#Dar Al-Basri

[tinynightmarewoman]

It still rattles my fucking mind that Dar Basri was underutilised in House Of Ashes!!

Like yes, I am well aware he is an NPC in these games as written in the rule book by our almighty leaders SuperMassive Games: NPCs gotta die!

BBBUUUUUTTTT have you considered that, and hear me out, he could have been an excellent addition to the story if he was used just that extra bit more.

He could've really been something if used, like further straining the very thin team up that Salim had with the Americans! Because, despite now being fully aware that yes there is a bigger threat that the theatre troupe with a glock, him being so deeply stuck in his ways that while okay he'll follow along he would always butt in when formulating plans or getting in to disputes with other members because they did something he finds wrong or flat out stupid (its your fault its stupid but hey you're doing your best)

He's a captain and has probably got some half decent experience under his belt, he's headstrong, tactical, a force to be fucking reckoned with if you let the bastard run rampant (Killing and wounding members of the main cast) And yet he dies too quickly in my opinion. Dar does not give up, even when his large intestine is being dragged behind him before he gets jumped by the vampires and is ripped to shreds. Killing him was too easy, I think he should have been give the chance to show off as an actual character, the warrior he is supposed to be!!! Watching him reluctantly alongside the others showing off how much of a menace he actually is, that would have been awesome!

Also it could be fun to see the extent of him and Salim's respected but strained relationship. Salim and Dar can butt heads significantly or they can work in tandem as a double act if you're more obedient and less argumentative as Salim. It's possible to see that Dar has respect and some amount of care for Salim so allowing the dynamic to go further and allowing it to get more complex could be a perfect foil to that buddy buddy relationship Salim develops with Jason.

Having Salim walk this glory hound on a tight leash while also having enough respect to actually listen to what the guy has to say would prove to be really interesting. Having that constant whisper of suspicion or opposition in Salim's ear would have made the relationships you build with Jason and the like a lot more fun to work for and hey, maybe in the end Dar learns to at the very least respect the tenacity and determination of the Americans. He doesn't have to be as all lovey dovey as Salim is by the end but having that "Okay, I can respect that" moment would be really cool!!

I think a lot of NPC characters in these games could make the plot better if they are given just that bit extra attention and especially Dar because of how much of balancing act he could be for the plot!!

Okay rambling over now you can return to your regular scheduled programming.

[lost-opium-artblog]

I'm a little bit late but Happy 1st Birthday!! Thank you SuperMassive Games for this game - that is my comfort game of the year - and for creating our favorite Sword and Shield, Salim and Jason - that I can't help but read as a couple.

P.S.: That cake is not a lie

[myscprin]

Joey: what is a record?

Clarice: idk we gotta ask someone older. Nick?

Nick: Jason?

Jason: Merwin?

Merwin: Rachel?

Rachel: Eric?

Eric: Salim?

Salim: Dar?

Dar: [How many times do I have to say. I don't understand English you dense fuckers]

[jeka-s-mile]

My active for chatting and drawing fandoms and favorites

Games:

[] Fear&Hunger [] [] House of Ashes []

- Priests (enemies) - Eric King

- Nosramus - Dar Al-Basri

[] Outlast 2 [] [] Until Dawn []

- Val - Joshua Washington

Books:

[] «Silmarillion» []

- Irmo Lorien

- Manwë Sulimo

[writtenjewels]

Hot Springs part 4

Part One, Part Two, Part Three

Dar parked his car in its usual spot and got out. His heart was beating a little fast as he headed inside the building. The hot springs had been a place of relaxation and rest for him ever since he left the Guard, and now it was the place of something much more. He remembered the warning on his first day that since this was a communal spring, he might have some company in the water. At the time he had shrugged it off. He was a soldier: naked bodies were nothing to him.

“Hello, Mr. al-Basri,” the attendant greeted him.

“Hello,” he nodded back. “Is my friend here yet?”

“No, but he should be here any minute now. He keeps to a pretty set schedule, just like you.”

“Very well; I will wait. Thank you.” He nodded to her and headed on into the springs.

The air here was always pleasant with the steam from the water mixing with natural aromas to encourage a calming environment. The music playing over the loudspeakers was meant to have a similar effect. Dar undressed in the locker room, making sure to take out the small bag he tucked in his pocket when leaving his house. He wasn't sure yet if he would need the item in that bag, but it was best to be prepared.

He moved over to the far side of springs, directly across from the locker room entrance. He took a seat with his feet in the warm water, placing his palms behind to steady himself as he leaned back slightly. It would be a good view. Smiling, Dar began to take in slow and steady breaths.

