Revelation tells us that muraqabah, vigilance of Allah, is one of the sublimest spiritual stations. We are told too that habituating our heart to such vigilance requires training the heart gradually and step-by-step. Masters of the heart instruct us to accustom ourselves to being mindful and shy of Allah, even if it be for short periods at a time…
How to Nurture Presence of Heart with God?
Without doubt, the greatest trait to nurture in our worship of God and in our journey to Him is hudur al-qalb - "presence of heart". It says in one hadith: 'Ask God [in a state where] you are certain of being responded to; and realise that God does not respond to a supplication from a heedless and inattentive…
You Have Wings to Fly, So Don’t Crawl
In January of this year, I had the opportunity (the good fortune) to accompany Shaykh Jaleel Ahmad Akhoon on one of his travels in the UK. My reasons for wanting to do so were simple: Shaykh Jaleel isn't only a scholar of the outward shari‘ah sciences, he is a profound spiritual guide too. Keeping company with those who…
Are You Seeking with the Seekers or Sleeping with the Sleepers?
It is said that: 'Every person is either a traveller, an arriver, or a non-traveller.' That is, one is either journeying to God through acts of faith, devotion and loving submission, desiring to being drawn closer to Him; or has spiritually ‘arrived’ at God and has been led to true God-conciousness; or has yet to make that…