Contemplation: The Way to Divine Presence
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Transcript of Contemplation: The Way to Divine Presence
Contemplation: The Way to Divine Presence
Dr. M. OmarMarch 2012, Orlando
www.islamfromwithin.net
Awaken to PresenceTransform your lifeworkshop series
Meaning
Contemplation (Tafakkur): to actively and deeply think and reflect
في رون ويتفك جنوبهم وعلى وقعودا قياما ه الل يذكرون ذين الفقنا سبحانك باطال هذا خلقت ما نا رب واألرض ماوات الس خلق
ار الن عذاب
Those who remember God when they stand, and when they sit, and when they lie down to sleep,
and contemplate on the creation of the heavens and the earth:
“O our Sustainer! You have not created this without meaning and purpose. Limitless are You in Your glory! Keep us safe,
then, from suffering through fire!” (Quran 3:191)
Saying of Prophet Muhammad (p): “An hour of contemplation is better than a year of
worship”(Suyutî, Jamiu’s-saghir, 2/127; Ajlûnî, 1/310)
“contemplation is better than remembrance, because contemplation is remembrance and
much more”
“contemplation is better than all actions of worship.”
-Imam Ghazali
Withdraw the heart into the arena of contemplation, nothing helps the heart more
than that!
Contemplation is the lamp of the heart; so when it goes away, the heart has no illumination
-Sidi Ibn Ata’illah of Alexandria
Why is contemplation this important?
What is the secret?
What to contemplate?
Everything in creation (including ourselves), every action, every moment can be utilized for
contemplation
The Quran urges us to contemplate in tens of places directly, and in thousands of places
indirectly.
How to do it? The Method of Quranic Contemplation
4 ingredients:
Intention Viewpoint
Bears the meaning of
another (Indirect)
Bears the meaning of itself
(direct)
①You look in the mirror…
Intention
You intend to look at the mirror glass
Viewpoint
You see based on your
intention
You see the glass directly
You see your image indirectly
Outcome
You gain knowledge of
the mirror glass
You are in direct
communication with the mirror
glass
②You look in the mirror…
Intention
You intend to look at yourself in
the mirror
Viewpoint
You see based on your intention
You see the glass indirectly
You see your image directly
(the glass bears the meaning of
your image)
Outcome
You gain knowledge of
your face
You are in direct communication with your face
Now, let’s look at and contemplate the universe
The writer of a book explains herself using letters…
If we intend to look at the letters, we cannot read what she says, we cannot know the
writer…
The letters are only there to get the meaning of the book, they’re not there for themselves.
Things in existence are like alphabet letters.. They’re there to bring the meaning from the
writer…
Things in existence are like the mirror glass. They are there to show the attributes of their
Creator.
② You contemplate the universe…
Intention
You know you are not the
Source of your attributes, nor the things are. You intend to look at things in the name of their Creator
Viewpoint
You see based on your
intention
You see the attributes of the Creator
directly
You see the things indirectly
Outcome
You are in Divine
Presence
God is here, now!
We see the Sustainer directly, the sustenance indirectlyWe see the Beautiful directly, the beauties indirectly
…
Outcome…
Everything in the universe bears the meaning of its Creator
① You contemplate the universe…
Intention
You intend to look at things
as independent entities that possess their own qualities
Viewpoint
You see based on your
intention
You see the things directly
You see the attributes of the Creator indirectly
Outcome
God is far away, somewhere there, some theoretical
concept I know indirectly
Transformational Contemplation is from within…
ل��ا إ�� لا ه ل� ي ل� ل�ا ل� ل� ي� ل�ا ي� ل�� إ� ل�� لا ل�� �ل ه� �� ل �ل ل� ل� ل� ل��ا � إم إ� ه� ل��ن إ"ي ه#�� ل�$ ل� ل% ل& يم لل ل� ل��ل' ه#� إ" ل$ا لل يم إ ب� ل� إ( ل*ا إ� إ� إ+ ��ا ل �ل ل, ب� ر#� إ. ل/ ل�' إ�� ل� � ر�ى ل� ه�� ل1 ل3 ل�� ل� ب� ل4 يل إ�ا
Do they not reflect within themselves: God has not created the heavens and the earth and all that
is between them without [an inner] truth and a term set [by Him]: and yet, behold, there are many
people who stubbornly deny the truth that they are destined to meet their Sustainer! (Quran 30:8)
• I do not own myself, my God is the source of all of my attributes. (If I am conscious, He must be, too/ If I hear, He must, too!
