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

istighfar
Seeking forgiveness from Allah

(Istighfar) is a necessary part of preparation for true prayer. It is an act of devotion which should never be abandoned, regardless of one's knowedge, spiritual visions, acts of abstinence, etc. 'The slave remains the slave and the Lord remains the Lord'. Seeking forgiveness is part of being a slave.

See also: Compete Covenant/Mithaq Intangible Servitude Slave

Compete ( muzahama )

(Muzahama). To compete or engage in competition (with Allah). Such a situation never occurs for the true slave because he always remains Allah's slave and does not make claims to Lordship.

Intangible ( raqiqa )

(Raqiqa). Thin or delicate or flimsy or intangible. The term raqiqa is employed to describe the subtle forms or relationships of the different levels of existence; e.g. the single intangible (raqiqa) reality which separates Perfect Man from man is that his slavehood is not contaminated with any lordship whatsoever.

Servitude ( 'ubuda )

('Ubada). Servitude and bondage. This is the fulfilment and consummation of slavehood ('ubudiyya) when the slave loses himself in the Will of his Lord. 'Ubada is 'the Nearness of obligatory works' which is one of the four stations of Perfection. To realize 'ubuda is to be gifted with a very high degree of Knowledge of Allah. To know that 'the slave is the slave and the Lord is the Lord' is the supreme form of spiritual courtesy towards Allah. The Holy Prophet Muhammad al Mustapha (May the Salutations of Allah be upon him and Peace) is the Beloved of Allah and His Chosen One. No one is more perfect than him. No one can attain to his Knowledge. Yet Allah says in The Qur'an, "Glory be to Him Who carried His slave by night" (17:1). The slave is in bondage ('ubuda). Bondage is Perfection. Bondage is Knowledge.

Slave ( al 'abd )

('Abd). The slave (and worshipper) is the one who is in a state of total and utter submission to the Will of Allah. After having been annihilated in Allah where all duality vanished and distinctions were erased, he returns to creation with perfect courtesy and with the Truth of Certainty that 'the Lord is the Lord and the slave is the slave'. When 'abd is translated as 'servant' it carries the implication that the servant can leave the service of his Master, if he so desires. However, the 'slave' is in total bondage, being utterly dependent upon his Master. All buying and selling transactions have been terminated. The slave belongs to Allah, completely, perfectly and unconditionally.

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