His thoughts drifted to Eric. Their encounters here were getting better every time. He thought of the taste of those lips and the slide of their cocks against each other many times over the past two days. Thinking of that now had him shuddering and heat pulsed through his body. Dar ached for hands to touch him and had to clench his own into fists to fight the temptation. He wanted it to be Eric.

Dar never expected to want an American this way. Maybe seeing how happy Salim was with his American had some influence over Dar. Dar wasn't even sure what to categorize what was happening between himself and Eric. Neither of them made any promises and yet they were meeting here and progressing their intimacy every time.

Eric stepped into the room and Dar sucked in a breath seeing him. The man was a little on the pale side but that only made the blush stand out more when it came. Dar could see that Eric tried to stay in shape even as his body had softened from being away from the front lines for so long. He had discovered last time that there was plenty of strength in Eric's legs.

“Hey,” Eric greeted. “How, um... how was your weekend?”

“You are using small talk again,” Dar noted. “Are you nervous?”

“Walking in seeing you on display is a little intimidating,” Eric admitted. “Keeping in mind that I don't usually pay attention, but your cock is... impressive.”

“So is yours.” Dar nodded approvingly between Eric's legs. “Come here.” He patted his thigh.

“You want me to sit on your lap?”

“I could sit on yours,” Dar shrugged. Eric blinked at him, his face going red. It was such a lovely look on his face. Dar wanted to feel that warmth under his hands, his lips. Allah, why was there so much space between them?

“That'd be something,” Eric commented at last. “Then what?”

“Then we will fuck.” Eric made a strangling noise and nearly fell over. Dar got out of the water and hurried to his side. “Are you all right?” he worried.

“Y-yeah, just... you don't mince words, do you?” Dar smiled in answer. “Have you done it before?” Eric wondered. “Fucked a man?”

“Yes. Before I met my wife. Have you?” Dar countered.

“Not really.” Eric ran his hands over Dar's chest, fingers tangling in chest hair and caressing along his stomach. Dar's breathing grew a little harsher at the touch. He secured his own hands at Eric's hips to keep the man steady. “I know the mechanics of it,” Eric continued. “I've done some experiments.”

“You fingered yourself?” Dar guessed. Eric gave a nod, his hands now on Dar's hips. “Recently?” he pressed in a heated breath.

“No.” Eric slid his hands around Dar's thighs to his ass and the other man shuddered at the touch. He liked how Eric explored him. “This is going to sound strange,” Eric continued, “but ever since that first time, I haven't touched myself at all. I've thought about what we've done here a lot, and I've been tempted to take care of my reaction. But then I remember I'll be seeing you soon, so I wait.”

“Not so strange,” Dar shrugged. “I do the same.”

“Yeah?” Now it was Eric's voice taking on the heated, breathy quality. His hands squeezed Dar's ass, kneading and shaping the flesh. Dar pulled him forward and both let out hisses as their cocks nudged against each other. “Your cock,” Eric began, moving his hand around to get between them and wrap his hand around it. “Will it fit?”

“I brought lube,” Dar mentioned. “I hoped you wanted this.”

“Well...” A slow smile moved over Eric's lips. “This is supposed to be relaxing, and that particular spot is probably very tight.” Dar gave a soft chuckle. “I want to,” Eric confirmed. “I thought about it a lot the past two days: my thighs around you, the way you kept grinding on me. I take cold showers in the morning anyway but... yeah, I've needed them lately.”

“You will like this,” Dar promised. “Come, I left the lube over there.” He handed Eric back his cane and the two walked over to the small bag. Eric took out the lube, glancing at the label and raising an eyebrow when he saw how much was inside. Dar hadn't been sure what to expect so he bought a decent-sized bottle. Eric handed it back to Dar and set his cane aside, easing to a sitting position.

Dar suspected that Eric was comfortable with the “mechanics”, as he put it. But soon that controlled persona would be taken over by desire. He found some towels and spread them out.

“On your stomach,” he directed. “It will be easier.” Eric did as he was told. Dar got his hands on the man's ass, caressing the firm glutes before pulling them apart. He got a finger between them and rubbed the ring of muscle. Eric shuddered at his touch. “Relax,” Dar reminded him.

“Are you always like this with your lovers?” Eric wondered.

“They are not so tense.” Dar opened the bottle and coated his fingers in the lube. “You need this, Eric. You carry much pain; you should have pleasure.”

“Newton's third law,” Eric remarked. “For every action, there's an equal and opposite reaction.”

“Are you always like this with your lovers?” Dar teased, pushing the tip of his finger inside. Eric tensed up and Dar had to remind him to relax. Dar continued to slide his finger in. Yes, the man was very tight. Dar moved carefully until he was buried in to the knuckle, then pulled out just as gently and repeated the motion.

