ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the various terms that are used in describing the degrees of the spirit in the microcosm. The Supreme Spirit is called the First Intellect, the Muhammadan Reality, the Unified Soul, the reality of the divine names and the first thing that God created in His “form”. The angels fell in prostration to the Supreme Spirit contained within Adam who was the manifestation of the Supreme Name Allah, whereas the angels were manifestations of individual divine names. The soul is an intermediary reality between spirit and body. Since the spirit possesses life, knowledge, power, speech, hearing and sight, through its receptivity, the soul actualizes these powers in the body. The natural philosophers have used the terms soul and spirit interchangeably. The intellect differs from the heart in that it is the abode of thought and perception, whereas the heart is the organ of vision, faith, piety and moral attributes.
