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

waswas
Whispers

(Waswas). The satanic suggestions and whisperings which enter into the heart of man in order to distract him from the Remembrance of Allah. The waswas is sneaky and cunning. He is not easily located or quietened. The struggle against satanic suggestions is a decisive part of the strategy in the Greater Holy War. Initially the murid needs his Murshid, the divine physician, to protect him and guard him and assist him in locating the waswas. In time and after many journeys and through much ascetic discipline, abstinence and spiritual endeavour, the heart of the murid becomes increasingly purified. He begins to recognize the whisperings which enter his heart through incoming thoughts and is able to defend himself with the celestial weapon of the remembrance of Allah. The tables are turned! At the beginning the waswas distracted the one who remembers from the remembrance. Then the one who remembers strikes the waswas with the remembrance.

See also: Abstinence Ascetic disciipline Disequilibrium Divine Physician Equilibrium Guidance Incoming Thoughts Misguidance One who remembers Remembrance of Allah Spiritual Struggle

Abstinence ( wara' )

(Wara'). During the initial stages on the Journey of Return there is an increase in abstinence which is brought about through fear of Allah. Abstinence, ascetic discipline and spiritual struggle are indispensable when the murid is struggling to achieve inner harmony and balance. The greater the purity of the traveller's heart the less need there is for abstinence. Having subdued his lower self he now holds the reins of his passions and desires.

Disequilibrium ( inhiraf )

(Inhiraf). All spiritual illness are based upon an inner disequilibrium which has its root in the base character traits of the individual. Through spiritual struggle and the sincere turning to the Remembrance of Allah the base character traits may be transformed into noble ones. With the assuming of the noble character traits, equilibrium and harmony will be attained.

Divine Physician ( al-tabib al-ilahi )

(Al Tabib al Ilahi). The divine physician. Al tabib al ilahi is one of the Sufi Masters, an Inheritor of the Holy Prophet Muhammad. Through possessing insight into his murids' spiritual conditions he is able to dispense the correct medicine, in the correct dosage, which will bring about inner balance and harmony to each unique murid.

Equilibrium ( i'tidal )

(I'tidal). Equilibrium and balance. Spiritual equilibrium is attained through assuming the noble character traits which were perfected in the Holy Prophet Muhammad (May the Salutations of Allah be upon him and Peace). Under the direction of the Murshid, who is a divine physican, the murid's constitution may be brought into harmony and (I'tidal); equilibrium and balance. Perfection is an equilibrium in which all of the Divine Names are in balance. No one Name predominates over another. This is the perfect balance of the Perfect Man, who is a locus of manifestation for the All-Comprehensive Name 'Allah'. The Name 'Allah' contains all the Divine Names.

Guidance ( huda )

(Huda). It is Allah Who guides whoever He wants to Himself. The journey from the circumference to the Centre is under Divine Guidance and is specific to the people of yearning who travel the Spiritual Path. When He wants to join someone to Himself He guides them to His saints.

Incoming Thoughts ( khawatir )

(Khawatir). Incoming thoughts, which are either praiseworthy or blameworthy, i.e. divine, spiritual, egocentric or satanic. The Spiritual Master possesses the science of khawatir, and therefore knows the source of his murid's incoming thoughts. He supplies the correct spiritual medicine which will restore his murid's health. The Word of Allah descends firstly as Revelation, secondly as inspiration and thirdly as incoming thoughts. Khawatir come to the heart from the World of Dominion. The generality of mankind, both believers and unbelievers, will be questioned on the Day of Judgement and asked to account for their words and actions in this life. But, the people of the Spiritual Path will also be questioned and called to account for each and every incoming thought.

Misguidance ( idlal )

(Idlal). Man has been given the choice as to which path he takes on the return journey to his Origin. In this life he can make the Journey of Return to his Sacred Centre under Divine Guidance which is manifested in the Prophets of Allah and His friends. But, he can be prevented from making the journey in this life due to Misguidance (Idlal) which is manifested in Satan and his friends.

One who remembers ( dhakir )

(Dhakir). The one who remembers Allah. The dhakir is precious to Allah Who created man only so that he would worship and know Allah. The one who turns, with an utter turning, towards fulfilling his reason for being, has been given the greatest gift from Allah Almighty.

Remembrance of Allah ( dhikrullah )

(Dhikrullah). Invocation of Allah through one of His Names or through His Words. The perfect dhikrullah, in which Allah becomes the seeing, the hearing, the speaking, the grasping of the one who remembers, is attained when every atom of the dhakir's being is absorbed and annihilated in the Remembrance of Allah. The dhakir becomes internally unified with the Absolute. Only then does Allah sit totally with the one who remembers Allah.

Spiritual Struggle ( mujahadah )

(Mujahadah). The spiritual struggle and endeavour against the passions and downward-pulling tendencies of the lower self. Mujahadah is the ceaseless combat called the Greater Holy War. The war is fought with the celestial weapons of the Remembrance of Allah. The mature ones of the Path, those who 'know Allah', say that mujahadah is child's play! The real work of Men is Divine Knowledge.

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