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glossary of terms and concepts 541TERMINARABICTRANS-LITERATIONENGLISH TRANSLATIONالعدمal-#adam Nothingness Expressed in linguistic terms, this refers to asignifiant (signifying) that has no signifié (signified), orin philosophical terms it refers to knowledge that isnot (yet) known (ma#låm); in cosmological terms itrefers to the existence of the world when it was notyet created, i.e., it was only in God’s knowledge butnot yet known (i.e., not visible), it was a signifiantwithout a signifié; when it became known, creationbecame the signifié insofar as Allah’s words (kalim§t)are the source of all existence which are thesignificant; currently ‘nothingness’ refers to allabstract (theoretic al-mathematical) relationships innature and the cosmos that appear to be at randombut are studied logically by theoreticalmathematicians.الوجودal-wujåd Existence The term refers to Allah’s words which are thetruth; it refers to the existence of creation whichbecame the signifié of Allah’s words (kalim§t) whichare the source of all existence and the significant;such existence is subject to time and place in that itis ‘Being’ (kaynåna) which is subject to ‘Progressing’(sayråra) and ‘Becoming’ (ßayråra), whereas Allah’s‘Being’ (and only this) is not subject to ‘Progressing’and ‘Becoming’, because He is the First and theLast, the Outward and the Inward.الحرامal-Èar§m Taboo This is an absolute prohibition issued by Godalone; there are thirteen taboos in the Book; theybelong to al-isl§m, not al-Êm§n and cannot beextended or reduced, e.g., by parliament or a mufti.المحرماتal-muÈarram§t Taboos These are absolute, universal, eternal, and comprehensiveprohibitions that are to be enforced in allcultures and time periods; they are idolatry;recalcitrance; infanticide; acts of indecency; tormentof the soul; misappropriation of the possession oforphans; corruption and tampering with weightsand measures; false witness (perjury); redemptionby committing Allah; marriage with maȧrimrelatives; consumption of dead animals, blood,pork, and everything that does not suit Allah; usuryof alms; to speak against Allah or say ill-informedthings about Allah.