“Your fingers are, ah, bigger than mine,” Eric commented. Dar grunted and folded in a second finger. He could feel Eric start to open under his touch. The man shuddered, his left leg sliding a little to spread himself open; his right thigh twitched in an attempt to do the same. “Could you, um, my thigh?”

“Of course.” Dar gripped the right thigh and helped move it so Eric was spread apart. “How are you feeling?”

“More relaxed now.” Eric shifted a little, bending himself so his ass raised up a little in the air. Dar felt his cock stir at the sight. He fit a third finger in and picked up the pace of his thrusts just a little. Eric let out a soft moan and rolled toward the intrusion. His cock was starting to stiffen between his legs.

“I like seeing you enjoy this,” Dar remarked. He hesitated, tapping a fourth finger against Eric's ass. “Will you take more?” Eric nodded and slid his left leg out more. Dar fit in the fourth finger, pumping them in at a slow and gentle rhythm. Eric keened, rocking back and forth, his cock fully rigid already.

Dar's head fell on the man's shoulder, his body quivering with need. He closed his other hand around Eric's erection and began to pump. Eric cried out again and Dar pressed his fingers in deeper, harder, seeking the man's prostrate. He could tell he found it when Eric convulsed under him. Dar struck the spot again, his hand keeping up with the rhythm.

“Dar, please,” Eric gasped. “Please, I need to cum.”

“Then cum,” Dar encouraged him with a swipe of his thumb across Eric's leaking tip. “You saw how much lube was in the bottle. We are not done.” He struck the spot yet again and Eric's cry echoed through the room. His orgasm shot against Dar's hand and the towels, his body quivering as Dar continued pumping and thrusting his fingers until Eric was spent.

“Wow,” Eric sighed. He managed to shakily push himself to a sitting position. Dar smirked, tugging so Eric slid onto his lap, back pressed to Dar's chest. “I'm very relaxed now,” Eric commented.

“I am glad.” Dar kissed his shoulder. Eric shifted a bit to get more comfortable before leaning back against Dar. Dar's own erection was pressed against Eric's body-- he was sure the other could feel it-- but he could attend that later

“Next time,” Eric spoke up, “I'm going to beat you here, and I'll be the one on display.”

“I would like that.” Just thinking about it gave him a fresh pulse of arousal. He brushed his lips down to Eric's shoulder. “And then what?”

“I don't know. Maybe I'll buy a dildo, show you your competition.”

“There is no competition,” Dar argued, even as the idea of watching Eric fuck himself with a dildo heated him more. “You would want my cock.”

“You're not short on confidence,” Eric huffed. Dar grunted and wrapped his arms around Eric, jerking the man back so Dar's erection bumped against the small of his back. Eric groaned, wiggling in his hold.

“You want my cock now.” Dar did not phrase it as a question. He pulled Eric back again, lifting the man a little this time so Dar's tip would graze between Eric's ass cheeks. Eric shuddered in response. “You want me inside you,” Dar continued, lifting Eric again and grazing with his cock tip. [I will fill you so well, Eric. Better than fingers, better than dildos.] He bounced Eric, making sure the man would feel Dar's cock bump just short of his entrance. [I will fuck you so well. Your ex-wife will mean nothing to you.]

“Dar,” Eric moaned, starting to grind back against him. “I don't know... what you're saying.”

[I will make these walls sing with your cries,] Dar continued. [I will grind you against the wall just as you like it.] He fumbled around until his hand landed on the lube bottle. He had to pause to coat himself, distracting Eric by pinching and twisting the man's nipples.

“Shit,” Eric gasped. It only took a bit of twisting and pulling to make both nipples hard. “Dar, your cock, please!”

“See?” Dar smirked, switching back to English. “I said you would want it.”

“Yeah.” Eric puffed out a breath. “You were right. Now please...”

Dar lifted him again, positioning him at the right angle. His cock found the spot and he guided Eric down, both of them shuddering at the feel of their bodies connecting. Even after four fingers, Eric still felt a little tight. Dar wold fix that soon. He kissed Eric's shoulder and squeezed him. He would do all the things he said and more. There was plenty of lube in that bottle and the hot springs were all theirs.

[cupofbrownsugar]

Salim, about Dar: pain in my ass (derogatory)

Salim, about Jason: pain in my ass (affectionate)

[sempercry]

What If...?: Dar Survived the Assault (1/?)

Summary: It’s good news for Salim when his captain mysteriously survives the fight in the sacrificial chamber... but it’s bad news for the American marine he has ambushed.

