(Salik). The traveller or wayfarer. The murid in a tariqa who has the necessary qualifications for spiritual travel from his lower self, through the various spiritual stations, to his Higher Self and Unity, is a salik. Not all members of a tariqa are...
(Sam'). The first words heard by man were those of the Divine Address in Pre-eternity when Allah said, "Am I not your Lord?" ("Alastu bi Rabbikum"). During the spiritual concert (sama') the true hearer hears and finds Allah within his ecstasy. At suc...
(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, ...
(Sam'iyyat). Transmitted knowledge. This knowledge, which is specific to the higher teaching, passes from Murshid to murid, down through the spiritual chain. Initially this knowledge is transmitted by means of verbal expression and subtle indications...
(Shaffaf). The spirits are translucent but they possess subtlety and when they are manifested in the form of corporeal bodies they appear to be dense because of the density of all corporeal bodies. (The water takes on the colour of the glass).
(Shahwa). Passion or desire or appetite. This is a basic power of the animal self which is opposed to the Sacred Law. The traveller must subdue the passions by exerting himself through ascetic discipline and spiritual struggle. Passion (shahwa) is c...
(Shams). The Holy Prophet Muhammad al Mustapha (May the Salutations of Allah be upon him and Peace) is the Sun of the Celestial Secrets. The existent entities are the shadows cast by his Radiant Splendour. He is the Sun of the Morning Light. 'Light ...
(Shath). An ecstatic utterance is spoken while the ecstatic is in a state of spiritual intoxication. To the outsider his utterance may appear to contradict the Sacred Law, to be pretentious, thoughtless and even verging on associating partners with A...
(Shawq). Intense longing and yearning for the Beloved. Shawq is a yearning to behold the Beloved, and a longing for nearness to the Beloved, and a longing for union with the Beloved, and an intense longing for increase in perpetual longing. It is sai...
The Spiritual Master. He is the authentic guide and the only one to whom a seeker of Truth should turn in his quest. In turning to the Spiritual Master the seeker is turning to Allah Almighty.
(Shifa'). The divine physician dispenses the correct dosage of medicine to bring his patients (murids) to a state of spiritual equilibrium and restore their harmonious constitution. This is the True Healing.
(Sifat-i-bashariyya). The fleshly attributes of the lower self which must be transformed in order for man to travel on the Spiritual Path.
(Sifat ar Rabbaniyya). When man assumes the Divine character traits he gains the attributes which are associated with Lordship These lordly attributes (al sifat ar rabbaniyya) may then become manifest within certain people of the Path who make a dis...
(Sijjin) is the body of clay which traps the yearning spirit. During the sama' the hearer may reach ecstasy. At such a moment his spirit escapes and returns to the celestial spheres. Having once experienced this freedom of flight, the lover then runs...
(Silsilat). The Spiritual Chain of each tariqa descends from the Holy Prophet Muhammad himself (May the Salutations of Allah be upon him and Peace) down to the present-day Shaykh. It is through his attachment to the silsilat that the newly initiated...
