A Critical Review of Shamsuddin Azeemi's "Murāqabah" through the Lens of The Qur’ān and Hadīth
Meditation is an ancient practice that allows people to think about the existence and the main purpose of their lives. It has various forms and is associated with the different religions. Meditation in Islamic societies/cultures is linked with Sufism (Mysticism). During meditation Sufis follow certa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of Management and Technology
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Islamic Thought and Civilization |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.umt.edu.pk/index.php/JITC/article/view/681 |
| _version_ | 1818066416352362496 |
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| author | Iffat Khalid Shazia Gulzar Muhammad Amin |
| author_facet | Iffat Khalid Shazia Gulzar Muhammad Amin |
| author_sort | Iffat Khalid |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Meditation is an ancient practice that allows people to think about the existence and the main purpose of their lives. It has various forms and is associated with the different religions. Meditation in Islamic societies/cultures is linked with Sufism (Mysticism). During meditation Sufis follow certain practices; most of which are common among different Sufi Schools (Silsila) including Murāqabah. This research article critically analyses the famous practice of Murāqabah, also presented by Khawaja Shamsuddin Azeemi, in his manuscript “Murāqabah: The Art and Science of Sufi Meditation.” Azeemi states that Murāqabah is one of the ways of achieving closeness to Allah and attaining gnosis (maʽrifa Allah). Azeemi has presented Sufi rituals systematically covering the fundamental aspects of meditation (mysticism) that comprises prayer (Du'a), contemplation (Murāqabah), and invocation (Dhikr). Khawaja Shamsuddin Azeemi’s book is a complete manual containing detailed guidelines regarding Murāqabah and its various forms with emphasis that practicing Murāqabah will help “to attain closeness to Allah”. According to the Holy Qur’ān and Hadith, closeness to Allah can be obtained by offering Salah, Tahajjud and sitting for Itikāf in the month of Ramazan. The critical analysis through the lens of the Holy Qur’ān and Hadith shows that neither is the term “Murāqabah” mentioned in the Holy Qur’ān and Hadiths nor is there any evident proof for the diverse rites and rituals associated with the practice of Murāqabah. It is a term coined specifically by the Sufis, along with its various forms and rituals.
Keywords: Dhikr, Murāqabah, The art and science of sufi meditation, Spirituality, Contemplation
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| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T15:07:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2b200581bf6045c4bf93f84b52f7332d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-0943 2520-0313 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T15:07:26Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | University of Management and Technology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Islamic Thought and Civilization |
| spelling | doaj.art-2b200581bf6045c4bf93f84b52f7332d2022-12-22T01:44:00ZengUniversity of Management and TechnologyJournal of Islamic Thought and Civilization2075-09432520-03132021-05-0111110.32350/jitc.111.16A Critical Review of Shamsuddin Azeemi's "Murāqabah" through the Lens of The Qur’ān and HadīthIffat Khalid0Shazia Gulzar1Muhammad Amin2Department of Humanities, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, Lahore, PakistanDepartment of Humanities, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, Lahore, PakistanDepartment of Islamic Studies, University of Lahore, Lahore, PakistanMeditation is an ancient practice that allows people to think about the existence and the main purpose of their lives. It has various forms and is associated with the different religions. Meditation in Islamic societies/cultures is linked with Sufism (Mysticism). During meditation Sufis follow certain practices; most of which are common among different Sufi Schools (Silsila) including Murāqabah. This research article critically analyses the famous practice of Murāqabah, also presented by Khawaja Shamsuddin Azeemi, in his manuscript “Murāqabah: The Art and Science of Sufi Meditation.” Azeemi states that Murāqabah is one of the ways of achieving closeness to Allah and attaining gnosis (maʽrifa Allah). Azeemi has presented Sufi rituals systematically covering the fundamental aspects of meditation (mysticism) that comprises prayer (Du'a), contemplation (Murāqabah), and invocation (Dhikr). Khawaja Shamsuddin Azeemi’s book is a complete manual containing detailed guidelines regarding Murāqabah and its various forms with emphasis that practicing Murāqabah will help “to attain closeness to Allah”. According to the Holy Qur’ān and Hadith, closeness to Allah can be obtained by offering Salah, Tahajjud and sitting for Itikāf in the month of Ramazan. The critical analysis through the lens of the Holy Qur’ān and Hadith shows that neither is the term “Murāqabah” mentioned in the Holy Qur’ān and Hadiths nor is there any evident proof for the diverse rites and rituals associated with the practice of Murāqabah. It is a term coined specifically by the Sufis, along with its various forms and rituals. Keywords: Dhikr, Murāqabah, The art and science of sufi meditation, Spirituality, Contemplation https://journals.umt.edu.pk/index.php/JITC/article/view/681Dhikr, Murāqabah, the art and science of sufi meditation, spirituality, contemplation |
| spellingShingle | Iffat Khalid Shazia Gulzar Muhammad Amin A Critical Review of Shamsuddin Azeemi's "Murāqabah" through the Lens of The Qur’ān and Hadīth Journal of Islamic Thought and Civilization Dhikr, Murāqabah, the art and science of sufi meditation, spirituality, contemplation |
| title | A Critical Review of Shamsuddin Azeemi's "Murāqabah" through the Lens of The Qur’ān and Hadīth |
| title_full | A Critical Review of Shamsuddin Azeemi's "Murāqabah" through the Lens of The Qur’ān and Hadīth |
| title_fullStr | A Critical Review of Shamsuddin Azeemi's "Murāqabah" through the Lens of The Qur’ān and Hadīth |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Critical Review of Shamsuddin Azeemi's "Murāqabah" through the Lens of The Qur’ān and Hadīth |
| title_short | A Critical Review of Shamsuddin Azeemi's "Murāqabah" through the Lens of The Qur’ān and Hadīth |
| title_sort | critical review of shamsuddin azeemi s muraqabah through the lens of the qur an and hadith |
| topic | Dhikr, Murāqabah, the art and science of sufi meditation, spirituality, contemplation |
| url | https://journals.umt.edu.pk/index.php/JITC/article/view/681 |
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