Resources and Documentation

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Glossary

We use a lot of Arabic or Urdu words and phrases to describe our focus, intentions and activities. Almost all of these language choices are based on Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan’s instructions and word usage. Most of these have roots in traditional use of the words, and some of them were chosen by Sirat-i Inayat founding members as the most accurate language to express our purpose.

Baraka – (Arabic) – spiritual blessing, a charged and powerful, abiding energy

Bayat – (Arabic) – initiation, a ceremony of welcome, connection between teacher and student, and conveyance of blessing, an oath

Cherag – (Arabic) – ”Lamp” – title indicating an ordained minister, someone with the spiritual authority to perform Universal Worship Services, weddings, funerals, etc.

Fikr – (Urdu) – mindfulness, concentration – silent practice of keeping a specific word, Name of God, zikr phrase or other concentration, on the natural rhythm of the breath

Jamiat Khas – (Arabic) – “special gathering” – the leadership collective, includes all shaikhs, mu’alims, board of directors, cherags

Kefayat – (Urdu) – “sufficiency” – title of the Pir, the spiritual leader of Sirat-i Inayat, who functions as the head of the Healing Collective – the highest initiation level that can empower Healing Collective leaders to be able to train and initiate others to lead healing services

Inayat – (Arabic) – kindness, blessing of God, dedication, friendliness

Mu’alim – (Arabic) – “teacher” – roots of the word indicate integrated knowledge – as a title in the Sirat-i Inayat, it is the leader of a Ray, someone who teaches a particular skill

Pir – (Persian) – ”Elder” – a Sufi spiritual guide – a title used to indicate the spiritual leader of a Sufi order

Qasab – (Arabic) – breath practices that control and shape the rhythm and quality of the breath according to one’s will

Shaikh – (Arabic) – “respected elder” – initiator, guide, someone who is empowered to initiate mureeds

Shaghal – (Arabic) – an advanced breath practice focused on turning the attention away from sensory experience, with the aim of perceiving the reality of the inner life

Shajara – (Arabic) – “tree” – spiritual lineage, family tree, documented history of generations

Silsila – (Arabic) – “chain” – the spiritual chain of transmission, the list of the spiritual heads of a Sufi order, link, lineage

Mureed – (Arabic) – “one who seeks” – dedicated student, initiate

Murshid – (Arabic) – teacher, the roots of the word indicate an integrated embodiment of guidance

Nafs – (Arabic) – “ego” or “self” – ego identification, ties and attachments to worldly associations, the sense of self

Nimaz – (Arabic) – “worship” or “formal prayer” – in Sirat-i Inayat, it refers to the “Confraternity Prayers” of Hazrat Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan: three times daily prayers including: Saum, Salat, Khatum, Pir, Nabi, Rasul, Prayer for the Universal and a repeated affirmation

Pir-o-Murshid – “eldest teacher” – a title used to indicate the spiritual leader and also the founder of a Sufi order

Shafayat – (Arabic) – “Advocacy” – The title for the leader of the Healing Collective in the Sirat-i Inayat, initiated by the Kefayat/Pir, empowered to train people in healing practices and healing service and to initiate people to lead healing services in the community

Siraj – (Arabic) – ”Lamp” – Title indicating a senior minister, someone who is entrusted to train and ordain cherags

Siraj-un-Munir – (Arabic) – “shining, illuminated lamp” – title of the Pir, the spiritual leader of Sirat-i Inayat, who functions as the head of the Universal Worship Ray. It means, the embodied light of the lamp. The highest ordination level, the most senior of the senior ministers

Sirat – (Arabic) – path, way, bridge

Sufi – (Arabic) – wisdom, purity, wool. A person who practices “sufism” a mystical philosophy and spirituality focused on purification of the heart and cultivation of wisdom

Tariqa – (Arabic) – Sufi school of spiritual training

Wazifa – (Arabic) – Beautiful Names of God or other words that are repeated as spiritual tool

Zikr –  (Arabic) – ”rembembrance” or “reminder” – a phrase or practice that focuses on remembering the all-pervading ”God-reality”

Ziraat – (Arabic) – ”Agriculture” a descriptive word that refers to the aspects of relationship with the earth as metaphor for the spiritual life