Notes: I'm always curious at how things could have gone in-game, plus I love conflict and thought it might be fun to give Dar a slightly different, more alive path. This takes place after The Horror and early into the Enemy of My Enemy chapter. For Dar fans, I can’t promise it ends any happier, but I don’t 100% know where any of this is going so ??? Maybe? Eventual canon-faithful Jason/Salim is probably still the idea since I can’t help myself, though things will have to start off a bit rocky. Here’s the fic on AO3 if you prefer

For now, sentences spoken in Arabic will be in all italics. I hope you enjoy :)

-

Salim spins around at movement somewhere behind them, rifle aimed, heart racing, ready to fight again if necessary. However—

"Salim, you did it! You captured one of the Americans!"

—isn’t what he expects to hear. The laughter and Arabic cuts through the chamber as the other man approaches, and Salim notes the way the American tenses up even without any translation, hands tightening on the metal bar. To his credit, the wide shark-like grin on Dar's face and gloating eyes leave no room for question that he's discussing the marine.

Salim can't help his relief, though, lowering the American's rifle in recognition.

"Captain… you're alive," is all he can think to say, in genuine awe. He remembers Dar shouting in pain, bleeding, beyond help. It doesn't add up, but he’s too glad to see a familiar face to be suspicious.

Dar lowers his weapon, too, still grinning.

"We will be war heroes after this for sure," is the assessment in return before they then converse on, analyzing the situation, deliberating next steps in Arabic. 

But the younger man— Jason, Salim remembers— is visibly irritated by being left out. Salim continues on with Dar in Arabic anyway, pretending not to notice the way Jason squirms and eye the passages around them, at a loss for any control or comprehension whatsoever.

Finally, Salim gives Jason an evaluating, unhappy look as Dar gestures toward him with his gun. The American stands a little taller, eyes darting between them.

"Is there a fuckin’ problem?" Jason asks through a glare, clearly unhappy with the new member of their party. But Salim's protest is disregarded in Dar's next breath, noting momentum, upper hand, and what the man deserves. He scolds Salim, gesturing again toward the stake in Jason’s hands and Jason only gets more visibly annoyed the longer he’s ignored.

But although he wouldn't exactly call Dar a thorough strategist, Salim sees his point...

"My captain says you don’t need a weapon now that he's arrived,” Salim explains evenly in the next moment, gaze bordering between sympathetic and impassive as he considers the American. “That you’re more trustworthy with your arms behind your back."

The American’s scowl deepens at the thought of switching suddenly from ally to captive, anger building expectedly. Salim regrets it already, but he has to get back to his son. That's more important than making the marine happy.

"Are you out of your goddamned mind? You've seen those things. You know what we're up against, how many—"

Dar raises his rifle, points it and the message is clear. Jason’s thought stops short. His arms lift reluctantly in surrender.

"The fuck, Salim," he tries again when Salim approaches carefully, reaching for the metal rod first. Jason’s hand tightens around it, seeking his averted, determined gaze, voice insistent and low. "You’ve gotta be fucking kiddin’ me. I—”

Salim shrugs him off with only a fleeting glance. "It was fine when I was your prisoner.” He hears the aggrieved darkness in his own voice, finding some distant and ultimately empty satisfaction in giving the other man a taste of his own medicine. Still, bitterness lingers, and he can't help but add: “You had no problem at all ridding me of every defense. Even after I helped Nick."

Something crosses Jason's expression but Salim doesn't shy away from his focus, holding his ground. He doesn't like the idea, either; it impacts his own survival chances and getting back to Zain, too. It also upends the delicate, if somewhat forced, alliance.

But it is what it is. It isn’t worth arguing with Dar over something ultimately minor. Not when they need to keep moving.

"This right here... This is a waste of time,” Jason tries again, evidently deciding against an apology or any attempt at justification for his first impression. Despite being held at gunpoint, he pivots in front of Salim, trying to stay in his face. “Those things are comin’. You’re gonna need all the help you can get to survive and you know it. Tell him that."

As if he hadn’t already done so. Salim snorts. “I’m liking this new diplomatic side to you.” The smile he gives is one that doesn’t reach his eyes. “But now only one of us is wasting time. And I would rather not be ordered next to pry this from your corpse, Jason.”

Jason deflates a little but finally allows the weapon away. He drops the borrowed lighter, too, straight to the dirty floor, arms remaining up under Dar's aim. Salim lets it lie.

"Are there extra cuffs or rope in your bag?"

“So what if there’s not?”

If looks could kill, Salim was sure Jason’s scowl would have knocked his captain to the ground several times over. If he didn’t know better, he’d say there was something challenging in the marine’s expression on top of it all. Naturally, Dar had met the look with his own intensity.

