Generally meditation is a common way or practice to release our mind precisely from anything that affected an interesting thing or something to burden, this practice will lead us into a relaxation.
However some opinion also explain that meditation is a way to contemplate surrounding, to thing, focusing our mind and soul or even analyst about an event happened to us. In other way the meaning of meditation will depend on each person poin of view.
Islam also know meditation in their practice, but it might slightly different from another teachings. As we know that all the religion also have their own way to meditate, but it is distinct on how they perform it. According to Islam meditation is a good practice that will help us to focusing our concentration and expand our though or mind while this in line with an Islamic though that in everything Muslims do than we should do it in focus.
“They are the repenters, the worshipers, the praisers, the meditators, the bowing and prostating, the advocators of righteousness and forbidders of evil, and the keepers of the law of Allah. Give good news to such believers. (QS. At-Tawbah : 112)
How to meditate in Islam
Indeed Islam knew well enough about meditation, in fact meditation in Islam reflected in every aspect of their prayers and worship. As a good Muslims we should know how to meditate in Islam, the intention and the way to perform it, as written below:
1. Intention (Niyyah)
Before going into meditation we should knew what our intention are, Islam is always recommended to strengthened our intention before doing everything. This are in order to prevent on doing misguided thing. If our intention is only for the sake of Allah SWT that it will be easier to be done, as written in the following verse:
“And those who strive for Us – We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good.” (QS. Al’Ankabut : 69)
Read also : prohibition of hoarding in Islam
2. Remember of Allah SWT
“Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured.” (QS. Ar-Ra’d : 28)
The verses tell us that by the remembrance of Allah our heart and mind will be calmed and feel at ease. Even if we face a hard situation as muslims we should always remember the existence of Allah SWT.
3. Dhikr
Most scholars refer dhikr as the form of meditation in Islamic way. Performing dhikr will evoke our remembrance of Allah SWT.
By uttering blessed words such as Subhanallah and so forth will help muslims remember of Allah and His blessing toward them. In the following verse stated that by remembering Him than Allah will remember us as His people.
“So remember Me, I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me.” (QS. Al-Baqarah : 152)
4. Meditation through Dua
Meditation also can be perform through dua, when we recite a dua and remember of Allah it will relaxed us and make us at ease.
It will be better if we also understand the meaning of the dua, with the deep understanding sometimes it will give us an answer of our life problem. Read also : importance of obedience in Islam
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5. By reading Al-Qur’an
Believe it or not Al-Qur’an could become a cure or medicine for diseases of the heart. Within Al-Qur’an we could obtain a lot of knowledge, stories, and islamic though that provide us answer in our life as human being. As written in the following verses :
“And We send down of the Qur’an that which is healing and mercy for the belivers, but it does not increase the wrongdoers except in loss.” (QS. Al-Isra : 82)
“O mankind, there has to come to you instruction from your Lord and healing for what is in the breasts and guidance and mercy for the believers.” (QS. Yunus : 57)
6. By learning Al-Qur’an verses
Al-Qur’an as explained before is a cure and healing for hearts that will be the guidance of all Muslims. It is contained by knowledge that if we read and trying to understand it containt will give us answer.
“And it is not the people who gather in one of the (mosque) houses of Allah, they read Al-Qur’an and learn it, unless it comes down to them a peace, they are covered with grace, angels cover them and Allah mentions them to beings who are on His side.” (Narrated by Muslim)
The above hadith said that by learning or studying of Al-Qur’an, Allah will give us peace, blessed us, and we will be protected by angels. Also read : ways to purify yourself in Islam
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7. Meditation at Night
“Can (such people be equal to) the one who worships during the hours of night, prostrating himself and standing, fearing the Hereafter and having hopes in his Lord’s mercy? Say, ‘Can those who know and those who do not know become equal?’ It is only the people of understanding who are receptive of the advice.” (QS. Az-Zumar : 9)
From the above verse it is explained that there is a virtue of performing worship, meditation, prayer during the night. At night most of the Muslims will be vacant from any daily activities or routine such as job, studying, taking care of kids, and many others.
So that they will have a lot of time for their Lord, supported by a quiet night atmosphere we could concentrating more to perform meditation, and in the above verse said that Allah prefer this time to open and give Muslims an advice or heed.
8. Through Fard prayer
Fard prayer done by muslims every 5 times in a day, and there are no better time for doing meditation except during the fard prayer. In this activities muslims are in their pure condition after performing ablution.
During prayer we trying to get closest to Allah and repeat verses that make us focus, in sort kind of way it also a form of meditation. Also read : virtues of truthfulness
9. Tafakkur
In Islam we also know the form of meditation namely tafakkur which means reflecting and thinking, it is also a form worshipping since by doing it, our faith to Allah and His religion Islam will strengthened.
Sometimes we dissolve in routine act or social relationship and not realize that we need to take a break for awhile. We need to examine our past deed both good or bad and make a reflection, do we already be a better person? or even a better muslims?
“The heart is in the position of a mirror that is surrounded by influential matters and these traits proceed to the heart. As for praiseworthy traits that we have mentioned, they will polish the mirror of the heart and increase it in brilliance, light, and radiance until the clarity of truth shines from within it and the reality of the matter sought in religion is unveiled.” (Al-Gazhali)
Also read : virtues of scholars in Islam
10. I’tibar
It is refer to contemplating where meditation in islamic way could be done by take a lesson from anything around them.
Both it was a past action or something than happened in front of them. Allah SWT give an example of this matter in the following verse :
“It is He who expelled the one who disbelieved among the Prophet of the Scripture from their homes at the first gathering.
You did not think they would leave, and they thought that their fortresses would protect them from Allah; but (the decree of) Allah came upon them from where they had not expected, and He cast terror into their hearts (so) they destroyed their houses by their (own) hands and the hands of the believers. So take warning, O people of vision.” (QS. Al-Hashr : 2)
Others
Thus are the ways to meditate in Islam, but there are also another ways to perform it as the following:
- Ta’amul
- Nathr (examining)
- Tadabbur
Thanks for reading,