Alam-e Amr |
Lit. Realm of Command. One of the two Realms mentioned in the Qura'an. It is above and beyond the Real of Creation. It is where the human Spirit originates from and wherein all exalted stations of Suluk are located.
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Alam-e Khalq |
Lit. Realm of Creation. The created world from the nether regions of the Earth upwards to where the 9th Arsh ends.
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Abdal |
One of the Spiritual appointments.
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Ahdiyyat |
The First station of Suluk, located in First Arsh, at a traveling distance of 50,000 thousand years from the Earth at the speed of Spirit, which is many times faster than the speed of light.
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Ahl-e Sunnah |
The true followers of the Holy Prophet (-SW), in letter and in spirit. |
Ahl-e Hadith |
A faction of Muslims who do not follow the four Imam of Fiqh, rather they believe in directly following Qura'an and Hadith.
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Akhfa |
Fifth vital organ of Spirit which functions as the command center of all its faculties. Located in the center of the chest.
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Akhirah |
The never-ending span of human life, wherein every spirit will be treated in accordance with his/her conduct in the worldly life. Its entrance door is Barzakh, while the exit is either towards Paradise or towards Hell. Also referred to as the Hereafter.
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Allaah |
Personal Name of the One and Only Divine Being, Who is the sole Creator, Master and Sustainer of the entire Universe. The word has neither any gender nor any plural. His other ninety-eight Names like al-Rahman, al-Rahim, al-Ghafur are His Attributory Names.
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Ansar |
The local Muslims of Madinah, who gave shelter and support to Mujahirin from Makkah, at the behest of the Holy Prophet (-SW).
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Arsh, Urush (pl) |
The empyrean. The first is known as Arsh-e Azim (The Great Empyrean) and where the 9th ends, the Realm of Creation ends. Beyond this is the Realm of Command.
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Ayah, Ayat (pl) |
Means sign, token, miracle, wonder, masterpiece or averse of the Qura'an. It is mostly used in the first and last of the above-mentioned meanings in the Qura'an.
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Azan |
Muslim call to Salaat given from every masjid five times a day.
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Bani Israil |
Lit: The Children of Israil. Israil was the title of Prophet Yaqub (Jacob), whose family settled in Egypt during the time of his son Prophet Yusuf (Joseph). His descendants sre known as Bani Israil, ending with Prophet Isa (Jesus).
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Barakah |
The auspiciousness, the blessing, emanating from the Holy Prophet (-SW) or the Qura'an or anything held sacred by Islam.
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Barzakh |
The time and space between Death and Resurrection. Barzakh starts from the grave, where lies the physical body, maintaining a connection with the Spirit, which may neither be in Illiyin or Sijjin.
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Bidah |
Innovation in Din, in its aims and objectives which never change, as distinct from means and methods, which continue to change with passage of time. Anything that was neither practiced by the Holy Prophet (-SW) nor the Companions (RAU), nor be Tabain and Taba Tabain. Anyone who indulges in Bidah is known as Bidati.
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Darud Sharif |
The invoking of Allaah’s blessings on the Holy Prophet (-SW) in accordance with His command in Ayah 56, Surah al-Ahzab. There are many ways of doing it as laid down by the Holy Prophet (-SW) himself in a number of Ahadith.
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Din, Adyan (pl) |
Islam as a complete code of life, as revealed to and handed down by the Final Prophet Muhammad (-SW).
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Fana fi Allaah |
To be so absorbed in Allaah’s Being, as to forget one’s own self, one’s preferences and desires; and to take all actions as desired by Him, out of love and devotion. It is one of the stations of Suluk.
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Fana fi Rasul |
To become totally subdued by the love of the Holy Prophet (-SW) and his Sunnah.
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Fasiq, Fasiqin (pl) |
Sinful, wanton, vicious, offender, licentious. A person not meeting the requirements of Islamic Law, even as a witness.
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Hadith, Ahadith (pl) |
A saying or an action of the Holy Prophet (-SW), or his tacit approval of an act done in his presence.
