One Who Has Reached (Wasil)
Wasil denotes a hero of spirituality who has reached the final point in the journey made to attain…
Truth
86 articles
Seeking After the Truth…
After the exhausting hustle and bustle of the day, you finally throw yourself into your seat and take…
Individuality (Tafrid)
Tafrid (individuality) means seclusion from society or going into retreat to devote all one’s time to worshipping God.…
Isolation (Tajrid)
Literally meaning to separate, abstract, peel away, or to isolate oneself from every occupation and engagement, tajrid (isolation)…
Searching for Our Souls
Our modern society has gone astray during much of the past several centuries. While every person is in…
“Peaceful Settlement is Better”
Question: “Peaceful settlement is better” (Nisa 4:128) reads a Qur’anic verse. What are the messages to be drawn…
Self-Concealment (Talbis)
Self-concealment means that the perfected servants of God who attribute to God whatever good or virtues that they…
Verification (Tahqiq)
In the language of Sufism, tahqiq (verification) means that not only does an initiate who has almost come…
Subsistence by God (Baqa Bi’llah)
Subsistence by God denotes that the servant of God regards all existence, including him or herself, as being…
Being Preoccupied with the Truth
Question: “Those who are not preoccupied with elevated goals will be consumed by lowly troubles.” What needs to…
Annihilation in God (Fana Fi’llah)
Fana (annihilation), which is the opposite of permanence, has connections with some of the other concepts in Sufism.…
Knowledge of God (Ma‘rifa)
Ma’rifa is a special knowledge that is acquired through reflective thought, sincere endeavor, using one’s conscience and inquiring…
Inner Decay and Ways to Heal
There is anticipation in the air. People from all walks of life are vigilant, waiting for a ray…
Parting and Reunion (Fasl and Wasl)
In the language of Sufism, fasl (parting) denotes renunciation of the world and the Hereafter with respect to…
Intoxication and Sobriety (Sakr and Sahw)
In the language of Sufism, sakr (intoxication) means that an initiate is enraptured by the rays of the…