The Language of the Future

Sufi Terminology by Murshid F.A. Ali ElSenossi

Arabic words starting with I

insan kabir
Great Man

(Insan Kabir). This term is applied to the universe, the macrocosm. The signs of Allah are on the horizons, in the macrocosm, and within ourselves, the microcosm. The universe is the great man (Insan Kabir) and man is the small world or universe ('A...

insaniyyah
Humanness

(Insaniyyah). Humanness or human nature.

inshirah
Expansion of the breast

(Inshirah). This expansion is due to the Light contained within the breast. The Light is from Allah and it is Knowledge of Allah. Without this Light the breast remains in darkness and ignorance. This expansion is continuous, from the initial expansio...

intibah
Alert

(Intibah). The departure of heedlessness from the heart. This occurs when Allah admonishes His slave. Such an admonition fills the heart with awe and in so doing the heart turns, with an utter turning, towards Allah.

intiqal
Transferral

(Intiqaal). Transferral or passage. On the Journey of Return the friends of Allah pass from station to station. In moving to a higher station they do not depart from the lower one, rather their passage is with the lower one. It is the same with knowl...

intiqal-i nisbat
Transferral of spiritual qualities

(Intiqaali nisbaat). This is the transferral of lofty spiritual qualities from the Shaykh to his successor, at the moment of the Shaykh's death.

inzi'aj
Agitation of the heart

(Inzi'aj). The agitation of the heart while in the state of ecstasy (wajd). This agitation is caused by the The Reprover, the admonisher of the truth, who is within the slave's heart.

iqamat
Standing in a state of straightness

(Iqamat). The slave stands straight before his Lord, without deviation or crookedness or swerving. He is steadfast and present with his Lord.

iqamat al-salat
Standing for the prayer

(Iqamat as-Salat). Standing for the obligatory prayer. At such a time all Supererogatory acts of worship are forbidden.

iqan
Assurance

(Iqaan). Assurance or certainty.

iqbal
Receive

(Iqbal). 'Receive' or 'turn towards'. When Allah created the Intellect He said to it 'Receive' (iqbal) (or 'turn towards [Me]'.) When it had received He said to it 'Transmit' (or 'turn away [from Me]') and it transmitted. The First Intellect is synon...

iqra'
Read

(Iqra'). 'Read' or 'Recite'. This profound word was the first word of Revelation from Allah to His Beloved Messenger Muhammad (May the Salutations of Allah be upon him and Peace). From the moment that 'iqra' entered the world mankind was given the op...

irada
Desire

(Irada) is the pain of love in the heart. There is no free choice involved with desire because when it fills the heart the lover is overwhelmed. He is compelled to seek the Beloved with all of his being. The murid is 'the one who desires Knowledge of...

Is'haq
Isaac

(Is'haq). The Prophet Isaac, (Peace be upon him) through whose Word descended the Wisdom of Divine Truth (al hikmat al haqqiyyah).

Isharah
Allusion

Isharah - see 'Indications'.

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