rakīqa (Sufism Glossary)

Rakīqa is a spiritual subtlety. Sometimes, the means that connects two subtle things is also called rakīqa. For example, the aid (madad) that reaches the servant from the Real (al-Ḥaqq) is termed rakīqa. The sciences by which the servant, as a means, strives to draw near to the Real are called rakīqat al-nuzūl (the subtlety of descent). Good deeds, beautiful akhlaq (character), and lofty spiritual stations are referred to as ‘urūj (ascent) and rakīqat al-irtikā (the subtlety of elevation). Rakīqa also refers to the sciences of the tariqa (Sufi path) and sulūk (spiritual journey), as well as to that which renders the servant’s secret (sirr) subtle and the nafs (the lower self)...