The Language of the Future

Sufi Terminology by Murshid F.A. Ali ElSenossi

ikhtiyar (اختيار)
Free choice

(Ikhtiyar). Free choice or spontaneity (as opposed to compulsion). The angels are servants of Allah only by compulsion. They have no choice. Man is a servant of Allah by compulsion through his obligatory works and he is a servant of Allah by free choice through his supererogatory works. And he has been given the free choice as to which Path of Return he takes to his Origin. The 'Arif, the knower of Allah, is the one who knows the present moment and therefore knows that Allah IS the moment. Allah gives to such a knower free choice and spontaneous (ikhtiyar) knowledge in each instant and in each breath. This slave, knower and lover takes his knowledge directly from al Hayy, the Living. He drinks from the Water of Life which is ever fresh and ever renewed.


See also: Compulsion Coercion Guidance Misguidance Nearness of Obligatory Works Nearness of Supererogatory Works Obligatory works Self-disclosure never repeats Itself Supererogatory good works Water of Life

(Idtirar). Compulsion (as opposed to free choice). The angels are servants of Allah, but only by compulsion. Man is a servant of Allah by compulsion (idtirar) through his obligatory works and he is a servant by free choice (ikhtiyar) through his supererogatory works.
Compulsion

Jabr - see 'Compulsion'.
Coercion

(Huda). It is Allah Who guides whoever He wants to Himself. The journey from the circumference to the Centre is under Divine Guidance and is specific to the people of yearning who travel the Spiritual Path. When He wants to join someone to Himself He guides them to His saints.
Guidance

(Idlal). Man has been given the choice as to which path he takes on the return journey to his Origin. In this life he can make the Journey of Return to his Sacred Centre under Divine Guidance which is manifested in the Prophets of Allah and His friends. But, he can be prevented from making the journey in this life due to Misguidance (Idlal) which is manifested in Satan and his friends.
Misguidance

(Qurb al fara'id) is the second lowest of the four stations of Perfection. The slave who performs the obligatory works attains this proximity. While retaining his own properties his reality is annihilated in Allah. Allah manifests Himself with His Name, the Outward, so that the lover remains hidden within Allah. The subject and agent is Allah and the lover's hidden presence is manifested by his becoming Allah's faculties. The lover becomes the Beloved's sight, hearing . . .
Nearness of Obligatory Works

(Qurb an-nawafil) is the lowest of the four stations of Perfection. The slave who performs the supererogatory works attains this proximity. While retaining his own reality he is completely dominated by Allah's Oneness and becomes qualified by His Attributes. Allah manifests Himself with His Name, the Inward, so that He remains hidden within the lover. The agent and subject is the lover and Allah's Presence within him is manifested by Allah becoming the lover's faculties. The Beloved becomes the lover's sight, voice etc.
Nearness of Supererogatory Works

(Fara'id) are those acts which are to be performed or avoided and which Allah has made incumbent and unequivocally necessary for His slaves.
Obligatory works

(La Takrar fil Tajalli). This expression indicates that there is never any repetition in Allah's Infinite Self-disclosures (Tajalli). This is 'the renewal of creation in each instant' (Tajdid al Khalq fil-Anat). Allah does not unveil Himself in the same manner in two successive moments to any two creations within His creation. Each instant is fresh and new. This never repeated Self-disclosure is what the knower of Allah witnesses in his own heart. Because each moment is utterly unique the requirements of that particular moment are also unique. The knower of the moment does not resort to old reactions or past experiences when facing and fulfilling the demands of the moment. His heart receives spontaneous (Ikhtiyar) knowledge from the Source Itself. This is the 'the renewal of creation in each instant'. The Slave, Knower ('arif) and lover ('ashiq) takes his knowledge directly from al Hayy, the Living. He drinks from the Water of Life (ab-i-hayat) which is ever fresh and ever renewed.
Self-disclosure never repeats Itself

(Nawafil al Khayrat). Through the Infinite Grace of Allah the sincere practising of the nawafil al khayrat may result in the spiritual perfection in which the slave's hearing, sight, speech etc. are negated. He then hears, sees and speaks through Allah. This is the Nearness of supererogatory works.
Supererogatory good works

(Abi Hayat). This Water springs from the Divine Name "The Living" (Al Hayy) and symbolises Knowledge of the Absolute. The one who drinks the Water of Life finds eternal life through Al Hayy.
Water of Life
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