Author: Shaikh Khawaja Shamsu-d-din Azeemi
"Murâqabah, where we perceive our own selves, the past and future also becomes present before us and with the help of the ray of this perception a happy and prosperous life prevails us whole." Khawaja Shamsud Din Azeemi
Murâqabah is different from meditation, which is practiced in the world, in many ways. Meditation is a process in which the human mind concentrates on a spot materialistically, which encompass the wanes of light at a central point, to produce its affect. For example, scientifically, a prism is used to refract light rays (which are of 7 colours) resulting in producing extremely powerful rays, which burns objects. Meditation is a limited skill which helps to understand the material sphere.
Murâqabah is a spiritual act in which centrality of the act for mental concentration is the Creator (Allah/God), who is the most knowledgeable. We concentrate our thoughts to make contact with Allah, so that we can be aware of all the knowledge present in the Universe. Belief is vital to all Spiritual and Universal knowledge since every intention and every act is illuminated by the light of belief.
Prophet (PBUH) spent the early part of his life mostly at Mount HIRA, where he used to do Murâqabah and the Prophet's training by God through Gabriel took place there. It takes nearly four hours to reach the top of Mount HIRA. Quran is the book which, contains laws of nature and Prophethood was declared at the age of 40.
Can we do Murâqabah?
Yes, we can. We have to look at the life of Prophets, who used to do this process, for building up links with God, and to know God we need to concentrate on our thoughts. Thoughts reach us via light and we speak of them as thoughts, ideas, imaginations, etc. What should be noted here is that the patterns of thinking in all creatures have one point in common and it is this common point or location which informs us of the presence of other creatures.
For Muslims, this common point is God. Prophets (PBUH) are our teachers and leaders. We have to have to follow their teachings and practices. Hence, practice of Murâqabah is simply an act of following our Prophet s (PBUH) teaching. We do follow, teachers at schools/colleges to achieve success in obtaining worldly knowledge, concepts and skills. Similarly, we are obliged to follow our Prophet (PBUH) and practice it as our Prophet (PBUH) has done for many years at Mount HIRA cave. Even in Holy Quran, the importance of Murâqabah have been mentioned as: "And remember the name of your Lord. Cut your attachments and devote yourselves entirely to him" (chapter LXXIII, Section 13-al-Muzammil). Quran's every word and sentence are laws of nature for every human being (muslims and non- muslims). These laws are operating for the whole Universe. There are many planets made up of different materials but fundamentals of law as described in Qurân are applicable to all these. Although its application may depend on the nature and environment of the Universe, which are made of different materials. This message has been quoted in Holy Quran, many times. "There is no change in following God's commandments."
Why should we do Murâqabah?
It is certain that Angles were created before Adam (PBUH). But Adam (PBUH) was given the Khalifat by God on the Universe. We, as humans have inherited this Khalifat and Leadership from Adam (PBUH). God gave Isim-I-Allah's knowledge to Adam (PBUH). As God's Noorani Light was transmitted into Adam (PBUH), then it turned into soul (Rooh). Noorani Light functions as a source of energy in Adam (Adam (PBUH) and this energy is utilized to excel our skills and abilities in physical contributions of Life. All the Isim-I-Allah's knowledge has been inherited in our Rooh (soul). In this world our consciousness develops the skills, abilities, knowledge through our Soul, to explore and discover the creativity aspects of the whole Universe. Our Rooh (soul) is the source of all the energy and knowledge, to develop our skills in this world. As our soul, with the command of God, displays Isim-I-Allah (Allah's Virtues), then our conscious body is created.
Once a conscious body is created, this helps us to recognize ourselves as individuals. Allah has authorized humans as superiors over all the creations. This proves that humans are rulers for all the Universe. True rulers can be effective only if they can understand all their subjects.
Allah mentioned before, Adam is the master of all creations of the whole Universe and hence he knows all creations of the whole Universe and hence he knows all the knowledge regarding the whole Universe. For this world, as we are recognized with our conscious body, hence we have to transfer our subconscious knowledge into conscious knowledge so that we can use it with our intent. As a Doctor/physician qualified in medicine, the patient will benefit only when the Doctor practice their learnt knowledge of medicine. Similarly, the soul's abilities have to be practiced to benefit our conscious body, which displays the benefit to all the creations. Allah is the most merciful who has created the whole Universe and he nourishes/cares/looks after its creation. The soul participates in these conscious activities for the benefit of all creation, which is the aim and objective of Man's Khalafat and Nabiyat. How can we transfer these into consciousness? One of the ways of transferring this knowledge is through Murâqabah, which is our Prophet (PBUH) Sunnah, which was practiced by Prophet (PBUH) on Mount HIRA cave. Murâqabah strengthens to build upon the links of conscious and sub-conscious (mind). Sub-conscious is the mind of our soul. All the Allah's virtues and their knowledge is stored in the super-conscious which is in fact a Record of the Universe's knowledge.
