Gnostic Glossary: Arabic Lexicon

عارف Arif is a person who learns and understands with the power of intuition and deep experience thanks to moral and spiritual purification.

Irfan (Arabic/Persian/Urdu: عرفان; Turkish: İrfan), literally ‘knowledge, awareness, wisdom’, is a concept in Islamic mysticism akin to gnosis, or spiritual knowledge.

The Arabic word “qabil” (قَبِيْل) translates to “able” or “capable” in English. 

In The Seals of Wisdom (Fusus Al-Hikam), the qabil is referred to as a “container” or the human form.

The Arabic word “ruh” (روح) translates to “spirit” or “soul” in English, depending on the context.