Sufi Glossary of Terms

A -ab - Farsi b: water, river; sparkle, luster, elegance; dignity. (in some texts as aab) (fjs1, jtp1)ab-i hayat - Farsi/Arabic b-i hayt: water of life, immortality, fountain of life, spiritual discourse, inspired knowledge. (fjs1,jtp1)Abul Ala - Arabic: Syrian-born poet and philosopher Ab al-'Al Ma'r (927-1057).

acharya - Sanskrit crya: 'knowing the rules', spiritual guide; a title suffixed to the name of a learned person, such as Shankaracharya. (mw131)adhikar - Sanskrit adhi-kra: authority, privilege, right. (mw20)advaita - Sanskrit advaita: 'no duality', without duality; sole, unique; oneness of spirit and matter, oneness of the supreme soul (paramtman) with the human soul (jivtman). The philosophy that everything is God, that there is nothing other than God. (mw19)The aim of all religions and philosophies is the understanding and the realization of unity. The Vedanta philosophy teaches advaita: there is no such thing as 'two'; the whole is one and the same being. In the Bible it is said, 'I and my Father are one,' which means unity...

from The Sufi Message, Volume VII, Self-Realization

ahamkara - Sanskrit aham-kra: self-consciousness, sense of self, concept of individuality, ego-attachment; pride, egotism; arrogance, haughtiness; conceit. (in some texts as ahankar) (mw124, rsm71)ahriman - Farsi ahriman: seducer, demon, devil; the principle of evil; that which is opposed to the principle of good. (fjs124)Ahura Mazda - Avestan (ancient Persian) ahura-mazda: ' Lord Wisdom', Wise Lord. The supreme God in the ancient Persian monotheistic religious system taught by Zoroaster (Zarathushtra) sometime around 1000 BC. Ahura Mazda is said to be the beginning and the end, the creator of everything which can and cannot be seen, the Eternal, the Pure and the only Truth. Also referred to as Ormuzd. (see also ahriman) (the Farsi term yazdn also refers to God)

akasha - Sanskrit ka: free or open space, openness; sky, atmosphere. Esoterically referred to as 'accommodation' or 'capacity' (a place for something to exist), and the word 'scope' is often used to describe the vast opportunity provided by the akasha. (mw126)To make a place is to make an Akasha ... When you make yourself an Akasha for God to be enshrined in, that is the only purpose for which this body was made. It was made that God might take charge of it, might be awakened in this body. By doing this one fulfills that purpose, one opens this place for God, one makes it the places for God, and says, 'Now You be enshrined in this place; it belongs to You, You made it.'

from Sangatha II, by Hazrat Inayat Khan (unpublished)The word capacity refers to the unconfined basis for experience, as in the moment just before something takes place. ... The analogy for this is a bright mirror, a readiness for experience to unfold without any preconception whatsoever.

from Samten Gyatso, as recalled by Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Buddhadharma Fall 2005akbar - Arabic akbar: greater, greatest in estimation, rank or dignity; older, senior-ranking. (see also Allahu Akbar) Also, Akbar was a great Mogul emperor of India (1542-1605 AD). From the Arabic root k-b-r meaning to be great, large, famous; to gain in significance, become important; to exceed in age, be older; to become too great, burdensome. (hw948, ao476, ewl2587)

akhlaq - Arabic akhlq (plural of khulq): manners, disposition; morals, ethics, virtues. (hw299, fjs26, jtp30) akhlaq-i Allah - Arabic/Farsi Akhlq-i Allah means the manner of God, or Divine Manner.

aladdin, alauddin - Arabic al'-ud-din : nobility of faith. al' = noble, high standing, high ranking; u = genitive suffix, often translated as of; din = faith, religion, duty (also written as alaoddin, alauddin) (hw749)al-hamdulillah - Arabic al-hamdulillh: Common translations include: All praise is for Allh, All praise is to Allh. This phrase is made of five parts: al = the; hamd = praise, commendation, or extolling the virtues of; u = genitive suffix denoting that the previous word (hamd) is the subject of the phrase; li = to, for, unto, on account of; and llh = Allh. (also see the Arabic Devotional Terms web page for more phrases) (hw238, jtp481)al-kimia - Arabic al-kmiy': chemistry; alchemy; the philosopher's stone. (possibly from Greek xhmia) (hw997, fjs1070, jtp890)alam-i mithal - Arabic 'lam-i mithl: the world of visions, world of dreams, world of ideals. (fjs1172)Allah - Arabic allh: the Arabic proper name for the Supreme Deity. The exact derivation of this word is unclear, but it is likely related to the Aramaic Alaha and to the ancient Hebrew El. (hw30)Note: For those who may be uncomfortable with the word Allah, it may be helpful to note that in the Semitic language of Aramaic which Jesus most likely spoke, the Aramaic word which is translated as God in the European bible was actually Alaha. According to some linguists, the word Alaha which Jesus spoke would have had the ending "a" softened or not pronounced at all, leading to the pronunciation "alah". Since the Arabic language was largely derived from the earlier Aramaic (much the same as Aramaic was derived from the earlier Hebrew), the modern Arabic word Allah is likely derived from the earlier Aramaic pronunciation "alah". Indeed, Allah of the Qur'an and Alaha of Jesus refer to the same One. In contrast, the word "God" is a relatively new, and perhaps unfortunate, European invention which has been the source of much misunderstanding and conflict. Allahumma - Arabic allhumma: O' Allah (often used rather than y Allh). (hw30)Allahu akbar - Arabic allhu akbar: Commonly translated as: Allh is Greater, Allh is Great, or Allh is Most Great. This phrase is made of three parts: Allh = the Supreme Deity; u = a suffix denoting that Allh is the subject of the phrase; and akbar = greater, greatest in estimation, rank or dignity; older, senior-ranking. This phrase is called Takbr. (hw948, ao476, ewl2587)ammara - Arabic ammra (feminine of ammr): commanding, ordering, domineering, headstrong. This term is often used to describe the carnal, sensuous aspect of the nafs. (used in the Qur'an 12:53) (fjs97, jtp79, hw34)amin - Arabic mn: in this we trust, in this we have faith; amen; be it so. From the Arabic root a-m-n meaning to be faithful, reliable, trustworthy; to reassure, safeguard, guarantee. (hw36, ao34)amr - Arabic amr: command, order, decree; power, authority; affair, concern, transaction; event, occurrence, act; fact, circumstance.The phrase Amr-i Allah could be translated as command of Allah, or act of Allah. (hw33, fjs99, jtp81)anfas - Arabic anfs (plural of nafas): breaths, respirations; voices, words. (hw1156, jtp93)anvar -Arabic anwr (plural of nr), Farsi anvr : lights, gleamings, rays of light. (hw1183, fjs116, jtp99)anzar - Arabic anzr (plural of nazar): visions, sightings; glances; perceptions, insights. (hw1144, fjs111)apsara - Sanskrit apsaras or apsar: 'between the waters and the clouds', a class of female divinities who inhabit the sky, heavenly nymphs, fond of water, the wives of the Gandharvas. They change their shape at will, and are said to dance (and/or sing) for Indra. (in some texts as Upsara) (mw59)aqibat - Arabic 'qibah, Farsi 'qibat: end, termination, conclusion, outcome, consequence; coming after, recompense, reward, future life. (hw733, fjs830, jtp757)arsh - Arabic 'arsh: throne, throne of God; a place of abiding; palace, citadel; buttress, support. (hw704, fjs842)artha - Hindi/Sanskrit artha: advantage, profit, benefit, use, utility; concern, business, affair, matter; substance, property, wealth, opulence; worldly prosperity. (incorrectly spelled ardh in some papers) (mw90, mcm27, jtp39)ashiq - Arabic 'shiq ( from the root 'ishq): lover, fancier, fan, sweet-heart; one filled with divine love. (hw719, fjs830)ashraf - Arabic ashrf (plural of sharf): distinguished, eminent, noble, high-bred, honorable, honest. (hw545)asman - Farsi smn: heaven; sky, the celestial orb, the canopy of heaven. In esoteric terms, this is often used much the same as the Sanskrit akasha, to describe capacity or accommodation (see akasha). (fjs60, jtp53)asrar - Arabic asrr (plural of sirr): secrets, mysteries, something concealed; secret thoughts, innermost thoughts, or, as E. W. Lane variously put it: private knowledge; something inserted in the interior; a pleasure, or delight, and dilation of the heart, of which there is no external sign. (hw471, fjs57, ewl1337)asrar ul-anasir - Arabic asrr ul-'ansir: from asrr (plural of sirr) meaning secrets, mysteries, u indicating that asrr is the subject of the phrase, al meaning the, 'ansir (plural of 'unsur) meaning elements, constituents: secrets of the elements. (hw471,760, fjs57, 868)asura - Sanskrit asura: spiritual, divine; supreme spirit; evil spirit, demon. (mw121, rsm69)asvara - Sanskrit asvara: not loud, indistinct; in a low tone. (in some texts as Asura) (mw124)atish - Farsi tish: fire, light; fire of love, passion; splendor (in some texts as atesh) (fjs13, jtp16)atman, atma - Sanskrit tman: singular masculine tm: the breath; essence, nature, character; understanding, intellect; the soul, individual soul; the highest personal principle of existence. Prefixes are often used to help clarify the meaning, such as jvtman (living, personal soul), mahtman (great soul), paramtman (supreme spirit). (hw135)In the Vedanta the soul is called by three names which denote its three aspects, Atma, Mahatma, Paramatma. Atma is the soul conscious of the life on the surface, Mahatma is the soul conscious as well of the life within, Paramatma is the consciousness that is the soul of souls, conscious of the Absolute within and without, the God of the knower, the Lord of the seer.

from The Sufi Message, Volume V, Manifestation

Avicenna - Avicenna: a Latinized version of the name ibn Sn (980-1037 AD), a great Persian mystic, physician, philosopher and scientist.