What is Loh-i-Mahfooz?
Allah is Aleem, his knowledge is infinite. He has given knowledge of living Universe to Adam. Allah always had knowledge of the Universe. When God (Allah) wished that he should be recognized through his virtues then he created the Universe and individual conscious was created. God said "KUN" (which is command by Allah). Then the image of the Universe through his virtues of Aleem were displayed on the Loh-i-Mahfooz. In other words, Loh-i-Mahfooz is the Screen, where Allah/God's knowledge of the Universe is displayed. Human's super-conscious has a mirror image of Loh-I-Mahfooz and is the mirror image of whole Universe, hence it contains all the knowledge of every object/thing present in the Universe. When someone wants to recognize himself then he will see the image of himself in his super conscious. This helps him to understand the aim/objective of his creation and God/Allah's commands are to become evidently clear to him. To understand and utilize the written language of Loh-i-Mahfooz, it is essential to know about its terminology/language. As a mirror image of Loh-i-Mahfooz is present in our super-conscious, hence, it is important that we build up links with our super-conscious. To build up these links, we have to go through the process of Murâqabah.
Every materialistic thing/object of the world is an image of these things/object present in Loh-i-Mahfooz.
Loh-I-Mahfooz knowledge goes through many steps and processes before being imprinted in this world.
For example, it takes nine months for a child's development, before it is born. It starts its process from genes to chromosomes. Which forms sperm/egg. Once the egg is fertilized, it results in a zygote, which develops over a period of time to form an Embryo, resulting in a child fully developed and born in nine months. If we want to know the reality of a child, , we do have to see backwards, from a child, embryo, zygote, egg/sperm, chromosomes and genes. Similarly, to understand the world's conscious mind and to find its own identity and reality, then it has to move backwards from a materialistic self to an inner self. This helps to understand and recognize for the reason of our creation in this Universe.
To understand the creation and knowledge of the Universe, God has given four types of Power of Conscious:.
Superior-Super-Conscious-power
Super-Conscious-power
Sub-Conscious-power
Conscious-power
"Everything's origin is from God and would ultimately return towards God." In other words, the source of origin for everything is from God and when we try to find the ways to reach towards God, then we move from conscious power. All these conscious power helps us to recognize God's virtues.
Conscious Power
Is the knowledge of matter, which helps us to understand the world.
Sub-Conscious-Power
Is the knowledge of the Universe.
Super-Conscious Power.
Is the knowledge of the virtues of God.
Superior-Super-Conscious Power
Is the knowledge of God himself through the conscious awareness, we can recognize our inner self and would be able to know about other conscious powers.
As already mentioned, source and origin of everything is God and as we start recognizing ourselves, then we move towards recognizing God. Conscious mind is nothing except knowledge and knowledge is one of the virtues of God. God's virtues and reality is Light and Tajalli. Every conscious power is a stream of light and it is full of knowledge for all the things. For example, conscious power is the light which consist of knowledge of all the matter. Similarly, all the four conscious powers are four streams of light/Tajalli. Every Tajalli has a variety of knowledges within them, as written above. When Light of the Tajalli travels and reaches the earth it displays the knowledge. For example, when the projector is used to play a film, then a picture/image of all the characters are displayed on the screen. The whole earth/Universe is in fact a screen, where God's Tajalli and knowledge is being displayed.
Our sight after visualizing and encompassing these displays, reaches towards its source of energy. When conscious becomes familiar with Tajalli virtues, then it become evident recognize God's virtues and qualities.
