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

latifah al-qalbiyyah
Subtle Centre of the Heart

(Latifah al Qalbiyyah). The subtle essence or centre of the heart. Cleansing of the heart forms the spiritual endeavour of the earlier stages of the Journey. Once the heart has been purified the traveller is in a state of preparedness and receptivity to receive whatever Allah Wills to sends.

See also: Death Heart Preparedness Remembrance of Allah Spiritual Struggle

Death ( maut )

(Mawt). This refers to that type of death which is the removal of oneself from one specific condition to another condition. Within the higher teaching there are four deaths which the traveller (salik) must undergo on his Journey to Allah. These are the red death which is connected to controlling one's anger and refraining from retaliation; the white death which is connected to hunger, asceticism and a moderate way of life; the green death which is connected to the discarding of outward self-adornment and the assumption of inner adornment through the beautiful character traits (husn al akhlaq); and the black death which is connected to a selfless attitude of love and compassion to all of the creation, regardless of their ingratitude or hostility. All of these deaths take place through the spiritual struggle of the traveller.

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.

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.

Remembrance of Allah ( dhikrullah )

(Dhikrullah). Invocation of Allah through one of His Names or through His Words. The perfect dhikrullah, in which Allah becomes the seeing, the hearing, the speaking, the grasping of the one who remembers, is attained when every atom of the dhakir's being is absorbed and annihilated in the Remembrance of Allah. The dhakir becomes internally unified with the Absolute. Only then does Allah sit totally with the one who remembers Allah.

Spiritual Struggle ( mujahadah )

(Mujahadah). The spiritual struggle and endeavour against the passions and downward-pulling tendencies of the lower self. Mujahadah is the ceaseless combat called the Greater Holy War. The war is fought with the celestial weapons of the Remembrance of Allah. The mature ones of the Path, those who 'know Allah', say that mujahadah is child's play! The real work of Men is Divine Knowledge.

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