Avicenna, the great physician of ancient times, on whose discoveries medieval science was based, was a Sufi who used to sit in meditation, and by intuition he used to write prescriptions.

from The Sufi Message, Volume IV, Health

avatar - Sanskrit avatra: incarnation, appearance of a deity on earth, any new unexpected appearance; descent, descent of a higher consciousness, descent of a deity from heaven. (mw99, jtp102)avidya - Sanskrit a-vidy: 'not-knowing', ignorance, false understanding, spiritual ignorance. (mw108, rsm64)azam - Arabic a'zam: greater, bigger, paramount, supreme, most important. (see also ism-i azam) (hw729, fjs75, jtp60)B -bad - Farsi bd (from Sanskrit vta) : air, wind, breeze; breath, name of an angel presiding over the winds. (in some texts as baad) (fjs137, jtp118)bad - Farsi bad: naughty, bad; wicked, evil. (fjs160, jtp138)banda - Farsi banda (from Sanskrit bandha): bound, fastened, restrained; servant, slave. (fjs202, jtp170)

bandagi - Farsi bandag: slavery, bondage, servitude; service; devotion, adoration, worship, praise; compliment, salutation; humility, lowliness; or, as an intj. My service to you! good-bye! thank you! (fjs202, jtp169) baqa - Arabic baq': remaining, staying, lingering, abiding; continuation of existence; immortality, permanence. (hw84) The ideal perfection, called Baqa by Sufis, is termed 'Najat' in Islam, 'Nirvana' in Buddhism, 'Salvation' in Christianity, and 'Mukhti' in Hinduism. This is the highest condition attainable, and all ancient prophets and sages experienced it, and taught it to the world.

from The Sufi Message, Volume V, Spiritual Liberty

baqi bi-Allah - Arabic bq bi allh: bq = everlasting, eternal, immortal; bi= by means of, through, from; pemanence from Allah, eternal existence in Allah. (ao60)basarat - Arabic basra, Farsi basrat: perception, discernment. (hw75, fjs190)basir - Arabic basr: seeing, having eyesight; discerning, knowledgeable; having insight; acutely aware. The name al-Basir refers to Allah as the All-Knowing, All-Seeing, All-Perceiving. (also see basr in 99 Names of Allah) (hw75)bast - Arabic bast: spreading, extending, expanding, unfolding. (the opposite of kabs) (hw72)batin - Arabic btin: inner, interior; secret, hidden, concealed. (Btin is pronounced baatin, while a similar word batn, pronounced bateen, means fat, corpulent, gluttonous.... quite a difference!) (also see btin in 99 Names of Allah) (hw79)ba-yaki - Farsi ba-yak: ba=with, by, through, yaki=oneness, unity. (fjs135, 1535)bayat - Arabic bai'at: profession of loyalty, oath of allegiance; initiation as a disciple of a religious guide. (hw105, jtp210)Devotion requires an ideal, and the ideal of the Sufis is the God-ideal. They attain to this ideal by a gradual process. They first take bayat, initiation, from the hand of one whose presence gives them confidence that he will be a worthy counselor in life and a guide on the path as yet untrodden...

from The Sufi Message, Volume X, The Different Steps

Bayazid - Bayazid: Bayazid Bastami (777-874 AD) Sufi saint and mystic from Bastam in eastern Persia (Iran). A prayer from Bayazid:

Oh, Allah, how long will this 'you' and 'I' remain between You and I, Take this 'I' from me so all that remains is 'You'.baz - Arabic bz: hawk, falcon, eagle. In esoteric terms, one who soars above, a wayfarer of the heavens. (hw100, fjs144, jtp121)Bhagavad-Gita - Sanskrit bhagavad-gt; Song of the Blessed One, Song of Krishna, Celestial Song. A mystical poem (part of the Mahabharata) in which Lord Krishna summarizes the great Vedic teachings for Arjuna. Often simply referred to as the Gt. (mw744)bhakti - Sanskrit bhakti: attachment, trust; homage, devotion, worship. (mw743)bhandara - Hindi bhandr: a meal for the holy ones; a feast of the sanyss. (jtp192, rsm755)bhavasagara - Sanskrit bhava-sgara: 'ocean of worldly existence', sea of worldly life. (mw749)bi-charagi - Farsi b-chrag; b = without, chra = remedy; helplessness, inability, incapacity (in some texts as vecharagi, becharagi, becharegi) (fjs216)bismillah - Arabic bismillh: Commonly translated as: In the name of Allah. A phrase made of the following: bi = with, to for, in, through; ism = a distinguishing mark, name, light, vibration, essence; llh = Allh. (also see the bismillah web page for more insights)

bodhi - Sanskrit bodhi: perfect knowledge, wisdom; enlightened intellect, learned, wise. (mw734)bodhisattva - Sanskrit bodhisattva: one who is on the way to perfect knowledge, a Buddha-to-be, one whose essence is perfect knowledge. Derived from bodhi meaning perfect knowledge or enlightened; and sattva meaning essence or true essence. The Spirit of Guidance. (in some texts as Bodhisatva or Buddhi Sattwa) (mw734)Brahma - Sanskrit brahma: the personal creator; one the triad of personal gods (Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Maintainer, Shiva the Destroyer). (see also Vishnu and Shiva below) (mw738)Brahmachari - Sanskrit brahma-cari: student of sacred study; one who observes the vows of sense-control; the first of the four stages of spiritual life.

Brahman - Sanskrit brahman; literally, growth, evolution, swelling of the spirit; the Self-Existent, Absolute, Eternal. (mw737)brahmin - Sanskrit brahmin: belonging to Brahma; knower of Brahma, possessing sacred knowledge; a member of the Hindu priestly caste. (mw741)buddhi - Hindi budh: Sanskrit buddhi: reason, discernment, the power of forming and retaining conceptions; perception, comprehension, understanding, thought, opinion, reflection. (in some texts as Buddh) (mw733, jtp141)buddha - Sanskrit buddha: awake, awakened, conscious, enlightened one. Generally used to refer to Siddhrtha Gautama (c. 560 BC), who is also known as Shakya Muni (sage of the Shakya clan) or Buddha. (mw733)Bullah Shah - Abdullah Shah (1680-1758 AD) Sufi poet and Qawwali, born near Bahawalpur, Pakistan. His message was one of truth, love and compassion. His guide was Hazrat Shah Inayat, a well-known Qadiri Sufi and gardener by profession. Bullah asked his guide, "I wish to know how to realize God." Inayat Shah replied, "What is the problem in finding God? One only needs to be uprooted from here and replanted there." The tomb of Bullah Shah is in Qasur, Pakistan. (often written as Bulleh Shah)You alone exist; I do not, O Beloved!You alone exist, I do not! Like the shadow of a house in ruins, I revolve in my own mind. If I speak, you speak with me: If I am silent, you are in my mind. If I sleep, you sleep with me: If I walk, you are along my path. Oh Bulleh, the spouse has come to my house: My life is a sacrifice unto Him.You alone exist; I do not, O Beloved!

buraq - Arabic burq: the donkey-like creature upon which Muhammad is said to have ascended one night from Jerusalem to heaven and then returned to Mecca. (see also miraj) (hw67, fjs168, jtp144)

buzurg - Farsi buzurg: great, venerable, noble; elder, aged; wise man, holy man, saint, sage. (jtp153)

C -chaitanya - Sanskrit caitanya: consciousness, intelligence; soul, spirit; the Soul. (mw402)chakra - Sanskrit cakra: wheel; discus or sharp circular weapon; circle, ring; mystical circle or diagram; circular energy centers of the body. (mw380, jtp435)chela - Hindi cel: (feminine cel): servant, attendant; pupil, disciple, follower.(possibly derived from Sanskrit ceta, meaning servant, slave) (jtp471, rsm329)cherag - Farsi chirgh, chargh: lamp, light; guide, director. The term cherag is also used to refer to one who is ordained in the work of the Universal Worship of the Sufi Movement. (also see sirj below, and see Universal Worship below) (fjs389, jtp428)The work of a cherag is to help a person to live...

from Addresses to Cherags, by Hazrat Inayat Khan (unpublished)Chishti - The Chishti Sufi Order was founded (c 900 AD) in the city of Chisht (a small town near Herat, Afghanistan) by Abu Ishaq Shami whose teacher sent him from Syria to spread the Sufi message. The Chishti Order is one of the oldest Sufi orders currently existing, and often makes great use of sound and music in its practices.

After receiving instruction in the five different grades of Sufism, the physical, intellectual, mental, moral, and spiritual, I went through a course of training in the four schools: the Chishti, Naqshibandi, Qadiri, and Suhrawardi. I still recall this period, under the guidance of so great and merciful a Murshid, as the most beautiful time of my life.

from The Sufi Message, Volume XII, My Initiation in Sufism

D -dakhl dar maqulat - Farsi/Urdu dakhl dar ma'qlt: 'intrusion into intellectual matters', interference, interruption. (in some texts as dakhl dar makulat) (jtp507)darood - see durood

daya - Sanskrit day: sympathy, compassion, pity; mercy, clemency; kindness. (mw469, rsm479)dervish - Farsi darvesh: poor, indigent, beggar, religious mendicant. (in some texts as darwish) (fjs516, jtp514)deva - Sanskrit deva: (female dev) heavenly, divine; a deity, god; a god on earth, divine being. From the Sanskrit root div which means light; brightness; sky, heaven. (mw492, jtp558, mw478)dharma - Sanskrit dharma: duty; that which is held fast; conduct; established decree; virtue, morality, good works; religion; ethical precepts, sacred duty. From the ancient root dhri meaning to bring forth; hold, carry, bear, support. It is said that the ultimate meaning of dharma is to be in total harmony with Life, allowing the Divine Essence and Divine Will to flow through one's thoughts and actions, and consciously allowing one's own dharma to be in full accord with the Divine Dharma (rta-dharma). (dharma is written as dhamma in Pali.) (mw510, mw519, jtp542)In Sanskrit religion is called Dharma, which literally means duty. To give a definition of what religion is one can say that it is an unswerving progress towards the ideal.

from The Sufi Message, Volume XI, IdealThe divine life has a certain capability to give life, and it gives this life as teaching to the children of earth, and this teaching is called Dharma, religion. Religions are many and different from one another, but only in form, for water is one and the same element, and formless, only it takes the shape of the channel which holds it and which it uses for its accommodation; and so the name water is changed into river, lake, sea, stream, pond, etc. So it is with religion; the essential truth is one.

from Religious Gatheka 3, Religion, by Hazrat Inayat Khan (unpublished)When man has risen to the stage of development where he can be the perfect instrument of God, when nothing of his own being stands in the way of the direct impulse that comes from within -- that spirit may be called perfect. That which is most precious, that which is the purpose of man's life is to arrive at that state of perfection when he can be the perfect instrument of God.

from The Sufi Message, Volume XIV, Divine Impulse

dhikr - please see zikr (hw358)dholak - Hindi dholak: a small drum. (jtp573, rsm430)dil - Farsi dil: heart, soul; mind; valor; the center. (see also qalbi) (fjs530, jtp522)din (deen) - Arabic dn: creed, belief, religion. It is said that there is only one dn; that which is the natural, intended, proper manner of life, acting in harmony with the will of the Creator and thereby in harmony with all of creation. The classical Arabic root d-y-n signifies that which is obedient, abased, submissive; doing service for; acting well towards; and also signifies receiving a loan, being indebted, repaying a debt. Thus dn signifies repaying our debt to our Creator through humble submission and loving service. To do so, it is a common Sufi practice to strive to be like a perfect mirror, reflecting all of the magnificence and glory back to the Beloved and into this world, illuminating any darkness. Hazrat 'Ali said 'The love of the wise is a religion (dn) with which Allah is served.' (Note that Arabic dn is essentially identical in meaning to the Sanskrit dharma) (hw353, jtp558, ewl942)dipak - Sanskrit dpaka: kindling, inflaming; illuminating, lighting. (mw481)dua - Arabic du'': prayer, request, plea; supplication (to God); an invocation of good, a blessing, benediction; wish; congratulation, salutation. (in some texts as do'a) (hw327, fjs527, jtp518)dunya - Arabic duny: literally 'nearest', the present world, the present life or state of existence; the people of this world, people; a whole world, a multitude; worldly enjoyments, temporal possessions. (hw340, fjs539, jtp529) durood - Farsi durd: benediction, blessing, mercy; prayer; praise (esp. of Mohammad); thanksgiving; congratulation; salutation. (in some texts as darood or darud) (fjs515, jtp514) dvija - Sanskrit dvi-j: twice born. (in some texts as duija) (mw504)

E -etekad - Arabic i'tiqd: trust, dependence, faith, confidence, belief. (verbal noun from root '-q-d: to put together, join) (hw735, fjs73)

F -fana - Arabic fan': passing away, cessation; destruction, annihilation; vanishing, extinction; nonexistence; obliteration of the self (ego). (hw854, ewl2451, fjs939)fana-fi-Shaikh, fana-fi-Rasul, fana-fi-Allah - Arabic: fan'= passing away, cessation; destruction, annihilation; f = in, into, among, together with.

