5.1 Introduction To The Station Of Thinking (At-Tafakkur)

Some Urafa say that this station is still counted as the preliminary steps of the starting of the journey. Imam Khomeini says that this is the first stage to the journey. Khar Abdul Ansari – says that this is the fifth station to reaching Allah (SWT). Either way this is one of the important steps to change one’s lifestyle.

Muslim Philosophy state that ‘Attafakoor’ or ‘thinking’ is relating to, to go and utilize the information that you have to come up with a question that you need to answer. For example some information is given to solve a problem. Thinking in philosophy means that we come up with the questions relating to a particular problem. This is a broad meaning and even includes the cunning and bad element of analysis

Urafa say that ‘Attafakour’ relates to ‘searching for insight of the heart’, or in other terms – trying to activate the inner senses. So that we can find what we do not know. The Arif has nothing other to look for than Allah (SWT). Thinking means an endeavor for one to pursue to active the inner senses so that they are more able to find Allah (SWT). One can apply this

Quran – the purpose of the revelation to explain to the people, and so that they think (this is the objective of the Quran, to get people to think and activate their inner senses)

Urafa believe that Quran comes in two formats:

1. The creation of the whole universe

2. The written Quran that we have with us

Each sentence in the Quran is called an ‘Ayah’, because each ayah is in effect a sign of Allah (SWT). The whole universe is an ayat of Allah. Each ayah in the Quran is not to be called a verse. The Quran was revealed so that we can think and activate our inner senses.

In Islam we are encouraged to do our ritual obligations and think about our deeds. For example, Allah (SWT) doesn’t say pray because I said so, but rather that we should pray because it protects us from the evils out there.

5.2 The Significance Of Thinking

Someone once asked that Prophet (S) what is the worthiest act, he said thinking. This is the key, to think for one hour about the Quran is better than worshipping for one night, or one year, or sixty years, or seventy years. As reported by various ahadith – because it is based on peoples own situations.

Imam Ali (‘a) said: “We have committed a lot of sins from just thinking. You need to have positive thinking.”

We need to wash away these thoughts by good thinking. French Philosopher, (founder of modern philosophy) – coined the term – ‘I think therefore I am’. This is the main differentiation between man and beast. This station is a means of travelling and a prescription as well.

5.3 The Levels Of Thinking

Urafa say that we should spend our time thinking, the levels are:

Spend some times during the day and night to think about the whole universe and ourselves (where did we come from, who developed me, who protected me when I was in the fetus, what happened that I am this old age, who has protected me, think about the blessings of the eyes, what if I cannot see, every part of us is a miracle, step out at night and look at the stars)

If you think, you will see that everything is the fingerprint of Allah (SWT).

Ali Imran 190 – 191, changed the life of the Prophet (S) completely:

Behold! in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day,- there are indeed Signs for men of understanding, (3:190)
---------Aga Pooya commentary-------------

The Holy Prophet said:

"Woe to him who reads this verse and does not ponder thereon".

Imam Muhammad bin Ali al Baqir said: “Observe and examine the creation of Allah.”

The Holy Prophet said:

"There is no form of devotion like meditation."

(Refer to Imam Ali's sayings on page 20 and 33 of this book, and his sermons in Nahj al Balagha dealing with the creation of the heavens and the earth).

---------End of Aga Pooya commentary-------------

“Men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heavens and the earth, (With the thought): ‘Our Lord! not for naught Hast Thou created (all) this! Glory to Thee! Give us salvation from the penalty of the Fire.’” (3:191)

The Hadith says the lifestyle of the Prophet (S) changed as a result of these two ayat, whenever he used to go out to do Wudhu he used to recite these two ayat, there are signs in the creations of Allah (SWT), they were not created in vain – there is a purpose in them. We can get the answers from pondering and reflecting.

Sheikh Jawad Tabrizi used to go out for tahajud, he used to go out early morning to do the Wudhu, he used to read these two ayat every time he used to go out in making the Wudhu.

What is the benefit of thinking before we do anything?

Allah (SWT) is the creator everything. To be thankful of Allah (SWT) and increase our worshipping. Spend time thinking about the dunya and the hereafter as well. We will be signing out of this life eventually like others. This dunya does not become loyal to anyone.

Imam Al-Sadiq (‘a) says:

“Spend some time thinking about this dunya, and compare it to our ancestors – did they stay with the dunya or the dunya stay with the them.”

They are not anywhere except underground, think about all these things. Don’t you realize how close the angel of death is to us.

One of the Urafa was asked why did you start this journey – he said:

“The fact that I am dying, it alerted me and it motivated me to get into practical Irfan. Who is your guide people asked him? He said my guide is my intellect and rationality (thinking and reflecting). What is your provision people asked him? My provision is taqwa that is all that I have in my suit case it is the best provision I could take for me. What is your love people asked him? My love is my worshipping – if you know what you are doing you would enjoy it, I am in love with Allah (SWT).”

