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

mishkat
Niche

(Mishkat). The niche or tabernacle. The word niche (mishkat) reaches us from the beautiful Verse of Light "Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The similitude of His Light is as if there were a Niche and within it a Lamp, the Lamp enclosed in Glass ... " (Holy Qur'an 24:35). The terms Niche (mishkat), Lamp and Glass abound in a multi-layered symbolism. The Niche is made for the Lamp and the Light passes through the Glass. Everything is lit by the Light of Allah.

See also: Heart Innermost Secret Light Light of Muhammad Lights, Muhammad Secret Secret of the Secret Secrets

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.

Innermost Secret ( khafi )

(Khafi). The innermost secret or consciousness. The Khafi is a Divine subtlety that lies hidden within the spirit. It was placed there in trust by Allah to be awakened and actualized only when the lover has been overwhelmed by Passionate Love of Allah ('Ishq).

Light ( nur )

(Nur) is the created light which radiates from the Uncreated Light of Allah. When this light enters the heart it drives away the existent order thereby annihilating the inner eye from witnessing 'other-than-Allah'. For unveiling to take place the Light which comes from Allah must coincide with the light within the heart. If there is darkness within the heart, then it will not be able to match the Light from Allah. In such a case there is no unveiling, and Knowledge of Allah does not arrive in that heart. It is the Remembrance of Allah which polishes the heart and allows it to be filled with light. The Source of this Pure Light is the Absolute Darkness of the Essence Itself. The most complete and penetrating light is the light through which is unveiled what Allah means by the forms seen by the imagination in dreams.

Light of Muhammad ( nur Muhammadiyya )

(Nur Muhammadiyya). "Allah took a handful of His Light and said 'Be! Muhammad'". From this pre-existent Light of Muhammad (nur Muhammadiyya) all of the spheres were created. It is the Light of Muhammad that enables the traveller to advance towards the Reality of Muhammad (al haqiqa al Muhammadiyyah). Without the cooling nature of this light the salik would not advance, or if he did advance he would be burned-up. The differentiation between the Light of Muhammad (nur Muhammadiyya) and the Reality of Muhammad (al haqiqat al Muhammadiyyah) is within the degrees of the descent of Being, from the Inward Non-manifestation of the Hidden Treasure to the outward manifestation of the cosmos.

Secret ( sirr )

(Sirr). The secret or mystery is a subtle substance of Allah's Grace. It is the innermost consciousness, the point of secret communication between the Lord and His slave. It is the hidden place where Allah manifests His mystery to Himself.

Secret of the Secret ( sirr al-sirr )

(Sirr al sirr). The Mystery within the Mystery. The Breath within the Breath. This is the greatest subtlety through which Allah isolates Himself from His slave.

Secrets ( asrar )

(Asrar). The asrar are hidden within the depths of the inner consciousness. They pass between the purified centre of the emancipated soul (who is a true slave!) and his Lord. All of the secrets derive from the Holy Prophet Muhammad (May the Salutations of Allah be upon him and Peace) and the Divine Lights abound according to the purity of one's inner secret.

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