[The Sufi's] aim in life is to release the captive soul from the bondage of limitations, which he accomplishes by the repetition of the sacred names of God, and by constant thought of his divine ideal, and an ever-increasing love for the divine Beloved until the beloved God with His perfection becomes manifest to his vision, and his imperfect self vanishes from his sight.

This he calls Fan, the merging in the ideal. In order to attain the final goal he gradually raises his ideal, first to Fan-f-Shaikh, the ideal seen in a mortal walking on the earth, and he drills himself as a soldier before battle in devotion to his ideal.

Then comes Fan-f-Rasl, when he sees his ideal in spirit, and pictures Him in all sublimity, and fashions Him with beautiful qualities, which he wishes to obtain himself. And after this he raises it to Fan-f-Allh, the love and devotion for that ideal which is beyond qualities and in which is the perfection of all qualities. from The Sufi Message, Volume V, Sufism faqir - Arabic faqr: poor, needy; beggar; ascetic, dervish, itinerant monk, one living on whatever is given. (in some texts as Fakir) (hw846, fjs935)fazl - Arabic fazl, v.n.: remaining over and above, exceeding, being redundant; excelling; excess; a remnant, remainder; excellence, virtue, accomplishment; learning, wisdom, science; a gift, present, favor, grace, bounty. Inayat Khan described fazl as "the word of illumination". From the Arabic root f-z-l meaning to have a remainder, have over-abundance; to exceed, surpass; to be excellent, superior, exquisite; to ascend beyond. (hw840, fjs932, jtp782, ewl2411)

fikr - Arabic fikr: thinking, cognition, reflection, meditation, contemplation. Inayat Kan used this term to describe silent repetition, such as a wazifa. (in contrast to zikr, which he used to describe spoken repetition) (hw848)firishta - Farsi firishta: an angel, a messenger, an apostle. The phrase Firishta Khaslat means angelic character. (in some texts as Farishta) (fjs919)Firdausi - Persian poet Abu al Kasim Mansur used the pen name Firdaus (934-1020). After Persia had been under Arab control for many years, Sultan Mahmud of Ghazna was concerned that the Persian history would be lost, so he commissioned Firdaus to write the 60,000 verse epic poem Shh nma (Book of Kings) recording the deeds of legendary Persian kings and heroes, which is considered to be the first modern Persian literature. (Also written as Firdawsi or Firdousi)G -gandharva - Sanskrit gandharva: heavenly guardian of the Soma. The Gandharvas are the husbands of the Apsarasas in Indra's heaven; they make known the divine secrets, and are responsible for ecstatic states. Gandharvas are known as the heavenly singers or celestial musicians. (mw346)Ganga - Sanskrit gang: literally swift-mover; the sacred river Ganges (India). In Hindu mythology it is said that the Goddess Gang descended to the Earth in the form of a River to help alleviate the suffering of humanity. (mw341, jtp919)gardish - Farsi gardish: turning round, revolving, conversion, motion; turn, change; a bend; vicissitude; reversion; adverse fortune; wandering about, vagrancy. (fjs1080, jtp903)

garm - Farsi garm: hot, glowing, burning; ardent, zealous, excited, active, lively. (fjs1084, jtp904)gatha - Sanskrit gtha: a song; a verse, stanza. (mw352)Gautama - Siddhrtha Gautama, known as Buddha. Siddhrtha's mother died shortly after his birth, and her younger sister, Gautami, raised the young prince, who was then called Siddhrtha Gautama. (see Buddha)gayan - Sanskrit gyana: a singer, a praiser, a talker. The name of a volume of aphorisms and poetry written by Hazrat Inayat Khan. (mw352)gayatri - Sanskrit gyatr: song, hymn; a hymn composed in the gyatr meter. The Gayatri mantra from the Rig Veda is perhaps the most well known, yet there are also Gayatri mantras to many other deities such as Shiva, Durga, Agni, etc. (also see the Gayatri page) (mw352, jtp894)ghaib - Arabic ghaib: hidden, unseen, concealed, invisible. (in some texts as ghayb) (hw806)ghairat - Arabic ghaira, Farsi ghairat: jealousy, to guard jealously; care of what is sacred or inviolable; a sense of honor; courage. (hw807, fjs901, jtp774) Ghalib - Arabic ghlib: dominant, overpowering; triumphant, victorious. Famous poet Mizra Asadullah Beg Khan Ghalib (1797-1869 AD) who wrote in Urdu and Farsi, a master of the ghazal form, court poet for Bahadur Shah Zafar. (hw796, fjs879)ghar-i hira - Arabic ghr-i hir': literally 'cave of inquiry'. The name of the mountain cave northeast of Mecca where the angel Gabriel first began to recite the Qur'n to Muhammad. From ghr meaning cave, cavern, den; and hir' meaning seeking, inquiry, investigation. (in some texts as Gar-i Hira) (hw804 and 202, jtp768, fjs414)There is a still greater and deeper experience: when a person is in a wilderness, near rocks in the desert, where there is no sound even of birds or beasts, when there is absolute silence. In the East, did not all the prophets from the time of Abraham, Moses, David, and in the time of Christ and Muhammad, all the prophets of the Old Testament and the New, and of the Qur'an, receive their inspiration from the same source? The history of Moses on Mount Sinai, the Prophet of Nazareth in the wilderness, the Prophet Muhammad on Ghar-i Hira, did they not all drink from the silent life?

from The Sufi Message, Volume VII, Silent Life

ghaus - Arabic ghauth, Farsi/Urdu ghaus: call for help; helper; one who aids, delivers from difficulty, removes trouble or affliction.(in some texts as ghous) (hw804, ewl2306)Ghazali - Arabic ghazl: gazelle; rising sun; the name of a Persian village in Ts (where al-Ghazl was born). Persian mystic, writer, jurist, theologian Abu Hamd Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Ghazl (1058 - 1111 AD). (sometimes written al-Ghazzali) (hw788, fjs887)ghilman - Arabic ghilmn (plural of ghulm): servants, pages, waiters; lads, youths. (hw798, fjs893)ghiza - Arabic ghidha': Farsi/Urdu ghiza: food, diet, provision, victuals; aliment, nutriment. (hw781, fjs882, jtp769)Music is called Ghiza-i-ruh, the food of the soul, by Sufis. Music being the most divine art elevates the soul to the higher spirit; music itself being unseen soon reaches the unseen; just as only the diamond can break the diamond, so musical vibrations are used to make the physical and mental vibrations inactive, in order that the Sufi may be elevated to the spiritual spheres.

from The Sufi Message, Volume V, Spiritual Liberty

gita - Sanskrit gt: song, sacred song or poem, sacred doctrines in metrical form. (see also Bhagavad-Gita) (mw356, jtp942)githa - Sanskrit gth: a song. The name given to a series of privately circulated esoteric papers by Hazrat Inayat Khan (which are generally given by a teacher when the student is ready)

gopi - Sanskrit go-p: female cowherd, cowherdess (especially applied to the companions of the playful juvenile Krishna); wife of a cowherd; milk-maid, dairy-maid; protectress, female guardian. (mw368, jtp922)grihasta - Sanskrit grha-stha:living in a house, householder. The second of four phases of life, in which one is a householder, raising a family. (in some texts as gruhasta)guna - Sanskrit gua: a quality, attribute or characteristic. The character of each being is described by three gunas: sattva (purity), rajas (passion) and tamas (lack of understanding). (mw357, jtp915)gunbad - Farsi gunbad, gunbaz: arch, vault, cupola, dome, tower; an arched gateway; a triumphal arch; bud of a flower; a cup. (in some texts as gunbad) (fjs1098, jtp916)

guru - Sanskrit guru: heavy, weighty, large, great; important, serious; valuable, prized; venerable, honorable, respected; honorific appellation of a spiritual guide; a spiritual guide. (mw359, jtp905)H -habib - Arabic habb: friend; beloved, sweetheart, lover; darling; dear one. From the Arabic root h-b-b meaning to evoke love or liking; to endear; to make lovable, dear, attractive; to show affection. (hw179)Note: The phrase "habb Allh" could be translated as "my beloved Allh", while the phrase "habb allh" or "habbullh" could be translated as "beloved of Allh" or "loved by Allh". Hafiz - Arabic hfiz: keeper, guardian, preserver, caretaker. The great Sufi poet, Shamsuddin Muhammad Hfiz, born in the early 1300's in Shiraz (Iran). (hw222, fjs408)hairat - Arabic haira, Farsi hairat: amazement, astonishment; bewilderment, confusion, perplexity; wavering (between two things). (hw258, fjs435, jtp483)hajj - Arabic hajj: setting out, going towards, pilgrimage, the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. (hw184)hal - Arabic hl: (plural ahwl) state, mood, attitude, circumstances, condition. Mystics often use the term hl, or al-hl, to refer to the state of ecstasy. From the Arabic root h-w-l meaning to change, undergo a transformation; to shift, grow, pass by. (hw252, fjs408)halal - Arabic hall: being legal, a lawful thing; the opposite of haram; sanctioned by Islamic law; suitable for food, lawful to eat (hw232, fjs427, jtp480)halqa - Arabic halqa: a circle, a ring, hoop; assembly of people; a fraternity. (in some texts as halka) (hw235, fjs428, jtp481)hama man am - Farsi hama man am: literally "all I am"; everything is me. The esoteric meaning is that God is all, and all is God. (in some texts as humamanarn) (fjs1512, fjs1316, fjs96)Christ said, 'I and the Father are one'. That does not mean that Christ laid claim to Godhood for His own person. It is what the dervishes call 'Hama man am', which means all is He and He is all. There is not an atom in the universe that He is not. We must recognize Him, we must respect Him in every face, even in the face of our enemy...

from The Sufi Message, Volume

HYPERLINK "http://wahiduddin.net/mv2/VI/VI_12.htm" VI, Struggle of Life

hamd - Arabic hamd: praise, commendation. (see also al-Hamdulillah above) (hw238)hamin ost - Farsi ham-n ost: literally "even this He is" or "likewise this He is". The esoteric meaning is that God is all, and all is God. The same idea is also commonly written as hama ost, meaning everything is He, each is He, or all is He. (in some texts as naminaust) (also see hama man am ) (fjs1507, fjs132, fjs120, jtp1236)hamsa - Sanskrit hamsa: swan, flamingo, goose, a bird of passage; a person of exceptional qualities; spiritual preceptor; soul or spirit. (also transliterated hansa) (mw1286)haqiqat - Arabic haqqat: (plural haq'iq) true state of affairs, true nature, essential quality, essence; spiritual truth (which is unchangeable and unchanging). (also see Marifat) (hw224, fjs426)haqq - Arabic haqq: truth, rightness, correctness; authentic, real, right; due share, what ought to be; al-Haqq is one of the beautiful names of Allh: The Truth, The Reality. (also see al-Haqq in 99 names of Allah) (in some texts as haq or hakk) (hw224, jtp479)haram - Arabic harm: unlawful, forbidden, prohibited; wrong-doing; illegitimate. (hw210, fjs414) Hashimi Arabic hshim: one who breaks bread into broth; surname of an ancestor of Muhammad, on account of his breaking bread for the benefit of the poor at the time of a great famine. Sayyed Muhammad Hashimi, a Sufi mystic, was Inayat Khan's friend and academic teacher in Sufi literature.

