MAUT ميت
“Death.” The word is always used. in the Qur’an. In its literal sense, meaning the departure of the spirit from the body, e.g. Surah ii. 182: “Every soul must taste of death.” But amongst the Sufis it is employed in a figurative sense, e.g. al-mautu ‘l.-abyaz, or “the white death’,” is held to mean abstinence from food, or that feeling of hunger which purifies the soul. A person who frequently abstains from food is said to have entered this state of death. Al-mautu ‘l-akhzar, “the green death,” the wearing of old clothes in a state to of voluntary poverty. When a person has given up wearing purple and fine linen, and has chosen the garments of poverty, he is said to have entered this state of death, the Al-mautu ‘l-aswad, “the black death,” the voluntary taking up of trouble, and submitting to be evil spoken of for the truth’s sake. When a Muslim has learnt to submit to such troubles and persecutions, he is said to have entered into the state of death (See ‘Abdu r-Razzaq’s Dict. of Sufi Terms.) [MAMAT.]
“Death.” The word is always used. in the Qur’an. In its literal sense, meaning the departure of the spirit from the body, e.g. Surah ii. 182: “Every soul must taste of death.” But amongst the Sufis it is employed in a figurative sense, e.g. al-mautu ‘l.-abyaz, or “the white death’,” is held to mean abstinence from food, or that feeling of hunger which purifies the soul. A person who frequently abstains from food is said to have entered this state of death. Al-mautu ‘l-akhzar, “the green death,” the wearing of old clothes in a state to of voluntary poverty. When a person has given up wearing purple and fine linen, and has chosen the garments of poverty, he is said to have entered this state of death, the Al-mautu ‘l-aswad, “the black death,” the voluntary taking up of trouble, and submitting to be evil spoken of for the truth’s sake. When a Muslim has learnt to submit to such troubles and persecutions, he is said to have entered into the state of death (See ‘Abdu r-Razzaq’s Dict. of Sufi Terms.) [MAMAT.]
Based on Hughes, Dictionary of Islam
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