Islamic Sufism

Umma

Idea of making connections/bonds with everybody even enemies/people you have issues with, community bonding

Taqwa

To fear god, revere god, in awe of god, god-consciousness (that god is near and watching)

Tawhid

To make god one-monotheism, prioritization of god

Kafir

To be an infidel (not be faithful to god) + being ungrateful

Human Beings/Insan

“To forget”, how humans forget, calls us to remember, connects to the idea of humans being made out of clay and god breathing life into us

Angels/Melak/Melaika

Messengers, made out of light, guardians and recorders (they record our actions)

Jinn

Mysterious beings made out of smokeless fire, invisible, have magic powers/free will, can be good or bad

Fitra

Inborn nature, disposition, those who are descendants of Adam/Eve know that god is god, we inherently recognize god before we’re born

Khalifah

Being made into the image of god, ambassador/authority/representative of god, living in kindness, sincerity, compassion

I’jaz

Inimitability (not being able to imitate smth), you cannot produce smth of the same quality as the Quran

Ayah/ayat

Quran verse/sign, miracle, everything is a sign of god (nature, objects)

Dualistic mystical experience

Subject-object differentiation remains intact, see/taste/feel/hear a figure (convinced is divine), union of god

Monistic mystical experience

Everything is actually just one, an experience of pure consciousness (aka unitive consciousness)

Ramadan

Joyous/celebatory/commutative time of fasting, month of forgiveness and the quran being revealed, brings people together

Hajj/Pilgrimage

One of the five pillars, Medina is the sacred holy city (resting place of the prophet) and the Kaaba is the sacred building, seeing it can be very overwhelming

Sufi

• Individuals that believe they are chosen by God but feel a sense of gratitude, a process of personal transformation occurs, there is a sort of possession (to be “possessed by nothing” is the goal), very spiritual process

• Early Muslim ascetics wore wool garments as a sign of simplicity/modesty

Islam

“Submission/surrender to God”

Muslim

Someone who submits/surrender to God

Religion

Human sense of the sacred cultivated and translated in doctrines, stories, practices, buildings, and other material objects/leadership/community

Iman/Imamah (Shiite)

Shiite custodian leaders- asserts that certain individuals are considered leaders for the Islamic community

Qadar/Decree

• Belief that God knows everything in the universe and is always watching us (all knowing and all powerful) 

• Concept of divine destiny, we are responsible for our actions but God already knows them

Orthopraxy

• 5 pillars: testimony of faith/ daily prayer/ fasting for Ramadan/ paying tax/ pilgrimage 

• Avoiding pork, modesty in dress, social justice, kindness and consideration for others, lowering your gaze (not objectifying people) 

Qur’an

• Revealed over a 23 year period + orally/aurally memorized and written down 

• Revelation from God, hidden tablet from Gabriel and Muhammad 

• 114 chapters/surahs 

• Means “to read/recite/proclaim”

Shahada

• Affirmation of the heart/mind that nothing is worthy of worship except God (only God is God) 

• God has intervene with this world to teach us (ex. thru Muhammad and the Quran) 

• Common ritual to welcome to and farewell from this earthly life (babies and recently deceased)

Adhan/Azan

• The Islamic call to prayer, the shahada is recited in the prayer (uttered/heard 5x a day) 

• Repetition of certain rhythmic sounds/breathing sounds 

• Proclaims that there is no deity but God and Muhammad is the messenger of God

Salah/Salat

• Prayed 5x a day, one of the 5 pillars (except Ismaili Muslims)-5 official times of the day 

• Begins with ritual washing (ablutions)-proclaims in the name of God before the washing and that there is only one god after 

• Offers discipline and a chance to empty the mind from preoccupations 

• Demonstrates a devotion to God 

Zakat

• Not charitable giving, mandatory tax to acknowledge that we are all God’s creation, 2.5% is default rate for all taxable goods to give yearly 

• Muslim majority countries incorporate this tax differently in their laws (ex. Turkey and Chad ignore it vs Pakistan and Saudi Arabia make it one of their main tax systems) 

Dhikr/zikr

• The practice of repeatedly reciting the names of God and other phrases from the Quran and Hadith for a deeper connection with God and to glorify Him (attain spiritual perfection) 