Salim sighs.

"As you said, we don't have the luxury of time. I can’t promise my captain won’t decide you aren’t worth the trouble." He keeps his voice low and dangerous near Jason’s ear, frustration turning his words to something of an urgent hiss. “I told him you would cooperate. It benefits us both if I’m not a liar...!”

Jason swears under his breath and cringes, angling for Salim to have better access to his pack, mumbling something begrudgingly affirming. Salim secures the makeshift stake to his back and begins his search for restraints. He frowns as he digs through the pack, cursing in Arabic. It was hard to find what he wanted. Jason was doing him no favors.

"Hurry up!" Dar urges, glancing over his shoulder. Jason stays quiet after the warning to cooperate, if clearly impatient. When Salim finds what he's looking for, and additional ammo for the rifle, he pats the other man's uninjured shoulder.

"Just stay close and don't do anything stupid." He finally retrieves the lighter from the ground despite Dar’s insistence that the American pick it up himself. There’s no time for games - he and Jason are in agreement on that.

Not that it stops him from talking.

"So I’m bait now, that it? No chance you'll tell your captain to fuck off?"

Jason's wrists are guided behind his back in answer. Salim exchanges a look with Dar, but the man hasn't budged from his expectant gaze. The prospect of a prisoner has him standing tall despite his injuries. Some power over something in that horrible place.

Sparing an extra thought for his captain, Salim laments the lack of first aid resources between the three of them. But Dar seems fine, considering, if a little pale…

"I'm afraid you'll have to earn my captain's trust," Salim tells him as the cuffs click in place. Jason tenses, slightly pale too in what little light emits from Dar's rifle. The pointless staring contest is over with the newfound dynamics cemented. "But if you work with us and listen, you won't be bait.” Slipping the lighter into one of Jason’s closed fists, glad to be angled away from Dar, Salim hopes it’s a reassurance. For an emergency. Somehow. “I promise. Now… stay quiet and stay close."

The look on Jason’s face is plainly perplexed, about as bewildered and lost as the moment Salim had wrestled his rifle away, but he shifts his wrists to hide the held lighter and doesn’t press the issue.

Salim readies his rifle once again and nods to Dar, who beams proudly.

"The American can lead the way." And Salim nods, giving their captive a gentle push on the shoulder. Jason's expression visibly falls, no longer masking the fear on top of the frustration.

"Salim," he tries again after a few feet of walking.

“A gag in his mouth if he doesn't stop talking," Dar cuts off and Salim can only imagine the indignation that might cause.

Instead of indulging that drama, Salim smiles at the back of Jason’s head. "Try not to draw unwanted attention to us, jarhead. I think you’ve said enough for now."

Although Jason lowers his voice accordingly, he doesn't stop. Salim can hear the note of swallowed desperation in the way each word threatens to crack. The situation has fully set in, he guesses.

"Yeah, well, trust goes both ways. This clown shot out our radio, our one fuckin' chance at gettin' out of here. So why the fuck would I want to follow him?" Salim sighs behind him, wondering if it's true.

In all fairness, it sounds like Dar.

"And you…” Jason continues hotly, “did all that togetherness kumbaya bullshit and then made me your fuckin’ prisoner. This is bullshit. Fuckin' bullshit."

"This is not up for discussion. Keep moving."

To his credit, Jason does, falling silent at a calm tap of the rifle to his shoulder. 

But as each small sound reminds them they are not alone and each dark corner promises another deadly encounter, Salim begins to miss the distraction of conversation.

[108garys]

There's definitely stuff I've made and gone "nah it's too cringe I can't post that" and then there's days where the cringe wins, this is definitely an example of #cringe wins

[thewolfmanny]

pfffbtbtbtbtbtbt i lied and did some more research into dar's face model by looking through john's (little hope) wiki page.

i made the mistake because nabeel el khafif is credited as both voicing and doing the motion capture for dar which i assumed meant they used his face as a model.

the actual face model for dar and john is Sukesh Khosla. he is an Indian/British model (and neither Arab or White, so thanks DPA). i can't find a lot of pictures of him

@cupofangst @kassiekolchek22 y'all were right to be confused! i was too! but here he is

[capsource]

House of Ashes caps

Available for anyone who wants to use them, no credit needed but super appreciated. All these caps are 3840x2160. Most of the characters have sub folders to divvy up the caps into more manageable downloads, but if there are any issues, please feel free to let me know!

In this folder, you will find: Balathu | Clarice Stokes | Dar Al-Basri | Eric King | Jason Kolchek | Joey Gomez | Kurum | Naram-Sin | Nathan Merwin | Nick Kay | Rachel King | Salim Othman | The Curator

Folders can be found [ here ] Buy me a [ ko-fi ] if you’d like!

