Notis: Det följande är en reproduktion av artiklen "Meditation: Another great way to worship God" i November-upplagan 2002 av Submitters Perspective, den månatliga bulletinen av United Submitters International.

God has created so many wonderful ways for us to worship Him and come ever closer and closer to Him. The religious duties and laws which form an integral part of our lives help us do this all the time. As yet another great way to worship God and strengthen their souls, God has enjoined believers to meditate, several times in the Quran. If believers wish to be raised to an honorable rank in God’s eyes and earn His mercy, they should make the most of this opportunity (25:64, 9:112).

[17:79] During the night, you shall meditate for extra credit, that your Lord may raise you to an honorable rank.

[39:9] Is it not better to be one of those who meditate in the night, prostrating and staying up, being aware of the Hereafter, and seeking the mercy of their Lord?…

The dictionary gives us several meanings for the word meditate, some of which are ‘reflect, contemplate, ponder and think over’, all of which indicate that meditation involves a state of conscious and focused thinking or reflection about something. Since our salvation is highly dependent on our thinking about God as much as we can (2:152, 33:41-42, 62:10), obviously, the requirement to meditate (or reflect) in the Quran means that we must meditate on God. The meditation can be upon His name, His great attributes or His wonderful creations; anything that makes us reverently conscious of Him, remember Him and love Him for what He really is.

[50:40] During the night you shall meditate on His name, and after prostrating.

[3:190-191] In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day, there are signs for those who possess intelligence. They remember GOD while standing, sitting, and on their sides, and they reflect upon the creation of the heavens and the earth....

Meditate on God

It is necessary to realize that the objective of meditation talked about in the Quran, must be meditation (Zikr) on God. This is a very important aspect because when most people refer to meditation, they are not referring to a plan to meditate or reflect upon God. Some people spend hours and big amounts of money learning various forms of meditation in the hope that they can concentrate better on things or be more at peace with themselves because of pressures created by excessive worldly pursuits. The methods involve adopting rigid postures, reciting mantras, attempting trance-like states or even making the mind go completely blank, but never with the objective of consciously remembering or commemorating God. Why would believers want to deliberately make their minds go blank and unaware when they could use the same precious moments to consciously remember and be aware of God?

[7:205] You shall remember your Lord within yourself, publicly, privately, and quietly, day and night; do not be unaware.

On the other hand, believers get the best of all benefits when they meditate on God because they get to develop the soul as well as experience a sense of relaxation, assurance and happiness (20:130).

How does one meditate; what is the technique?

[3:191-194] They remember GOD while standing, sitting, and on their sides, and they reflect upon the creation of the heavens and the earth: "Our Lord, You did not create all this in vain. Be You glorified. Save us from the retribution of Hell....

As we see from the above verses, there is no particular position or technique for meditation or reflection upon God, and believers may have different ways to enjoy this. Some may prefer to lie down; some may choose to go for a walk or a drive in the car while thinking about all His wonderful creations; some may fall prostrate (recommended in the Quran) or be with a group of believers and sing His praises (15:98). While any time is always the best time to think or reflect upon God (3:41, 19:11), the Quran makes specific mention of meditation at night and dawn.

[3:17] They are steadfast, truthful, submitting, charitable, and meditators at dawn.

[73:2] Meditate during the night, except rarely....

[73:6] The meditation at night is more effective, and more righteous....

[73:20] Your Lord knows that you meditate during two-thirds of the night, or half of it, or one-third of it, and so do some of those who believed with you...

Though we are free to meditate as we wish, believers should also take note of the references in the Quran about falling prostrate before God and seeking His mercy, in addition to the requirement to meditate on God (3:113, 7:206, 9:112, 25:64, 39:9, 50:40, 53:62, 76:26, 96:19).

Prostration, as all believers are blessed to experience, is one of the body positions in the powerful Contact Prayer (Salat), where we put out foreheads down on the floor while glorifying our Lord that He is the Most High (Sub-haana Rabbiyal A’laa). Prostration is a very humble pose of supplica-tion and possibly assists us in ‘feeling’ the prayers and repen-tance we make to God in this posi-tion (19:58).

[25:64] In the privacy of the night, they meditate on their Lord, and fall prostrate.

Meditate on what?

The answer is probably the most obvious and abundant, yet Satan manages to stall us into wondering about even this. God is Omnis-cient and Omnipresent. Everything that we see around us and within ourselves is a sign from Him. It is His and is because of Him. There is absolutely no limit to His beau-tiful names and attributes (7:180, 20:8), or His beautiful creations (67:3-4, 40:57), or His Infinite Grace (8:29, 57:21), or the endless blessings He showers upon us (14:34, 16:18), or the innumerable times He has mercy upon us (18:58, 22:65) and so on. The meditation content is already there in front of us and around us without limits (3:190, 51:20). Just make your intention to meditate on Him and you may be surprised to find how quickly you will be on your way. Here are some starters from the Quran.

[59:23] He is the One GOD; there is no other god beside Him. The King, the Most Sacred, the Peace, the Most Faithful, the Supreme, the Almighty, the Most Powerful, the Most Dignified. GOD be glorified; far above having partners.

[23:116] Most exalted is GOD, the true Sovereign. There is no other god beside Him; the Most Honorable Lord, possessor of all authority.

The 99 names of God

God has given us several of His names and attributes in the Quran. Popular among traditional Muslims is a set of names referred to as ‘The 99 names of Allah’ which they may use for their zikr or in their supplications. While it is good to have a list of God’s names and attributes, it is a misleading idea to stop at only 99 names. God tells us that we can never fathom His greatness (39:67) while to Him belong all the best names and ascend all the good words (7:180, 17:110, 20:8, 59:24). Therefore, to advocate only these 99 names as a standard set of names for God is suggesting a limitation to His greatness. Believers are entirely free to perceive and meditate on God as they wish.

[17:110] Say, "Call Him GOD, or call Him the Most Gracious; whichever name you use, to Him belongs the best names." ...

[59:24] He is the One GOD; the Creator, the Initiator, the Designer. To Him belong the most beautiful names. Glorifying Him is everything in the heavens and the earth. He is the Almighty, Most Wise.

Indeed, meditation is another great and powerful way to worship God. So God willing, let us hasten to take advantage of all the ways He has created for us to worship Him, and relax in His assurance that He will look after us.

[26:217-220] And put your trust in the Almighty, Most Merciful. Who sees you when you meditate during the night. And your frequent prostrations. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient.

Kais R.