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

shay'
Thing

(Shay). Thing or the 'possible thing' or the entity. Shay can indicate the existent 'thing' or the non-existent 'thing'. The word 'thing' (shay), being 'one of the most indefinites of the indefinites' can be applied to anything whatsoever except Allah Himself. "Allah has power over all things" (The Qur'an 2:284).

See also: No thing

No thing ( la shay' )

(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 (Muflis) of everything other than Allah. He is 'nothing' (La Shay) but the locus of manifestation of Allah. He has 'nothing' of his own. He belongs totally and unconditionally to Allah.

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