(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).
(Qishr). The shell or husk or outer covering. The men of rational faculties are people of the shell. They miss the kernel and mistake the means for the end. Reason must be employed as a shell upon a kernel. It must be broken through in order to get t...
(Al Mujeer). The Shelterer, Defender, Giver of refuge. One of the beautiful Names of Allah.
(Taqsir). One of the rituals of the Piglrimage, shaving of the head or cutting of the hair is an indication to cleansing the mind of negative thoughts and a reminder not to seek leadership in the human domain (by ‘getting ahead’). Like washing of th...
(Riya'). Ostentation or hypocrisy or showing-off. Spiritual states are gifts from Allah and spiritual stations are earned. The descent of the states and the acquiring of the stations is through Allah's Grace and His Mercy. Riya' is one of the greates...
Marad - see 'Disease'.
(Basar) 'Sight' is the outward eye which perceives the World of the Visible as compared with the inward eye (basirah) which perceives the World of the Unseen.
(Basar al Haqq). Divine Sight. This refers to Allah's observation of 'things' known by Allah. Allah is the sight (basar) of the cosmos, so He is the viewer.
(Basar al 'Arif). The true slave is both a knower ('arif) and a lover ('ashiq) of Allah. When Allah loves such a slave Allah Himself becomes 'the eye with which he sees ... '
('Alama). Sign or omen or mark. The cosmos ('alam) is a sign and a mark ('alama) of Allah. It is a proof of Allah. But a mark denotes only that which is limited, so the cosmos does not denote His Essence, only the knowledge that He exists. Every sign...
(Ayat). A miraculous sign. The miraculous signs of Allah are within us and they surround us. Ayat also means verse. Each verse (ayat) of The Qur'an is a miraculous sign (ayat). The recitation and contemplation upon these miraculous signs may take the...
(Sukun) is silence or stillness. This is the great silent stillness of the Essence to which the hearts of the lovers of Allah yearn to return.
(Tashabbuh). Becoming similar to. Through assuming [the Divine Character Traits], the slave becomes similar to the one who possesses these traits innately, at the very root of his creation. This is the Holy Prophet Muhammad himself (May the Salutatio...
(Tashbih) is to declare that a certain similarity can be found between Allah and His creation. This tashbih is through Allah as Possessor of the Names. The isthmus is the ontological locus of tashbih. The word tashbih derives from shabbaha which mean...
(Tashabbuh billah). Gaining similarity to Allah. This is synonymous with assuming [the Divine Character Traits].
