Glossary of Arabic Terms

Glossary of Arabic Terms

 

Adab – Perfected Manners. The outward behaviour to be observed by a follower of the Path that will aid him in reaching his goal. In this book it also refers to a foundation of prayers to be said before the main exercises. Awrad, which pre built on the Adab.

 

Awrad     – The Spiritual Exercises. A discipline assigned by the Sheikh for observance by the follower, sometimes practiced individually and sometimes communally; sometimes silently, sometimes aloud. Awrad usually involve the repetition of Holy Names and phrases or the reading of litanies.

 

Du’a – Supplication.

 

Fajr – The dawn prayer.

 

Hadith    – The Sayings or Traditions of the Holy Prophet Muhammed, Peace be upon him. They have been gathered in cannonized collections, organized according to topic and evaluated as to estimated authenticity or lack of it.

 

Haram     – Forbidden by religious law, the opposite of Halal, permitted.

 

Jihad     — Holy War. The Greater Holy War is the war against one’s lower self. The Lesser Holy War is the war which is fought on a battlefield under the leadership of a Khalifa of the Holy Prophet against Islam’s foes.

 

Kafir     – Unbeliever.

 

Khalwah   – Spiritual Seclusion. Retreat

 

Maulana Khalid Al-Baghdadi    – Great Naqshbandi Master who died 150 years ago and is buried in Damascus.

 

Murid     – “He who is asking”; a disciple or follower of a Sufi Guide.

 

Murshid   – A Spiritual Guide. One who leads another to and on the correct path.

 

Nafs – The Wild and vicious lower self of man. The egomaniac inside of man.

 

Sajdah    – Prostration

 

Shariah   – The Divinely – Revealed Law. The prescribed way of life for Believers as revealed to them through scriptural revelation.

 

Tajalli   – Spiritual Emanations.

 

Tariqah   – The Path of the Seekers of the Truth. The way to internalize the obedience to the Lord attained outwardly by following Shariah.

 

Ummah     – The Nation of a Prophet. Those who fall under a Prophet’s jurisdiction. Now all Nations are the Nation of Muhammad, this is the time over which he has jurisdiction.

 

Wali – Saint. A Friend of God

 

Wudu – Ritual Ablution