Muraqabah
Murāqabah is an Islamic methodology of achieving a transcendent union with God. It is a tradition commonly found in .
Etymology and meaning
The word is derived from, which means to guard and watch over with the expectation of noticing any change, unique qualities or abnormalities of a given thing.In ancient Arabic, the word referred to one who would watch the night sky. They would scan the sky in hopes to see the first signs of early stars to begin their journey. Due to the intense heat and difficult terrain of the Arabian Peninsula, the ability to recognize the constellations and their seasonal divergences was a critical skill. In the classic poem, "the observer of the night is as vigilant as a fish in search of water".
According to al-Qushayrī and al-Jurjānī, murāqabah is for one to be aware that their Lord is perpetually aware of His subordinates. Not only is the person continuously in a state of mindfulness but they are also cognizant that their Lord is aware as well, creating a reciprocal relation.
Decorum and etiquette
One of the sentiments of philosopher and theologian Al-Ghāzālī centers around God-consciousness; he stated that it is the obligation of the creation to be in constant awareness of its creator. Once one understands this, they must follow a level of etiquette and protocol which are but not limited to:- Having humility and modesty.
- Staying silent and only speaking when appropriate, as it is mentioned in the narration, “the one who believes in Allah and the Last Day should only speak good or stay quiet”.
- Resolve to do the best that one can in every action.
- Rush to do good deeds and avoiding sin.
- To be content with what one must deal with daily.
- Continuous reflection on one's internal state and the world around them.
- Standing up for the truth.
To progress in one must be consistent for a lengthy period of time to experience the aforementioned benefits.