{"id":11395,"date":"2018-06-27T16:46:38","date_gmt":"2018-06-27T16:46:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onepathnetwork.com\/?p=11395"},"modified":"2021-07-16T11:09:59","modified_gmt":"2021-07-16T11:09:59","slug":"how-can-muslims-practice-mindfulness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onepathnetwork.com\/au\/spirituality\/how-can-muslims-practice-mindfulness\/","title":{"rendered":"How can Muslims practice mindfulness?"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/amp-jwplayer>\n

The 4 Aspects of Islamic Mindfulness<\/span><\/h1>\n\u201cYaqeen Institute for Islamic Research is a research institute which aims to instil conviction and inspire contribution based on mainstream Islamic texts.\u201d<\/span>\n\nMindfulness is a term we hear a lot today. It is generally understood to be a form of meditation and self-awareness, vaguely associated with Buddhist or Zen practices.<\/span>\n\nFrom the Islamic context, whilst \u2018mindfulness\u2019 as it\u2019s generally understood today has many benefits, its major shortcoming – and likely the reason for its widespread popularity – is the absence of a requirement for God-consciousness or theological understanding for any practitioner.<\/span>\n\nInstead, the Islamic tradition espouses the practice of <\/span>muraqabah, <\/span><\/i>the vigilant awareness of Allah and one\u2019s relationship with Him. Indeed, the traditional understanding of this concept not only includes mindfulness as we understand it today, but encompasses it within an orthodox understanding of Allah and the responsibilities He has given us.<\/span>\n\nAccording to Sheikh Abdul Qadir al-Jilani, <\/span>muraqabah<\/span><\/i> involves an active, conscious awareness of 4 aspects:<\/span>\n

Knowledge of Allah <\/b>\ufdfb <\/b><\/h2>\nOur knowledge of Allah [God] comes only from the understanding which He Himself gave us, through His divine scriptures and the Prophets and Messengers that He sent to teach us.<\/span>\n\nAccording to ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, by reflecting on the 99 Names of Allah, particularly on the names the Watcher (Al-Raqib), the Guardian (Al-Hafith), the Knowing (Al-\u2018Alim), the Hearing (Al-Sami\u2019), the Seeing (Al-Basir), one can acquire <\/span>muraqabah<\/span><\/i>.<\/span>\n

Knowledge of the enemy of Allah, Iblis [Satan]<\/b><\/h2>\nThe two sources of evil in our life are primarily the demonic whisperings of Satan, and the suggestions and weaknesses of our own souls [nafs]. <\/span>\n\nBy reflecting on the reality of Satan, his whisperings, and his weakness and reliance on Allah, we are able to protect ourselves from this fundamental danger in our path to Allah \ufdfb.<\/span>\n

Knowledge of your own soul, and it\u2019s capacity to suggest evil<\/b><\/h2>\nAn understanding of our own self is the sole focus of what we today call \u201cmindfulness\u201d. The Islamic tradition becomes very beneficial in this regard, as the insights it holds for the reality of our souls are numerous.<\/span>\n\nBy reflecting on the major diseases of the heart, as well as the beautifying qualities and characteristics we should replace them with, we can consistently refine and elevate our soul.<\/span>\n

Knowledge of deeds to be done for the sake of Allah<\/b><\/h2>\nThis aspect is necessary for the practice of <\/span>muraqabah<\/span><\/i> to be consistent with the Islamic tradition, and is essential in fulfilling the goal of refinement and nearness to Allah.<\/span>\n\nBy learning and reflecting upon Islamic law and jurisprudence, as well as the various actions that good character calls for, we can give true meaning to our acts of worship for Allah.<\/span>\n\nMany spiritual practices within an orthodox understanding of Islam involve a consistent practice of \u2018meditation\u2019 upon these 4 aspects. <\/span>\n\nIbn al-Qayyim described, <\/span>\n
“<\/span>muraqabah<\/span><\/i> as <\/span>the reality of the pure heart [al-qalb al-salim]\u2026<\/span>by which no one is saved but by coming to Allah with it\u201d.<\/blockquote>\nA true practice of <\/span>muraqabah<\/span><\/i> requires consistency and discipline, and involves a comprehensive awareness of the basics of Islamic creed, law, ethics, and of one\u2019s own subtle psychological make-up.<\/span>\n\nRead more in How to be a Mindful Muslim: An Exercise in Islamic Meditation<\/a> by Justin Parrott<\/a><\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The 4 Aspects of Islamic Mindfulness \u201cYaqeen Institute for Islamic Research is a research institute which aims to instil conviction and inspire contribution based on mainstream Islamic texts.\u201d Mindfulness is a term we hear a lot today. It is generally understood to be a form of meditation and self-awareness, vaguely associated with Buddhist or Zen […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":11396,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"video","meta":{"googlesitekit_rrm_CAow4-bBDA:productID":"","content-type":"","newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"middle","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":["https:\/\/news-api.apple.com\/sections\/f1402f44-8994-4c23-83de-48d0d766f08f"],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[77],"series":[],"speaker":[],"coauthors":[140],"class_list":["post-11395","post","type-post","status-publish","format-video","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-spirituality","tag-latest","post_format-post-format-video","entry"],"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/onepathnetwork.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/mindfulness_Thumbnail.jpg","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/onepathnetwork.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Mums-on-the-RunV3.jpg?fit=2160%2C2160&ssl=1","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":[],"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/onepathnetwork.com\/au\/feed\/podcast\/mums-on-the-run","embedCode":"

How can Muslims practice mindfulness?<\/a><\/blockquote>