The Language of the Future
Sufi Terminology
by Murshid F.A. Ali ElSenossi

Order by: Arabic English

l

labbayka'
At your service

(Labbayak). These words are on the lips and in the heart of the slave at his time of entry into the Sacred City of Mecca when performing the pilgrimage (Hajj). He is extremely near to Allah at this point in his journey, having been stripped of everyt...

ladhdha
Pleasure

(Ladhdha). This is the pleasure which is experienced in the encounter between the lover and the Beloved. It is a pleasure resulting from distance and separation. The intensity of yearning and longing for the absent Beloved increases the bliss of mee...

ladhdhatu'l-ilahiyya
Pleasure of the Godhead

(Ladhdhat ul ilahiyya). The pleasure or delight of the Godhead. This is the pleasure which the Perfect Man feels pervading his entire being.

ladunni
God-given

(Ladunni). 'God-given' refers to that type of knowledge which was given to the Prophet al Khidr (Peace be upon him). This knowledge comes directly from the Presence of Allah. It does not come through research, reflection or reason. Ladunni is that di...

la hawla wa la quwwata illa billahi al-'Ali, al-'Azim
There is no power nor strength except with Allah. . .

(La howla wa la Quwatta illa billah al 'Aly al Atheem). There is no power and no strength except in Allah, the Most High, the Tremendous'. Recitation of, and contemplation upon this dynamic phrase act as reminders to the murid that 'the slave is the ...

lahi
Railer

(Lahi). The 'railer'. One who utters curses and lamentations, or that shouts abuse in order to turn one's attention from, distract from or cause to forget. This is a shaytanic force which attempts to lure the soul away from Divine contemplation. Lahi...

al-lahut
Divine Nature

(Lahut). This is the opposite pole to the human nature (Nasut). The Divine Nature is the secret life or content of the human nature. The knowers and lovers of Allah see the Divine when looking at the human. They look at a person of rare spiritual be...

la ilaha illa'l-'ishq
There is no god, only Love

(La ilaha illa 'Ishq). The great lovers of Allah use these words in an attempt to express their witnessing of love ('Ishq) as the motivating power behind everything. The Passionate lover ('Ashiq) who is thoroughly drowned in love during the Spiritua...

la'im
Blamer

(Lai'm). This is a shaytanic force which attempts to lure the soul away from Divine contemplation. La'im is referred to in Arabic mystical poetry.

la maqam
No station

(La maqam). This is the 'station of no station'. This 'station of no station' is the highest station reached by the People of Perfection who manifest the Name 'Allah'. They have passed beyond all states and stations and are the true Muhammadan heirs....

la shay'
No thing

(La Shay). The slave who has 'returned' to Allah has arrived at the place of nonexistence, the place of "Allah is, and nothing is with Him". The slave has returned to his own nothingness within the Knowledge of Allah. Such a slave is destitute (Mufli...

la takrar fi'l-tajalli
Self-disclosure never repeats Itself

(La Takrar fil Tajalli). This expression indicates that there is never any repetition in Allah's Infinite Self-disclosures (Tajalli). This is 'the renewal of creation in each instant' (Tajdid al Khalq fil-Anat). Allah does not unveil Himself in the s...

lata'if
Subtle Centres

(Lata'if). This term generally refers to the subtle essences (or centres) in the body. The cleansing of the subtle centres forms the spiritual struggle of the Path. The cleansing of each separate latifah marks a stage in the Journey of Return. Lata'i...

al-Latif
Subtle, The

(Al Latif). One of the Beautiful Names of Allah.

latif
Subtle

(Latif). Subtle or delicate or fine, as opposed to dense and thick. For the knower who 'sees things as they are', the dense and solid objects are seen to be very subtle (latif). This knowledge is one of the important unveilings of the Path. Also an ...