The Language of the Future
Sufi Terminology
by Murshid F.A. Ali ElSenossi
bid'at hasana
Innovation - Good
(Bida't Hasana). A good and praiseworthy innovation, which in no way opposes the Sacred Law, but in fact reveals more of its profound beauty at an appropriate moment in time.
(Naskh). Abrogation or repeal. Certain Qur'anic verses were abrogated during the lifetime of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (May the Salutations of Allah be upon him and Peace). The People of the higher teaching regard these as postponed rather than abrogated texts - that is, they were postponed until the time arrived when mankind had reached a higher level of knowledge. With this high knowledge he could then implement the message of those particular verses.
The Recitation or The Reading. The Qur'an is the Final Revelation from Allah to humanity. This Sacred Book contains all the keys with which to open the endless unfolding of Knowledge of Allah. The Qur'an is that which brings together (qur'an), and it is also that which differentiates (furqan). Seeing furqan without qur'an is seeing only multiplicity and is therefore associating other gods with Allah. Seeing only qur'an without furqan is denying the secondary causes (asbab) and therefore limiting Allah. The First Word, 'Iqra' , of the Final Revelation, which descended upon the Holy Prophet Muhammad (May the Salutations of Allah be upon him and Peace) through Jibril, the Archangel of Revelation, (Peace be upon him), opened for mankind the Perfect and Complete Way of Return to Allah.
(Sharia'). Shari'a makes manifest the Divine Reality (haqiqa). It provides all the principles and means for a human to develop true knowledge and acquire the noble character traits. Those who know Allah never leave His Sacred Law. Their courtesy towards Allah preserves them from letting the Scale of the Law slip from their hands.
