Page 25 - Pakistan Link - April 26, 2019

RELIGION APRIL 26, 2019 – PAKISTAN LINK – P25
Muraqabat Allah – Observing Allah Gems from the

Holy Qur’an

n By Dr Muzammil H. Siddiqi

n whatever situation you
may be and whatever part
Iof the Qur’an you are recit-
ing, whatever work you are
doing, We witness you when
you are engaged in it. Not
even the weight of a speck of
dust in the earth or sky escapes
your Lord, nor anything lesser
or greater: it is all written in From the translation by
a clear record. Muhammad Asad (Leopold
(Yunus 10:61) Weiss)
Luqman said,
“My son, if even About the translator:
something of the Muhammad Asad, Leop-
weight of a mus- old Weiss, was born of Jewish
tard seed were parents in Livow, Austria (later
hidden in a rock Poland) in 1900, and at the age
or anywhere in the heavens or of 22 made his fi rst visit to the
earth, Allah will bring it (to Middle East. He later became
light), for He is all subtle and all an outstanding foreign cor-
aware. (Luqman 31:16) respondent for the Franfurter
Abdullah ibn Dinar said Zeitung, and aft er years of de-
that he went for a journey to voted study became one of the
Makkah with ‘Umar – may leading Muslim scholars of our
Allah be pleased with both of age. His translation of the Holy
them. Th ey stopped at some Qur’an is one of the most lucid
place. Th ey saw a young shep- and well-referenced works in
herd with a fl ock of sheep. He this category, dedicated to li-
came down from a hill. ‘Umar qawmin yatafakkaroo (people
wanted to test the honesty of who think).
this shepherd. He said to him,
“Sell me one of your sheep.” Chapter 7, Verses 155 – 157
Th e shepherd said, “I am a
slave working for someone. And Moses chose out of his
Th ese sheep are not mine, they people seventy men to come [and
belong to my master.” ‘Umar pray for forgiveness] at a time set
said, “Tell your master that a the more we shall do the right but He catches the eyes. (Al- Judgment Allah will say, by Us. Th en, when violent trem-
wolf attacked and ate one of things and the more we shall An’am 6:103). Muraqabtullah ….You thought that Al- bling seized them, he prayed:
the sheep.” Th e shepherd re- be at peace with us and with is basically the same as ‘Ihsan.’ lah did not know about much “O my Sustainer! Hadst thou
plied, “Fa’ayn Allah? So where others. It is the excellence of faith. In a of what you were doing, so it so willed, Th ou wouldst have
is Allah or what about Allah?” Th e ‘Ulama’ call this “mu- long Hadith known as Hadith was your thought that you held destroyed them ere this, and me
‘Umar could not hold his tears raqabatullah.” Th is means Jibril, the Prophet explained about your Lord that led to your [with them]. Wilt thou destroy us
when he heard this answer keeping Allah always in mind, about Ihsan: ruin and you became the losers. for what the weak-minded among
from the shepherd. He kept re- actually it means ‘observing He was asked “What is Ih- (Fussilat 41:22-23) us have done. [All] this is but a
peating, “Fa’ayn Allah?” When trial from Th ee, whereby Th ou
he came back to Madinah, he A believer must always keep in mind this question, “Where is allowest to go astray whom Th ou
sent someone to fi nd out who willest, and guidest aright whom
was the master of this shep- Allah?” Allah is not far away; Allah is not at a distance. Allah is Th ou willest. Th ou art near unto
herd. He purchased the shep- us: grant us, then, forgiveness
herd and freed him. He said not unaware of what we do. Allah knows everything and He sees and have mercy on us – for Th ou
to him, “Th is word freed you everything. Th e more we have this faith in our hearts and minds, art the best of all forgivers! And
in this life and I hope it will ordain thou for us what is good
free you in the Hereaft er.” (Al- the more we shall do the right things and the more we shall be at in this world as well as in the life
Ghazali, Ihya’ vol. 4, p. 396) to come: behold, unto thee have
A believer must always peace with us and with others we come in repentance!”
keep in mind this question, [God] answered: “With My
“Where is Allah?” Allah is chastisement do I affl ict whom I
not far away; Allah is not at a Allah.’ To observe Allah does san? He said, ‘ at you worship Muraqabatullah is a beau- will – but my grace overspreads
distance. Allah is not unaware not mean that you see Him Allah as though you are seeing tiful experience. It fi lls a per- everything: and so I shall confer
of what we do. Allah knows physically or Allah appears to Him, though you see Him not son with peace and tranquil- it on those who are conscious
everything and He sees every- you in person. Our belief is that yet He sees you.” (al-Bukhari, ity; it gives comfort at the time of Me and spend in charity, and
thing. Th e more we have this Allah is Infi nite, Transcendent. Hadith no. 48) of pain and diffi culties. It gives who believe in our messages –
faith in our hearts and minds, Our eyes cannot catch Him, Muraqabatullah or keep- strength and assurance and it those who shall follow the [last]
ing Allah al- makes life beautiful. It keeps apostle, the unlettered Prophet
ways in mind on the right path and saves whom they shall fi nd described
saves us from from a lot of troubles. in the Torah that is with them,
lies, hypoc- Ibn ‘Abbas – may Allah be and [later on] in the Gospel: [the
risy and sins. pleased with him- said that I Prophet] who will enjoin upon
It keeps us was riding behind the Prophet them the doing of what is right
aware that –peace be upon him - one day. and forbid them the doing of
whatever we He said to me, “Young man, I what is wrong, and make lawful
do, whether am teaching you some impor- to them the good things of life
in public or tant words, ‘Keep Allah in your and forbid them the bad things,
private, is mind, He shall protect you. and lift from them their burdens
known to Al- Keep Allah in your mind, you and the shackles that were upon
lah and Al- will nd Him in front of you. them [aforetime]. Th ose, there-
lah sees it. When you need something, ask fore, who shall believe in him,
When people Allah. When you need help, and honor him, and succour him,
lose this con- seek help from Allah. Know this and follow the light that has been
s c i o u s n e s s that if all the people gather to- bestowed from on high through
then they gether to bene t you with any- him – it is they that shall attain a
do not care thing they cannot do that except happy state”.
about what with what Allah has written for
they say and you; and if they gather together Chapter 7, Verses 175 – 177
what they do to harm you they cannot do
and this leads that except with what Allah has And tell them what happens
them to cor- written for you. e pens are to him to whom We vouchsafe
ruption. On li ed and books are dried. Our messages and who then dis-
the Day of (Al-Tirmidhi) GEMS, P28
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