Maulana Hashimi was his great friend and ustad, who taught him the Persian and Arabic literature of the ancient Sufis and being a great mystic, recognized in Inayat what other friends of his (Ramyar and Hafiz Khan) though his great friends and admirers, were at a loss to understand. But Hashimi knew that something was being prepared in Inayat for the years that were in store for him, which was beyond words or imagination.

from Biography of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan, Part I, Youth, p72

hatha - Sanskrithatha: force, effort; obstinacy, persistence; inevitable necessity. (pronounced hot-ha) (mw1287)hauz-ul kausar - Arabic haud-u al kauthar, Farsi/Urdu hauz-u al kausar: ocean of abundance, fountain of wine. (see also Kauthar) (in some texts as Hauzu 'l Kausar) (hw249, ao479)haya - Arabic hay': modesty, bashfulness; timidity, shyness; avoiding that which is distasteful or improper. ( hw256, fjs434, jtp482)Haya is the finest feeling in human nature, which is called modesty.... Modesty is life itself; a life which is conscious of its beauty yet inclined to veil it in all its forms is modesty. At the same time modesty is the proof of sincerity and of prudence. The immodest man cries aloud, 'I am the light' and is finished in a moment. The diamond, shining in its light constantly, never says a word about its light... a modest person very often will not raise his voice, out of dignity; or say things, out of consideration and respect.

from The Sufi Message, Volume XIII, Modesty

hayvanat - Arabic haiwn, plural haiwnt, Farsi hayvnt: living, life,: brutes: animal nature, (As opposed to insnyat which means human nature, humanness.) (hw257, fjs436)hayy - Arabic hayy: living, lively, animated, energetic; al-Hayy is one of the beautiful names of Allh: The Ever-Living, The Everlasting. (also see al-Hayy in the 99 Names of Allah) (hw256)hazrat - Arabic hadrat, Farsi hazrat: presence, dignity, majesty; a title applied to a great person, similar to titles such as your Excellence, your Majesty, your Highness. (Hazrat is the typical Farsi/Urdu pronunciation of the Arabic hadrat.) (fjs422, jtp478, hw215)hijrat - Arabic hijrat: departure, exit, emigration, separation. Hijrat Day: Inayat Khan departed from India, headed for America, on September 13, 1910. (hw1194, fjs1490, jtp1221)hosh bar dam - Farsi hosh bar dam: thinking of breath, attention upon breath. (hosh = understanding, mind, attention, thinking; bar = with, upon, into; dam = breath, vitality, life-force) (in some texts as hosh ba dam, or hosh bar dum) (fjs1518,166,534, jtp1241,143,525)

hu - Arabic (formal) huwa or (common) h: he, it; the Arabic third person personal pronoun; often used to refer to Allh; also considered to be a mystical sound, often used in chants such as H Allh or simply H. (hw1215, ao596, jtp1239)This sound Hu is the beginning and the end of all sounds, be they from man, bird, beast, or thing... The Supreme Being has been called by various names in different languages, but the mystics have known him as Hu, the natural name, not man-made, the only name of the Nameless, which all nature constantly proclaims. The sound Hu is most sacred; the mystics call Ism-i Azam, the name of the Most High, for it is the origin and end of every sound as well as the background of each word. The word Hu is the spirit of all sounds and of all words, and is hidden within them all, as the spirit in the body. It does not belong to any language, but no language can help belonging to it. This alone is the true name of God, a name that no people and no religion can claim as their own. from The Sufi Message, Volume II, Abstract Sound

hu - Sanskrit hu: to worship, honor, make a sacrifice to (especially to pour butter into the fire); to offer oblation. (mw1300) hu - Sanskrit h: to call upon, invoke, summon; call by name. (The Sanskrit hu is thought to be the root of the modern word 'God') (mw1301, jtp1239)hur - Arabic hr, hrya, Farsi hr: houri, nymph, virgin of paradise. (hw247, fjs433, jtp482)

I --ilm - Arabic 'ilm: knowledge, learning; information; perception, cognition. The Arabic root '-l-m means to know, have knowledge, be informed, be acquainted with, find out about. (hw743)ilham - Arabic ilhm: inspiration, divine revelation From the Arabic root l-h-m meaning to devour, swallow up; to inspire. (hw1033, fjs96, jtp78)Inspiration is the inner light which reflects itself upon the heart of man; the purer the heart is from rust, like a clean mirror, the more clearly inspiration can be reflected in it. To receive inspirations clearly the heart should be prepared by proper training. A heart soiled with rust is never capable of receiving them. There are five kinds of inspiration:

1. Ilhmi 'Ilm -- inspiration of an artist and scientist 2. Ilhmi Husn -- inspiration of a musician and poet 3. Ilhmi 'Ishq -- inspiration of a devotee 4. Ilhmi Rh -- inspiration of a mystic 5. Ilhmi Ghaib -- inspiration of a prophet

from The Sufi Message, Volume V, Spiritual Liberty

iman - Arabic mn: faith, belief; sincerity and firmness of belief. From the Arabic root a-m-n meaning to be faithful, reliable, trustworthy; to reassure, safeguard, guarantee. (hw36)In an Eastern language there is a word which is very difficult to translate: iman. It is not exactly faith or belief; the nearest word one can find for it is conviction, a conviction that cannot be changed by anything, a conviction that does not come from outside. One always seeks for conviction, one asks, 'Will anybody convince me, will this thing convince me?' Nothing convinces, nobody convinces. Conviction is something that comes from one's own heart and it stands above faith and belief...

from The Sufi Message, Volume XIV, Heart Quality

imam - Arabic imm: prayer leader; model, standard, criterion; that which is followed. From the Arabic root a-m-m meaning to go, to go see, to go to a place; to follow an example. (hw32)inayat - Arabic 'inyat: concern, care; grace; assistance, aid; guarding, preserving; careful, painstaking, meticulous; a gift, present, favor, bounty. From the Arabic root '-n-y meaning to be concerned; feel concern; take care of, tend to, look after, to devote one's attention. (hw762, fjs869, jtp766)

inkisar - Arabic inkisr: being broken, shattered, broken open; repentant. In esoteric terms: the breaking of the ego; humility, selflessness. (in some texts as enkesar or enkessar) (hw968, fjs113, jtp94)insan - Arabic insn: man, mankind, human being. From the Arabic root a-n-s meaning to be tame, companionable, friendly, sociable. (hw39, fjs110, jtp92)ishq - Arabic 'ishq: love; passionate love; unconditional love that is oblivious to any shortcomings. (also written as Ishq) (in some texts as Ishk) (hw719, fjs850)ishq Allah mabud Allah - Arabic 'ishq allh ma'bd allh: 'ishq = unconditional love; ma'bd = beloved, worshiped, adored. Literally, Allh is Love, Allh is Beloved. (also written as ishq Allah mabud Allah) (hw719, hw686) The Sufi in the East says to himself, 'Ishq Allah, Ma'bud Allah, which means 'God is Love, God is the Beloved', in other words it is God who is Love, Lover, and Beloved.

from The Sufi Message, Volume XI, Love

ism - Arabic ism: (plural asm') name, appellation, attribute. Based on the Arabic root (variously reported to be s-m-w or a-s-m) which indicates the means by which something is distinguished, whether by use of an identifying mark, or by being raised up high so that it may be distinguished, and would include a word, name, reputation, light or vibration; all of which point toward the very essence of something, the inherent qualities and signs of the existence of something, the underlying reality of something. (hw498, fjs59, jtp52)ism-i azam - Farsi/Arabic ism-i a'zam: greatest name, ultimate word. (also see ism and azam)There are also words, which no language can claim for its own. This is true of the word Ism-i Azam, which means the word of power. No one can claim this word as belonging to his language; it is a word, which belongs to no language... All other words have been derived from it, for Ism-i Azam is the spirit of all words; it is the root of all other words.

from The Sufi Message, Volume XII, The Word

ism ur-rasm - Arabic ism u al-rasm: the philosophy of the word, the manner of the word, the doctrine of the word. (also see ism and see rasm)All down the ages the Yogis and seers of India have worshipped the Word-God, or Sound-God, and around that idea is centered all the mysticism of sound or utterance. Not alone among Hindus, but among the seers of the Semitic, the Hebraic, races the great importance of the word was recognized. The sacred Name, the sacred Word, were always esteemed in the Jewish religion. Also in Islam, that great religion whose mysticism the West is only beginning to discover, one finds the doctrine of Ism ur-rasm which translated is the 'doctrine of the mystical word'.

from The Sufi Message, Volume II, Power of the Word

Islam - Arabic islm: submission, resignation, reconciliation (to the will of Allah). From the Arabic root s-l-m meaning to be flawless, unimpaired, intact, sound, whole, complete; to have well-being; success. The Arabic word salam and the Hebrew shalom have arisen from the same ancient Semitic root. (hw497)ittifaq - Arabic ittifq: agreeing, consenting; concord, harmony, congruence, accord; meeting one another. (in some texts as ettefaq) (hw1272, fjs15)

J -Jain - Jainism is an ancient religion, deeply rooted in India, that teaches that every living thing has an eternal soul, and thus the Jains practice harmlessness to avoid harm to any living creature. The Jains believe in religious tolerance, saying that no one view can fully express reality.

