The Language of the Future

Sufi Terminology by Murshid F.A. Ali ElSenossi

harf
Letter

(Harf). As a letter of the alphabet, harf symbolises the language or expressions with which the Real One addresses His slave. For language to be used there must be two, a duality. There must be the Lord (Rabb) and His slave (Al Abd). The Great Silence is beyond such duality - it is within the Essence Itself.

See also: Conversation Perpetual Presence of Allah Private prayer Seclusion Silence Union

(Muhadathah). Conversation or address. Muhadathah is an address from Allah to one of His knowers. This address occurs in the visible world, as with the Prophet Musa (Peace be upon him) and the Burning Bush.
Conversation

(Dawam al Hudur). The Perpetual Presence of Allah. It is 'here' and 'now' that His slaves stand, in abject poverty and need, and with overwhelming awe and love. In this Presence they are oblivious to all that is other-than-Allah, because, for them, there is nothing but Allah. All is Allah!
Perpetual Presence of Allah

(Munajat) is a prayer of intimate conversation between Allah and man during which words of love and affection are exchanged and consolation is found for the afflicted heart.
Private prayer

(Khalwa). The spiritual retreat and seclusion. Initially seclusion is undertaken by physically withdrawing from those outside disturbances which have the potential of distracting one in his contemplation of Allah's Names and Attributes. Ultimately this withdrawal becomes purely spiritual when the heart is in a state of perpetual presence with Allah . Then the lover of Allah is with his Beloved at all times, regardless of the external conditions within which he is situated. Seclusion is the conversation of one's secret awareness with Allah. This is known as 'Khalwa fi Jalwa' (Seclusion within society) - as you are in a private state of seclusion with Allah while going about your everyday activities.
Seclusion

(Sukun) is silence or stillness. This is the great silent stillness of the Essence to which the hearts of the lovers of Allah yearn to return.
Silence

(Wasl/Wusul). Union or joining. This term contains the idea of duality because of the joining, or union, between two. In complete union there is no duality whatsoever. Therefore, wasl is inferior to complete union. Through being the Divinity, Allah is perpetually in a state of wasl with engendered existence. "He is with you wherever you are" (The Qur'an 57:4).
Union
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