[tinynightmarewoman]

I want to take off Dar's beret and rub that buzzed head on a carpet and see how much electricity he will generate.

Can I power my house or get half an hour of charge for my phone?

[lost-opium-artblog]

A tender kiss on his lap.

[myscprin]

You may not like it but like.... man is perfectly proportioned.

[rest-in-being]

Quote:

Imam Ibn Taymiyyah, mentioning about the definition of Tasawwuf, from Volume 11, "At-Tawassuf" of "Majmu'a Fatawa Ibn Taymiyyah al-Kubra," Dar ar-Rahmah, Cairo, says:

"Alhamdulillah, the

pronunciation of the word

Tasawwuf has been thoroughly discussed.

From those who spoke about Tasawwuf were not just the the Imams and Shaikhs, but also included were Ahmad bin Hanbal, Abi Sulayman ad-Daarani, As-Sirr as-Saqati, al-Junayd al-Baghdadi, Hasan al-Basri, Ma'aruf al-Karkhi,

Abdul Qadir Jilani, Bayazid al-Bistami [one of the

grandshaikhs of the Naqshbandi Tariqat] and many others.

This is a term that was given to

those who were dealing with that kind of science [tazkiyyat an-nafs and Ihsan]."

Quote:

"Tasawwuf has realities and states of experience which they talk about in their science.

Some of it is that the Sufi is that one who purifies himself from anything which distracts him from the remembrance of Allah and who will be so filled up with knowledge of the heart and knowledge of the mind to the point that the value of gold the stones will be the same to him. And Tasawwuf is safeguarding the precious meanings and leaving

behind the call to fame and vanity in order to reach the state of Truthfulness, because the best of humans after the prophets are the Siddiqeen,

as Allah mentioned them in the verse:

'(And all who obey Allah and the Apostle) are in the company of those on whom is the grace of Allah: of the prophets, the sincere lovers of truth,

the martyrs and the righteous;

Ah! what abeautiful fellowship.'"

(an-Nisa', 69,70)

Quote:

"And the Sufi is in reality a kind of Siddiq

(Truthful One), that Siddiq who specialized in

zuhd and worship."

Quote:

"Some people criticized Sufiyya and Tasawwuf and they said they were innovators, out of the Sunnah, but the truth is they are striving in

Allah's obedience [mujtahidin fi ta'at-illahi], as others of Allah's People strove in Allah's obedience. So from them you will find the Foremost in Nearness by virtue of his striving

[as-saabiq ul-muqarrab bi hasab ijtihadihi].

And some of them are from the People of the Right hand [Ahl al-Yameen mentioned in Qur'an in Surah Waqi'ah], but slower in their progress.

For both kinds, they might make ijtihad and in that case they might be correct and they might be wrong.

And from both types, some of them might make a sin and repent. And this is the origin of Tasawwuf. And after that origin, it has been spread and (tasha'abat wa tanawa'at) has its main line and its branches. And it has become three kinds:

1. Sufiyyat il-Haqa'iq - the True Sufis

2. Sufiyyat il-Arzaaq - the Professional Sufis

(those who use Sufism for personal gain)

3. Sufiyyat il-Rasm - the Caricature Sufis. (Sufi

by appearance only)."

[writtenjewels]

Switched part 6

Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five

Eric couldn't stop replaying Dar's kiss in his mind. It was nothing more than a brush of lips against his earlobe yet the feeling had made his heart race. He sat in his room pacing, unsure of how long he should wait before going to meet the man. Finally he couldn't take it and stepped out.

“Jason.” He gestured for the guard to come over. “Do you remember the way to the dance hall?”

“Sure. Why do you wanna know?”

“I was hoping you could take me there,” Eric admitted. Jason agreed and led Eric down a few corridors. Eventually they came to an open archway. Standing at the entrance was Dar's guard Salim. The guard greeted them both with a nod, his eyes lingering on Jason. It seemed to take effort for Salim to focus on Eric.

“Dar is just inside.”

“Want me to wait for you?” Jason asked.

“I don't know how long I'll be,” Eric warned him. Jason nodded vaguely, his attention already back to Salim. Eric smiled and headed inside the dance hall.

The place looked so empty without the cushions, the instruments, or the dancers to fill the space. There was only Dar standing there to welcome Eric. So far Eric had seen the man wearing several different outfits: first that of a guard, then his formal lord robes, then a more casual dress when they met to stargaze. What he wore now was back on the casual end of the scale.

“Hi,” Eric smiled. “I'm not sure I should tell you this, but I think our guards are into each other.” Dar looked intrigued. He thought about it for a moment and then nodded.