Who is your companion people asked him? Allah (SWT) is my companion. I am going towards him with him. (he cannot step without Allah (SWT)) Where did you learn this stuff from? He said Quran. These are types of things we can reflect on.

We need to think about the blessings that Allah (SWT) has given us. Once you start having real dreams, some intuition. The moment that you think you are proud of yourself you should thank Allah (SWT) asince we do not deserve it. It is not the result of our actions; it is all the blessings of Allah (SWT). If you believe that the good things like winning in a court case is a result of our good deeds then we would be losers as the element of pride will kick in. Allah (SWT) wants humble people.

The Quran says that after the victory of Prophet (S) had with the infidels - you didn’t kill them, Allah (SWT) killed them. A higher step than this can be seen in the Surah an-Nasr:

When comes the Help of Allah, and Victory, And thou dost see the people enter Allah's Religion in crowds, Celebrate the praises of thy Lord, and pray for His Forgiveness: For He is Oft-Returning (in Grace and Mercy). (110:1-3)

Refer to the commentary of (Surah Mumin: 55), (Fath: 2) and (Muhammad: 15) and ayat 19 for the meaning of the phrase "wastaghfirhu" whenever it is used for the infallible Holy Prophet and his Ahl ul Bayt.

You achieved victory in Mecca, and groups of people come forth and become Muslim. It is not me, myself and I – but rather give glory to Allah (SWT) and give forgiveness for the mistakes that I might have done. You need to be always conscious of this.

One of the highest levels of thinking: thinking that you will never understand Allah (SWT) by the means of thinking. This means ‘thinking’ is really insufficient to know Allah (SWT).

There is a hot debate between philosophers and Urafa – the following examples highlghts this debate.

Q - Can you see with your ears? A – Of course not

Urafa say that to know Allah (SWT) you cannot use the wrong means and instrument – through thinking.

Ahadith say that we are using the wrong means – to know the real essence and reality of Allah (SWT) you need to activate your heart not your mind thinking. This will allow one to reach tawhid – and one comes to the point where you say ‘Oh Lord introduce yourself to me, if you do not do this I will not know your Messenger Prophet (S), if I do not know your Messenger I will not know your Hujjah Imam Mahdi (‘a) and if you do not know of our present Hujjah I will be going astrary’. (Dua from our Aimmah, whom have reached the highest stage of thinking) This is a stage of absolute tawhid, that I give up I endeavoured to try but I give up. I do not know anything in the end. I cannot come to know you as you’re the only one that can introduce yourself to me. Prescription:

One of our distinguished Maraje’ Sayyid Marashi Najafi (Shabourdeen) whom has passed away some years back said: When I was in najaf, I decided to go to Samare on a moqam of Sayyid Muhammad (son of Imam Hadi (‘a), as I was going I got lost, it was my first experience, I was hungry and hot, all I remember is that I felt unconscious, and I woke up and all I could see was that my head was resting on the lap of someone whom was pouring water on me and was a very handsome sayyid. He asked him – where are you going? He replied I was going to visit Sayyid Muhammad moqam. He said but you are here and the Marja’ was freaking out that how he got to that place. How come I didn’t see it before when I was conscious. I couldn’t figure it out that the water I was given was so sweet and so light. It was that it was Imam Mahdi (‘a) visiting him because he visited him before but he just came and helped him and left. This time Sayyid Shahbourdeen ceased the opportunity being a salek to ask the Imam Mahdi (‘a) for a prescription (something to benefit from him) for benefit of this world and the hereafter. The Imam (‘a) gave him eight (8) points and said beforehand consider and take care of all these eight (8) points and you will be alright in this world and the hereafter:

1. Recite Quran as much as you can,

2. Aqiq with names of the Ma’soomen and put it under the tongue of a dead person,

3. Be kind and respectful for ones parents (dead or alive), do good things for them,

4. As much as you can you go to Hajj, go to Shrines of the Aimmah (‘a) as much as you can,

5. Respect the sayyid and the ofspring as much as you can, because one can respect the Prophet (S) through this,

6. Do not forget the salaat al-layl, it is shame for those that relate themselves to us but they are not doing salaat al-layl,

7. Tasbeeh of Fatimah (‘a) as much as one can (before one sleeps), and ziyarat of Imam Husain (‘a)

8. Read the sermons of the Ahlul-Bayt sremon of jadditateh of Fatimah in Mosque in Meidna, of Shaqshiqeya of Imam Ali (‘a) in Iraq, sermon of zaynab of court of Yazid.