(Tasawwuf). Also known as the science of the self, tasawwuf is based upon the Teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (May the Salutations of Allah be upon him and Peace). It is known in the West as Sufism or Islamic mysticism. Tasawwuf is the acquisi...
(Tasawwur). Conceptualization or 'giving form to'. The practice of tasawwur is integral to the Spiritual Path of the higher teaching. The spiritual endeavours of the murid may be permeated with a powerful spiritual energy through the practising of ta...
(Tashabbuh). Becoming similar to. Through assuming [the Divine Character Traits], the slave becomes similar to the one who possesses these traits innately, at the very root of his creation. This is the Holy Prophet Muhammad himself (May the Salutatio...
(Taslim) is pure, total and unconditional surrender to Allah in each moment and under every condition. When it is known, through unveiling, that each moment is Allah, the knower prostrates before the One and Only (al Ahad), the King (al Malik), the M...
(Tawalla). This term signifies the slave's returning to himself after being with Allah. After annihilation in Allah the slave is returned to himself and to the creation. Were he to remain with Allah the slave would be constantly 'mad-in-Allah'. Such ...
(Tawassu' al ilahi). The Self-disclosure of Allah never repeats itself because the Divine Vastness forbids repetition. The heart of man has the most tremendous capacity because Allah says in a Hadith Qudsi, "the heavens and earth contain Me not but t...
(Tauba). This is the turning from major sins to obedience. The Spiritual Journey of Return to Allah begins with the awakening of repentance within the self.
(Tawhid). The Declaration of Allah's Unity, 'There is no god other than Allah' is the very pivot of Islam. Knowledge of the Declaration of Allah's Unity is a light. Yet, Allah Himself is the affirmation of His Unity. Within the higher teaching all ...
(Wahdat al Shuhud/Tawhid-i shuhudi). This is distinct from the Unity of Finding or Being. The witnessing belongs to the slave, who witnesses Allah's presence to the extent of his capacity, while the finding belongs to Allah, Who is present and finds ...
(Tawhid al uluha). This is Allah. Man can reach knowledge of the Unity of the Divinity, but he cannot reach knowledge of the Unity of the Essence because the Essence is Unknowable. Only Allah knows Allah as He is in Himself.
(Thabat). Constancy or stability. Due to the never-ending Self-disclosures and the speed of self- transmutation, or change from one state to another, there appears to be no constancy and no stability. Yet, sometimes the traveller is moving so fast al...
('Ubbad ul waqt). These are the knowers who worship Allah in every moment of Time. Self-disclosure never repeats itself. In each moment Allah reveals Himself anew. Therefore the worshippers of the moment never limit or restrict Allah in any moment of...
('Ubada). Servitude and bondage. This is the fulfilment and consummation of slavehood ('ubudiyya) when the slave loses himself in the Will of his Lord. 'Ubada is 'the Nearness of obligatory works' which is one of the four stations of Perfection. To...
(Ubudiyya). What is slavehood? To leave that which is yours and to be steadfast upon that which you have been commanded. Slavehood is the state of the one who is drawing near to Allah through acts of devotion. 'Ubudiyya is 'the Nearness of supereroga...
('Uruj). This is the ascent of the traveller from the Causal World to the World of Similitudes, then to the World of Spirits, then to the Reality of Muhammad and, ultimately, through the Grace of Allah, to the Essence Itself.