• My God, I want to know you: Show me!• “Read in the name of your Creator” (Quran 96:1)
Intention
• I look at the things indirectly (like the mirror glass)
• Wow! Everything shows You! Everything You are present everywhere! You are talking to me! You are communicating, right now!
Viewpoint
• Wow, how beautifully you create everything my God!• You are the source of all beauty; how Beautiful You are• Everything is changing constantly; how full of Life You are• You take care of every little detail; how Loving and Graceful You
are
Outcome
Transformational Contemplation is from within…
Fruit
Contemplation is a light that melts heedlessness and all illusions
Contemplation is the way for the heart to come closer to God and to feel His Divine Presence
Inspiration and Spiritual Gifts
Contemplation is a window to receive spiritual gifts/inspiration…
The outcome of contemplation depends on the intention and the viewpoint…
1 2 3 4
Intention No need to go deep, just enjoy your life while you are alive
I am a good person…
I am a good believer
I will see in the name of my Creator; Show me God
Viewpoint Things -> Direct view
Creator -> Very very very indirect view
Things -> Direct view
Creator -> Very very indirect view
Things -> Direct view
Creator -> Very indirect view
Things -> Indirect view
Creator -> Direct view
Outcome How can I utilize everything to my own benefit? (utility maximization)
Nature is wonderful, I love mother naure
It is an emotional, but bitter view
Nature is wonderful; its Creator muse be, too!
The creator is somewhere there, far away…
Divine Presence (My God is here, right now with me)
I can almost see Him!
The outcome of contemplation depends on the intention and the viewpoint.
1 2 3 4
Intention No need to go deep, just enjoy your life while you are alive
I am a good person…
I am a good believer
I will see in the name of my Creator; Show me God
Viewpoint Things -> Direct view
Creator -> Very very very indirect view
Things -> Direct view
Creator -> Very very indirect view
Things -> Direct view
Creator -> Very indirect view
Things -> Indirect view
Creator -> Direct view
Outcome How can I utilize everything to my own benefit? (utility maximization)
Nature is wonderful, I love mother naure
It is an emotional, but bitter view
Nature is wonderful; its Creator muse be, too!
The creator is somewhere there, far away…
Divine Presence (My God is here, right now with me)
I can almost see Him!
The outcome of contemplation depends on the intention and the viewpoint.
1 2 3 4
Intention No need to go deep, just enjoy your life while you are alive
I am a good person…
I am a good believer
I will see in the name of my Creator; Show me God
Viewpoint Things -> Direct view
Creator -> Very very very indirect view
Things -> Direct view
Creator -> Very very indirect view
Things -> Direct view
Creator -> Very indirect view
Things -> Indirect view
Creator -> Direct view
Outcome How can I utilize everything to my own benefit? (utility maximization)
Nature is wonderful, I love mother naure
It is an emotional, but bitter view
Nature is wonderful; its Creator muse be, too!
The creator is somewhere there, far away…
Divine Presence (My God is here, right now with me)
I can almost see Him!
The outcome of contemplation depends on the intention and the viewpoint.
1 2 3 4
Intention No need to go deep, just enjoy your life while you are alive
I am a good person…
I am a good believer
I will see in the name of my Creator; Show me God
Viewpoint Things -> Direct view
Creator -> Very very very indirect view
Things -> Direct view
Creator -> Very very indirect view
Things -> Direct view
Creator -> Very indirect view
Things -> Indirect view
Creator -> Direct view
Outcome How can I utilize everything to my own benefit? (utility maximization)
Nature is wonderful, I love mother naure
It is an emotional, but bitter view
Nature is wonderful; its Creator muse be, too!
The creator is somewhere there, far away…
Divine Presence (My God is here, right now with me)
I can almost see Him!
Quick Comparison
1, 2, and 3
• Contemplation is outside
• Multiplicity• Heedlessness• Ego-driven• Loneliness
4
• Contemplating from within
• Oneness• Awareness• God-driven• God is my friend
“An hour of contemplation is better than a year of worship”(Suyutî, Jamiu’s-saghir, 2/127; Ajlûnî,
1/310)
Before Contemplation After Contemplation
Level of knowledge of God