The Language of the Future

Sufi Terminology by Murshid F.A. Ali ElSenossi

Arabic words starting with S

sirat al-mustaqim
Straight Path

(Sirat al mustaqim) is the Path laid down by the prescriptive Divine command in The Qur'an and the Sunna of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (May the Salutations of Allah be upon him and Peace). It is the Path which leads man to felicity. This is the strai...

sirr
Secret

(Sirr). The secret or mystery is a subtle substance of Allah's Grace. It is the innermost consciousness, the point of secret communication between the Lord and His slave. It is the hidden place where Allah manifests His mystery to Himself.

sirr al-'ilm
Secret of the Knowledge

(Sirr al 'Ilm). This term indicates the reality that exists for the possessor of that knowledge.

sirr al-hal
Secret of the state

(Sirr al hal). This is the realization of what Allah intended to reveal to the one who experiences that particular state (hal).

sirr al-haqiqah
Secret of the Reality

(Sirr al haqiqah) is that which is beyond verbal expression. It can merely be hinted at through subtle allusion or indications.

sirr al-khususiyyah
Secret of election

(Sirr al Khususiyyah). The mystery or secret of election. This sirr is the innermost reality of the friends of Allah. Through Allah's jealousy towards His elect He keeps their reality hidden. 'My saints are under My dome. No one knows them but Me'.

sirr al-sirr
Secret of the Secret

(Sirr al sirr). The Mystery within the Mystery. The Breath within the Breath. This is the greatest subtlety through which Allah isolates Himself from His slave.

sitr
Covering

(Sitr). Curtain or veil or covering or concealment. That which veils you from that which will make 'you' disappear. Also known as the 'wrapping of the universe'. In reality, Allah does not place anything behind a curtain. That which covers the Truth...

siwa
Other

(Siwa) is that which is 'not Allah'.

Su al adab
Discourtesy

Su al adab - see 'Bad Manners'.

su al-adab
Bad Manners

(Su al adab). Blatant discourtesy or bad manners. Su al adab is the discourtesy towards any thing or moment or circumstance, which in reality is discourtesy towards Allah. Discourtesy is the bitter fruit of ignorance. Increase in Knowledge of Allah b...

Subhan Allah
Glory be to Allah

(Subhan Allah). A form of glorification of Allah.

sufi
Sufi

Purified One. The name Sufi applies to the man or woman who has purified his heart through the Remembrance of Allah, travelled the Path of Return to Allah, and arrived at True Knowledge. There are many seekers of Wisdom and Truth, but only the Realiz...

sufli
Low

(Sufli). It the opposite pole to that which is high ('ulwi). The cosmos is comprised of many such pairs.

suhba
Companionship

(Suhba). This term applies most specifically to the spiritual relationship which exists between the Murshid and his murid. The basis of such companionship is mystical conversation and communion, both of which intensify as the murid's heart becomes pu...

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