Essential to the progress of the murid towards unveiling and victory over the veils of dunya is the consistent and daily practice of Muraqabah – meditation. For without doubt one is by default immersed in the illusion of dunya and only through seclusion from its perpetual onslaught upon the senses may one hope to escape from its tyranny. Muraqabah then is the immersion in reality and thus the opposite of existence in dunya, which is the immersion in illusion.
The goal and purpose of Muraqabah is to manifest perpetual presence in the reality of the Shaykh. The more one keeps to this vital practice, the more its benefit will manifest in his daily life to the point that he reaches the state of annihilation in the presence of the Shaykh. One must know well that the Shaykh is the bridge between illusion and reality and he remains in this world only for this purpose. The Shaykh is thus a unique rope extended to any who seek freedom for only he may serve as the link between one still mired in this world and the Divine Presence. To be annihilated in the presence and reality of the Shaykh is to be annihilated in reality, in the Presence of the Divine, for this is precisely where he is.
Initially the murid may begin the practice of Muraqabah for short intervals of 5 to 15 minutes, and gradually work towards longer sessions extending even for hours at a time. The important point is that one maintain a consistent practice to obtain benefit. It is manifold better and wiser to keep to a small amount daily than to be sporadic in one’s discipline and practice. A small amount of effort done consistently will result in tremendous progress in even a short amount of time.
