The Language of the Future

Sufi Terminology by Murshid F.A. Ali ElSenossi

Sayyidi Ibrahim al Qurayshi ad-Dasuqi
Sayyidi Ibrahim al Qurayshi ad-Dasuqi (633AH/1255CE to 676AH/1296CE)

Sayyidi Ibrahim was born in Dasuq, Northern Egypt, in the year 633AH/1255CE, during the last night of the month Sha'ban. Sayyidi Ibrahim refused to suckle in the morning after his birth and during the daylight hours of Ramadan, the first of many of the miraculous events of his life. He read the Qur'an from age three and regularly entered retreat (khalwa) from age five. A distraught mother came to Sayyidi Ibrahim, telling him that a Nile crocodile had taken her son. Sayyidi Ibrahim found the crocodile and told it to return the child, which it did. He then told the crocodile to die, which it did. One back vertebra (kharaza) from this crocodile still hangs in Sayyidi Ibrahim's tomb. He is author of many well known litanies (ahzab), perhaps most famous of which is Salat al-Muhammadiyyah, a prayer on the Muhammadan Essence, also known as Al-Dhatiyyah. Sayyidi Ibrahim understood Syriani, the language of the Angels, which can be found interspersed within his litanies. There are many stories recounting his engagement with the angels, even taking his parents, Sayyidi Abdul Aziz al Mukni bi abi-l Majd and Sayyidatuna Fatima ash-Shadhuliyya, to converse with them. His maternal uncle was Sayyidi Abul Hassan ash-Shadhuli. Sayyidi Ibrahim is the founder of the Dasuqiyya Tariqa and he is recognised as one of the four major Poles (aqtab) within Sufism. He had many followers all over Egypt, with many Christians converting to Islam at his hands. Sayyidi Ibrahim passed away in 676AH/1296CE. He is buried in his well-known mosque in Dasuq.

Silsilat

See also: Spiritual Chain Poles Sayyidi Abdul Aziz al Mukni bi Abul Majd Essence of the Holy Prophet Muhammad Litany Sayyidatuna Fatima ash-Shadhuliyya

(Silsilat). The Spiritual Chain of each tariqa descends from the Holy Prophet Muhammad himself (May the Salutations of Allah be upon him and Peace) down to the present-day Shaykh. It is through his attachment to the silsilat that the newly initiated murid has the means to travel to Allah under Divine Protection.
Spiritual Chain

(Al Aqtab). These are the exalted friends of Allah around whom various realities of the universe turn. Every Pole (Qutb) is named by two names; firstly, through his essential perfection in manifesting the Name 'Allah', he is the 'Slave of Allah' ('Abdullah); and secondly, through his accidental perfection of being in a particular place during a particular era to fulfil a particular function, he is the slave of one specific Divine Name, e.g. 'slave of the Generous' ('Abd al Karim) or 'slave of the Merciful' ('Abd al Rahman). Even though the poles come together under the All-Comprehensive Name 'Allah', they are nonetheless ranked in degrees of excellence according to the Divine Name which has taken charge of them.
Poles

His linage traces back to Sayyiduna wa Mawlana al Imam al Hussayn. He came from Iraq where he was a khalifa of the Sufi master al-Wasiti. On meeting Sayyidi Abul Hassan ash-Shadhuli, he became Shaykh Shadhuli's servant and companion, later becoming his brother-in-law by marrying Sayyidi Abul Hassan's sister, Sayyidatuna Fatima ash-Shadhuliyya. Amongst his children were Sayyidi Ibrahim al Qurayshi ad-Dasuqi and Sayyidi Musa Abul Umran. One day on 'Arafat, during his time with Sayyidi Abul Hassan ash-Shadhuli, Sayyidi Abdul Aziz was singled out by Shaykh Shadhuli to say "Amen" to his supplication and him alone. After the Shaykh had completed his supplication another of his companions stated to Sayyidi Abdul Aziz. "By Allah, he has just supplicated for you to be an abdal and akhalifa. Later in his life the sahib al-waqt would stand when seeing Sayyidi Abdul Aziz al Mukni bi Abul Majd and then, after many instances of this, stopped doing so. The sahib al-waqt was asked "why don't you stand up before Abul Majd and pay your respects like you did before? Has something happened between the two of you?" The answer was given, explaining that "this standing up was not because of him but because of the great man, whose magnanimity is like a sea, in his loins, but has now been transmitted to his wife." The sahib al-waqt was referring to Sayyidi Ibrahim al Qurayshi ad-Dasuqi. Sayyidi Abdul Aziz is remembered as a pious and devout scholar. His tomb is in Marqus.
Sayyidi Abdul Aziz al Mukni bi Abul Majd

(Dhatiyyah Muhammadiyyah). The essence of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (May the Salutations of Allah be upon him and Peace). His essence is absolute subtlety and unity. It is the mystery of existence.
Essence of the Holy Prophet Muhammad

(Hizb). Prayer or litany. The litany is of great protective power as with the famous 'Litany of the Sea' (Hizb al Bahr) of Shaykh Abu'l-Hasan ash-Shadhili.
Litany

Sayyidatuna Fatima ash-Shadhuliyya is the sister of Sayyidi Abul Hassan ash-Shadhuli. She married her brother's servant and companion, Sayyidi Abdul Aziz al Mukni bi abi-l Majd. Amongst her children were Sayyidi Ibrahim al Qurayshi ad-Dasuqi and Sayyidi Musa Abul Umran. One day Sayyidatuna Fatima ash-Shadhuliyya was waylaid by bandits who were intent on doing her harm. The bandits had her cornered an unable to escape when, from out of the shrubbery came a lion which attacked the bandits and protected Sayyidatuna Fatima ash- Shadhuliyya. Many years later Sayyidi Ibrahim al Qurayshi ad-Dasuqi recounted these events to his mother and, on seeing her astonishment, stated "I was that lion."
Sayyidatuna Fatima ash-Shadhuliyya
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