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

ithbat
Affirmation

(Ithbat). Affirmation or confirmation of the slave's existence after his effacement in the Oneness of Allah. Ithbat may also indicate an affirmation after a negation, the supreme example of which is "There is no god other than Allah". Ithbat may indicate the solid establishment of the principles of service of Allah.

See also: Effacement Negation Unity of Allah Worship

Effacement ( mahw )

(Mahw). This indicates the annihilation of the slave's actions in the actions of Allah. Effactement is distinct from 'obliteration' in which the slave's very being is annihilated in the Essence Itself. Effacement is the removal of the attributes of habit and the elimination of the cause. The entity itself remains because it is only through one's own entity that one has knowledge of Allah. So, it is impossible for 'you' to be removed because Allah wants 'you' to know Himself. He does not remove you from yourself but rather He obliterates you from yourself so that you do not halt with the existence of your own entity. Then does the slave understand that his actions are in Reality the actions of Allah.

Negation ( nafy )

(Nafy) is the negation of the fancy of the existence of the 'other'. The supreme example of nafy is the First Declaration of Faith - There is no god other than Allah (La ilaha ill Allah). "There is no god" (la ilaha) forms the negation and "only Allah" (illa'llah) forms the affirmation. This is Unity.

Unity of Allah ( tawhid (tauhid) )

(Tawhid). The Declaration of Allah's Unity, 'There is no god other than Allah' is the very pivot of Islam. Knowledge of the Declaration of Allah's Unity is a light. Yet, Allah Himself is the affirmation of His Unity. Within the higher teaching all existence is One. The Sufis and the Verifiers have realized Allah's Unity within themselves. In itself, the Unity of Allah is divided into four categories. Unity of Actions, Unity of Attributes, Unity of the Names and Unity of the Essence. And "Allah created you and whatever actions you do" (Holy Qur'an 37:96).

Worship ( 'ibada )

('Ibada). Worship and service of Allah with absolute obedience and love. Man was created in order to 'know' Allah. Therefore the essential meaning of worship is Knowledge of Allah. Allah says in The Qur'an, "I created jinn and men only to worship (know) Me" (51:56). The Holy Prophet Muhammad said, "Perfection is to worship (know) Allah like you see Him". Worship should penetrate every aspect of a man's existence. The rites and rituals of Islam are the outer forms containing the inner meanings which will enable the worshipper to become a knower.

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