The Language of the Future
Sufi Terminology
by Murshid F.A. Ali ElSenossi
al-qalam
Pen, The
(Al Qalam). The Pen is dipped in the Ink and writes upon the pages of the Book. Al qalam indicates the knowledge of everything, in full detail, at the primordial level of creation.
(Qada'). The decree or predetermination. Qada' is the universal decree of Allah concerning the entities of the existents as the entities are in themselves before their existence. It is His decree concerning the states that will occur for them from Eternity-without-beginning to Eternity-without-end. The perfect knowers and lovers of Allah always preserve perfect courtesy with Allah. Whenever they commit an act of disobedience they never flee to 'Decree and Destiny' in order to free themselves from blame and wrongdoing. Their Blaming Self which is placed over them, protects them from such acts of discourtesy.
(Qadar). Destiny or Fate or the measure allotted to each entity. Qadar is the particularized deployment of the universal decree through the bestowal of existence upon the entities in accordance with the times and situations required by their individual preparedness. Destiny refers to the fact that each state of an entity is conditioned by a particular time and brought about by a specific cause.
(Lawh al Mahfuz). The Inscribed or Preserved Tablet upon which the Supreme Pen writes the destinies of all creation. Lawh al Mahfuz is also called the Universal Soul..
(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 synonymous with the Supreme Pen, which is none other than the Reality of Muhammad. The terms 'receive' and 'transmit' indicate the function of Mediator or Supreme Barzakh between the Unseen World and the World of manifestation.
(Idbar). 'Transmit' or 'turn away'. When Allah created the Intellect He said to it 'Receive' (iqbal) (or 'turn towards [Me]'). When it had received He said to it 'Transmit' (idbar) (or 'turn away [from Me]') and it transmitted. The First Intellect is synonymous with the Supreme Pen, which is none other than the Reality of Muhammad. The terms iqbal and idbar indicate the function of Mediator or Supreme Isthmus between the Unseen World and the World of manifestation.