The concept for a Murâqabah was already described in the earlier pages of this essay. Through the process of Murâqabah, we concentrate our thoughts on a central point. As the mind develops its concentration on the central point, then this centrality evolves around God's knowledge and then this central point radiates out God's knowledge with gradual and serious thought towards the centrality of this point and discloses inner knowledge. In other words thoughts from superior super conscious enters to super conscious power, then sub conscious power and then conscious power, resulting in awareness of the true concept of self, which in reality it is nothing but god alone. Through these processes, humans become aware of their own role as stage actors, who are performing their part of the play as described by God. It also helps to acknowledge that the whole Universe is full of God's light. Murâqabah helps to make direct contact with God.
During the process of Murâqabah, our thoughts are concentrated towards God and these thoughts start traveling deeply into central points and it keeps on increasing its depth and spread as our thoughts developed. Eventually, this central point, which is full of light covers our four types of conscious powers. In other works, light of our thoughts encircles all the four conscious powers and absorbs these conscious powers. When this stage of complete absorption of our conscious powers are achieved, it is the ultimate developmental stage of our conscious. Here thoughts and its light interact with Tajalli and as a result of it, the light of thought is absorbed in the light of Tajalli. Tajalli is in fact an image of God. As the light of thought completely merged within the light of Tajalli then a human's thought vanishes into the God's thought and the human becomes an effective medium of God's Will.
As darkness disappears in the sunlight, similar thoughts of the Universe disappear in the thoughts of God. Tafakkur of God is infinite, vanishes into infinite then only infinite is left and of course infinite is God and His Knowledge. The practice of Murâqabah encourages the Tafakkur of finite and this develops mind to concentrate on the knowledge of infinity. Universe is finite while God and His Knowledge is infinite. When Tafakkur of the Universe fulfills its objective then it enters into an unlimited state. This is the law of nature that everything eventually returns to its origins. Every contemplation has originated from unlimited and after performing displays of its knowledge in a limited state, it disappears back to its origin which is unlimited. As a result of Murâqabah, we learn about the concept and principles of Isim-i-Allah, which were given by God to all the humans.
Humans become superior to all other organisms of the Universe, because they could use and practice the conscious knowledge given to them by God. This enables humans to be the ruler (Khalifa) over all other creatures of the Universe. After practicing Murâqabah, people become aware of their inner self, its abilities and power. It also enables them to control and use its unlimited power. As long as we use these skills and processes with our determination, our conscious power can observe unseen knowledge.
Method of Murâqabah
We have already mentioned that Murâqabah is Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH) worship done in Mount HIRA cave. To practice Murâqabah, we have to become familiar with, the way the Prophet (PBUH) used to worship in Mount HIRA's cave. Firstly, for Murâqabah, you need to be alone, especially in any corner/space of your home, where you could be on your own. It is the followings of the Prophet (PBUH), as he used to spend time away from the worldly affairs in Mount HIRA's cave. Secondly, the room should be dark (without light). The reason for this is that light activates our conscious and dark activates our subconscious. Light kept on activating our conscious continuously, resulting in our heads full of different ideas and our minds fail to learn anything. Alternatively, in the dark subconscious becomes activated and conscious activity is controlled. Hence the mind is ready to learn. The main purpose of sitting in Mount HIRA's cave was to away from external light, so that the activity of conscious is reduced.
Thirdly, before practicing Murâqabah, the ritual of Wudhu has to be performed. Advantage of Wudhu is that our mind becomes pure and Wudhu is an essential element of prayer. God has commanded to do Wudhu and cleaning before prayer. When we practice this ritual of Wudhu before communicating with God, then in addition with cleaning our body, clear thoughts in our mind becomes attractive enough to worship. Fourthly, Murâqabah should be performed at specific times. The best time of Murâqabah is before sleeping at night and Fajr (before) dawn , because at both of these times, each person is free from worldly affairs.
Murâqabah Lesson:
After Wudhu, sit down at a clean place.
The sitting position should be comfortable enough to remain in that position for a length of time.
Close the eyes and breathe slowly and patiently.
Recite 100 times YAA HAI, YAA QUAYUM
11 times third Kalma
100 times Daroud KHIZARI.
Imagine that you are sitting underneath the Heaven and God is looking at you, while Noorani light is falling over you. Also imagine and try to feel that God is seeing you very affectionately. Stay in this position for 15/20 minutes. Finish your Murâqabah with Du'â. Practice it every day.
This is known as Ehsan Murâqabah.
