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

la shay'
No thing

(La Shay). The slave who has 'returned' to Allah has arrived at the place of nonexistence, the place of "Allah is, and nothing is with Him". The slave has returned to his own nothingness within the Knowledge of Allah. Such a slave is destitute (Muflis) of everything other than Allah. He is 'nothing' (La Shay) but the locus of manifestation of Allah. He has 'nothing' of his own. He belongs totally and unconditionally to Allah.


See also: Destitute No station Slave
(Muflis/Miskin). The one who is utterly destitute and bereft. The Muflis is the true Muhammadan friend, that great Sufi who is utterly destitute of everything other than Allah. His worship and his sacrifice, his living and his dying are for Allah Alone.
(La maqam). This is the 'station of no station'. This 'station of no station' is the highest station reached by the People of Perfection who manifest the Name 'Allah'. They have passed beyond all states and stations and are the true Muhammadan heirs. They have passed beyond both Majesty and Beauty and have no attribute and no description. They are not determined by properties. The People of 'no station' are the Divine Ones. The Real is identical with them. The Muhammadan heirs have no goal because their vastness is the Vastness of Allah Himself Who has no goal in Himself which might ultimately be reached. The People of 'no station' witness only Allah - Allah, the Infinite, the Eternal, the Absolute.
('Abd). The slave (and worshipper) is the one who is in a state of total and utter submission to the Will of Allah. After having been annihilated in Allah where all duality vanished and distinctions were erased, he returns to creation with perfect courtesy and with the Truth of Certainty that 'the Lord is the Lord and the slave is the slave'. When 'abd is translated as 'servant' it carries the implication that the servant can leave the service of his Master, if he so desires. However, the 'slave' is in total bondage, being utterly dependent upon his Master. All buying and selling transactions have been terminated. The slave belongs to Allah, completely, perfectly and unconditionally.

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