The Language of the Future
Sufi Terminology
by Murshid F.A. Ali ElSenossi
makhluq
Creation itself
(Makhluq). Allah, as the Creator (al Khalq), demands the existence of a creation, and the creation demands its Creator. There must be a cosmos because the divine realities demand it.
(Khalq). Creation itself or the phenomenal world. Khalq refers to the creation which is the result of the Creator's Command, "Be!" ("Kun!"). The term al Khalq (creation) is often applied as the opposite of al Haqq (the Creative Truth). The first thing that Allah created was the Light of Muhammad and from his light all of existence became manifest. The Holy Prophet said, "I am from the Light of Allah and the whole world is from my light". Creation itself is only made visible through him.
(Ghidha). Allah, the Absolute, is the Source of food and nourishment for all of the creatures. All of Allah's creatures exist, subsist and are kept alive by Allah. And, the Absolute is nourished by the forms of the creatures because it is through them that the Names and Attributes become manifest.
(Asma al Alam). The names of the world. All of the names of the world derive from the One Source, Allah. Everything in existence has come out from non-existence in the Knowledge of Allah, through the Divine Command "Be!". Everything is from Allah. Everything is returning to Allah. The names of the world are the Names of Allah. This is the 'Oneness of Being' (wahdat al wujud.) A great saint said "For thirty years I have been conversing with Allah, yet people think I am talking to them!"
(Taghadhdhi) is that which is provided by food and spreads its benefits throughout the entire body. The engendered things take their nourishment from the Divinity, upon Whom they depend for their existence and the Divinity takes Its nourishment from the engendered things through whom It becomes manifest.
('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.