Jabril - Arabic jabrl or jabra'l: The angel Gabriel, archangel of the messengers. A compound word based on Arabic versions of the ancient Hebrew roots, variously interpreted as signifying: God is my Strength, God's Warrior, God's Might; the Arabic root j-b-r is based on the Hebrew g-b-r meaning mighty, strong, powerful, proud, warrior; and the Arabic 'l is based on the Hebrew 'el, meaning the One God. (in some texts as Jebrail or Jibra'il) ( hw133)jafr - Arabic jafr: parchment for writing; fortunetelling, the art of divination from written characters. (hw151, fjs365, jtp382)jalal - Arabic jall: majesty, sublimity, splendor, glory, loftiness. (in some texts as jelal) (hw152, ao100)jam - Farsi jm: cup, chalice, goblet, drinking vessel; mirror. (fjs350)jam-i Jamshed - Farsi jm-i jamshd: the cup of Jamshd. The mirror-like reflecting cup of the mythical Persian king Jamshd in which he saw the reflection of the events of the whole world, past, present or future. (Also called jm-i jamshed or simply jm-i jam) (in some texts as Yami Jamshed) (jtp372)jamal - Arabic jaml: beauty, handsomeness, grace, elegance. (The Prophet Muhammad said: Truly, God is beautiful, and God loves beauty.... inna allha jamlun yuhibbu al-jaml) (in some texts as jemal) (hw163, ao102, fjs370)jamil - Arabic jaml: beautiful, elegant, comely, pleasing; good, fair; becoming; courtesy. (The Prophet Muhammad said: Truly, God is beautiful, and God loves beauty.... inna allha jamlun yuhibbu al-jaml)(hw163, jtp390, fjs372)Jamna - Sanskrit jamn: a river in India, also called the Yamuna. (see also sangam)japa - Sanskrit japa: whispering, muttering; softly reciting scriptures or prayers. (mw412)jata nada - Sanskrit jta-nda: jta means 'brought into existence by', and nda means sound. In esoteric terms sound existed first, and sound brought light into existence; thus jta-nda refers to light. (also written as Jatanada) (mw417, mw534)Jilani - Farsi jlni: Abdul Qdir Jlni (1077-1166), the great Islamic scholar and mystic, born in Jln (Iran). The Qadiriyya Sufi order was founded upon his teachings.

jinn - Arabic jinn: invisible beings, either helpful or harmful, that affect the lives of human beings. From the Arabic root j-n-n meaning to cover, hide, conceal, veil. (in some texts as djinn) (hw164)jivan - Sanskrit jivan: to be alive, to live. The phrase jivan mukta means: one who is liberated in this life: jivan = living, mukta = let loose, set free.

jnana - Sanskrit jna: knowing; knowledge; especially transcendent knowledge. (mw426)K -Kaba - Arabic ka'ba, ka'bah, Farsi/Urdu ka'bat: cube, cubic structure. Often used to refer to al-ka'ba, which is also called kabatullh. The sacred al-ka'ba in Makkah (Mecca, Saudi Arabia) is a 15 meter high cubic structure made of granite, covered with black silk and gold embroidery, and around which the great Masjid al-Haram was constructed. At the time of Muhammad, the Quraish used the al-ka'ba as a shrine to their various tribal gods. After years of conflict with the Arab tribes, Muhammad was eventually able to dedicate al-ka'ba as an Islamic house of worship. (in some texts as Kaaba or Ka'aba) (hw973)Kabatullah - Arabic ka'bat-u-allh: literally 'cube of Allh'. (see kaba above)

Kabbala - Hebrew qabbala, qabblh: received, accepted; received doctrine, tradition; mystical teachings of rabbinical origin, often based on an esoteric interpretation of the Hebrew Scriptures, largely developed after the 7th century AD. (also written as Kabala, Kabbalah, Qabala, Qabalah, Caballah)kabs - Arabic kabs: pressure, pressing, squeezing, compressing. (the opposite of bast) (hw949)kafi - Arabic kfin, kafy; Farsi kf: sufficient, enough; suitable, fit; capable, able, qualified; adequate, all that is needed. (see also Additional Wazaif) (jtp802, hw977)kafir - Arabic kfir: irreligious, unbelieving, atheist; ungrateful. (hw975)kalgi - Farsi/Hindi kalg; an ornament attached to a turban, plume, crest, jewel; comb (of a cock) (in some texts as kalaggai, kalagai) (fjs1043, rsm177)kala - Sanskrit kla: a fixed or right point of time; proper season, time of departure; time, epcoh, season, age; a small measure of something; fate, destiny; Time personified; one of the names of Yama, the king of death. (mw278, jtp802)kalam - Arabic kalm: talking, speaking, addressing; statement, remark, words, speech, talk, conversation; a salutation. (hw982, fjs1040)Kali - Sanskrit kl: black, dark colored; epithet of the goddess Durga (invincible one), wife of Shiva (the destroyer), goddess of destruction, the power (shakti) with which Shiva acts. (mw278, jtp804)Kalidasa - Sanskrit klidsa: Klidsa is generally considered as India's finest poet and dramatist, and is often referred to as Kavikulaguru (Preceptor of All Poets). Many estimates of the date of his work place it in the 4th or 5th century AD.

kalima - Arabic kalima: word, speech, address; utterance, remark; saying; announcement. The Arabic phrase variously written as l ilha ill Allh Muhammad ur raslu Allh or l ilha ill Allh Muhammadun raslu Allh is often called the First Kalima or Kalima Tayyib (pure words, noble saying), shown below as inscribed on Saudi Arabia's national flag. (hw981, ao348)

kalpa-vriksha - Sanskrit kalpa-vrika, kalpa-taru: the wishing tree, tree of plenty, one of the trees of Indra's paradise (svarga) capable of fulfilling all wishes; a productive or bountiful source. (in some texts as kalpa-vraksha) (mw262)kama - Sanskrit kma: wish, desire, longing, attachment; love, affection; pleasure, enjoyment. (mw271)kamal - Arabic kaml: perfection; completeness, completion, consummation, maturity, ripeness. (in some texts as kemal) (hw985)kamala - Sanskrit kamala, Hindi kamal: lotus, lotus flower. (mw252, jtp849, rsm169)Kamsa - Sanskrit kamsa: king of Mathur who murdered six of Devak's sons, became a foe of Krishna, and was ultimately slain by Krishna. (mw241)karma - Sanskrit karman: act, action; obligation, occupation; work, labor, activity. In Hindu philosophy, the law of cause and effect (that one reaps what one has sown) is often called karma. From the root kri meaning to do, accomplish; create, make; bring to completion. (mw258)kauthar - Arabic kauthar: (intensive form of kathar), Farsi/Urdu kausar; literally means copiousness, multitude or abundance. (in some texts as kouthar, or kausar) (hw 954, ao479)In spiritual terms, kauthar refers to the abundance of good, or abundant blessings, that Allah has promised to those who pray sincerely and devote their lives selflessly to the good of humanity. Esoterically, this is the Divine wine. Also, the name of Chapter 108 of the Qur'an. In the hadith, al-kauthar is variously likened, to a river, a lake, or a fountain, while also saying that these attributes are just a portion of the great goodness of al-kauthar. One of the sayings of Muhammad (hadith), as narrated by Sahl bin Sad, says: I heard the Prophet saying, "I am your predecessor at al-kauthar, and whoever will come to it, will drink from it, and whoever will drink from it, will never become thirsty after that." kavi - Sanskrit kavi: sage; gifted with insight, enlightened, wise, prudent, seer, prophet; singer, poet. (mw264, jtp857)Khadija - Arabic khadja: The name of the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad. Also the name of Inayat Khan's mother (in 1896 photo below). (in some texts as Khatija or Khatidja) khak - Farsi khk: earth, dust, soil, ground; little, precious little; peaceful; low, humble. (in some texts as khaak) (fjs 440, jtp484)khalif - Arabic khalfa: deputy, representative; successor, vicegerent, caliph. (hw298, fjs473, jtp493)khalwat - Arabic khalwah, Farsi khalwat: privacy, loneliness, solitude, seclusion (in some texts as khilwat or khilvat) (hw301, fjs472, jtp493) khalwat dar anjuman - Farsi khalwat dar anjuman: solitude within the crowd. (khalwat = solitude, seclusion; dar = in, within, among; anjuman = multitude, assembly, congregation) (in some texts as khilwat or khilvat) (fjs472,506,106)khanda peshani - Farsi khanda peshn; (khanda = laughing, smiling; peshn = forehead) Literally: laughing forehead, or smiling forehead. (fjs 477,266, jtp 494,300)khamosh - Farsi khmosh: silent, dumb; discreet; tame; extinguished; as an interjection: Hush!, Be quiet! (in some texts as khamush) (fjs443, jtp485)khaslat - Arabic khaslat: quality, characteristic, trait, (natural) disposition, talent. (hw282, jtp490)khatm -Arabic khtm, khtam: seal; end, close, conclusion.The name of one of the prayers given by Inayat Khan. (also see prayers in the Gayan) Notes: 1) The "kh" at the beginning of the word is pronounced much like the ch in the Scottish word loch. 2) Three similar sounding Arabic words are: khatm (end, conclusion, finish, seal), khtm (concluding, finishing, sealing) and khtam (the best, the most perfect, the last, the conclusion, the final portion). Since these words all sound essentially the same to those who are not proficient in Arabic (such as Murshid Inayat Khan's students who transcribed his words), we do not know for certain which of these words Murshid actually intended. However, the transliterationkhtm is now being used in some newer publications. My own belief is that the intended form was likely khtam. (previously in some texts as khatum) (hw264, jtp487, fjs447, ewl 702)khatir -Arabic khtir: "what occurs in the mind", thought, inclination, choice; regard, consideration, favor. (fjs484, hw287)khayal - Arabic khayl: thought, idea; vision, apparition; fantasy, imagination. (in some texts as Khyal) (hw310, fjs491)khayali - Arabic khayl: imaginary, ideal; visionary, conceptual; fanciful, unreal, chimerical. (hw310, fjs491, jtp498)Khayyam - Umar ibn Ibrahim al-Khayyami (Omar the son of Abraham the tent-maker) Omar Khayyam (1048-1131 AD) was an astronomer, mathematician, philosopher and poet who lived in Nishapur Persia (now Iran) and wrote many mystical verses in the quatrain style called rub', the collection of which are called rub'yt.

Khizr - Arabic al-khidr, Farsi/Urdu al-khizr: legendary saint, prophet and teacher, often said to have been a companion of Moses (see Qur'an 18:65-82), considered to be a fountain of life and of spiritual understanding. Sometimes called the 'green man' because barren lands turned verdant in his presence. (hw283, jtp490, jtp494)Khuda - Farsi khud: 'self-created', Supreme Being, God; lord, master, ruler. (also written as Khoda) (fjs448, jtp487)Khulq - Arabic khulq: nature, disposition, character, temperament; noble character, morality. (hw299, fjs472)Khusrau - Abul Hasan Yaminuddin Khusrau (1253-1325 AD), also known as Amir Khusrau, a Sufi mystic and a spiritual disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya of Delhi,. Amir Khusrau was not only one of India's greatest poets, he is also credited with being the founder of both Hindustani classical music and Qawwali. (also written as Khusro or Khusraw)Khusru - Shah Khusru (531-579 AD), king of Persia, widely respected for both his extensive knowledge and his profound wisdom.

