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

an-nafs al-wahidah
Self - Unique

(An nafs al wahidah). The Unique Self. This is the Self of the first Prophet, Adam (Peace be upon him). The human species was created from the Unique Self. The Prophet Adam is the Father of the body and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (May the Salutations of Allah be upon him and Peace) is the Father of the Spirit.

See also: Community First Intellect Light of Muhammad Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah Reality of Muhammad

Community ( umma )

(Umma) refers specifically to the community of the Seal of the Prophets, Muhammad (May the Salutations of Allah be upon him and Peace). He is the Seal of the Prophets. The Message which he delivered to the humanity, through the Final Revelation The Qur'an, and through his own perfection, is alive and fresh and dynamic. The Final Revelation and the Seal of the Prophets have no end. Both of them contain the keys to the endless unfolding of Knowledge of the Absolute. The entire humanity is the umma of the Holy Prophet Muhammad al Mustapha. Within his perfect and complete Teaching are the vital aspects of the Teachings of all the previous Prophets and Messengers of Allah. But Muhammad al Mustapha completed and perfected the Way of Returning to the Beautiful Face of Allah. Each and every human is a member of the community of Muhammad al Mustafa (May Allah shower him with His Eternal salutations and blessings and give him Peace). "This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed My favour unto you and have chosen for you as your religion Islam" (The Qur'an 5:3).

First Intellect ( 'Aql al Awwal )

'Aql al Awwal - see 'Intellect-First'.

Light of Muhammad ( nur Muhammadiyya )

(Nur Muhammadiyya). "Allah took a handful of His Light and said 'Be! Muhammad'". From this pre-existent Light of Muhammad (nur Muhammadiyya) all of the spheres were created. It is the Light of Muhammad that enables the traveller to advance towards the Reality of Muhammad (al haqiqa al Muhammadiyyah). Without the cooling nature of this light the salik would not advance, or if he did advance he would be burned-up. The differentiation between the Light of Muhammad (nur Muhammadiyya) and the Reality of Muhammad (al haqiqat al Muhammadiyyah) is within the degrees of the descent of Being, from the Inward Non-manifestation of the Hidden Treasure to the outward manifestation of the cosmos.

Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah ( Muhammadan Rasulullah )

(Muhammadan Rasul Allah) is the second half of the Islamic Testimony of Faith (shahadah). Muhammad is the one sent by Allah. He is the representative of Allah. Without him we cannot come to know Allah. His message is the message of beautiful return to Allah. But, Muhammad is from the Light of Allah. So, before Muhammad can be the Messenger of Allah, Allah must be the Messenger of Muhammad. His Light sends out the message of Muhammad. Allah is the Messenger of Muhammad (Allah Rasul Muhammad) and then Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah (Muhammadan Rasulullah).

Reality of Muhammad ( al-haqiqat al-Muhammadiyyah )

(Al Haqiqat al Muhammadiyya). This is 'The Reality of realities'. It is the first descent of Being from the Beyond of the Beyond. It is the Station of True Love and the stage of 'Or Nearer'. Just as man is unable to look directly into the physical sun because its brilliance would burn away his sight, so too is he unable to look at the Divine Sun because Its Pure Radiance would burn away his very existence. And just as the sun can only be viewed through a thin covering of cloud, so too the Divine Sun can only be seen through the Greatest Veil which is the Reality of Muhammad. The heart which has been infused with knowledge of The Reality of Muhammad soars to Allah Almighty. It takes the lover on the wings of overwhelming love ('Ishq) and longing (Shawq) to the Divine Presence. When Prophet Noah saw the condition of the flood and he was afraid of the sinking of the ark, he used the intercession of Allah for the safety of the Ark (al Wasila). Allah told him to write on the mast the mixing of the Name of Allah and Muhammad (Alif Mim Lam)

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