Ladybug3478
Junior Member
The Prophet meditated in the mountains.
What is the definition of meditation in Islam?
Thanks
What is the definition of meditation in Islam?
Thanks
Meditation
- Thread starter Ladybug3478
- Start date
Ashima33
Junior Member
Salaam,
I know that when the term meditation is brought up we automatically think of someone sitting cross legged, eyes closed, palms up. Or something associated with Hinduism or Buddhism. But meditation is an act that can be a practice in all religions, just as praying, because it is simply contemplation. Before Muhammed (peace be upon him) learned of Islam, he was searching for answers so he sat down to think about these with a specific intention.
I hope this helps, as I'm assuming there's not an islamic definition, a buddhist definition, etc. for meditation.
I know that when the term meditation is brought up we automatically think of someone sitting cross legged, eyes closed, palms up. Or something associated with Hinduism or Buddhism. But meditation is an act that can be a practice in all religions, just as praying, because it is simply contemplation. Before Muhammed (peace be upon him) learned of Islam, he was searching for answers so he sat down to think about these with a specific intention.
I hope this helps, as I'm assuming there's not an islamic definition, a buddhist definition, etc. for meditation.
muthmainnah
Junior Member
Praise be to Allaah.
The basic principle is that the actions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) before his mission began are outside of the legislative Sunnah, and that we are not required to follow him or take him as an example in that regard, except in cases where sharee’ah – after his mission began – affirmed that something was prescribed or Islamically acceptable, either by way of being obligatory or mustahabb, such as fulfilling promises, helping the destitute, honouring guests, helping people when calamity strikes and so on. In that case we are obliged to follow his example, because it became a law for us after his Prophethood began, and not just because he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did it before he was a Prophet. Based on this, there are some actions that he did before his mission began that we are not obliged to follow, either because there is no proof that it is prescribed for us or because there are reports to show that it was abrogated after his mission began.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: The things that happened before Prophethood are not mentioned as things to be followed or that are legislated, as is the case with his actions after Prophethood, because the Muslims are unanimously agreed that what is obligatory with regard to believing in him (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and following what he brought, is that which has to do with what happened after he became the Prophet.
Hence whoever stays away from Jumu’ah prayer and prayers in congregation, and lives alone in caves and mountains, where there is no Jumu’ah or prayer in congregation, and claims to be following the example of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) because he was used to worship alone in the cave of Hira’ before his Prophethood, thus forsaking the acts of worship that were prescribed and enjoined by Allaah and His Messenger, and following the example of what he used to do before Prophethood, is wrong. That is because, after Allaah honoured him with Prophethood, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) no longer did what he used to do before that, of worshipping alone in the cave of Hira and so on.
None of his Sahaabah after him went to the Cave of Hira’, and they did not stay away from Jumu’ah prayer or prayers in congregation in isolated places, and none of them observed any kind of forty-day retreat, as some of the later Muslims did. Rather they worshipped Allaah by means of the prescribed acts of worship that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) ordained for them. End quote from Majmoo’ al-Fataawa (18/10).
With regard to the muhaddithoon (scholars of hadeeth), they paid attention to what was narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) at all times, even if it was before his mission began. That is part of the Sunnah according to the definition of the muhaddithoon, who regard everything that was narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) as Sunnah, so they narrated it in their books on that basis.
See: Af’aal al-Rasool sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam wa Dalaalatuhaa ‘ala al-Ahkaam, by Dr. Muhammad al-‘Aroosi (149).
And Allaah knows best.
http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/121839/cave hira
The basic principle is that the actions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) before his mission began are outside of the legislative Sunnah, and that we are not required to follow him or take him as an example in that regard, except in cases where sharee’ah – after his mission began – affirmed that something was prescribed or Islamically acceptable, either by way of being obligatory or mustahabb, such as fulfilling promises, helping the destitute, honouring guests, helping people when calamity strikes and so on. In that case we are obliged to follow his example, because it became a law for us after his Prophethood began, and not just because he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did it before he was a Prophet. Based on this, there are some actions that he did before his mission began that we are not obliged to follow, either because there is no proof that it is prescribed for us or because there are reports to show that it was abrogated after his mission began.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: The things that happened before Prophethood are not mentioned as things to be followed or that are legislated, as is the case with his actions after Prophethood, because the Muslims are unanimously agreed that what is obligatory with regard to believing in him (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and following what he brought, is that which has to do with what happened after he became the Prophet.
Hence whoever stays away from Jumu’ah prayer and prayers in congregation, and lives alone in caves and mountains, where there is no Jumu’ah or prayer in congregation, and claims to be following the example of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) because he was used to worship alone in the cave of Hira’ before his Prophethood, thus forsaking the acts of worship that were prescribed and enjoined by Allaah and His Messenger, and following the example of what he used to do before Prophethood, is wrong. That is because, after Allaah honoured him with Prophethood, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) no longer did what he used to do before that, of worshipping alone in the cave of Hira and so on.
None of his Sahaabah after him went to the Cave of Hira’, and they did not stay away from Jumu’ah prayer or prayers in congregation in isolated places, and none of them observed any kind of forty-day retreat, as some of the later Muslims did. Rather they worshipped Allaah by means of the prescribed acts of worship that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) ordained for them. End quote from Majmoo’ al-Fataawa (18/10).
With regard to the muhaddithoon (scholars of hadeeth), they paid attention to what was narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) at all times, even if it was before his mission began. That is part of the Sunnah according to the definition of the muhaddithoon, who regard everything that was narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) as Sunnah, so they narrated it in their books on that basis.
