Resources and Documentation

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.

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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 (“Cheraga” is distinctly feminine) – (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

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

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

Mu’alim (“Mu’alimah” is distinctly feminine) – (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

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

Murshid (“Murshida” is distinctly feminine) – (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 Universel and a repeated affirmation

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

Pir-o-Murshid  (Pir-o-Murshida is distinctly feminine)
“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

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

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

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

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

Siraj (“Siraja” is distinctly feminine) – (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