The Language of the Future

Sufi Terminology by Murshid F.A. Ali ElSenossi

'ilm al-zahir
Knowledge of the Outward

('Ilm al Thahir). This term generally applies to that knowledge possessed by the Doctors of Law. However, because Allah is the Inwardly Hidden (Al Batin) and the Outwardly Manifest (Al Thahir), to attain to True Knowledge of Allah, knowledge of both...

'ilm ladunni
Knowledge direct from Allah

('Ilm Ladunni). Divine (God-given) Knowledge. This is a sacred knowledge which has not come through reflection or consideration but has descended into the heart directly from Allah. 'Ilm ladunni is that knowledge which was given to al Khidr (Peace be...

'ilm-i-hal
Knowledge of the state

('Ilm al hal). This knowledge is the contemplation, within the heart, of the mystery of the state which is between the slave and his Lord.

'ilm-i-qiyam
Knowledge of Allah's standing

('Ilm al Qiyam). Knowledge of Allah's standing as the slave's Observer. This is a precious knowledge in which the slave is kept in constant awareness of Allah.

'ilm-ul-dhawq
Knowledge of Tasting

('Ilm ul Dhawq). This Knowledge is specific to the People of the Spiritual Path (Tariqa). It is that knowledge which comes through direct experience. Those who have tasted know. Those who have not tasted tasted do not know.

'inayah
Grace

('Inayah). The Grace of Allah surrounds us. We are immersed in His Loving-Kindness. Each step of the Journey of Return to Allah is taken through His Grace. Without Allah we can do nothing.

'ishq
Passionate love of Allah

('Ishq). Intense, overflowing and passionate love of Allah. Some say that 'ishq cannot arise without actual vision of the Beloved. 'Ishq is the highest stage before absorption in Allah. It is as rare as the red sulphur. It burns away everything of th...

'ishq-i-haqiqi
True Love

('Ishqi Haqiqi). This is the stage of the First Descent of Being and is also known as 'Or Nearer', The Veil of Glory and the Reality of Muhammad. Only the Love of Allah is True Love. It is the Love which made manifest the Hidden Treasure. True Love i...

'ishq-i-majazi
Illusory Love

('Ishqi majazi) is love for everything that is other-than-Allah, that is, love for illusion. But Allah is the Object behind every object of love. Illusory love is in itself an illusion because Only Allah Is.

'isra
Night Journey

(Isra). This is first stage of the Spiritual Journey where the traveller (salik) travels in the universe itself, gaining knowledge from everything he encounters. Only after this journey has been completed can the traveller begin his ascent (mi'raj)...

'iyan
Face to face vision

('Iyan). This term suggests that there are still two faces to have vision of each other. The lover is not yet lost in the Beloved, absorbed by the camphor or drowned in the Ocean. He is still looking.

'izza
Inaccessibility

('Izza) indicates Allah as the "Lord of inaccessibility above what they describe" (The Qur'an 37:180). No laudation on the part of the creattions can attain to Allah.

'ubbadu'l waqt
Worshippers of the moment

('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...

'ubuda
Servitude

('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
Slavehood

(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...

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