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

nafs al-mardhiyya
Self - Well Pleasing

(Nafs al Mardhiyya). The Qur'an refers to this Self, "And Well-pleasing unto Him!" (89:28). This Self is well-pleasing to Allah. It experiences the bewilderment of journeying from Allah. The Well-pleasing Self is equated with the sixth rung (Truth of Certainty) on the ladder to Knowledge and to the second prostration of the ritual prayer.


See also: Prayer Prostration Truth of Certainty Verifiers
(Salat) refers particularly to the ritual prayer. It is a connection between the slave and his Lord. The ritual ablution which precedes the salat symbolizes the separation from the self. The salat itself symbolizes the joining to Allah. The seven bodily postures of the ritual prayer are symbols of the stages on the Spiritual Journey of Return to the Source and also the seven levels of knowledge through which the traveller (salik) passes on his ascent. As 'the one who performs the prayer' (musalli) approaches closer to Allah, the more profound and intense is his salat. The Holy Prophet Muhammad said, "The prayer without you is better than seventy". As his heart is purified through spiritual struggle and the Remembrance of Allah, and as he journeys along the Path of Return, the traveller leaves his lower-self behind. Initially the Divine Light radiates into the heart of the musalli-salik. Gradually this Light increases and spreads, and eventually, through the Infinite Grace of Allah, it infuses and permeates every atom of his being. Then does he pray a prayer which is without himself, because 'None worships Allah but Allah'.
(Sajda pl. Sujud). The sajda, which is the culminating position in the ritual prayer, is the supreme symbol of humility, surrender and unconditional love of Allah. The slave and worshipper is annihilated in the One. When the heart prostrates, it never again rises from that prostration. Within each cycle of the prayer there are two prostrations. The first sajda symbolizes the Self at Peace and the fourth stage of knowledge, Knowledge of Certainty. The second sajda symbolizes the Well-pleasing Self and the sixth stage of knowledge, the Truth of Certainty. Through the Infinite Grace of Allah the lover may arrive at the Noble, Sacred Sanctuary. This the Noble Prophet Muhammad himself (May the Salutations of Allah be upon him and Peace). The lover-slave prostrates before the Noble Sanctuary who is his sole means of attaining the Divine Presence.
(Haqq al Yaqin). There are three stages of Certainty 'Ilm al Yaqin (The Knowledge of Certainty), 'Ayn al yaqin (The Eye of Certainty) and Haqq al Yaqin (The Truth of Certainty). When considering this triad the Truth of Certainty could be likened to being consumed by the flames of a blazing fire after the two preliminary stages of 'Ilm al Yaqin (merely hearing a description of that fire) and 'Ayn al Yaqin (actually seeing the light of the flames of a fire). Haqq al Yaqin is the final stage in the ascent before attaining Real Islam. The seven levels of knowledge through which the traveller (Salik) must pass are Islam; Iman; Ihsan; 'Ilm al Yaqin; 'Ayn al Yaqin; Haqq al Yaqin and Islam. (Surrender, Faith, Perfection, Knowledge of Certainty, The Eye of Certainty, The Truth of Certainty and Total Surrender and Submission).
(Al Muhaqqiqun). These great ones form the highest category of friends of Allah. They follow no one's authority because in themselves they have verified and realized [through unveiling and finding], the truth and reality of all things which is Allah, the Real. They are also known as'The People of Unveiling and Finding'.

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