Individuality (Tafrid)
Tafrid (individuality) means seclusion from society or going into retreat to devote all one’s time to worshipping God.…
Feel
65 articles
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…
Annihilation in God (Fana Fi’llah)
Fana (annihilation), which is the opposite of permanence, has connections with some of the other concepts in Sufism.…
So Others May Live
The real, profound worth of life is revealed when one’s life is dedicated to the well-being of humanity.…
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…
Breathe In, Breathe Out, Carry On
It was a blustery February morning, and just a few days before my 40th birthday, when my cell…
I Pity…
The feeling of pity is the quiver of a person’s heartstrings and spirit, a quiver that resonates from…
Intoxication and Sobriety (Sakr and Sahw)
In the language of Sufism, sakr (intoxication) means that an initiate is enraptured by the rays of the…
Life (Hayah)
Hayah, which can be translated as liveliness and being alive, means that a heart which is already dead…
Two-Way Street
As I sit and wait for my day of judgment, I ponder the future. Can I continue to…
Love Is…
I had been asked to talk about love at a gathering right after Valentine’s Day. I thought about…
Separation
“I am an aerodynamicist. I ask myself, by subscribing to aerodynamicism and providing mechanical explanations devoid of conscience,…
A Greek Column
We are bound to confront Greece and the recent Greek experience with their affairs of state – meaning…
The Power in Prayer and Supplication
When the clean black shroud of night enfolds our entire existence, certain darkened souls feel lonely and detached…