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

'abd al-waqt
Slave of the moment

('Abd al waqt). He is the one who, having found Allah in each and every indivisible moment, has surrendered, unconditionally and knowingly, to the moment. Because each moment is utterly unique the requirements of that particular moment are also unique. Each moment has its own gracious behaviour and spiritual courtesy. The slave of the moment does not resort to old reactions or past experiences when facing and fulfilling the demands of the moment. Not only is he 'slave of the moment' ('abd al waqt) but he is also the one with gracious behaviour and spiritual courtesy of the moment. His heart receives spontaneous knowledge from the Source Itself. The Slave, Knower and Lover takes his knowledge directly from Al Hayy, The Living. He drinks from the Water of Life which is ever fresh and ever renewed.


See also: Eternal, Man of moral courtesy New Creation Present moment Renewal of creation at each moment Water of Life
(Da'im). Eternal and everlasting and perpetual, as in the perpetual instant or perpetual moment. Al Da'im is one of the Divine Names.
(Al Adib). The man of moral courtesy is the one who gives to each thing and to each moment its due. He is a 'knower of the moment' and with this knowledge he puts everything in its right place. The Sufi is al adib.
(Khalq Jadid). This term signifies the state of constant change (new creation) which everything undergoes in each indivisible instant. Nothing remains the same for two successive moments. It is through the observation of the new creation (khalq jadid) within his own heart that the knower gains knowledge of Allah, realising that each moment contains a fresh and new Knowledge of Allah. This is the never-ending unfolding of Knowledge from the Essence Itself.
(Abi Hayat). This Water springs from the Divine Name "The Living" (Al Hayy) and symbolises Knowledge of the Absolute. The one who drinks the Water of Life finds eternal life through Al Hayy.

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