At the beginning, many different ideas comes into the mind because the brain could not control these ideas. But the best way to control these ideas are to let these ideas infiltrate into the mind, but do not pay any attention to it. Neither, reject these ideas, do not pay any importance to it, then these ideas will automatically pass away and with gradual practice, control over these will be achieved. This will undoubtedly result in bringing in a desired picture/ thought of anything in the mind. Thought is light, which is transferred from subconscious into conscious. This light contains information of unseen. Achievement of Tasavar means that light of unconscious containing information of imagination has been transferred into conscious. When this light has been transferred into conscious then conscious provides it with meaning. After practicing Murâqabah, abilities of conscious increases and it gradually becomes familiar with the unseen, because every information of unconscious is infect news of the unseen. God is also unseen. Everything which is above physical existence, infect is unseen. our physical senses could not find God. We can only find God through our faith.
Law of conscious, suggests that it recognizes everything through its conscious. As God is far away from physical conscious, that is why human beings doubt unseen information. In other words, conscious interprets it wrongly. This results in lowering the value of faith and rejects faith or increase doubt, it causes and increases the frustration and unhappiness. Nature was aware of the conscious and hence has formulated rules/regulations for learning the Roohani (soul) knowledge.
For successful Roohani practices, there must be a teacher, who is familiar with the unseen world. This helps the student/follower to avoid many doubts and danger in their mind. It also helps him/her to grasp and receive the lights of faith in the heart through the knowledge of the teacher. Through Murâqabah, information from the unseen world is transferred into conscious mind. Every unseen information's original source is God and information is infect knowledge of the Universe, while the Universe is a creation of God. God has given human beings all the knowledge of the world. Our conscious is very limited to learn all the knowledge of the Universe, but God has commanded "That I (God) am more nearer to you, than your jugular vein". When we believe this commandment, that through the laws of prayers, our links with God is established and through the practice of Murâqabah, God's knowledge of the universe start transferring into our conscious. The question arises here, that if the source of al the knowledge is God, hen why can't we directly make contact with God. Then we do not need ma teacher. In a way, this is true, but the fact of the matter is everything is being carried out according to God's laws. All the laws and principles of God are known as Sunnah. In the Sunnah of God, there has been no change, from the first day of the Universe, nor will there be a change till the last day (day of Judgement). God's Sunnah is that a teacher is needed to learn the knowledge. Every student needs a mechanism and ways of learning the knowledge. His also true in our conscious world, where a child starts learning from home, then through teachers of different institutions i.e. mosque, school, colleges t etc.
Following God's Sunnah, all the Prophets (PBUH) were trained by God, but in this world God has communicated with the Prophets (PBUH) through Angel Gabriel. Physical conscious becomes a veil for Wahi and they recognized God through their physical conscious. Roohani teacher's third eye is always open and he/she can observe the unseen. He/she can also see through the hidden capabilities of their follower (Murîd): their will power activates the speed of learning (wish). With the increase of wish, in Murîd (follower), the value of Faith is achieved and he/she sees everything in a real context. Gradually, through a process, the Roohani teacher activates Murid's (follower) physical capabilities and when internal capabilities as a source of energy. Hence conscious becomes familiar with knowledge and human beings become full of Universal conscious. In everything of the Universe, God's different virtues are working. As our conscious starts understanding the way and capabilities of universal things, then it becomes clear that inside everything, God has provided a mind, which is functioning. When our brain (head) starts catching rays from other brains (head) then it becomes clear that everything has the same conscious. Thus, we start recognizing God through God's virtues. Before a film is displayed on the screen, it is evident that between the project and screen, it presents all pictures of the film in the beam light.
Similarly, Loh-i-Mahfooz is in fact a film of the Universe, Unseen is the beam of light, which contains all features and dimensions of the film. Earth is comparable to screen, where the universal film is being display. There is only one film, but many screens are present. Every earth of the Universe and every world is displaying the image of Loh-I-Mahfooz. Under the guidance of the teacher, Murîd (follower), observe the inside of the unseen Universe. The matter is changed according to the environment. In other words, the unseen or matter can be seen on the screen, although the real thing remains the same, but its knowledge or meanings have changed. Hence Murîd (follower) with the supervision of the teacher, travels in the unseen world and learns about the working of the inside light and their knowledge.
Shaikh Khawaja Shamsu-d-din Azeemi is the chief of Silsala Azeemia Pakistan
http://www.azeemia.org.pk This site is in Urdu language
Sent by Abdul Rehman Azeemi rehman_azeemi@yahoo.com