• Means “remembrance” or “mention” or “recollection”

• This concept is incorporated in a lot of Sufi prayer and rituals, involves lots of recitation, breathing, and/or movement

Wird

• A practice of reciting specific prayers, supplications, or verses from the Quran regularly

• Associated with Sufi orders, where it can be a specific devotion or liturgy unique to a particular tariqa (Sufi order)

• In some Sufi orders, a secret wird may be given to an initiate upon completion of training, symbolizing the transfer of spiritual power from the founder of the order and Muhammad to the initiate

The Shaykh/Qutb/Pir

• The Shaykh is a spiritual master and teacher and acts like a guide/mentor for their disciples or students to navigate their spiritual journey

• The Qutb is the status of the individuals so the shaykh are the masters while the murids/students must follow their teacher’s every word 

• They compare the relationship like a corpse and a apothecary/mortician 

• Pir is the name of this special close relationship between the shaykh and murids 

Dreams in Sufism

• Dreams are seen as ways to leading people to Islamic beliefs/traditions or Sufism 

• It can also guide those to meet with their shakyh/teacher to help and guide them with their spiritual journey 

• They can be signs to push you to spiritual enlightenment/connection with God

Nur Muhammad/the Muhammad Light

• Light is the core of Muhammad and is what the angels are made out of 

• There’s has always been something about the prophet that is spiritual/intangible, something biological about the light found in him 

• He’s a human being first, but raised to a higher status gradually (he benefits from the light) 

• Spiritual power/energy (the light) being passed from one teacher to another- can be found in the silsila and Shiite Imams (its generational knowledge)

husn az-zann / Thinking well of

• Translates to “thinking well of”, “good opinion”, or “positive thinking”

• Refers to viewing people and situations with a hopeful and optimistic perspective rather than dwelling on negativity or suspicion

• Encourages positive thinking and discourage negative judgments, highlighting the importance of focusing on the good => stronger relationships + peaceful/fulfilling life

Maqamat/Way-Stations

• According to Sufi masters, these stations/ways incorporate all three categories: virtue of the mind, behavior of the body, interior experience 

• Stages/concepts to help guide you on your personal spiritual journey 

• Signifies a spiritual "station" or stage that a Sufi's soul must attain in its journey towards God

Suhrawardi’s Illumination

• Known for his illuminationist philosophy (illuminationist)-the notion of light (spiritual and physical)

• It's the kinetic potential and energy of a spiritual self-awareness-“light of lights”, sense of intensity/perfection

•  There is a chain of self awareness in the different stages of “light” (1st light = Muhammad’s light, eventually becomes the physically universe), the key is to purify our souls to get closer to that core of light (its self-purification)

The Ney/Reed

• Translates to “reed” the name of the flute (with six or seven holes) that is made from the reed

• Symbolizes a human person/soul: our eyes being meant to see God’s face, ears to hear his voice, skin to feel his embrace, a nose to smell his fragrance, and a mouth to taste him 

• Rumi uses this symbol to convey this special relationship between God and his worshipper 

Sikhism

• A monotheistic religion and philosophy that originated in the Punjab region of India

• They both respect other religions and value equality, brotherhood, and family, they don’t consume alcohol and seek to service/help others. They absorb other practices/teachings from different religions 

• Turban =  means equality and a reminder of Sikh values (express love, respect for others, honesty, charity), historical statement that anyone can wear it to show their devotion to God

Baha’i Faith

• World religion that emphasizes the oneness of God, oneness of religion, and oneness of humanity, promoting unity, equality, and the abolition of prejudice

• Believe in one God, the Creator and absolute ruler of the universe, unknowable in essence

• Humans are one community, we are like a human body with how different we are, each unique with different purposes but we all contribute something to the world

Amrit/Ambrosia

• Super-symbol in Sikhism for all facets of devotion to and experiencing of God.

• Perpetuates and makes as a central trope of the Sikh religion the Sufi notion that above hearing, feeling, or even seeing God, one desires to taste of God

• This imagery demonstrates the idea of eating/tasting can unite the qualities of the other senses in one process = brings you closer to God