(Al Rabb). The Lord. Allah is the Lord of all existent things and all things are His vassals). The Lord of any vassal is the Face of Allah turned towards it. Each thing's Lord is the specific Self-disclosure which Allah gives to it, and all of this d...
(Raha). Ease or repose or relaxation or rest. It is Mercy which brings the entities from the distress of non-existence into the ease (raha) of existence. This situation is somewhat reversed for the knower and lover of Allah who has been annihilated i...
(Rahma). Mercy and compassion. There are two kinds of mercy. The first is an essential mercy or the mercy of free-gift which Allah bestows upon all creatures without distinction. The second is a specific mercy or the mercy of obligation which Allah g...
(Ar Rahmatu'r Rahimiyyah). It is purely through the intervention of the Mercy of the All Merciful that the Eye of Certainty is opened. The Mercy of the All Merciful embraces the whole universe.
(Risala). The risala is the Divine Mission of promulgating a new Sacred Law for which a Messenger (rasul) is sent to his people. Messagehood terminated with the Holy Prophet Muhammad who is the Seal of the Messengers, May the Salutations of Allah be...
(Rububiyya). The cosmos has two basic levels which are expressed in various ways - that of the Real and the creation, Independence and poverty, Lordship and slavehood. It is the existence of Lordship which demands slavehood. Lordship is the most exa...
(Ruh). The Ruh is that centre within man which is attracted and drawn back to its Source. The spirit endeavours to pull the heart towards Allah, while the lower self exerts a downward pull on the heart. The human spirit is also Allah's Spirit becaus...
(Rusukh). A station is every attribute which has become deeply rooted (rusukh) within the wayfarer and therefore cannot be left behind. These include the attributes such as repentance, patience, trust, etc. This 'deep rootedness' of the noble charac...
(Sadr) is a term indicating the chest or breast which has been expanded and opened to accept and embrace Islam. In contrast however, the surrender to Real Islam takes place within every atom of the Muslim.
(Sahib al Nadhar). The possessor of consideration. Consideration (al nadhar) is important in the search for knowledge, but due to the fact that it can mislead its possessor, it should not always be depended upon. The one who constantly depends upon h...
The Prophet Salih (Peace be upon him) through whose Word descended the Wisdom of Opening.
(Sama'). The spiritual concert or 'audition' or 'listening'. This term refers specifically to the Sufi gatherings where music and song are employed as a means of opening the heart to inrushes of knowledge and awareness. During the spritual concert, ...
(Shifa'). The divine physician dispenses the correct dosage of medicine to bring his patients (murids) to a state of spiritual equilibrium and restore their harmonious constitution. This is the True Healing.
(Sur). Fortress or rampart. The Fortress (sur) which the slave enters to gain Eternal Protection is 'There is no god other than Allah'. The Foundation upon which this Impenetrable Fortress is built is 'Allah'. The Door to the Fortress is 'Muhammad is...
(Tabi'). This term refers to the one who is a follower of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (May the Salutations of Allah be upon him and Peace). A follower strives to emulate his perfect and beautiful character. A friend of Allah is always a follower (tabi'...
