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

al-wahid al-kathir
One, the Many

(Al Wahid al Kathir). The Essence Itself, or Being, is called 'The Unity of the One'. When considering Being as Possessor of the Names it is called 'The Unity of Multiplicity'. When taking both perspectives into account Allah is called 'The One-The Many'. Even though Being is One Entity, the entities of the possible things have made It many, so It is the One-The Many (al wahid al kathir). There is nothing in existence but The One-The Many.

See also: Descent of Being Essence, Fixed Entities One Possible Unity

Descent of Being ( tanazzul (tanzil) )

(Tanazzul/tanzil). The Descent of Being by means of the Divine Revelation. This is the descent of the Absolute from Total Inwardness, through the various degrees, to Outward Manifestation. The beautiful Hadith Qudsi says, "I was a Hidden Treasure and I loved to be known and so I created the creations and through Me they knew me". Man's descent through the Five Presences, from inward non-manifestation within the Knowledge of Allah to outward manifestation within the world, is known as the spiritual ascent of composition ('uruj at-tarkib). His Return Journey back through the Five Presences to Allah, is known as the spiritual ascent of decomposition (mi'raj at-tahlil). The Divine Revelation makes Its Descent (tanazzul) in order for man to ascend along that Pure Radiation of Divine Light back to the Sacred Source. 'Allah took a handful of His Light and said to It 'Be! Muhammad.' And It was'. The descent (tanazzul) of Being is through the Holy Prophet Muhammad himself, through his Reality (al haqiqat al Muhammadiyyah). And the ascent to Being is through the Holy Prophet. Allah Almighty becomes known through His Beloved Prophet Muhammad. May Allah Bless him and give him Eternal Peace.

One ( wahid )

(Wahid). Unique and one. The words wahid and ahad both mean 'one and unique'. Ahad may apply to Allah and also to what is other-than-Allah, but wahid applies only to Allah Himself. No one else is named or described by the word wahid.

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