Glossary – Bridges to Islam
A. Sufi Spiritual Stages & Practices 🌿 (Green)
| Term | Arabic | Meaning | Stage / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubudiyah | عبودية | "Service" | 1st stage of Sufism |
| Ishq | عشق | "Love of God" | 2nd stage of Sufism |
| Zuhd | زهد | "Seclusion" | 3rd stage of Sufism |
| Marifah | معرفة | "Knowledge" | 4th stage of Sufism |
| Wajd | وجد | "Ecstasy" | 5th stage of Sufism |
| Hagigah | حقيقة | "Truth" | 6th stage of Sufism |
| Wasl | وصل | "Union with God" | 7th stage of Sufism |
| Fana | فناء | Total absorption into God | General mystical practice |
| Al-Junaid fana | فناء الجُنيد | Dying to self | Concept of self-surrender |
B. People & Roles 🔵 (Blue)
| Term | Arabic | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Pir | پير | Mystically-oriented Muslim spiritual guide |
| Murshid | مرشد | Spiritual guide |
| Murid | مريد | Follower of a pir |
| Awliya | أولياء | Saint |
| Darwish | درويش | Wandering religious mendicant |
| Faqir | فقير | Religious person soliciting alms in Islam |
| Imam | إمام | Islamic priest |
| Guru | गुरु | Hindu spiritual leader |
| Therea | ثريا | Buddhist “old man”; counterpart of a pir |
C. Practices & Ceremonies 🟠 (Orange)
| Term | Arabic | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Dhikr | ذكر | Recitation of the names/attributes of God |
| Istikhara | استخارة | Mystical prayer for guidance; answer often in dreams |
| Tilawat | تلاوة | Recitation of the Quran |
| Puja / Chaitya-puja | पूजा / चैत्य-पूजा | Hindu/Buddhist worship ceremonies |
| Urs | عرس | Spiritual union with God at pir's death; annual celebration |
| Tawajjuh | توجه | Concentration method to transmit spiritual power |
D. Objects & Material Culture 🟤 (Brown)
| Term | Arabic | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Barakah | بركة | Spiritual influence or blessing |
| Riyal | ريال | Wooden stand for holy books |
| Hooka | حقّة | Water pipe for smoking tobacco or ganja |
| Tabbarukat | تباركات | Gifts/money sent to a pir by devotees |
E. Key Islamic & Cultural Terms 🟣 (Purple)
| Term | Arabic | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Sura | سورة | Chapter of the Quran |
| Sunnah | سنة | Record of Muhammad’s sayings/actions |
| Shariat | شريعة | Islamic law |
| Bismillah Rahmaner Rahim | بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم | "In the name of God, the Beneficent, we begin" |
| Inshallah | إن شاء الله | "God willing" |
| Ganja | جانجا | Strong, mind-altering drug |
| Folk Islam | الإسلام الشعبي | Islam as practiced at grassroots level |
| Baqr Eid | عيد الأضحى | Muslim festival celebrating Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son |
F. Sufi Orders 🔴 (Red)
| Term | Arabic | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Chishti | چشتی | One of the four major Sufi orders |
| Nagshbandi | نقشبندي | One of the four major Sufi orders |
| Oadiri | قادري | One of the four major Sufi orders |
| Suhrawardi | سهروردي | One of the four major Sufi orders |
| Tarika | طريقة | Path or order within Sufism |
Memory Tips / Mnemonics 💡
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Fana / Al-Junaid fana → Imagine “fading” into God; self disappears.
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Wajd → "Wow!" moment of ecstasy.
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Tarika → “Trail” or spiritual path you walk.
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Ishq → Heart filled with love for God.
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Dhikr → Recite God’s names; meditate on meaning.
