The Language of the Future

Sufi Terminology by Murshid F.A. Ali ElSenossi

fara'id
Obligatory works

(Fara'id) are those acts which are to be performed or avoided and which Allah has made incumbent and unequivocally necessary for His slaves.

See also: Necessary Nearness of Obligatory Works Nearness of Supererogatory Works Supererogatory good works

(Wajib). Incumbent and necessary. For the lover and slave and knower of Allah many things which are not incumbent upon the other believers become incumbent and necessary for him. The higher he ascends, and the further he travels, the greater become his responsibilities towards his Lord, towards his own self and towards all of humanity.
Necessary

(Qurb al fara'id) is the second lowest of the four stations of Perfection. The slave who performs the obligatory works attains this proximity. While retaining his own properties his reality is annihilated in Allah. Allah manifests Himself with His Name, the Outward, so that the lover remains hidden within Allah. The subject and agent is Allah and the lover's hidden presence is manifested by his becoming Allah's faculties. The lover becomes the Beloved's sight, hearing . . .
Nearness of Obligatory Works

(Qurb an-nawafil) is the lowest of the four stations of Perfection. The slave who performs the supererogatory works attains this proximity. While retaining his own reality he is completely dominated by Allah's Oneness and becomes qualified by His Attributes. Allah manifests Himself with His Name, the Inward, so that He remains hidden within the lover. The agent and subject is the lover and Allah's Presence within him is manifested by Allah becoming the lover's faculties. The Beloved becomes the lover's sight, voice etc.
Nearness of Supererogatory Works

(Nawafil al Khayrat). Through the Infinite Grace of Allah the sincere practising of the nawafil al khayrat may result in the spiritual perfection in which the slave's hearing, sight, speech etc. are negated. He then hears, sees and speaks through Allah. This is the Nearness of supererogatory works.
Supererogatory good works
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