Key Terms and Definitions

Glossary of Key Terms

Ahlul Bayt: The Holy Family of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). 

Al-Hayat: The ocean of ever-living or eternal life. 

Arifeen: Gnostics or those with divine knowledge. 

Awliyaullah: Saints or friends of Allah (AJ). 

Bismillah: "In the name of Allah." A phrase that begins all surahs (chapters) in the Quran except for Surah Al-Tawbah. 

Dunya: The material world. 

Fana: Annihilation or self-effacement in the presence of the divine. 

Haqqaiqs: Realities or truths. 

Hay: Ever-living, one of the names of God. 

Hub e Rasul: Love of the Prophet. 

Iman: Faith. 

Ishq: Divine love. 

Jalali: Majestic or fiery divine energy. 

Jamali: Beatific or beautiful divine energy. 

Kalaam: Spoken word or discourse. 

Kawthar: The Fountain of Abundance, referring to a river in paradise. 

MalaKut: The realm of the divine. 

Ma'rifa: Gnosis or divine knowledge. 

Mizan: The scale or balance. 

Muraqabah: Contemplation or spiritual meditation. 

Murad: The one whom is sought, someone chosen for a special purpose by God. 

Mureed: Devoted disciple or seeker on a spiritual path. 

Nafs: The ego or lower self. 

Najm e Dawood: Star of David. 

Najm e Sayyidina Muhammad: Star of Prophet Muhammad. 

Najm e Sulaiman: Star of Solomon. 

Narani: Fiery nature or being. 

Qalb: Heart, in the spiritual sense. 

Qayyum: Self-sustaining, one of the names of God. 

Rahma: Mercy. 

Rijal: Men of God. 

Salawat: Praises upon Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). 

Sam'ina w'atan: We heard and we obeyed. 

Shaitan: Satan. 

Sifat: Attribute of God. 

Sultan: King or ruler. 

Sunnah: The practices and traditions of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). 

Tajalli: Divine manifestation or unveiling. 

Tariqah: Spiritual path or Sufi order. 

Tawbah: Repentance. 

Tawheed: Oneness or unity of God. 

Zabiyah: Sacrifice. 

Zikr: Divine remembrance or chanting of God's name. 

Zulfiqar: The sword of Imam Ali (as)