“That is good. Salim has been loyal to me. He should have happiness. Now come, you must finish telling me of your satellite data.”

“Right now?” Eric asked in surprise. “But I have a whole presentation planned.”

“Not like that.” Dar waved a hand to cut him off. “Tell me.” Eric didn't understand at first, and then it hit him: Dar wanted Eric to talk to him as Dar, not as Lord al-Basri. So Eric launched into explaining his work and how he was developing the software for his thermal satellite system. He wasn't sure how much of it Dar understood but the man was hanging onto his every word and seemed genuinely captivated.

“Is this really why you asked me to come?” Eric wondered when he was finished.

“I wanted to hear it without interruption,” Dar told him. “Ambassador King was rude to stop you.” Eric pursed his lips but said nothing to that.

“I was kind of hoping you invited me here to dance for me,” he confessed.

“No. I show you how.” Dar began to clap his hands in a steady beat, stomping his feet and moving his body in time. “Follow,” he instructed Eric. Eric wanted to protest but the movements didn't seem that hard. There was just as much movement of the upper body and arms as with the legs.

After a while Eric started clapping too, matching every move Dar showed him. He beamed at the other man and Dar smiled back. When was the last time Eric danced? Before his accident, that was for sure. He sensed Dar was teaching him one of the easier dances but he didn't mind; Eric was having fun. Eventually Dar led him through the final steps with a flourish.

“Thank you, that was great,” Eric gasped. “So you're a dancer and a musician.”

“No.” Dar looked amused at the suggestion. “We all know these dances.”

“I see.” Eric took a moment to catch his breath. “Okay, so then what sort of things do you like? What do you do in your spare time?”

“I walk through the gardens. By the lake. I watch the sun set over the water. I enjoy football games. You Americans call it 'soccer'.” Eric cracked a grin at that. “I also like chess,” Dar went on.

“I'm better with poker and Blackjack. And Minesweeper.”

“What is 'Minesweeper'?” Dar wondered.

“Get me to a computer and I'll show you.”

“I will,” Dar promised. It made Eric's insides flutter. He noticed the two of them were standing closer to each other than before. “I am glad you came tonight,” Dar said.

“I'm glad you invited me,” Eric returned. “Though now I don't know what I'm going to talk about when I'm supposed to give you my presentation later.”

“Tell it all again,” Dar suggested. “When you speak of your passion, you are beautiful. I will be pleased to listen.” The words stunned Eric and his face went hot, his heart pounding hard in his chest. His brain scrambled trying to process what he heard. The way Dar looked at him confirmed the man knew what he said, and meant it.

“You... Dar.” They were only separated by inches now. Dar's eyes were intense on Eric, making the blonde ache. His heart pounded so hard he was sure Dar would hear. Eric could see the man's eyelashes...

Dar's lips pressed firm against Eric's, causing a shock to go through Eric's body. Holy shit, it'd been so damn long since he was kissed. He lifted a hand to anchor into Dar's arm to keep steady. The shape and feel of those lips excited him. It took a few seconds of feeling them mold against his before Eric realized he should be doing something. So he tilted his head to change the angle and kissed back.

“Eric,” Dar rumbled. The rest was in Arabic; Eric shook his head helplessly.

“I didn't understand any of that.”

“I teach you,” Dar offered, bringing their faces together for another kiss.

[formyummah]

What is a naf?

Nafs

The nafs is difficult to translate but here are some attempts; soul, the psyche, theego, self, life, person, heart or mind 

It is your inner desires & wants. Possibly your passions or temptations. This is the intrinsic part of ourselves that can possible lead us towards good or bad. Shaytaan (the devil) can work with our nafs, as in, figure out our own inner desires in our soul or our heart and then temp us with those things.

There are at least3 main types of the nafs (source)

Nafsal-Ammara Bissu’ (the nafs that urges evil)

Nafs al-Lawwama (the nafs thatBlames)

Nafs al-Mutma`inna (the nafs at peace)

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A summary of these states of the Nafs are given by Imam Tabari inhis Tafsir of Surah Yusuf verse 53:

1. Nafs al-AmmaraBissu’ (The Soul which Commands):

This is the Nafs that brings punishment itself. By its verynature it directs its owner towards every wrong action. No one can get rid of its evilwithout the help from Allah. As Allah refers to this Nafs in the story of the wife ofal-Aziz (Zulaikha) and Prophet Yusuf (s):

“The (human) soul is certainly prone toevil” (12:53).