The history of Khusru, the old king of Persia, who was both Prophet and king shows this. His feeling was, 'My subjects are my children; more than my children, nearer and closer than my children; their interest is my interest, for them I live, for them I was born. My whole life is for them.' The whole life of the country was based on that example, that king's ideal.

from The Sufi Message, Volume VII, Democracy

khwaja - Farsi khwja: lord, master, owner; honorific title of distinction; venerable elder; teacher, preceptor. (fjs479, jtp494)kibriya - Arabic kibriy': grandeur, glory, magnificence, supremacy, majesty; pride, haughtiness, arrogance. From the Arabic root k-b-r meaning to be great, famous; to gain in significance, become important; to become too great, too burdensome; to exceed in age, be older. (in some texts as kibria or kibriyya) (hw948))kimia - (see al-Kimia)kismet - Arabic qisma, Farsi qismat: allotment, portion, lot; fate, destiny (fjs970, hw893)kosha - Sanskrit koa: a cask, bucket, a vessel for holding something; store-house; case, covering; dictionary, lexicon; a sheath, one of three bodily sheaths. (mw314)Krishna - Sanskrit ka: dark, black; the eighth incarnation of Vishnu, often represented as a young and amorous cowherd with flowing hair and flute. (see also Vishnu) (mw306, jtp825)The life of Krishna is an ideal. It gives the picture of the life of a perfect man. The real meaning of the word Krishna is God. The man who was identified with that name was the God-conscious one who fulfilled his message in the period in which he was destined to give it.

from The Sufi Message, Volume IX, Krishna

kshatriya - Sanskrit katriya: a member of military or reigning order, which forms the basis of the second caste. (mw325)kun bi ismi allah - Arabic kun: let there be, let it be, be! The phrase kun bi ismi Allah means Be! In the name of God. (erroneously in some texts as kun ba ismi allah or kum ba ismi allah) (hw994, fjs1052, jtp850)kun fa yakun - Arabic kun: let there be, let it be, be! The phrase kun fa yakn means (Allah says) Be! And it is. (see Qur'an 36:82) (hw994, fjs1052, jtp850)kursi - Arabic kurs: chair, seat, bench, arm-chair; the base of a pillar, pedestal. From the root k-r-s meaning to lay a foundation; to connect together. (hw962, fjs1023)kushad - Farsi kushd: opening, uncovering, disclosure, revelation, expansion. (fjs1031, jtp 835)Inspirations are reflected upon mankind in five ways:

1. Kushd dar Khayl - in the wave of thought - (disclosure by thought) 2. Kushd dar Hl - in emotions and feelings - (disclosure by mood) 3. Kushd dar Jaml - in the sufferings of the heart - (disclosure by beauty) 4. Kushd dar Jall - in the flow of wisdom - (disclosure by majesty) 5. Kushd dar Kaml - in the divine voice and vision - (disclosure by perfection)

from The Sufi Message, Volume V, Spiritual Liberty

kushi - Farsi kush: killing, slaying. (used as the last member of a compound term such as nafs-kushi, which means ego-killing) (jtp838, fjs1035)

L - lahut - Arabic lht: godhead, divinity, divine nature, deity. (hw1002, fjs1114)la ilaha illa-llah - Arabic l ilha ill Allh: The four individual words in the phrase l ilha ill allh have the following meanings: l = no, not, none, neither; ilha = a god, deity, object of worship; ill = but, except; allh = Allh. Typical translations include: There is no god but Allh; There is nothing to worship or adore except Allh. This phrase is often called tahll (acclaim, cry out with with joy), and is used in the Qur'an in srah Muhammad (47:19). (also see the tahlil web page) lauh - Arabic lauh: rising, appearing, shining; being manifest; tablet, signboard.(in some texts as louh) (hw1035, fjs1131)lawwama - Arabic lawwma: stern critic, severe censurer, one who is constantly blaming others or accusing himself, vindictive. This term is often used to describe the self-reproaching aspect of the nafs as it begins to resist carnal desires. (used in the Qur'an 75:2) From the Arabic root l-w-m meaning to blame, censure, rebuke, reprimand. (in some texts as lauwama) (hw 1037, ao521)layam - Sanskrit layam: to disappear, be dissolved, perish, be destroyed; be absorbed; be concealed. One of the three states: Srishti (creation), Sthiti (abiding), and Layam (dissolution) (mw903) Laila - Arabic lail, Farsi laile, Urdu lail; a woman's name. Lail and Majnn are lovers in a classical Middle-Eastern love story. (this love story was the inspiration of an Eric Clapton love song called Layla) (hw1041, fjs1135, jtp975)M -mabud - Arabic ma'bd: worshiped, served, adored; the deity. From the Arabic root '-b-d meaning to serve, worship, adore, venerate, idolize, deify. (see also mahbub) (hw686)Madani - Arabic madan: literally 'from Medina': Sayyid Muhammad Ab Hshim Madan was the murshid of 'Inyat Khn. Madan was from Medina (Saudi Arabia), lived in the Purn Pul (old bridge) quarter of Hyderabad (India), and was the murd and khalfa of Sayyid Muhammad Hasan Jl Kalmi. Hazrat Madan died in October 1907, and was buried in his neighborhood, near the dargh of Qdiri saint Miyn Pays.

When asked how to recognize a godly person Hazrat Madan replied: "'It is not what he says and it is not what he seems to be, but it is the atmosphere that his presence creates. That is the proof. For no one can create an atmosphere which does not belong to his spirit.'" Hazrat Madan reminded his murd 'Inyat: "There is only one virtue and one sin for a soul on this path; virtue when he is conscious of God, and sin when he is not." mahatma - Sanskrit mahtman, singular masculine mahtm: great soul, high-minded, noble. Also used as a title for great beings, such as Mahatma Mohandas Gandhi. The prefix mah means great, large, abundant, important, high, eminent. (also see atman) (hw796)mahbub - Arabic mahbb: beloved, dear, lovable, desirable; favorite; beloved one, lover. From the Arabic root h-b-b meaning to evoke love or liking; to endear; to make lovable, dear, attractive; to show affection. (also written as Mahboob or Maheboob) (hw179, ewl497)mahesh - Sanskrit mahea: great lord, great god; Shiva. (in some texts as maheish) (mw802)mahtab - Farsi mah-tb: the moon, splendor of the moon, moonlight, full moon. (fjs1352, jtp1098)majzub - Arabic majdhb, Farsi majzb: attracted; possessed, lunatic; carried away, absorbed in, lost in; one who is attracted by Divine grace and has lost all worldly concerns. From the Arabic root j-dh-b meaning to attract, captivate, win over. (in some texts as madzub) (hw138, fjs1176, jtp1002)Majnun - Arabic majnn: possessed by jinn, mad, fanatic; madly in love; Lail and Majnn are lovers in a classical Middle-Eastern love story. (hw164, fjs1179, jtp1004) makhluqat - Arabic makhlq, plural is makhlqat: creatures, created beings. From the Arabic root kh-l-q meaning to create, make, originate; shape, form, mold; invent. (hw300)malak - Arabic mal'ak, malak: messenger, envoy: angel (from the root l-'-k meaning to send as a messenger) (hw1000, jtp1065) Manavi - Arabic ma'naw, Farsi ma'nav: important, ideals, spiritual, profound spiritual meaning. Rumi's great mystical work is often referred to as Masnavi-i Ma'navi which means couplets of profound spiritual meaning. (see also Masnavi and Rumi) (hw762)mantiq - Arabic mantiq: speaking, manner of speaking, articulating; an oration; eloquence; logic, reasoning. The great Persian poet Fariduddin Attar wrote Mantiq-ul-tair, The Conference of the Birds. (hw1143, fjs1329)mantra, mantram- Sanskrit mantra: 'instrument of thought', sacred text, song of praise, Vedic hymn or chant; spiritual instructions; mystical verse or incantation. (the word mantra is a noun that depicts an 'instrument of thought' in general, while the word mantram is a specific declination of the noun (singular accusative) that refers to one specific thing that is being used.) (mw785, jtp1071) manushya - Sanskrit manuya: human, man, human being. (in some texts as manusha) (mw784)marifat - Arabi ma'rifat: knowledge, knowing, learning; gnosis; perception, cognition; art, skill, craft; means, cause, reason. (in some texts as marefat) (hw709, jtp1048)Shariat means the law which is necessary for the generality to observe, in order to harmonize with one's surroundings and one's self within. ..Tariqat means the understanding of law besides the following of it. It means that we must understand the cause behind everything we should do or not do, instead of obeying the law without understanding it. ...Haqiqat means knowing the truth of our being and the inner laws of nature. This knowledge widens man's heart. ...Marifat means the actual realization of God, the one Being, when there is no doubt anywhere. from The Sufi Message, Volume IX, Muhammad

Masnavi - Arabic mathnaw, Farsi masnav: a specific rhyming poetic form which uses pairs of rhymes; often used to refer to the great mystical work of Jalluddn Rm. Derived from the Arabic root th-n-y meaning double. (see Ma'navi and Rumi below) (hw128, fjs1173, jtp1001)mawla - Arabic mawlan, Farsi mawl: lord, master, ruler; patron; judge, magistrate; the Supreme Lord. (also written as maula) (hw1289, fjs1347, jtp1093)Mawlabakhsh - Farsi mawlbakhsh: ('God-gifted'; mawl means lord, master; bakhsh means bestower, giver) Inayat Khan's maternal grandfather, Sho'le Khn Mawlbakhsh (1833-1896 AD), was one of India's greatest musicians, founded the first Academy of Music in India, invented the music notation system bearing his name and worked to restore the fundamentals of traditional Indian classical music. (also written Maula Bakhsh or Maulabakhsh)mawlana - Farsi mawl-n: ( mawl means lord, master; n indicates a place where something is found) 'where mastery is found', my master, our master, our lord (title given to judges, heads of religious orders, esp. to Jalluddn Rm ). (also commonly written as maulana, molana or mevlana) (fjs1348, jtp1092)maya - Sanskrit my: deception, illusion; illusory image; the wondrous power by which One appears as many. (mw811)Mecca - Arabic Makkah: Mecca. An ancient sacred city where Abraham lived, Makkah was the birthplace and early home of the Prophet Muhammad. Considered as the holiest site for Muslims, Makkah is the site of the sacred Ka'ba and is the annual destination for several million Muslims on the pilgrimage called Hajj. Usually written as Makkah al-Mukarramah, Mecca the Revered, Mecca the Most Honored. (hw1075)mihrab - Arabic mihrb: the archway or niche in a mosque which indicates the direction to Mecca (Saudi Arabia), the direction in which one should face during prayers. From the Arabic root h-r-b meaning battle or combat. Thus the term mihrb indicates the place of doing battle. (in some texts as mehrab) (hw195)

miraj - Arabic al-mi'rj: the ascension. Refers to the Night Journey of Muhammad from Mecca to Jerusalem and then ascending through the realms of the seven heavens, beyond the limit of forms, the Sidrat al-Muntah, to within a bow-span's length or nearer to the presence of Allh. From the Arabic root '-r-j meaning to ascend, rise, mount. (in some texts as Meraj) (hw704, ao365)

miskin - Arabic miskn: Lowly, humble, submissive; meek; poor, needy, indigent; beggar, humble; a dervish (in some texts as mequin or meskin) (hw1067, jtp1035)mithal - Arabic mithl: resembling, similitude; example, standard; image, picture, vision; parable, allegory. (see also alam-i mithal) (hw1074, fjs1172)moksha - Sanskrit moka: emancipation, liberation, freedom from; deliverance; release; relinquishment, abandonment. (mw835)Muhammad - Arabic muhammad: praiseworthy, much praised, commendable, laudable. The Prophet Muhammad who received the Qur'an from the angel Gabriel (Jibrl). (in some texts as Mohammad or Muhammed) (hw238)Muinuddin - Arabic mu'n-u-al-dn: The name Mu'nuddn literally means 'helper of the religion'. Mu'nuddn Hasan Chisht, the Sufi mystic who established the Chishti Order in Ajmer (India) around 1190 AD. (see also Sayings of Muinuddin Chishti) (in some texts as Moinuddin)Among the Sufis there was a great saint, Muinuddin Chishti of Ajmer. At his grave music is played, the Hindus and Muslims go their on pilgrimage. This shows that the religion of the knowers of truth is the religion of God. from The Sufi Message, Volume II, Music

