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AN INTRODUCTION TO SUFI DOCTRINE

spirits’; manifestation beyond form. See also Hahiit.

‘alam al-mithal, or ‘Glam al-amthal: *“the world of analogies,”

the world of forms, both psychic and corporeal; corres-
ponds to ‘alam al-khiyal, ““the world of imagination.”
See also above, ‘alam al-arwah.

‘Ali, ibn Abi Talib: the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet

and the fourth Caliph of Islam.

al-Amr :  the order, the commandment ; in theology : the divine

Command symbolised by the creative word kun “be’’:
“His command, (amruhu), when He wills a thing, is that
He says to it: *““be”” and “‘it is” (Quran, XXXV]I, 81). The
Command corresponds to the Word, and indeed in Ara-
maic the word amr has this meaning. By implication the
following two passages from the Quran affirm the identity
of the Command and the Divine Speech or Word: “In
the sight of God Jesus is what Adam is. God formed him
from dust; then He said to him: Be! (Kun) And he was’’
(III, 54). ““The Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, is the mes-
senger of God and His Speech (kalimatuhu) which he cast
over Mary, and His spirit...” (IV, 170). Al-amr often
has the meaning *‘reality,” ““act” ““something real.” The
Quran says: “Unto God shall return the realities (al-
umur),”” and this clearly means that the uncreated essences
of things will return to God. Thenceforward these essen-
ces are identified with the Divine Command and are con-
tained in it. The Divine Command corresponds to the
Pure Act and, as such, is opposed to the pure passivity of
Nature (az-Tabi‘ah).

al-‘agil: the knower, the intelligent. In metaphysic the triad

al-‘aqil (the knower), al-ma‘qgil (the known) and al-‘agl (the
intzllect, knowledge) play an important part.

al-‘Aql: the intellect; al-‘Agl al-awwal : the first Intellect, ana-

logue of the Supreme Pen (al-Qalam) and of ar-Ril.
Corresponds to the Nous of Plotinus.

al-‘Arabi: al-Hasani ad-Dargawi: a famous reviver of Sufism in

the Maghreb; founded the Shadhilite order of the Dar-