Of course the Sufis are also called by many other names such as the 'people of the Way' (ahl al-tariqah), the 'people who learn through allusion' (ahl al-isharah), the 'people of the heart' (ahl-i dil in Persian) and many other appellations, each of which corresponds to a certain aspect of the reality of Sufism. The faqir is also called in Persian darvish (from which comes the English word dervish) and this term is used in general in other languages of the eastern lands of Islam. He is also called the murid (he who seeks or wills to follow the Tariqah). The spiritual master, whose presence is absolutely essential as the guide on the perilous journey towards spiritual realization, isalso known by several names such as shaikh (elder or master), murshid (he who guides), murad (he who is sought) and in Persian pir (meaning, again, elder). These are all technical terms belonging to the vocabulary of Sufism each of which denotes an aspect of the spiritual life.

Ideals and realities of Islam On page 136 Saturday, January 5, 2013 @ 4:45pm