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

suwar
Forms

(Suwar). All things within the cosmos are forms behind which are meanings.


See also: Form Meanings Veil
(Sura). The outer form of an entity or thing is what conceals its inner meaning. Revelation is the outer form whose meaning is Allah's Knowledge of Himself and His creation. Tearing away the veil of form to reveal the meaning within is the work of the higher teaching. The Holy Prophet Muhammad al Mustapha (May the Salutations of Allah be upon him and Peace) prayed, 'Oh, Allah, show me things as they are in their reality'.
(Ma'ana). Everything in creation has an outward form. These forms are the manifestations of their essential inner meanings. The meaning of everything is Allah. Within imagination all meanings become clothed in substratum and take on form. No meaning is able to hold itself back from imagination.
(Hijab). A veil or curtain. Everything that hides the object of your search from your eye. Hijab hides Allah from man, the outer form of a thing veils its inner meaning. In the initial stages of the Journey of Return to the Source the traveller is veiled by the outward aspect of existence from its inward aspect. In the middle stages, which are dominated by spiritual intoxication, he is veiled by its inward aspect from its outward aspect. In the later stage, where spiritual sobriety dominates, neither inward nor outward aspects veil him from Allah, Who he sees everywhere. Allah has precious friends Whom He does veil from the rest of His creation through His jealousy for them. And He has 'veiled ones' who must be concealed because the Light which emanates from them is so dazzling that it would burn away the sight of the viewer. "If the reality of the Sufi was to be unveiled he would be worshipped".

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