Bai'at
The oath of allegiance a disciple pledges to a spiritual master on entering the path.
Literally: oath of allegiance; initiation pledge
The pledge of allegiance — both the disciple's initiatory oath of fidelity to a spiritual guide and the political oath of loyalty to a leader. In the Sufi orders, bay'at binds the mureed to his murshid at the start of the path. Iqbal respects authentic initiation and binding loyalty, while his broader thought reserves the believer's ultimate allegiance for God alone, the ground of his fearless independence before every other authority.
Murshid
A spiritual guide or master who directs the disciple along the path to God.
Mureed
A disciple, a follower who submits to the guidance of a spiritual master.
Silsila
The chain of spiritual transmission linking a Sufi order back through its masters.
Tasleem-o-Raza
'Submission and contentment'; the paired stations of yielding to God's will and being glad in His decree.