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“Annihilation,” the final state of perfection in Sūfi spirituality. It is the equivalent of Nirvāna in Buddhism, or Union in Christian mysticism. Fanā is the annihilation of the ego or self. It is said to have three stages. The first is fanā fi Shaikh, or annihilation in the teacher. The second is fanā fi Rasul, or annihilation in the Prophet. The final one is fanā fi Allah, or annihilation in God. This leads to a state called baqa or subsistence in the Truth.
See also SUFISM; Nirvana; Union, Mystical; Enlightenment.
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