(Makr Nafsi). The deception of the ego. This deception is one of the greatest of barriers on the Path to Perfection. The downward-pulling tendencies of the lower-self (nafs) ceaselessly endeavour to exercise their power over the slave. The self is ma...
(Al Malamatiyya). These are the Perfect Ones. Their exteriors never disclose the reality of their interiors. They are those who know and are not known. Al malamatiyya are Allah's perfect slaves, Allah's perfect lovers, Allah's perfect knowers. They ...
(Muhammadan Rasul Allah) is the second half of the Islamic Testimony of Faith (shahadah). Muhammad is the one sent by Allah. He is the representative of Allah. Without him we cannot come to know Allah. His message is the message of beautiful return t...
(Mu'jiza). A mu'jiza is the miracle of a Messenger or Prophet of Allah (Peace be upon all of them), as distinct from the miracles (karamat) of the friends of Allah. A miracle is intended to display Allah's action in Power and Wisdom. Cause and effec...
(Mustaqim). Straight and without deviation. That which is straight is all that leads to ultimate felicity. The Sacred Law, which has been set down for mankind, is the Straight Path. The higher teaching is the method by which man can transform his lo...
(Mutaqqi). 'The beginning of wisdom is the fear of Allah' (Hadith). There are many levels of fear, the lower being closely related to the fear of punishment and Hellfire. The higher degrees of fear include the fear of 'losing' Allah after having 'fou...
(Nafs al Lawwama). The Self that Blames.The Qur'an refers to this Self, "And I do call to witness the self that blames" (75:2). This Self is conscious of its own imperfections. Its journeying is for Allah. The Blaming Self is equated with the second ...
(Qaba Qawsayn). This term is also called 'Union of Union', or 'The Gathering of the Gathering'. It signifies one of the highest spiritual stations of Perfection which is attained by the greatest Perfect Men, that is, many of the Prophets of Allah an...
(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...
(Riyada). Throughout the initial stages of the Journey of Return to Allah, when the traveller is in a condition of disequilibrium, he is required to exert himself in spiritual struggle and ascetic discipline (riyada). By applying himself to the disci...
(Sadaqa). A gift which is given purely in the Way of Allah. Such a gift is free from any taint of expected reward or thanks. The greatest gift which a man can give is his own existence through total and unconditional love and surrender to Allah.
(Shahadah). The witnessing or testimony or word. The supreme witnessing that defines Unity is the Islamic Testimony of Faith (Shahadah). 'There is no god other than Allah; Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah'.
(Siddiq). The man of Truth who is the veracious man of Purity. The Greatest Siddiq is Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (May Allah be pleased with him), the beloved companion and friend of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (May the Salutations of Allah be upon him and Peac...
(Al Siddiqun). Also known as al sadiqun, these are the saints, the greatest friends of Allah. When they are seen Allah is remembered. They are the shining mirrors in which Allah contemplates His Own Name-derived Perfection. The Truthful Ones, the Pe...
(Sirat al mustaqim) is the Path laid down by the prescriptive Divine command in The Qur'an and the Sunna of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (May the Salutations of Allah be upon him and Peace). It is the Path which leads man to felicity. This is the strai...