See: Af’aal al-Rasool sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam wa Dalaalatuhaa ‘ala al-Ahkaam, by Dr. Muhammad al-‘Aroosi (149).
And Allaah knows best.
http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/121839/cave hira
Salaam,
The answers have been beautiful.
I always add my two cents. When we are in prayer we are very active. And in congregational prayer it is better. We feel the difference.
When you are in a state of meditation we have to be very careful. We are in a sense opening a door to the evil one. You have to be very strong and determined to stop the suggestions of the evil one.
In prayer it is easier.
And I will do anything to make it easy to obey my Lord.
The answers have been beautiful.
I always add my two cents. When we are in prayer we are very active. And in congregational prayer it is better. We feel the difference.
When you are in a state of meditation we have to be very careful. We are in a sense opening a door to the evil one. You have to be very strong and determined to stop the suggestions of the evil one.
In prayer it is easier.
And I will do anything to make it easy to obey my Lord.
AZAM_SIDDIQUI
Junior Member
it is reflecting .............................................................in the hope and longing for THE TRUTH. which is also one of the names of God
AZAM_SIDDIQUI
Junior Member
like u r doing now sister.
what the prophet<pbuh) was doing was
!sick of the animalistic life that he saw around him
2 looking for light.
and as quran informs us
"ALLAH IS THE LIGHT OF THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH"
what the prophet<pbuh) was doing was
!sick of the animalistic life that he saw around him
2 looking for light.
and as quran informs us
"ALLAH IS THE LIGHT OF THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH"
AZAM_SIDDIQUI
Junior Member
THEN I SUGGEST U
1 READ THE QURAN -WHICH IS THE PURE WORD OF GOD.
IF U DONT UNDERSTAND ARABIC -READ A TRANSLATION-
COVER TO COVER.
IF U DONT FIND WHATEVER ANSWERS U R SEARCHING FOR - THAT WONT HAPPEN COZ THE ONWE WHO MADE YOUKNEW WHAT QUESTIONS U WUD ASK.
2U CAN READ THE PROPHETS BIOGRAPHY.
THIRD GV URSELF TIME AND KEEP PRAYING TO THE EVERLASTING LORD AT NIGHT.
1 READ THE QURAN -WHICH IS THE PURE WORD OF GOD.
IF U DONT UNDERSTAND ARABIC -READ A TRANSLATION-
COVER TO COVER.
IF U DONT FIND WHATEVER ANSWERS U R SEARCHING FOR - THAT WONT HAPPEN COZ THE ONWE WHO MADE YOUKNEW WHAT QUESTIONS U WUD ASK.
2U CAN READ THE PROPHETS BIOGRAPHY.
THIRD GV URSELF TIME AND KEEP PRAYING TO THE EVERLASTING LORD AT NIGHT.
AZAM_SIDDIQUI
Junior Member
AND
THE PROPHET NARRATED THAT
"WHEN A SERVANT OF ALLAH TRIES TO COME TO HIM WALKING HE COMES TO HIM RUNNING"
THAT IS GOD RESPONDS.
HE IS CLOSER TO U THAN U THINK.
TIME FR PRAYERS GOT TO GO .
STAY INTOUCH.ALLAHHAFIZ
THE PROPHET NARRATED THAT
"WHEN A SERVANT OF ALLAH TRIES TO COME TO HIM WALKING HE COMES TO HIM RUNNING"
THAT IS GOD RESPONDS.
HE IS CLOSER TO U THAN U THINK.
TIME FR PRAYERS GOT TO GO .
STAY INTOUCH.ALLAHHAFIZ
wantobeMumin
Junior Member
the Islamic perspective of meditation is in reality what we call " solitude".
solitude serve many purposes. It asks u to be contended with ur self first of all before one can connect to God. solitude provides peace. Since God is THE PEACEFUL and the only source of PEACE a person retreating to " khalwaT or solitude" is in other words trying to practice the magnificent attribute of God but in lesser level. just like God doesn't need to eat and we do the same during the month of ramadan. ( i know it may sound strange)
we also retort to solitude when we do "ihtikaf" during the 10 or more days of ramadan.
the whole point is to get to our lord with the most peaceful mindset and remembrance of Allah most high
solitude serve many purposes. It asks u to be contended with ur self first of all before one can connect to God. solitude provides peace. Since God is THE PEACEFUL and the only source of PEACE a person retreating to " khalwaT or solitude" is in other words trying to practice the magnificent attribute of God but in lesser level. just like God doesn't need to eat and we do the same during the month of ramadan. ( i know it may sound strange)
we also retort to solitude when we do "ihtikaf" during the 10 or more days of ramadan.
the whole point is to get to our lord with the most peaceful mindset and remembrance of Allah most high
Ladybug3478
Junior Member
Mirajmom,
Well, the door is open. I am curious of precautions to take in order to keep the evil one away. A lot of times I will pray that God grant me the wisdom to recognize evil and to act accordingly (by praying etc...). Are there any other prayers I am possibly missing? Any and all information is greatly appreciated.
Note: the door is not open due to meditation
Thanks
Well, the door is open. I am curious of precautions to take in order to keep the evil one away. A lot of times I will pray that God grant me the wisdom to recognize evil and to act accordingly (by praying etc...). Are there any other prayers I am possibly missing? Any and all information is greatly appreciated.
Note: the door is not open due to meditation
Thanks