Muraqabah is the key and essence to spiritual development for it is nothing other than the development of Ihsan {Moral Excellence}, presence,

• Which is the highest level of spirituality as taught by Prophet Muhammad (S).

• It is the very annihilation of one’s self in the presence of the Divine.

• It is the annihilation of one’s self in the light and reality of the Murshid, who is in reality the disciple’s source and the origin of the light of his/her soul.

• Muraqabah is thus a return one’s true and perfected self. It is the fastest and most direct method for spiritual progress.

• Muraqabah is making Hijra from one’s self to Allah (SWT).

• It is emigration from the false identity dunya has assigned the individual to the real identity Allah (SWT) has created one as in His mighty Presence.

• Muraqabah is the perfect method for the development of spiritual consciousness and the awakening of the heart and soul and the light of the mind, which are dormant otherwise, for Muraqabah is the denial of the senses, which enslave one to dunya, that he/she may awaken to Haqiqat, reality.

• It is thus the essence of zuhd, ascetism, the path of the seekers of truth, the Men of God, who willfully have turned away from dunya altogether and who will not and cannot rest until they arrive at their divine destination.

• Muraqabah is the healing of the body with the light of the Divine and thus the purification of the blood and the development of mastery over one’s magnetic energy field.

• It is the key to the alchemical process wherein the light, energy and electricity of the Divine Presence changes the poisoned mercury of dunya within one’s system into blessed prophetic golden light.

• Muraqabah is reality. It is moving from slavery and bondage towards freedom.

• In summary and in essence, Muraqabah is dying to the world and awakening to Reality, the aim, goal and purpose of all spiritual practice.

 

1 – Timing. The ideal time for Muraqabah and spiritual endeavors in general is at night after midnight, for this is when the world is asleep and the Ibad, the lovers and seekers of Allah (SWT), are awake and traveling towards reality and their divine destinations. It is in the veil of the night that the realm and plane of consciousness is clear from the chaos of dunya and when the mind and heart may operate most efficiently and effectively. It is the ideal time to develop the practice of Muraqabah, which in reality is a state of heedfulness that must be kept constantly and perpetually throughout the day. The mindful and committed seek to not take a single breath in a state of heedlessness, and so one must constantly struggle to maintain perpetual presence.

 

2 – Purification. One must first rise and make wudu with realization of its inner aspects, washing away the burdens and darkness of dunya from one’s mind and body, and igniting and sealing the latent energy in his/her being. It is the extremities washed during wudu that primarily interact with dunya and which must be cleansed of the stain of dunya. Needless to say, one must always wash the private areas with water after using the restroom. For more information, see articles on wudu…

 

3 – Dress. Critical to cleansing and correcting one’s self, one’s identity, is to first and foremost establish and maintain proper physical appearance. This means donning the dress and garb most conducive to spirituality, and this is none other than the dress and garb of Sayyidina Muhammad (S) and of all Prophets. The most direct method for establishing one’s identity is signified in his actual physical appearance, for it is the most immediate and fundamental assertion of who one is. This is the time when one must leave the dress of dunya and embrace the dress of Akhira. This is the most basic step in abandoning one’s identity as Abd-dunya, a slave to the world, and asserting his/her true and real identity – Abdullah, an honored servant of the Divine. And so one must wear his/her best Islamic Sunnah clothes, white being ideal for it best reflects the presence and energy from dunya. One must hold fast to the turban, jubbah, miswak, attar and perfume, ring, etc, for this is the honored dress of the Zahideen, the ascetics and lovers of Sayyidina Muhammad (S), they who reject completely the illusion of the material world and who want nothing to do with it, they who fast day and night from it and who will settle for nothing less than the perfection and truth of reality.

 

4 – Place. One should set aside a small corner of his/her house for spiritual activity, a niche which will become blessed and charged with angelic light and presence. One should lay out a nice prayer carpet in the direction of Qibla and place a candle or oil lamp in emulation of Sayyidina Musa (A) who in seeking the presence of the Divine traveled towards the Burning Bush. It is also recommended to light either incense or a scented oil diffuser to attract angels and positive light and energy. And it also recommended keep nearby a picture of the Murshid, the Shaykh and Guide, as a spiritual compass to align oneself and to facilitate the connection to the presence and reality of the Master.

 

5 – Begin. One begins by first praying 2 raka’ Tahiyyatul Wudu. It is important to keep in mind the purpose and meaning of the prayer, its movements and inner aspects. The perfection of prayer is in Sayyidina Muhammad (S) and in the very state of his being. The actual movements correspond to the letters of his divine name, “Ahmad.” When standing one is in the position of the Alif. In ruku, the letter Ha is formed. Sajda is the Meem. And jalsah, or sitting, is the Dal. Thus, one must seek to become one with the reality of the prayer, which is nothing other than the reality of Sayyidina Muhammad (S).

 

6 – Recite. State niyah, intention, as prescribed by Grandshaykh Abdullah (Q): “Nawaytul Araba’in, nawaytul ‘itikaf, nawaytul khalwa, nawaytul uzla, nawaytul riada, nawaytus suluk, nawaytus siyam, fi hadhal masjid lillahi ta’ala.” Followed by Shahada, istighfar, ikhlas, ihda, Fatiha…