The Language of the Future

Sufi Terminology by Murshid F.A. Ali ElSenossi

Arabic words starting with R

riyadat al-adab
Discipline of Spiritual Courtesy

(Riyadat al Adab). The disciple of moral courtesy which is achieved through leaving the natural tendencies of the ego.

riyadat at-talb
Discipline of Seeking

(Riyadat al Talib). The discipline of seeking with sincerity and soundness of purpose.

riyasa
Leadership

(Riyasa). There are knowledges, such as the sciences of the mystery, which cannot be made manifest. When certain travellers come to know these sciences they seek leadership (riyasa) and superiority over others, desiring to display these sciences and...

rizq
Sustenance

(Rizq). Allah is our Provider and our sustenance has been determined since pre-Eternity. The cosmos has no subsistence except through Allah and the Attributes of Divinity have no subsistence except through the cosmos, therefore each of the two is the...

Rizq
Provision

Rizq - see 'Sustenance'.

Ru'una
Attachment

Ru'una - see 'Frivolity' and 'Frivolities of the ego'.

ru'una
Frivolity

(Ru'una). Frivolity or attachment to this world. Love of the material world, and attachment (ru'una) to it, form great barriers on the Journey of Return to Allah. Both indicate a certain contentment and satisfaction with that which is 'other-than-All...

ru'ya
Vision

(Ru'ya). Vision or sight with the physical eye. For the knower his vision (ru'ya) and his witnessing are the same.

Ru'yah
Vision

Ru'yah - see 'Dream-vision'.

ru'yah
Dream vision

(Ru'yah) It is within a dream vision that much of the Sufi Teaching may be transmitted, from a higher realm, to the dreamer. Within a dream vision meanings become clothed in forms. The knower is the one who knows what Allah means by the observed imag...

rububiyya
Lordship

(Rububiyya). The cosmos has two basic levels which are expressed in various ways - that of the Real and the creation, Independence and poverty, Lordship and slavehood. It is the existence of Lordship which demands slavehood. Lordship is the most exa...

ruh
Spirit

(Ruh). The Ruh is that centre within man which is attracted and drawn back to its Source. The spirit endeavours to pull the heart towards Allah, while the lower self exerts a downward pull on the heart. The human spirit is also Allah's Spirit becaus...

ruhani
Spiritual

(Ruhani). Spiritual or that which is of the spirit.

ruju'
Return

(Ruju'). This term particularly denotes man's Return to Allah. The Men of Perfection, whose station is the station of 'no station', are those who are constantly 'returning' to Allah.

ruju' idtirari
Compulsory Return

(Ruju' Idtirari). Every created thing must return to Allah by the same invisible route. This is utterly unavoidable. "Oh you, man! Truly you are ever toiling on towards your Lord - painfully toiling - but you shall meet Him" (The Qur'an 84:6).

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