowal of existence is infinite because Allah, the Bestower, is Infinite. Existence only becomes manifest through His Names and what comes out of His Names is infinite.
(I'jaz). The Holy Prophet Muhammad (May the Salutations of Allah be upon him and Peace) was given inimitability (i'jaz) through The Qur'an, which is Allah's Word. Through The Qur'an he acts as Allah's spokesman and therefore he cannot be imitated.
(Ijmal). Within the Knowledge of Allah all of the immutable entities are differentiated. Allah distinguishes each entity and does not see them as undifferentiated. The root of the cosmos is Allah, and the cosmos itself is the manifestation of the Di...
(Ijtihad). Outwardly this takes the form of individual endeavour to learn knowledge of the Sacred Law (shari'a). Inwardly the efforts of the individual are directed towards self-purification in order to gain Knowledge of Allah. Such a striving (ijti...
(Ijtima'). Allah, the Real is both Essence and Divinity. The Real, as Divinity, may come together with His creation. Allah descends and the slave ascends to meet within a mutual waystation. But such a 'coming together' is impossible for the Essence ...
(Ikhlaas). Sincerity and purity of intention. Without this noble quality man is unable to advance towards his Lord or live in harmony with the creation. With it he is able to traverse great distances and attain to great heights of knowledge. The core...
(Ikhtiyar). Free choice or spontaneity (as opposed to compulsion). The angels are servants of Allah only by compulsion. They have no choice. Man is a servant of Allah by compulsion through his obligatory works and he is a servant of Allah by free cho...
(Ikhtisas). This term applies to those who are the chosen ones of Allah and His elect.
(Ilah). God or Deity. This word indicates 'god', with a small 'g', as compared with the only true God Who is Allah. But, in Reality "there is no god other than Allah" (La ilaha il Allah).
(Ilahiyyah). Allah has two Aspects or Faces. One is His Unknowable and Hidden Aspect which is the Essence Itself. This Face of the Absolute is turned away from His creation. The other Aspect is His being the Divinity. This Face is turned towards His...
