(Muqaddam). One who is invested with the authority of the Shaykh. The muqaddam has the authority to initiate new seekers into his tariqa and to give them spiritual work.
(Murad). The object of desire. For the seeker on the Spiritual Journey the Object of desire (Murad) is Allah. As he journeys, purifying his heart through the remembrance of Allah, he experiences numerous lesser annihilations. After the first of the t...
(Mutsawwif). The one who pretends to have mystic knowledge. Through such pretence the mutsawwif becomes a danger to himself and others. While being held firmly in the grip of his own lower self, this pretender alleges that he can guide others to the...
(Riya'). Ostentation or hypocrisy or showing-off. Spiritual states are gifts from Allah and spiritual stations are earned. The descent of the states and the acquiring of the stations is through Allah's Grace and His Mercy. Riya' is one of the greates...
The Spiritual Master. He is the authentic guide and the only one to whom a seeker of Truth should turn in his quest. In turning to the Spiritual Master the seeker is turning to Allah Almighty.
Purified One. The name Sufi applies to the man or woman who has purified his heart through the Remembrance of Allah, travelled the Path of Return to Allah, and arrived at True Knowledge. There are many seekers of Wisdom and Truth, but only the Realiz...
(Talib). A seeker on the Spiritual Path. He is also called mutasawwif. He is the one who strives, through self-mortification, to reach the level of the Sufis. He is not a Sufi.
(Talib al akhira). He who seeks the next world. The one who seeks the next world must turn to the Sacred Law and follow the guidance of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (May the Salutations of Allah be upon him and Peace). The Straight Path of Islam will t...
(Talib ad dunya). He who seeks this world. This is the seeker of earthly pleasures and delights. Such a one has no awareness of his inherent need for guidance. He is a follower of his own whims and fancies. He is under the control of the misguider, S...
(Tariqa) is the narrow and steep Spiritual Path to Reality. The qualified seeker can travel this Path only under the direction of a qualified Spiritual Guide. The name Tariqa is specific to the Islamic Spiritual Path.
(Umum). This term can indicate either the common people such as jurists and theologians, or the general run of the faithful or the generality of spiritual seekers who are distinct from the elect and the elect of the elect.
(Waarith). The perfect inheritor of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (May the Salutations of Allah be upon him and Peace). Among the friends of Allah the warith is the one who dedicates himself exclusively to Allah through the Sacred Law. Such sincere follo...
(Wasila) indicates the means through which man can come close to Allah. "Seek the means of approach to Him" (The Qur'an 5:35). The one and only wasila is the Holy Prophet Muhammad al Mustapha (May the Salutations of Allah be upon him and Peace). Ther...
(Zahid). An ascetic or pious renouncer. In the initial stages of Self-purification the murid, whose condition is one of imbalance, is required to develop an ascetic approach to his spiritual work and his daily existence. He is required to take up asc...
(Al Taalib). The Seeker. One of the Beautiful Names of Allah.
