The Language of the Future
Sufi Terminology
by Murshid F.A. Ali ElSenossi

Order by: Arabic English

m

marhum
Objects of Mercy

(Marhum). Everything in existence is an object of Mercy having become manifest through the Mercy (Rahma) of the All Merciful Himself . Allah's Mercy continually showers down and covers everything. We are surrounded by and immersed in the Divine Merc...

mar'i
Object of vision

(Mar'I). The object of vision, which is Allah, is light and that through which the perceiver perceives Allah is light. Light returns to the root from which it became manifest. None sees Allah but Allah. This perception depends upon the light carried ...

ma'rifa
Divine knowledge

(Ma'rifa) is a light which Allah casts into the heart of whomsoever He Wills. This is the true knowledge which comes through unveiling, witnessing and tasting. This knowledge is from Allah, it is not Allah Himself, because He Is Unknowable in His Ess...

martaba
Degree / level

(Martaba). Degree, grade, level, rank, standing, station, class. Martaba indicates the position of a thing in the hierarchy of the cosmos.

mashahid
Places of witnessing

(Mashahid). The places or loci of witnessing.

mashayekh
Shaykhs or Masters

(Mashayakh). The Shaykhs or Masters of a tariqa. Each tariqa has its own particular chain of Shaykhs. The starting point of each chain is the Holy Prophet Muhammad (May the Salutations of Allah be upon him and Peace).

mashgul farigh
Busy / not busy

(Mashgul farigh). One who is engaged and yet is free. This term is applied to the devotee whose outward appearance is that of one engaged in mundane matters, yet his heart is free from such things being totally present with Allah.

mashhad
Place of witnessing

(Mashhad). The place or locus of witnessing. This place is the heart because the Divine Self-disclosure leaves a trace in the heart which bears witness to what has been seen.

mashhud
Witnessed, The

(Mashhud) is what the heart retains from the form of the Divine Self-disclosure. It is the object seen in mystic vision.

mashi'a
Divine Uncreated Will

(Mashi'a). If Allah Wills, it comes to be, and if He Wills, it does not come to be.

ma'shuq
Beloved - Absolute

(Ma'shuq) is the Absolute Beloved, Allah. This beautiful word, ma'shuq, sung by qawwals and mystic poets, is capable of flooding the heart of the lover ('ashiq) with intense, Passionate Love ('ishq) through which ecstasy (wajd) may be experienced. Wh...

maskan
Dwelling

(Maskan). Whereas a waystation (manzil) indicates a place in which the traveller alights for a short time, a dwelling (maskan) indicates a place in which the traveller feels comfortable and therefore settles, not having the desire to move any furthe...

maslub al-awsaf
Stripped of all attributes

(Maslub al awsaf). This is the condition of the universal slave, who, in being stripped of everything, is entirely at the bidding of his Lord. There is no longer a slave, only the Self-disclosure of Allah coloured by the form of the slave.

mastur
Concealed

(Mastur). Concealed or veiled or curtained. Being is One. Allah has Being and no thing is with Allah. He is the Manifest. The possible thing is concealed (mastur) by the Manifest within it. For the Men of Allah all that is seen is Allah while everyth...

ma'sum
Protected

(Ma'sum). Allah favours certain of His slaves through preserving them from attributing the acts to themselves. Through His jealousy for them He preserves their courtesy and their slavehood. This term is specific to the Prophets and Messengers of All...