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

ankar al-nakirat
Most indeterminate of all indeterminates

(Ankar al nakirat). This term may be applied to either of two extremes. The Absolute Itself in Its Inconceivable Transcendence and Unknowableness is 'the most indeterminate of all indeterminates'. Through the first manifestation of the Infinite Mercy of the absolutely Unknown-Unknowable It becomes a 'thing' within the created realm. This 'thing' (shay) is also 'the most indeterminate of all indeterminates' because the word 'thing' can be applied to anything at all, except Allah Himself.


See also: Incomparability Unseen
(Tanzih). Incomparability or Transcendence or Unknowableness or Remoteness. Tanzih is to declare that Allah transcends every quality or attribute possessed by His creatures. The word tanzih derives from the word nazzaha, which means to keep something away from anything contaminating or impure. The rational faculty declares Allah's Incomparability, but this is only half of the Absolute Truth, because Allah has both Transcendence and Similarity (tashbih). Allah says in The Qur'an, "Nothing is like Unto Him" (42:11). This is Allah's Incomparability (tanzih). But the same verse continues, "and He is the all-Hearing, the all-Seeing". This is Allah's Similarity (tashbih). The Absolute Truth is Allah's Incomparability and His Similarity. The 'knowers through Him' know Allah through Allah, by combining the declaration of His Incomparability (tanzih) with the affirmation of His Similarity (tashbih). Allah as the Essence Itself is Utterly Incomparable, while Similarity is attributed to Allah as the Divinity.
(Ghayb). The Mystery or the Non-Manifested or the Unseen. The Unknowable or the Mystery of Mysteries. The hadith, "Nothing is like Him" refers to al ghayb. It is His Incomparability. It is all that is beyond reach of our vision. Al ghayb is all that Allah veils from you because of you, not because of Him. To attain to 'The Unseen', the slave and lover is told, 'Leave aside your self and come!' And, when he obeys, it is Allah Who Sees Allah.

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