Muraaqabah

(awareness that Allah is watching)

Muraqabah necessarily includes mindfulness of one’s own intentions, thoughts, emotions, and other inner states. A mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment. Muraqabah is actually the fulfillment of worshiping Allah according to a proper understanding of the beautiful names that convey His perfect knowledge. Ibn Al-Qayyim says: “Muraqabah is to be devoted to the names of the Watcher (Al-Raqib), the Guardian (Al-Hafith), the Knowing (Al-‘Alim), the Hearing (Al-Sami’), the Seeing (Al-Basir)”. Thus, whoever understands these names and is devoted to fulfilling them will acquire muraqabah. There is a relation between muraqabah and mindfulness. Muraqabah necessarily includes mindfulness of one’s own intentions, thoughts, emotions, and other inner states. Muslim in a state of muraqabah is in continuous full knowledge that Allah is Aware of him or her, inwardly and outwardly. “Remember that Allah knows what is in your souls, so be mindful of Him. This will lead us to the meaning of ihsan. Ihsan is to worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not achieve this state of devotion, then (take it for granted that) Allah sees you.

Allah the Almighty says:
“And know that Allah knows what is within yourselves, so beware of Him. And know that Allah is Forgiving and Forbearing”
[al-Baqarah 2:135]
“O mankind, fear your Lord, who created you from one soul and created from it its mate and dispersed from both of them many men and women. And fear Allah, through whom you ask one another, and the wombs. Indeed, Allah is ever, over you, an Observer”
[an-Nisaa’ 4:1].

Salah, Dhikr, Dua’,Sawm and reading Qur’an lead us to achieve mindfulness and then muraqabah. The purpose is to purify the heart of evil feelings and the mind from evil thoughts. Every human soul is like a mirror that is polished by mindfulness or tarnished by mindfulness. we strengthen our muraqabah when we put muraqabah into action, in salah, we are in top mental and spiritual shape.

The Prophet (PBUH)said, “Verily, at times there is fog over my heart. So, I seek the forgiveness of Allah one hundred times in a day”. So, there are periods of inattention and unawareness of the remembrance of Allah. When he had a period of inattention, he would consider that a sin and seek forgiveness for it.” Even the Prophet (PBUH) would sometimes experience short periods of forgetfulness, so he would seek the forgiveness of Allah (he would say “astaghfirullah”) as a way to bring himself back into the state of muraqabah. And every time you mentioned the name of Allah inside you or silently nurtured gratitude for His giving your life and energy and breath, it was written down by angels in the record of your good deeds and it polished away some of the rusted spots over your heart.

You are present in this moment before Allah when you begin to feel with your heart and say with your tongue: “Two words are beloved to the Most Merciful, light on the tongue but heavy on the scale: Glory and praise to Allah (subhan Allahi wa bi hamdih), and glory to Allah Almighty (subhan Allahi al-‘Athim).” And again, “The best remembrance is to declare there is no God but Allah (la ilhaha illa Allah), and the best supplication is to declare all praise is due to Allah (al-hamdulillah).” Seeking the forgiveness of Allah (al-istighfar) was one of the Prophet’s anchors. So, nothing could be better. Your anchor could also be just one of the beautiful names of Allah that elicit remembrance and awareness in your heart, or you could use all of them.