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

basmallah
In the Name of Allah

(Basmallah). This is the sacred formula of Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim (In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate). The recitation of the 'basmallah' sanctifies all of man's words and deeds and thoughts, and in so doing it keeps satanic influences at a distance. With his continually expanding awareness of Allah every moment and each breath of the 'one who remembers' becomes 'In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate'. It is said that the opening chapter of The Qur'an (al Fatihah) contains the Essence of the Qur'an, and that the 'basmallah' contains the Essence of al Fatihah. When speaking of the Declaration of Faith as an intellectual 'ascent' the basmallah is then regarded as an ontological 'descent'.


See also: One who remembers Opening Present moment Testimony of Faith Whisperings
(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.
(Fath). This is one of the forms of direct knowledge by which Allah 'opens the door' to the Unseen World. It is the direct knowledge of Allah disclosing Himself to the heart. This 'opening through tasting' is a knowledge which belongs exclusively to the People and the Elect of Allah.
(Shahadah). The witnessing or testimony or word. The supreme witnessing that defines Unity is the Islamic Testimony of Faith (Shahadah). 'There is no god other than Allah; Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah'.

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