Allah also says:

“And had it not been for the grace of Allah and His Mercy onyou, not one of you would ever have been pure; but Allah purifies whomever He wishes, andAllah is Hearing, Knowing.” (24:21)

This Nafs resides in the world of the senses and is dominated byearthly desires (Shahwat) and passions….

Evil lies hidden in the Nafs and it is this that leads it on todo wrong. If Allah were to leave the servant alone with his self, the servant would bedestroyed between its evil and the evil that it craves; but if Allah grants him successand help, then he will survive. We seek refuge in Allah the Almighty, both from the evilin ourselves and from the evil of our actions.

2. Nafsal-Lawwama (the Soul that Blames):

Allah refers to this Nafs,

“And I do call to witness the Nafs thatblames” (75:2).

This Nafs is conscious of its own imperfections.

Hasan al-Basri said, “You always see the believer blaminghimself and saying things like ‘Did I want this? Why did I do that? Was this better thanthat?"….

3. Nafs al-Mutma`inna(the Soul at Peace):

Allah refers to this Nafs,

"O Self, in complete rest andsatisfaction!” (89:27).

This Nafs is tranquil as it rests on the certitude of Allah.

Ibn Abbas ® said, “It is the tranquil and believingsoul”.

Al-Qatadah ® said, “It is the soul of the believer, madecalm by what Allah has promised. Its owner is at rest and content with his knowledge ofAllah’s Names and Attributes, and with what He has said about Himself and His Messenger, and with what He has said about what awaits the soul after death: about thedeparture of the soul, the life in the Barzakh, and the events of the Day of Qiyamah whichwill follow. So much so that a believer such as this can almost see them with his owneyes. So he submits to the will of Allah and surrenders to Him contentedly, neverdissatisfied or complaining, and with his faith never wavering. He does not rejoice at hisgains, nor do his afflictions make him despair - for he knows that they were decreed longbefore they happened to him, even before he was created…."….

(Al-Tabari: Jami’ al-Bayan fi Tafsir al-Qur'an, vol. 13, Bulaq1323)

Imam Baghawi says,

"The Nafs al-Mutma`inna has an angel to help  it, who assists and guides it. The angel casts good into the Nafs so that it desires what  is good and is aware of the excellence of good actions. The angel also keeps the self away  from wrong action and shows it the ugliness of bad deeds. All in all, whatever is for  Allah and by him, always comes from the Soul which is at Peace.

The Nafs al-Ammara Bissu’ has Shaytan as its  ally. He promises it great rewards and gains, but casts falsehood into it. He invites it  and entices the soul to do evil. He leads it on with hope after hope and presents  falsehood to the soul in a form that it will accept and admire.”

Ibn al-Qayyim also mentioned the states of Nafs:

“The Nafs is a single entity, although its  state may change: from the Nafs al-Ammara, to the Nafs al-Lawwama, to the Nafs  al-Mutma`inna, which is the final aim of perfection….

It has been said that the Nafs al-Lawwama is the  one, which cannot rest in any one state. It often changes, remembers and forgets, submits  and evades, loves and hates, rejoices and become sad, accepts and rejects, obeys and  rebels.

Nafs al-Lawwama is also the Nafs of the  believer….It has also been mentioned that the Nafs blames itself on the Day of  Qiyamah - for every one blames himself for his actions, either his bad deeds, if he was  one who had many wrong actions, or for his shortcomings, if he was one who did good deeds.  All of this is accurate.

(Madarij as-Salikin fi Manazili Iyyaka Na'budu wa IyyakaNasta'in, vol. 1 pg. 308)

Sa'id Hawwa says regarding these Nafs:

"Depending upon its condition, the Nafs  exist in multidimensional. When the Nafs is tranquil because of obeying Allah, and the  soul opposes its desires, this soul is known as Nafs al-Mutma`inna. Regarding this, Allah  has spoken about it in the Qur'an (89:27-28). But if the soul does not attain peace  with itself, rather being exposed to desires, then such soul is known as the Nafs  al-Lawwama because this soul reproaches its owner due to the owner’s carelessness in  fulfilling out Allah’s wishes - Qur'an (75:2). More so, if the soul submits to  lusts and allows itself to be seduced by Shaytan, such a soul is known as Nafs al-AmmaraBissu’. Allah tells the story about the wife of al-Aziz (Zulaikha) in Qur'an (12:53).

(Tarbiyatun nar Ruhiyah, pg. 32, Cairo: Dar al- Salam, 1408)

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Here are some more sources on this topic:

http://www.zaynabacademy.org/understanding-the-three-types-of-nafs/

http://sunnahonline.com/library/purification-of-the-soul/224-jihad-an-nafs-striving-against-the-soul

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZGnk1H9X6U

InshAllah this was helpful :D