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

mahall
Locus

(Mahall). Locus or dwelling place or place of manifestation. Each human heart is a locus in which the Being of Allah discloses Itself. The radiance of His Self-disclosure depends upon the purity of the heart in the way that water takes on the colour of the cup. His Self-disclosures pertain to the 'unseen' world and to the 'visible' world, both of which are perceived by the heart. This indicates the vastness and the tremendous capacity of the human heart.

See also: Capacity Heart Overflowing Perfect Man Preparedness Self - Disclosure Throne

Capacity ( wus' )

(Wus') indicates the tremendous capacity of the human heart. Allah says, "The heavens and the earth contain Me not, but the heart of My believing slave does contain Me". This is its tremendous capacity. There is nothing else in creation which can contain Allah Almighty, the Truth, the King, the Most Holy. But, Allah is Limitless. Therefore He cannot be contained. And because Knowledge of Allah is Limitless it also cannot be contained. So, wus' is an infinite capacity which has no boundaries, no end, no limits. Knowledge of Allah is Light. His Radiant Light pours into the human heart in accordance with each individual heart's preparedness and receptivity to receive It.

Heart ( qalb )

(Qalb). The human heart is the place of constant change and fluctuation. It is the supra-rational organ of intuition where the Transcendent Realities enter into contact with man. The heart is the isthmus between this world and the next. The battlefield of the Greater Holy War is the heart. This is where the downward-pulling lower self is confronted by the yearning spirit. The battle is fought between these two adversaries in order for one to take possession of the precious heart of man. Under the misguidance of the Misguider, the lower self wants the heart to plummet to the depths of ignorance. However, the spirit, which is from Allah, exerts a powerful attraction upon the heart, as it endeavours to guide it towards Knowledge of Allah. The greater the purification of the heart the more receptive it is to this irresistible attraction of the celestial spirit. The heart is the sanctified centre of man because it is the place which contains Allah. Keeping watch over the heart is part of the spiritual struggle of the Journey of Return. Those well-advanced along the Path never allow any intruders to enter their sanctified hearts. The heart of the Perfect Man is the Divine Throne around which circle the spiritual realities.

Perfect Man ( al-insan al-kamil )

(Al Insan al Kamil). He is the viceregent of Allah, through whom Allah contemplates His Own Name-derived Perfection. The Perfect Man has actualized the divine form and in carrying the Trust has fulfilled his reason for being. It is through the Perfect Man that Allah enters the world. Al Insan al Kamil is also one of the names given to the Supreme Isthmus. Man consists of a body and a spirit which governs it. The cosmos also consists of a body and a spirit which governs it. Its spirit is the Perfect Man. Without him the cosmos is likened to a discarded body.

Preparedness ( isti'dad )

(Isti'dad) is closely connected to receptivity (infi'al). It is the readiness to receive what Allah Wills to send. This 'preparedness' was established in Pre-eternity through the Most Holy Emanation (Al Fayd al Aqdas) which gave the preparedness to the archetype itself.

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