The Language of the Future

Sufi Terminology by Murshid F.A. Ali ElSenossi

tafsil
Differentiated mode

(Tafsil). Differentiated mode. The Divine Attributes manifest themselves in a boundlessly differentiated mode within the cosmos. The root of the cosmos is Allah, and the cosmos itself is the manifestation of the Divine Names. All that we actually see is the Names. The human is the outward form of all of the Names in undifferentiated mode (ijmal), and the cosmos is the outward form of the Names in differentiated mode (tafsil).

See also: Form Meanings Names Perfect Man Undifferentiated mode

(Sura). The outer form of an entity or thing is what conceals its inner meaning. Revelation is the outer form whose meaning is Allah's Knowledge of Himself and His creation. Tearing away the veil of form to reveal the meaning within is the work of the higher teaching. The Holy Prophet Muhammad al Mustapha (May the Salutations of Allah be upon him and Peace) prayed, 'Oh, Allah, show me things as they are in their reality'.
Form

(Ma'ana). Everything in creation has an outward form. These forms are the manifestations of their essential inner meanings. The meaning of everything is Allah. Within imagination all meanings become clothed in substratum and take on form. No meaning is able to hold itself back from imagination.
Meanings

(Asma). Names. The Names designate permanent 'aspects' of the Essence. Every Name has a meaning and a form. The meaning of every Name is Allah. It is only through the Names, all of which are Allah's, that we have access to Knowledge of Allah. The Divine Names seek the Perfect Man (Insan al Kamil) to be their perfect locus of manifestation. Through their seeking him and their requiring his existence the knower comes to understand the nobility and grandeur of the Perfect Man.
Names

(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.
Perfect Man

(Ijmal). Within the Knowledge of Allah all of the immutable entities are differentiated. Allah distinguishes each entity and does not see them as undifferentiated. The root of the cosmos is Allah, and the cosmos itself is the manifestation of the Divine Names. All that we actually see is the Names. The human is the outward form of all of the Names in undifferentiated mode (ijmal), and the cosmos is the outward form of the Names in differentiated mode (tafsil).
Undifferentiated mode
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