sohbet (sohbet maʿa l-aghnīyāʾ; sohbet maʿa l-juhhāl; sohbet maʿa l-ajānib; sohbet maʿa l-ahl; sohbet maʿa l-aṣāghir; sohbet maʿa l-fuqarāʾ; sohbet maʿa l-ghurabāʾ; sohbet maʿa l-ikhwān; sohbet maʿa l-ikhwa; sohbet maʿa rasūlillāh; sohbet maʿa s-sulṭān; sohbet maʿa l-ustādh)
Sohbet with the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) possesses a special meaning and respect. It is not possible to find a name more fitting for the Companions (ṣaḥāba) than this one. The superiority of this name for them stems from the honor and worthiness of respect of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The Companions are the imams of the ascetics, the devout worshippers, those who rely upon God (mutawakkilūn), the poor (fuqarāʾ), and the people of contentment (riḍā), patient endurance (ṣabr), and humility (tawāḍuʿ). The Companions attained everything they reached by virtue of the blessing of their sohbet (companionship) with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Since the Companions attained the highest of spiritual states (ḥāl), namely companionship with the Prophet, it is not possible for them to seek any other state, nor is there for them any state more virtuous than the one they are in. Success is from Allah. (Lumaʿ, 42)
Sohbet maʿa l-ikhwān (sohbet with the brethren of the tariqa), is to prefer them over oneself.