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

al-mithaq
Covenant

(Mithaq or 'Ahd). The Covenant refers to that 'event' or 'day' in pre-existence when all of the children of Adam bore witness to Allah's Lordship over them; Allah asked his non-existent creation, "Am I not your Lord?". They answered, "Yes, we bear witness". This day of the Covenant is called, by the Sufis, the Day of Alast. It has been said that those spirits who were in close proximity on this day will recognize each other when they meet in this realm. When you meet someone for the first time and you feel like you have known them forever, or since 'before the before', this is the recognition of the spirits from that Day.

See also: Affliction 'Am I not Your Lord?' Preparedness Spiritual Concert The Trust Viceregent

Affliction ( bala )

(Bala). The friends of Allah are visited by many sicknesses and tribulations. Affliction refers to bodily illnesses and diverse troubles. It is Allah's favour to His friends. They love only Allah and see only Allah, so whatever comes from Allah is good. On the Day of Alast when the sons of Adam answered "Yes" to the Divine Address of "Am I not your Lord?", the Lovers of Allah answered 'Bala', which means both 'Yes' and 'Affliction'.

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.

Spiritual Concert ( sama' )

(Sama'). The spiritual concert or 'audition' or 'listening'. This term refers specifically to the Sufi gatherings where music and song are employed as a means of opening the heart to inrushes of knowledge and awareness. During the spritual concert, the listener may experience ecstasy and find Allah, The Real within that ecstasy. However, before true ecstasy can be experienced the listener must be spiritually mature, having been prepared through discipline and perpetual Remembrance of Allah. Without this initial contraction of spiritual endeavour the expansion of ecstasy will not be real. The Spiritual Concert is not suitable for the novice. True Sama' is a bird which flies from Allah to Allah. Allah is the singer and Allah is the hearer. At this Divine Feast the singer and the hearer become One.

Viceregent ( al-khalifah )

(Al Khalifah). The viceregent of Allah is the perfected human being who has fulfilled his reason for being. He has carried the Trust which Allah offered to him, the Trust of being the locus of manifestation for the Name 'Allah'. The viceregent is the Perfect Man in whom Allah contemplates His own Name-derived Perfection. No one is called khalifah except through the perfection of the Divine Form within him. It is through His khalifah that Allah enters the world.

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