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

mi'raj at-tahlil
Spiritual ascent of decomposition

(Mir'aj at Tahlil). Firstly man makes the Ascent of Composition which is the descent from inward non-manifestation within the Knowledge of Allah to the human level. The 'Uruj at Tarkib is the descent from Unity, through the Divine Presences to the realm of multiplicity. Now at the level of the "lowest of the low" man can start the return journey from the human level back to the state of non-existence within the Knowledge of Allah. The return journey is the Mi'raj at Tahlil, the Ascension of Decomposition. The seven levels of knowledge through which the traveller must pass on his return are Islam; Iman; Ihsan; 'Ilm al Yaqin; 'Ayn al Yaqin; Haqq al Yaqin and Islam. (Surrender, Faith, Perfection, Knowledge of Certainty, The Eye of Certainty, The Truth of Certainty and Total Surrender and Submission).

See also: Lowest of the low Night of Ascension Reality of folding space Slave

Lowest of the low ( asfali-safalin )

(Asfala safilin). This is the lowest point on man's descent from inward manifestation within Allah's Knowledge to outward manifestation within the world. It is from here that man starts his ascent, his Return Journey to Allah.

Reality of folding space ( haqiqat at-tayy )

(Haqiqat at Tayy). The secret of this reality is revealed to the one who brings his physical body under control and encases it within his spiritual body. Allah gives this power only to the elect of His friends. It is the power to travel, at will, vast distances without actually covering those distances in the physical body. The elect travel within their spiritual bodies. The speed of such spiritual travelling is beyond comprehension.

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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