‘Suluk’: What the Arabic word for behaviour has in common with Dubai’s Salik toll system
Our Arabic word of the week, suluk, means behaviour and describes how we conduct ourselves at home, school, work and in relationships with others. Husn al-suluk means good behaviour, while su al-suluk refers to bad behaviour or misconduct. Suluk al-tifl describes a child's behaviour, while suluk mihani means professional conduct. The word comes from the Arabic root letters seen, lam and kaf,…
This week's Arabic word is suluk, which means behaviour and is used to describe conduct in various aspects of life. In a positive context, husn al-suluk signifies good behaviour, while su al-suluk refers to bad behaviour or misconduct. Suluk al-tifl pertains to a child's behaviour and suluk mihani denotes professional conduct. The root letters seen, lam and kaf give the word suluk its association with following a path, with the verb salaka meaning to travel along a route.
Maslak, another term derived from the same root, can represent a physical pathway or a person's approach to a situation. In personal relationships, suluk describes someone's overall conduct, rather than isolated actions, distinguishing it from the word tasarruf, which refers to a particular action or response. While a person might behave rudely occasionally, suluk emphasizes their typical manner of conduct.
In Dubai's Salik toll system, the root word salik conveys "open" or "clear," suggesting smooth travel without obstacles. In Sufism, suluk takes on a spiritual connotation, symbolizing the journey towards closeness to God. Followers of this path are referred to as salik. The concept is elaborated in the 11th-century work Al Risala Al Qushayriyya, which delves into stages of spiritual practice, such as repentance, patience, and trust in God.
The adjective suluki means behavioural and is present in the psychological term al-ilaj al-suluki al-marifi, or cognitive behavioural therapy, which focuses on cognitive patterns and behavior. Sulukiyat refers to individual behaviors or behavioral practices and is even utilized in UAE schools, where the Ministry of Education incorporates al-suluk al-ijabi to assess positive behavior.
From our daily actions to spiritual pursuits, suluk encapsulates how we live and the paths we choose to follow.
Written by urgent.news from The National UAE's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
