Glossary
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awra- The parts of the body one is obligated to cover.
basira- Spiritual insight and spiritual wisdom
baya- The pledge of fidelity to a Sufi shaykh. It is usually the way one is initiated into a tariqa.
ijaza– A license or authorization.
kharq al-‘Ada – breaks of the empirical norms
khidma- Service. Usually means serving a shaykh or group with the belief that this service is drawing one nearer to Allah.
majlis- A gathering, usually with dhikr and private spiritual discussions not open to the public. Plural is majalis
muqaddam- A member of a Sufi tariqa who is authorized to accepe baya on behalf of the shaykh and administer invocations. Roles may vary tariqa to tariqa
murabbi- A spiritual guide in the context of a Sufi tariqa. Synonymous with ‘Shaykh of tariqa’
murid- A disciple of a Sufi shaykh. Murid is a general term for anyone who has given baya and joined a tariqa, regardless of other positions one may hold. A female disciple is called a murida.
murida- A female disciple of a Sufi shaykh
murshid- A spiritual guide. Synonymous with murabbi and shaykh of tariqa
tarbiya- Edification. May refer to disciplining the soul, the nafs, or character edification.
wali- A saint. Feminine form waliya.
zawiya- A building or structure dedicated to dhikr and gatherings of a tariqa.