Meditation

Meditation is a practice where an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness, or focusing their mind on a particular object, thought or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state. Scholars have found meditation difficult to define, as practices vary both between traditions and within them.
Some of the earliest written records of meditation (Dhyana), come from the Hindu traditions of Vedantism.

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Meditation . Spirituality

What kind of spiritual practice or meditation did Hazrat Ali (ra) engage in?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 1 year ago

Hazrat Ali (AS) had highest degree of dedication to Allah (SWT) after the degree of the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA). Both of them Knew, loved and obeyed Allah like no one else in the whole creatures. Both of them were with Allah in every moment in their life.

Wassalam.

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Meditation . Sufism . Sunni-Shi'a

It is said that many Sufi orders trace their lineages to Imam Ali (AS). If this is the case, why do we rarely find any meditation or breathing techniques in Shia traditions similar to what we find with the followers of Sufism?

Rebecca Masterton, Dr Rebecca Masterton graduated with a BA in Japanese Language and Literature; an MA in Comparative East Asian and African Literature and a PhD in Islamic literature of West Africa. She has been... Answer updated 4 years ago

"Meditation in the life of the Prophet (sawa) predated the divinely revealed instruction on canonical prayer. The Prophet (sawa) underwent long periods of spiritual retreats known as tahannuth on mount Hira. As we have seen given the fact that His daughter used a black knotted prayer rope used in the hesychast tradition indicates that he himself most probably engaged in body-breath-mind meditative practices BEFORE the command of performing Salah was given through divine revelation." (Dr. Francisco Luis).

The field of the transmission of practices from the Imamiyya to what later became Sufi groups and then orders is one of the most neglected in Islamic Studies, although it is slowly developing. Mohammad Ali Amir-Moezzi mentions possible links between the muraqaba techniques practiced by the Naqshbandiyya-Mujadidiyya and the Imamiyya (pps 50-51, The Divine Guide in Early Shi'ism) - although this does not involve breathing techniques, but rather connection through intention to subtle centres called 'lata'if'. It is interesting that the Naqshbandiyya arose in Khorasan where there were many Imamiyya. It is a general rule that with the democratisation of a religious/spiritual movement, there can be a watering down of its teachings. Similarly, we have almost no extant texts from the early period of Islam - and that can't be just because all of the texts were burned or destroyed; so the question remains with regard to the full extent of what has been lost, and why.

Meditation . Sufism . Sunni-Shi'a

Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answer updated 5 years ago

It is unlikely that Sufi orders took these practices directly from Imam Ali (A) although they may sometimes ascribe them to Imam Ali (A) as a form of piety. However, it's not unheard of for these things to be done among Shi'i mystics, and in general these practices are found in the mystical traditions in many regions. Maybe they can be viewed more like exercise similar to how if one wishes to strengthen one's muscles, one can lift weights, regardless of one's religious affiliation(s).

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Meditation . Shamanism

I wish to know if it is allowed for myself as a Muslim to contact spirits and ask them to show me things during deep meditation or Shamanic journeying, as I feel very drawn towards it?

In and of itself, there is nothing in Islam forbidding communication with any type of being (spirit, animal, human, tree, etc.). There is also nothing inherently forbidden about meditation or meditative practices.

However, some specific practices might be forbidden or at least deeply questionable, for instance, the use of psychoactive substances to induce these things.

Similarly, if someone does this for a wrong or haraam reason, this would also be forbidden.

The Quran does warn people about dependency or reliance on jinn, and that should be taken into consideration. People can be easily confused, deluded, or misled about these matters and there is also no guarantee that any spirit is going to say something which is truthful or beneficial. Sometimes people also get manipulated by things beyond themselves if they attempt to connect with them. So it is good to be careful and use good judgment.

Note that some Muslims will take a more conservative approach to this question and say that it is forbidden based on reasons such as avoiding religious practices which are not prescribed by the Sunnah, etc.

Also, attitudes among Muslims towards these things tend to vary, e.g. some Sufi groups tend to be more open to them.

Anyway, people are called to all sorts of things in life. Some people are called to being artists, some to being athletes, some to what lies beyond. If you have a calling that is easily compatible with Islam, such as nursing, this is relatively straightforward. If you have a calling that is less easily compatible, such as being a ballet dancer, this is more difficult. In any case, part of being a dedicated Muslim who has a calling to something is deciding how to navigate and live one's calling in a way that is authentic to one's self and one's faith.

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Meditation . Prophet Muhammad

Did Prophet Muhammad (SAW) practice any meditation before he announced his Prophethood? If so, what kind of meditation was it?

Zoheir Ali Esmail, Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD... Answered 6 years ago

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. It depends what you mean by meditation. If it is akin to thinking (tafakkur) or watching over oneself (muraqaba) then these are practices which are condoned in Islam and indeed recommended for people seeking a spiritual life. But as for the Prophet's own states, much of that is unknown as they are states after the station of reaching. The Prophet's (saw) spiritual journey was different to most of ours as his beginning was further than where we will end up. Every station has its practice and the Prophet (saw) had states with Allah that we cannot quite imagine as we have not experienced the like of those states. Meditation in the sense that it is discussed as a spiritual or mental practice is much below these levels.

May you always be successful

Meditation . Prophet Muhammad

Did Prophet Muhammad (SAW) practice any meditation before he announced his Prophethood? If so, what kind of meditation was it?

There was No meditation at all in the life of the Prophet Muhammad (S) but he was worshipping Allah (SWT) as all the prophets used to worship Allah.

Meditation is a term used by non Muslims who do not recognise the prophetic worshipping. We, Muslim believe that spiritual uplift meant comes only through worshipping Allah (SWT) in the same way that all the prophets and Ahlul Bayt (A) performed.

Wassalam.

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Islam . Meditation

Meditation is normally seen as a Buddhist thing but is there any scope for it in Islam? How can we use it to gain a better relationship with our Creator, and is there anything we should definitely not do?

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. Meditation is of many types but the most commonly discussed is where a person watches over their thoughts without judging or trying to stop them. With the passage of time, those thoughts become more silent and a person can reach a heightened state of calmness.

This type of meditation is called Muraqaba in Islamic spirituality, which literally means watching over one's self. In the beginning, muraqabah is over one's actions, it then moves onto thoughts, then a person's states and then into deeper aspects of the heart. Muraqabah is usually discussed in a three-stage system of Musharata (making conditions), Muraqabah (watching over one's self) and Muhasabah (taking one's self to account). The important point is that a person should not rush to stop thoughts or to be heavy in judging themselves negatively. Some Islamic mystics have said that Muraqabah is the most important discipline in self-purification and is applicable at every stage of the spiritual journey.

Some scholars have also recommended spending a few moments clearing your thoughts before starting the obligatory prayers. While clearing the mind is an end in some traditions, it is an introductory aspect to worship in Islam as the mind must be ready to start to comprehend the secrets of worship.

When using techniques from any other tradition it is important to stay within the bounds of the Shariah and therefore, especially with some forms of Buddhist meditation, you must be careful not to call on anyone other than Allah in the mantras that are sometimes recited.

There is much more that can be said on the topic but I hope this answers your question.

May you always be successful.