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

(Halqa). This is the spiritual gathering in which the members of a tariqa devote themselves to the Remembrance of Allah (Dhikrullah). Each 'one who remembers' becomes like a link in a circular chain. Immense spiritual energy (Barakah) can be attracted to the circle during such a collective dhikr. Allah says in a Hadith Qudsi "I am in My slave's opinion of Me. I am with him when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I remember him in Myself; if he remembers me in a gathering (assembly), I remember him in a higher gathering". Individual dhikr is inconceivably powerful, containing as it does all that is necessary to transform the lower self of the dhakir into his Higher Self. When Lovers of Allah gather with the sole intention of Remembering Allah, then the spiritual energy emanating from the vocalised dhikr can have astounding reverberations in the physical and spiritual domains. An outsider entering such a gathering can experience near-suffocation due to the change in the atmosphere under the influence of the dhikr. Healing can take place also. The spirits of earlier Masters of the Path may join such a gathering. The vibrations, set up by the mention of one of the Beautiful Names of Allah, echo inwardly towards the Heart and outwardly towards the manifest realm. The spiritual energy emanating from the Circle is great when it is being 'directed' by one of the Inheritors of the Prophet Muhammad (May the Salutations of Allah be upon him and Peace). The Pure Heart of such a Man attracts to itself a highly concentrated spiritual energy of the most blessed nature.

(Zawiyyah). The transmission of the Divine Wisdom which flows from the Murshid to his murids traditionally takes place in a space or room or building, which is set aside specifically for that sacred purpose. Such a place is called a zawiyyah, which literally means 'corner'. The necessity for such a special place is self evident. The Murshid, upon whom so many murids depend to learn of the signs of the Prophet Muhammad (May the Salutations of Allah be upon him and Peace), needs to make himself available to them as much as possible. And, this meeting place, frequented as it is by numerous spiritual people, will rapidly develop into a site of highly concentrated barakah. An ideal zawiyyah contains not only its own mosque, or room selected for prayer and gatherings of dhikr, but also larger meeting rooms for the sharing of food, both earthly and celestial. Small chambers for murids to enter spiritual retreat is of paramount importance, where the Murshid supervises and watches over individual murids as they undergo arduous and demanding periods of seclusion. It is during such times that immense advances are made along the Spiritual Path. Just as Allah Almighty chooses to elevate certain people amongst His creation, by filling their hearts with pure love of Allah and turning them towards His remembrance, so too does Allah elevate certain pieces of His earth. Such sites are destined to become Holy places, where mosques are built, zawiyyahs are erected or where sanctified people live in His Remembrance. The barakah which accumulates around and emanates from these parts of Allah's vast earth eventually attracts the pious believers and yearning lovers of Allah. These places become Sacred visiting places.

(Idhn). Permission of one in authority. It is always the higher authority that gives permission to that which is lower. Therefore within the Spiritual Path this permission always comes from The Highest Authority - Allah. Permission (idhn) for the murid to undertake spiritual practices is given by his Murshid. In reality this permission descends from Allah Almighty through His Holy Prophet Muhammad (May the Salutations of Allah be upon him and Peace) and then into the hearts of the Noble Mashayekh of the Spiritual Paths. It is this Supreme Permission that permeates the spiritual practices and infuses them with their powerful barakah.

(Ziyarat). Because the sacred tombs of the Sufi saints are sites abounding in barakah, they become visiting places for both devotees and the pious believers who seek to benefit from the spiritual power and grace of these exalted lovers of Allah. After completing his pilgrimage to the House of Allah, the Sacred Sanctuary, the slave visits Medina, the City of Light, the resting-place of Holy Prophet Muhammad (May the Salutations of Allah be upon him and Peace). The slave has prostrated before the Haram as Sharif, has been annihilated at this 'place'. His body rises from this prostration yet his heart never rises again. Then he visits Medina. The Noble, Sacred Sanctuary is the Holy Prophet Muhammad al Mustapha. Medina is the Holy Prophet Muhammad al Mustapha. He prostrates before the Holy Prophet Muhammad al Mustafa and then he turns away and visits the Holy Prophet Muhammad al Mustafa. The Holy Prophet said, "I am Ahmad without the 'M'". Having seen the Pure Radiance of the Reality of Muhammad the slave-lover-knower visits the Beloved of Allah. Mecca-Medina. Allah-Muhammad. Lord-slave.