mukta - Sanskrit mukta: let loose, set free; liberated, emancipated, gone, vanished. (mw820)mukti - Sanskrit mukti: setting free, liberation, deliverance; throwing off, casting off; abandonment. (mw821)muni - Sanskrit muni: One who is moved by inner impulse; an inspired or ecstatic person; sage, seer, acetic, monk. (mw823)Munkar - Arabic munkar; one of the angels of death who interview the dead in their graves (along with Nakir); denied, not recognized, disavowed. (hw1171, fjs1334)

muntaha - Arabic muntah: end, conclusion; boundary, extremity. From the Arabic root n-h-y meaning to prevent, forbid, stop, hinder, prohibit, restrain. Also see Sidrat al-Muntah. (in some texts as manteha) (ao580, fjs1323)mureed - Arabic murd: aspirant, disciple, follower, seeker, adherent. From the Arabic root r-w-d meaning to walk about, look for, search for. (hw425)murshid - Arabic murshid: advisor; leader; spiritual guide, guide to the right way; master of a spiritual brotherhood. From the Arabic root r-sh-d, to be on the right way, be well guided, follow the right course. (hw395)muruwwat - Arabic mur't, Farsi/Urdu muruwwat: consideration, regard, politeness; benevolence, kindness, generosity; etiquette, respect, virtue. (hw401, fjs1219, jtp1026)mutmainna - Arabic mutma'inna:at rest, calm, peaceful. This term is often used to describe the tranquil aspect of the nafs that begins when one rises above the lower states of ammara and lawwama. (used in the Qur'an 89:27) From the Arabic root t-m-'-n meaning to calm, pacify, be tranquil, be still, quiet; to rest from. (ao343, hw664)mutrib khush - Farsi mutrib khush: mutrib meaning musician, minstrel; a singer; who or what causes one to dance and skip about for joy; khush meaning sweet, delightful, pleasing. Beginning words of a widely known and highly revered ghazal, generally attributed to Hafiz, which contains the oft quoted refrain tza ba tza naw ba naw. (see The Hafez Poems of Gertrude Bell, pg 81) (fjs1260, jtp496)

O, singer of delightful voices, sing a song every moment new, new, fresh, fresh.

from Sangatha II, Saluk, The Good Nature Against Life in the World

mutu - Arabic mt: die! (imperative) This word is used in the traditional saying mt qabla an tamt, which means die before you die. (mutu qabla an tamutu was in some texts as mutu kabla anta mutu)muwakkal - Arabic muwakkal: to whom power is delegated, or trust is committed; agent, vicegerent, deputy. In esoteric terminology, muwakkals are agents, elemental beings, who are charged with the power and authority to carry out one's thoughts and accomplish the desired results. (hw1284, jtp1092)As in the physical being of an individual many small germs are born and nourished which are also living beings, so in his mental plane there are many beings, termed Muwakkals, or elementals. These are still finer entities born of man's own thoughts, and as the germs live in his physical body so the elementals dwell in his mental sphere. Man often imagines that thoughts are without life; he does not see that they are more alive than the physical germs and that they have a birth, childhood, youth, age and death. They work for man's advantage or disadvantage according to their nature. The Sufi creates, fashions and controls them. from The Sufi Message, Volume II, Vibrations

N -nabi - Arabic nab: a prophet; one who informs; one who is informed; a clear and evident way. From the root n-b-a' meaning to utter in a low voice; to be exalted, elevated. (also see Nabi and Rasul web page) (ewl2752, fjs1386, hw1100/1105)nada - Sanskrit nda: any sound or tone. (mw534)There is a phrase in the Sanskrit language which says 'Nada Brahma,' which means, 'the mystery of creation was in Nada,' which means, 'in the word.'

from Social Gatheka II, 43, The Power of the Word, by Hazrat Inayat Khan (unpublished)nafas - Arabic nafas: (plural anfs) breath, respiration; voice. (see also pasi anfas below) (hw1156, jtp1144, )nafas-i garm - Farsi nafas-i garm: from nafas meaning breath, i meaning of, garm meaning fiery, lively. (see also nafas and garm) (in some texts as nafs-i-garm) (fjs1415,1084, jtp1144,904)nafs - Arabic nafs: (plural nufs) the individual, the petty self, personal identity, ego; mind; human being; soul, breath (of life). (used in compound terms such as nafs-kushi, which means ego-killing) (hw1155, jtp1144)The Sufi's base the whole of their teaching on the crushing of the ego which they term Nafs-kushi, for therein lies all magnetism and power.

from The Sufi Message, Volume V, Blessed are the Poor

nafsaniyat - Arabic nafsnyah, Farsi nafsnyat: animalism, carnality, sensuality; passion, anger; egotism. In contemporary Arabic, this term is also used to describe psychology. (hw1156, fjs1416, jtp1144)najat - Arabic najh, Farsi najt: escape, liberation, deliverance, rescue, salvation. (similar to Sanskrit mukti) (hw1110, fjs1387, jtp1124)Nakir - Arabic nakr: one of the angels of death who interview the dead in their graves (along with Munkar); disavowal, rejection; loathsome, disgusting. (hw1170, fjs1423)namaz - Farsi namz: prayers (especially the Muslim prayers said five times a day), adoration, worship, devotion, service, obedience. (in some texts as nimaz) (fjs1425, jtp1153)Nanak - Guru Nanak Dev (1469-1539 AD) founder of the monotheistic Sikh religion. (see Sikh below)naqshi - Farsi naqsh, from Arabic naqsh: painted, ornamented; done attentively; exposed, divulged; planned, characterized. (hw1162, fjs1419, jtp1146)Naqshbandi - Farsi naqsh-bandh, naqsh-bandiyy: one of the four earliest Sufi orders; followers of the Sufi path of Bahauddin Naqshband Bukhari.

nar - Farsi/Hindi nar (from Sanskrit nara): male, masculine; mankind. (fjs1394, jtp1128, mw528)nar - Arabic nr: conflagration, fire; gunfire. (from the same n-w-r root as nr) (hw1183)nari - Sanskrit nr: woman, female; wife. (jtp1113, mw537)nari - Arabic nr: fiery, full of fire, blazing, hellish. (from the same n-w-r root as nr) (hw1183)nasihat - Arabic nashat: counsel, sincere advice, admonition, moral, precept, friendly reminder. (hw1137, fjs1407, jtp1142)nautch - anglicized version of Hindi nc (nch), from Sanskrit nrtya: dancing. (jtp1112, rsm551)nazr - Arabic nadhr, Farsi nazr: vow, offering, dedication, gift (from an inferior to a superior), consecration, dedication to God, promise to God. (hw1118, fjs1394, jtp1128)nazar bar qadam - Farsi nazar bar qadam: watch every step, see where you're going. (nazar = looking at, turning the gaze toward, attending to, observing; bar = with, upon, into; qadam = foot, step) (hw1144,877, fjs1410,166,958, jtp1143,143,789)nazar-i bad - Farsi nazar-i bad: the evil-eye. (nazar = looking at, turning the gaze toward, attending to, observing; bad = bad, wicked, naughty) (fjs1410,160, jtp1143,138)nirvah - Sanskrit nir-vah: (nir = out, away, away from; vah = lead, guide, conduct ) to lead out of, save from; to flow out of; to bring about, accomplish; to be successful, overcome obstacles. (mw557)nirvana - Sanskrit nir-vna: (nir = out, away, away from; vna = going, moving; as a blowing breeze or rolling waters) put out, vanished; calmed, quieted, tamed; blown out, extinguished, perfect calm, highest bliss; annihilation of desires and passions. (in some texts as Nirwana) (mw557)nritya - Sanskrit nrtya: dancing; gesturing, acting. (mw568, jtp1130)nur - Arabic nr: (plural anwr) light, ray of light, illumination, gleam, glow. From the Arabic root n-w-r meaning to light, to fill with light, illuminate, clarify, enlighten. (hw1183)

nuzul - Arabic nuzl: descending, going down; dismounting, climbing down; stopover, sojourning. In esoteric terms, 'urj and nuzl are two complementary conditions which represent the natural ebb and flow, with 'urj being responsive, and nuzl being expansive, expressive; for example with the breath 'urj is inhaling and is nuzl exhaling. (hw1123, fjs1398, jtp1136)O -Om - Sanskrit om: aum; Om appears first in the Upanishads as a mystic monosyllable used as the object of profound religious meditation, the highest spiritual effects being attributed not only to the whole word but also to the three sounds a, u, m of which it consists. In later times is used as the mystic name for the Hindu triad, the union of the three gods Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Also considered as a divine affirmation of respectful assent sometimes translated by 'yes, verily, so be it' (in this sense compared with Amen), and also regarded as a divine salutation as 'hail!'. (hw235)

Oh Lord, dweller within;You are the light In the heart's lotus,Om is your very self,Om holiest word,Seed and source of the scriptures.

- Shankara

P -

padishah - Farsi pd-shh: protecting lord; a prestigious title applied, often applied to an emperor, monarch or king. (also written as padshah, in some texts as badishah ) (fjs229, jtp216)pari - Farsi par: winged; a good genie, jinn, fairy. (in some texts as peri) (fjs246, jtp258, rsm610)

paramatma - Sanskrit paramtman, masculine singular paramtm: supreme soul . The prefix parama means highest, most excellent, last, final, supreme, ultimate. (see also atman) (hw588)Parsi - Middle Persian prs: meaning 'from Persia'. Parsi is the name given to the Zoroastrian community in India who originally fled the religious persecution of eighth century Persia as Islam when being imposed as the religion of the state.Interestingly, the Arabs, who lacked a "p" sound in their alphabet, used the letter "f" instead, and thus created the word Farsi. (jtp217)parwana - Farsi parvna or parwna: a moth, particularly such as fly about a candle at night; a royal patent or diploma; a grant or letter under the great seal from any man in power; a license, permit, warrant, written order or commission. (in some texts as parvana or parveneh) (fjs245, jtp255)pas-i anfas - Farsi ps-i anfs: consideration of breaths. This expression is made from: ps meaning watch, guard, observer, respect for, consideration of; i meaning of; and anfs (plural of nafas) meaning breaths, respirations. (fjs230 and 112, jtp217 and 93)payghambar - Farsi paighm-bar: message-bearer, envoy, messenger, prophet. From Farsi paighm meaning message, report; news; advice; and bar meaning carrier, porter, bearer. (fjs268, jtp300)pir - Farsi pr: an old man; a founder or chief of a religious group or sect. (fjs264)prakriti - Sanskrit prakriti: literally "making first"; the original or natural form of anything; the original producer of the material world, which consists of the three gunas. (mw654)

prana - Sanskrit prna: the breath of life, spirit; vitality; vigor, energy. (mw705)propkar - Sanskrit paropakra: assisting others, benevolence, charity; action for the benefit of others, selfless service. (mw588, jtp256)puja - Sanskrit pj: honor, worship, respect, reverence, veneration, homage (to superiors), adoration (of the gods). (mw641)