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Iblis |
Satan, |
Itekaf |
To confine oneself to a masjid or (in the case of women) a room in the home in the last ten days of Ramadhan for the purpose of total devotion to allah and religios practices; Salaat, Reciting of the Qura'an, Zikr etc. A Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (-SW).
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Ihram |
The unsown robe donned by a pilgrim to Makkah, for Hajj or Umrah.
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Ihsan |
To worship Allaah-SWT as if you see Him, else, to be absolutely sure that He is watching you.
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Ijtehad |
Exerting the faculties of head and heart to utmost, in the light of Qura'an and the Sunnah, in the interpretation or reinterpretation of Isalmic laws, not otherwise quite clear in the Qura'anic text. A scholar, having deep knowledge of Qura'an, the Sunnah and other connected religious sciences originating from the Companions (RAU) and the pious precursors, with command over the Arabic language, and himself a thoroughly practicing Muslim, who exerts in this field is called Mujtahid.
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Ilaha |
Diety. A thing or being that is worshipped or respected as God, as against the one and the only Ilaha, that is, Allaah.
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Illiyin |
The place on Barzakh in the heavens where the Spirit of those destined to emancipation rest in peace until the Resurrection, after departure from the physical body.
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Imam |
The leader. It is an appellation not an office used for leaders at various levels.
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Insha Allaah |
Lit. “If Allaah-SWT willing”. Muslims are enjoined to use this expression when making a statement about a desirable future action.
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Jihad |
Lit: Striving in the way od Allaah, with everything at the command of a Muslim to the extent of Laying down one’s life in His cause. It is obligatory at all times by a section of the Ummah to enforce the Islamic Code of Life and the entire Ummah in case of attack by non-believers. Basically, it is against the evil – may be in any form – and once that is eradicated, the Jihad (as distinct from war, which aims at destroying the enemy) is over.
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Kabah |
The Inviolable Place of Worship in Makkah. Also known as ‘Bait Allaah’ (Lit: House of Allaah).
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Kalimah-e Tayyebah |
The first Kalimah of Islam expressing that, “There is no Ilaha but Allaah-SWT and Muhammad (-SW) is His Prophet.
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Karamah |
A super natural phenomenon or occurance associate with a Wali as distinct from Mojezah (miracle), peculiar to the Prophets (as).
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Kashf |
Spirital insight. Vision of the Qalb. A gift from Allaah-SWT enabling the Sufi to observe sublte things like Angels, Divine Lights, etc.
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Khafi |
The fourth vital organ of Spirit and functions to perceive the presence of Allaah-SWT wherever one is. Located opposite Sirri.
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Kharaj |
Agriculture tax levied on non-Muslim State.
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Khilafat-e Rashidah |
Lit: the Righteous Caliphate. It refers to the reign of the first four Calphis namely Hadhrat Abu Bakr, Umar, Wthman and Ali (RAU).
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Mahram |
The close relatives whom one cannot marry as enjoined by Shariah e.g. mother, sisters, mothers-in-law, parent’s sisters
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Mutaf |
The compound around the Kabah, where Tawaf is carried out.
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Qalb, Qulub (pl) |
The subtle heart, a vital organ of the Spirit, gifted with the capability to see, hear, understand and receive the Divine Revelation. Located within the Physical heart.
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Qiblah |
The direction toward which all Muslims turn during Salaat, the Kabah.
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Qisas |
It is not mere revenge, but retaliation. Though recognized by Islam as the basic principle of remedial right, ye it favours compensation as a principle most consistent with the well being of the society. Islam spells out rules for the purpose of confining retaliation within the narrowest possible limits.
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Qutb-e Irshad |
A spiritual office given the responsibility of all matters pertaining to Shariah.
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Rubb |
One of the Attributive names of Allaah. It signifies His Attribute of fulfilling all the needs, of all His creation, at all times.
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Sajdaah, Sujud (pl) |
Translated wrongly as prostration. In Sajdaah, the most sacred part of the human body, the forehead is placed on the ground, signifying total submission to the Creator.
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Salaat |
An obligatory worship that an adult and sane Muslim is enjoined to perform five times a day.
