(Barakah) is a subtle spiritual energy which flows through everything, but is strongest within the human. The more purified the human becomes, the greater the flow of barakah. Overpowering barakah can be experienced in sacred places, in sacred art an...
(Wird pl. Awrad). A specific spiritual exercise which is comprised of litanies and Divine Names. The wird is given to the murid by his Murshid and is to be performed daily. The wird may also descend, without the direct mediation of the Murshid, upon ...
(Murshid/Shaykh/Pir). The Murshid is a True Inheritor of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (May the Salutations of Allah be upon him and Peace). After having been taken to the Divine Presence during his ascension the slave has been returned, by Allah, to the...
Sukr - see 'Intoxication'.
(Safar). This is the Journey from the multiplicity of the periphery to the Unity at the Centre. The safar commences when the heart is turned towards Allah through His Remembrance. Safar is the Spiritual Journey through the various stations, from the ...
(Faqr). Indigence and spiritual poverty and destitution and neediness. True poverty is to own nothing, not even one's own self. Spiritual Poverty is to 'know' that Allah is the Independent One Who is in need of nothing. Spiritual Poverty is to belong...
(Haqaiq). Each existent entity has its own specific spiritual reality which is its relationship with the Real (al Haqq).
(Himma). Intense Spiritual Resolve. This is the most powerful force contained within man. It is the sincere and dedicated application of all of one's efforts and strivings towards attaining the desired Object - Allah. The strength of this will result...
(Khalwa). The spiritual retreat and seclusion. Initially spiritual retreat is undertaken by physically withdrawing from those outside disturbances which have the potential of distracting one in his contemplation of Allah's Names and Attributes. Ulti...
(Hal). A spiritual state which overwhelms the heart. A hal enters the heart as a gift and a bestowal of Allah's Infinite Grace upon His slave. A spiritual state cannot be attained through effort, desire or invitation. It arrives unexpectedly and dep...
(Ahwal). These are gifts from Allah to the heart of the traveller. There are thousands upon thousands of spiritual states, each state containing a myriad of subtle allusions and each allusion containing innumerable meanings. Within the spiritual conc...
(Maqam). A spiritual station is acquired and earned through the effort and sincerity of the traveller, but such an acquisition is ultimately through the Grace of Allah. A station is a 'fixed' quality of the self, in contrast to the fleeting nature of...
(Maqamat). These stations are the necessary foundation for actualizing human perfection and must be passed through on the Journey of Return to Allah. Maqamat are earnings which have been acquired through spiritual struggle. The People of Perfection h...
(Mujahadah). The spiritual struggle and endeavour against the passions and downward-pulling tendencies of the lower self. Mujahadah is the ceaseless combat called the Greater Holy War. The war is fought with the celestial weapons of the Remembrance o...
(Mujahidun). These are the spiritual warriors who are engaged in the spiritual struggle (Mujahadah) of the Greater Holy War. The Mujahidun have turned towards Allah through the Remembrance of His Most Holy Name and endeavour to honour the Trust by fu...