Puja is the name of the Hindu form of worship, which is from the beginning to the end a symbolical expression of what the seeker has to perform in the path of spiritual attainment.

from The Sufi Message, Volume XIII, Symbology

pul-sirat - Farsi pul-sirt: a bridge over which the righteous will pass to heaven and the wicked will enter hell on judgment day. From Farsi pul meaning bridge, and Arabic sirt meaning way or path. (in some texts as Pulserat) (jtp266, rsm638)Punjab - Punjabi punj-b: punj meaning five, and b meaning water; a reference to the five rivers flowing through the area in northwest India known as the Punjab.

purana - Sanskrit purna: ancient; a class of scriptures. The 18 major purnas, probably written around 300 to 1000 AD, are divided into three groups, each exalting one member of the Hindu Trinity. (mw635)

purusha - Sanskrit purusa: human being, mankind; a person; the personal and animating principle in beings; soul, spirit; the Supreme Soul; spirit as passive spectator of the creative force of prakriti. (mw637)Q -qadr - Arabic qadr: measuring, determining; deciding, choosing, comparing one thing with another; measuring out; portion, part. Although qadr is considered by some to indicate destiny or pre-determination, Inayat Khan uses qadr to describe the limited, measured-out, part of life called free-will. (in some texts as kadr) ( hw873 fjs957, jtp788)There are two forces in the universe, Qaz, the divine force that is working through all things and beings, and Qadr, the free will of the individual.

from The Sufi Message, Volume V, Qaza and Qadr

qalam - Arabic qalam: cut reed (for writing), pen; pencil; painter's brush. Esoterically, the pen with which God writes upon the heart, providing the source of inspiration. (in some texts as kalam) (hw922, jtp794)qalbi - Arabic qalb: of or pertaining to the heart; cordial, warm, sincere; heart- (when used in compounds). From the root q-l-b meaning to turn over, turn about; fluctuate, change, transform, transmute; heart, core, essence. (see also dil) (hw918, fjs983, ewl2552)qayamat - Arabic qiymah, Farsi qiymat: resurrection, last day; calamity, turmoil, upheaval. (hw936, fjs997)qaza - Arabic qad', Farsi/Urdu qaz': divine decree, predestination; fate, destiny; fatality; death; decree, mandate, judgment. In esoteric usage, qaz is often used to describe the unlimited, Divine aspect of life. (see also Qadr) (in some texts as Kaza or Qadha) (hw904, fjs974, jtp792)Quran - Arabic al-qur'n: guidance for mankind as given to the Prophet Muhammad. From the Arabic root q-r-' meaning to read, recite; deliver, transmit, convey, proclaim. (in some texts as Koran or Qur'an) (ao448)qutb - Arabic qutb: axle, axis; pole; lord, chief; the center around which something revolves. From the Arabic root q-t-b meaning to concentrate, or pull together, into one point. (hw905, fjs976, jtp792, ewl2541)qutbiyat - Arabic qutbya, Farsi qutbyat (inf noun from qutb):the state of poleship, being the cardinal pole, being the center around which something revolves. (in some texts as kutubiyat) (hw905)

R -Radha - Sanskrit rdh: prosperity, success; the name of Krishna's favorite gop. (mw876, jtp581)raga - Sanskrit rga: color, passion, joy; loveliness, beauty; musical melody. (mw872)rahm - Arabic rahma: pity, compassion, forgiveness; sympathy, understanding; divine mercy. The root r-h-m also indicates womb; that which provides protection and nourishment, and that from which all of creation is brought into being. (hw384)Rahmat -Arabic rahmat: The name of Inayat Khan's father: Rahmat Khn Pathn (in photo below).

rakhs - see raqs

rakshasa - Sanskrit rkasa: evil being, demon; something to be warded off, or guarded from. (mw871)Rama, Ram - Sanskrit rma, Hindi rm: causing rest; dark-colored; pleasing, charming, lovely; the name of several Hindu deities considered to be incarnations of Vishnu; often indicating the seventh incarnation of Vishnu as described in the famous epic poem, the Ramayana, as the ideal of dharma and virtues. Frequently called Lord Rama or Shri Rama, his wife is Sita. (mw877, jtp583)Rama, the great prophet and ideal of the Hindus, was at the same time an example of the incarnation of a godhead. The character and history of Rama is described by Valmiki in the great epic Ramayana. The training, which was given to Rama by a great Rishi named Vashishta, was in order to bring forth that kingdom of God which is hidden in the heart of man. In this respect Rama was not only an ideal for the Hindus of that particular age, but a model to mold the character of those who tread the spiritual path in any age. from The Sufi Message, Volume IX, Rama

Ram Das - ri Samarth Rmd, (1608-1681 AD) Marathi saint, poet and religious leader. His works include Manache Shlok (Verses to the Mind), Dasbodh and Aatma Ram.

raqs - Arabic raqs: movement, dancing. From the Arabic root r-q-s meaning to dance, to dance with joy, to set to a swinging motion, to move. (in some texts as rakhs) (hw410)rasa - Sanskrit rasa: the essence, essential nature, best part; a mixture, potion, essential fluid; mercury. The term Rasa Shastra means the science of the essential nature, the teachings of the essence. (see also Shastra) (mw869)rasm - Arabic rasm: plan, pattern; law, canon, rule, doctrine, regulation, precept; habit, custom, manner. (hw392, fjs576, jtp592)rasul - Arabic rasl: messenger, envoy, emissary, delegate. In esoteric terms, rasl is generally considered to be the highest grade of world-wide messenger, a step above nab. From the Arabic root r-s-l meaning to contact, to get in touch; to transmit, to send word; to pour forth; freely flowing. Often phrased as al-Rasl or Rasl Allah when used to refer specifically to Muhammad. (also see Nabi and Rasul web page) (hw391)ravaj - Arabic rawj, Farsi/Urdu ravj: custom, practice, that which is current; in great demand, easy to sell; in circulation. (hw422, fjs590)

rind - Farsi rind: skeptic, rogue, libertine. In esoteric terms, there are two general types of Sufis, the Rind and the Salik; the Rind follow a path of disregarding worldly matters, while the Salik are engaged in worldly matters. (jtp600)Those who are called fakirs all belong to the Rind. Their life consists in learning to disregard all worldly things. A person fears most being without such things.. so this is the first thing to learn to disregard.

from The Sufi Message, Volume XII, The Life of a Sage

risalat - Arabic rislt: mission; high goal, noble task, divine mission. (hw391)riyazat - Arabic riyda, plural riydt, Farsi riyzt: practices, exercises; religious exercises, austerities, devotions. (hw426, jtp610)roza - Farsi roza: daily allowance, a day's worth; a fast; fast-day. In Arabic, fasting is called saum. (fjs594, jtp605) rubaiyat - Arabic rub', Farsi rub', plural rub'yt: The singular form rub' denotes being in groups of four, a quatrain, a stanza of four lines; while the plural rub'yt denotes a volume of, or collection of rub'. (fjs567, jtp586)ruh - Arabic rh: breath, wind, inspiration; breath of life; spirit; soul; human life; essence; divine inspiration, revelation. The ancient Semitic roots (which also led to the Hebrew Ruach and Aramaic Ruha) point toward the ideas of expansion and dilation; something that comes and goes; movement from the center to the circumference; wind, breath, soul, spirit; that which moves, stirs, animates, inspires, transports. (See also Spirit.) (hw423, ao225, fdo450)Rumi - Arabic rm: literally meaning from Rum, Byzantine. Commonly used as the name of the great mystical poet Jalluddn Muhammad Rm (1207-1273 AD). He was born in Balkh ( now northern Afghanistan), so many Persians and Afghans refer to him as Jalluddn Muhammad Balkh.

ryazat - see riyazat

S - -sadhana - Sanskrit sdhana: leading straight to the goal, guiding well; effective; accomplishment, performance; summoning; adoration, worship; winning over, mastery. (mw1201, jtp623)sadhu - Sanskrit sdhu: going straight to the goal, hitting the mark; peaceful, secure; correct, pure; virtuous, honorable, righteous; kind, gentle; saint, sage, seer. (mw1201, jtp623)Sadi - from Arabic sa'd: prosperity, being auspicious, a fortunate aspect of the stars. The Persian Sufi poet Muslihuddn Mushrif ibn Abdullh, often called Sa'd, was born in Shrz (Iran) around 1175 AD. A student of Sufi master Shahbuddn Suhraward, Sa'd produced many great works including Bustn and Gulistn. (the pseudonym Sa'di is said to be in honor of his patrons, the ruler of Iran Sa'd bin Zang and the ruler's son Ab Bakr bin Sa'd) (in some texts as sa'adi) (fjs682, jtp661)Saddiq - see Siddiq

saf - Arabic sfin, Farsi sf : clear, pure; untroubled, undisturbed, serene. Some say that sf may have been the root from which the word Sf has arisen. (see Suf and Sufism) (hw606, jtp742)sahib - Arabic shib: associate, companion, friend; owner, possessor; lord, master; often used in India as a title of courtesy, equivalent to Mr. and Sir. (in some texts as saheb) (hw588, fjs778, jtp741)sahib-i dil - Farsi shib-i dil: literally 'master of the heart'; a godly person, one having great piety; courageous. The awakened heart, the master-mind. (see also sahib and dil above) ( fjs778, jtp741)sajada - Arabic sajada: to bow, prostrate, bow in worship, worship. (hw463)saki - see saqi

salat - Arabic salt: prayer, praying. (hw612, fjs792)salik - Arabic slik: going, traveling; traveler, devotee; open not obstructed. From the Arabic root s-l-k meaning to travel, to follow (a path), to enter upon a course or road; to behave; to proceed, to set foot (on); to clarify, disentangle. In esoteric terms, there are two general types of Sufis, the Rind and the Salik; the Rind follow a path of disregarding worldly matters, while the Salik are engaged in worldly matters. (hw495)The Salik is a person who believes that he can be a sage and at the same time follow his worldly occupation. His work is making his life amidst the responsibilities of everyday affairs, and at the same time he does this for higher purpose; his mind is fixed on higher aspirations even while in the world. Every act in all the affairs of life is directed towards higher purpose; His mind is fixed on higher aspirations even while in the world. from The Sufi Message, Volume XII, The Life of a Sagesama - Arabic sam': listening, hearing, receiving. Often used to refer to the musical portion of a Sufi gathering. From the Arabic root s-m-' meaning to hear; learn, be told, listen, pay attention to. (in some texts as suma; also written as sema) (hw501)sami - Arabic sam': hearing, listening; hearer, listener. (see also as-sam', one of the 99 beautiful names at http://wahiduddin.net/words/99_pages/sami_26.htm ) (hw501)samadhi - Sanskrit sam-dhi: connection, alliance; completion; joining, putting together, union with; bringing into harmony; contemplation, profound meditation, intense absorption. (mw1159, jtp672)samsara - Sanskrit sam-sra: wandering through; passage, course; worldly existence, worldly life, worldly illusion. (mw1119)

Sangam - Sanskrit sam-gama: 'coming together', confluence. The confluence of the three holiest rivers in India: the Ganges (Gag), Yamun (Jamn) and the mythical Sarasvati. Located near Allahabad (Prayag), this site is also known as also called t