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Shahadah, Shahid,
Shuhada (pl) |
Lit: Witness. The act of embracing Islam. Verbal proclamation confirmed by the Qalb that, “There is no Ilaha but Allaah-SWT and Muhammad (-SW) is His Messenger.”The Supreme act of sacrificing one’s life in the cause of Allaah-SWT is also known as Shahadah and the martyr is called Shahid, who shall be admitted to Paradise, without any reckoning.
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Shaikh |
An accomplished Sufi Master, who is adept in both
- Teachings of the Holy Prophet (-SW) of Islam and
- the art of acquiring His Blessings.
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Shariah |
The Islamic code of life, as revealed by Allaah-SWT unto the sacred Qalb of the Holy Prophet (-SW)
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Siddiq, Siddiqin (pl),
Siddiqiyyat |
The truthful. The one who testifies to the truth. The most exalted Siddiq of Ummah is the first Caliph of Islam Abu Bakr Siddiq (RAU), the title conferred upon him by the Holy Prophet (-SW) himself. The highest Divine office in the chain of Aulia is Sidiqiyyat, in this very context.
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Sijjin |
The place in Barzakh in the nether regions of the Earth, where the Spirits of those destined to condemnation are imprisoned after departure from the physical body, until the Resurrection.
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Suluk |
The sublime Sufi Path.
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Sunah |
The ways of the Holy Prophet (-SW).
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Surah |
A chapter of the Qura'an. There are a total of 114 Surah, 86 revealed at Makkah, known as Makki Surah and 28 revealed in Madinah, known as Madni Surah. These are not arranged in the Order of Revelation, but in the order in which Qura'an is preserved in the Guarded Tablet. The Shortest is al-Kauthar, caontaining only three Ayat, while the longest is al-Baqarah with 286 Ayat.
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Taba Tabi, Taba Tabain (pl) |
The Muslim who got spiritual beneficence from the Tabain.
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Tabi, Tabain (pl) |
The Muslim who got spiritual beneficence from the companions (RAU).
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Taqiyyah |
A famous term of Shiites translated as a pious fraud in the dictionary. An act done under pretension while concealing the actual intention on both individual and collective level.
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Taqwa, Muttaqi, Muttaqin (pl) |
Taqwa is a deep-rooted feeling in a believer’s Qalb, which imposes continuous caution against disobediance of Allaah’s Commands. Muttaqi is the one who observes Taqwa.
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Tasawwuf |
The science of soul purification. It is represented by the word Tazkiyah in the Qura'an, Ihsan in Hadith, and Tasawwuf in Persian. These are three names of the same reality.
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Tawaf |
Orbiting the Kabah in devotion to Allaah. An integral part of Hajj and Umrah. Seven rounds are mandatory, every time.
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Tawajjuh |
Spiritual attention of an accomplished Shaikh or his accredited representative.
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Tazkiyah |
Purification of soul. One of the four duties of the Holy Prophet (-SW). It is referred as Ihsan in Hadith and Tasawwuf in Persian language.
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Ushr |
Agricultural tax obligatory on Muslims: 1/10th and 1/20th of the produce in case of irrigated and non-irrigated land, respectively.
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Wahabi |
Attributed to Shaikh Abdul Wahhab of Saudi Arabia, who rose in Jihad against Bidah and in the process did exceed the limits in certain cases. It is not a sect, only a general misnomer amongst the ignorant masses exploited by the misguided champions of Din.
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Wali, Aulia (pl) Wilayah |
A friend of Allaah, a devotee whose life is governed, to the limits of possibility, by Islamic Shariah.
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Yaum al-Qiyamah |
The Day spread over a period equivalent to 50,000 years of the world, on which every soul shall be reckoned directly by Allaah. Also known as the Day of Judgement, the Day of Resurrection and the Doomsday.
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Zakat |
Lit: Purification. It is the obligatory contribution that a Muslim is required to make for the have-nots of the society, once in a year on specified possessions, money, gold, silver, and merchandise for trade etc. it is 2.5% of ones savings/ value of the possessions.
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Zikr |
Remembrance, mention, invocation of Allaah’s Name orally or within the heart. The former is termed as Zikr-e-Lisani and the latter Zikr-e-Qalbi. Also used for the Qura'an itself and the Salaat. |
