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

fath
Opening

(Fath). This is one of the forms of direct knowledge by which Allah 'opens the door' to the Unseen World. It is the direct knowledge of Allah disclosing Himself to the heart. This 'opening through tasting' is a knowledge which belongs exclusively to the People and the Elect of Allah.

See also: Door Drinking Finding Knowers Openings People of unveiling and finding Quenching Taste Unveiling

Drinking ( shurb )

(Shurb) is the second stage in each station. The first is tasting (dhawq) and the third is quenching (ri). These three stages are experienced in each station before the salik travels onwards to the next station. The lover who drinks the Pure Wine of Divine Love never experiences quenching. His thirst is eternal.

Finding ( wijdan )

(Wijdan) comes from the same root as wujud (finding). It could be said that wujud is finding the Real in ecstasy.

Openings ( futuh )

(Futuh).Openings or victory. Futuh are accesses to direct spiritual experience and are generally grouped as the opening of clear explanation or 'verbal expression' in the outer world, the opening of sweetness in the inner world and the opening of Divine disclosure.

People of unveiling and finding ( ahl al-kashf wa'l-wujud )

(Ahl al Kashf wal Wujud). These are the knowers. They have passed beyond the veils which stand between themselves and their Lord and they stand perpetually in His Presence.

Quenching ( ri )

(Ri). In the triad of terms connected to direct experience 'quenching' (ri) occupies the third place. The first is 'tasting' and the second is 'drinking'. Every station has its state of 'quenching' (ri), but for the people of 'no station' there is no permanent quenching of this thirst for Allah because Knowledge of Allah is infinite.

Taste ( dhawq )

(Dhawq). Taste or direct spiritual experience. This is the first stage of the experience of Allah's Self-disclosure. It is followed by 'drinking' and 'quenching' and sometimes by the final stage 'intoxication'. Those who have tasted know. Those who have not tasted do not know. Without direct tasting there can be no Knowledge of Allah.

Unveiling ( kashf )

(Kashf). Unveiling or revelation is one of the types of direct experience through which Knowledge of Reality is unveiled to the heart of the slave and lover. In His Infinite Grace Allah gives His slave and lover a Divine Self-disclosure which not only increases his Knowledge of Allah but also increases his yearning and intense love of Allah. The great Sufis are called The People of Unveiling and Finding. Within the unveiling they find Allah. This unveiling and finding frequently occurs during the spiritual concert. In a moment, when it is perceived through unveiling that 'Allah is the singer and Allah is the hearer', the singer and the hearer become One, disappearing into Allah.

Go Back