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

zarf
Container

(Tharf). Through the Breath of the All Merciful the Hidden Treasure is breathed out and made manifest. The visible things, the existent entities, are exhaled on this Divine Breath. Each existent entity, within the Visible Realm, is a container (tharf) for a meaning. Its meaning is its essential reality. The form is the container (tharf) for the meaning. The form of man is the container for his heart in which Almighty Allah reveals Himself to the extent of man's preparedness. And, the capacity of the human heart is without limit.

See also: Breath of the All-Merciful Capacity Fixed Entities Form Heart Meanings Preparedness

Capacity ( wus' )

(Wus') indicates the tremendous capacity of the human heart. Allah says, "The heavens and the earth contain Me not, but the heart of My believing slave does contain Me". This is its tremendous capacity. There is nothing else in creation which can contain Allah Almighty, the Truth, the King, the Most Holy. But, Allah is Limitless. Therefore He cannot be contained. And because Knowledge of Allah is Limitless it also cannot be contained. So, wus' is an infinite capacity which has no boundaries, no end, no limits. Knowledge of Allah is Light. His Radiant Light pours into the human heart in accordance with each individual heart's preparedness and receptivity to receive It.

Fixed Entities ( al-a'yan al-thabita )

(Ayan al Thabita). The immutable entities or fixed prototypes or established essences or potentialities. These are the infinite and immutable Possibilities which are fixed in the Ipseity. The fixed entities are the images of the Divine Names and Qualities and 'things' of the Ipseity in the Presence of Knowledge, with specific individuation. The term signifies the essential character of every individual existing from eternity in the Divine Knowledge. They are established according to non-existence and they are not qualified by existence.

Form ( sura )

(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'.

Heart ( qalb )

(Qalb). The human heart is the place of constant change and fluctuation. It is the supra-rational organ of intuition where the Transcendent Realities enter into contact with man. The heart is the isthmus between this world and the next. The battlefield of the Greater Holy War is the heart. This is where the downward-pulling lower self is confronted by the yearning spirit. The battle is fought between these two adversaries in order for one to take possession of the precious heart of man. Under the misguidance of the Misguider, the lower self wants the heart to plummet to the depths of ignorance. However, the spirit, which is from Allah, exerts a powerful attraction upon the heart, as it endeavours to guide it towards Knowledge of Allah. The greater the purification of the heart the more receptive it is to this irresistible attraction of the celestial spirit. The heart is the sanctified centre of man because it is the place which contains Allah. Keeping watch over the heart is part of the spiritual struggle of the Journey of Return. Those well-advanced along the Path never allow any intruders to enter their sanctified hearts. The heart of the Perfect Man is the Divine Throne around which circle the spiritual realities.

Meanings ( ma'ani )

(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.

Preparedness ( isti'dad )

(Isti'dad) is closely connected to receptivity (infi'al). It is the readiness to receive what Allah Wills to send. This 'preparedness' was established in Pre-eternity through the Most Holy Emanation (Al Fayd al Aqdas) which gave the preparedness to the archetype itself.

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