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Other narrations even mention that meditation for one hour is better than the worship of one year, or in other traditions, better than seventy years! We have been encouraged by our Imams (AS) to “arouse our hearts to contemplation”, so we see the immense importance of doing such a thing. In fact there is so much depth to this subject of tafakkur in itself that in this very brief article true justice to the matter is not possible. However if one wishes to pursue further reading on the issue, hadith no. 12 of Imam Khomeini’s Forty Hadith is all about tafakkur. The great Persian mystic and poet Jalaluddin Rumi has expressed the rewards of meditation in a beautiful verse from his collection of poems The Mathnawi, “The Sufis polish their breasts with invocation and meditation so that the heart’s mirror may receive virgin images (from the unseen world).” It is vital to note that the mention of the word sufi is simply a terminology used for the wayfarer and is not necessarily implying the commonly understood meaning of the word.
U n i t y
(Continued from page 11)
He regards the sins of others as big but considers the same things for himself as small; if he does something in obedience to Allah (SWT) he considers it much but if others do the same he considers it small; he therefore rebukes others but flatters himself; entertainment in the company of the wealthy is dearer to him than remembrance (of Allah (SWT)) with the poor; he passes verdicts against others for his own interests and does not do so against himself for others’ interests; he guides others but misguides himself; he is obeyed by others but he himself disobeys (Allah (SWT)); he seeks fulfillment of obligations (towards himself) but does not fulfill his obligations (towards others); he fears the people (and acts) for other than his Lord and does not fear his Lord in his dealings with the people.” - Nahjul Balagha
In conclusion, we can clearly see that there is a long road ahead to reach the desired destination of attaining that pure human soul, however it has to start somewhere and that place is the key to the treasure house of Divine favour and bounties, the single action that can instigate leaps and bounds in short spans of time and accelerate one to the proximity of the Almighty Allah (SWT) - this is tafakkur. References 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
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The Holy Qur’an – M.H. Shakir Mizan al-Hikmah – Shaykh Muhammad Rayshahri Forty Hadith: An Exposition – Imam Ruhullah Khumayni The Journey of the Self – Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri The Sufi Path of Love: The Spiritual Teachings of Rumi – William Chittick Jami’ us-Sa’aadaat – Mulla Mahdi Naraaqi
Imam Hadi (AS): “Beware of jealousy for its effect will be on you and it shall not affect your enemy.”