Taffakur
(Contemplation)
Know
yourself
and
yourself
and
you
Will
know
Your
Lord
Tafakkur
literally means to think on a subject deeply and in great detail, to admire and
appreciate every aspect of a given thought. Contemplation is the heart’s lamp;
a light that illuminates the inner as well as the outer surroundings and
enables the light bearer to fathom the reality and true nature of things. It’s
the golden key to unlock the secrets hidden inside our hearts and outside in
the ever-expending universe
” It is through reflection that the universe becomes a book to
study, and the verses of Quran disclose their deeper meanings and secrets
more clearly. Without reflection, the heart is darkened, the spirit is
exasperated, and religion is lived at such a superficial level that it is
devoid of meaning and profundity".
M. Fethullah Gulen, “Key concepts in the practice of
Sufism”
"What lies behind us
and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us" Ralph Waldo Emerson
Tafakkur occurs when we turn the eye of our awareness
inward, towards the heart, knowing that this is where Allah the most high
dwells. Prophet Mohammad (SAW) described reflection as the most worthy of all
the acts.
“No act of worship is as meritorious
as reflection, so reflect on the God’s bounties and works of his power”
Another
verse in Quran invites us to reflect upon the creation of the universe,
They reflect on the creation of the heavens and Earth
(3:190)
By
drawing our attention to the creation and calling us to reflect on the
book of the Universe, Quran offers one of the most profound ways to
discover the divine mysteries and gain true knowledge of the self—a way to
become a perfect universal human being.
“Wherever you turn, there is the
radiantly beautiful Face of Allah (Holy Quran, 2:115).”
Quran grants numerous opportunities for those who
contemplate. Here are some of the verses to be reflected in our still and
serene moments.
Reflection
on the verses of Light:
“Allah is the Light of the
heavens and the earth (Holy Qur’an, 24:35
Reflection on Nature:
Lo! In the creation of the heavens and the
earth and in the difference of night and day are tokens of His
Sovereignty for men of understanding.
Quran 3:190
Reflection on the Power
of Allah:
"When He wills a certain thing, He commands it
'Be!' and it is" (36:82)
The
entire Quran calls us to contemplate on the countless manifestations of Allah's
majesty and our fragility. Every day we observe that someone is dying
while other is surviving; someone is succeeding while other is failing and
someone is healing while other is ailing. Human life is unpredictable and
fragile, every minute and every second of the day we are dependent on His
will and mercy to survive.
Consequently,
we are also invited to reflect upon our “place” in this colossal universe.
The vast ever-expending universe with billions of heavenly bodies and in the
midst of the massively gigantic universe, exists an insignificantly small
planet Earth—an abode for innumerable life-forms. Among them one life form
is called "Human". Human who considers himself the most
powerful and the most intelligent of all creations—alas, in reality he is
unable to guarantee the next living moment on planet earth- This is
how insignificant and vulnerable He is!!!
Being a reflective entity, we are required to derive lessons from the countless occurrences and contemplate upon our insignificance and Allah’s magnificence. Without His blessings and bounties our existence is absolutely impossible. Those who drive their lessons through introspection progress towards submission and ultimately attain the infinite tranquility.
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