Keeping Our Focus

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

The following is a transcript of a lecture given by Mawlana Wafi’ Muhammad. 

Before we begin any swalah, we recite something very important. 

سُوۡرَةُ الاٴنعَام

إِنِّى وَجَّهۡتُ وَجۡهِىَ لِلَّذِى فَطَرَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ حَنِيفً۬ا‌ۖ وَمَآ أَنَا۟ مِنَ ٱلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ (٧٩) 

“For me, I have set my face, firmly and truly, toward Him Who Created the Heavens and the Earth, and never shall I give partners to Allah.” (Surah al-An’am:79) 

Some do not understand the implication of this.  We are actually standing in front of Allah (s.w.t.) and He Sees the true condition of our hearts.  We cannot hide anything from Him.  In meditation, when we sit in front of our shaykh, he is actually looking at our heart and when our heart wavers, he is able to tell us.  If our shaykh can see our heart, what about Allah (s.w.t.) and His Rasul (s.a.w.)?  This is why we think of sitting in front of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) through our shaykh.  He looks at our hearts as long as we keep our focus.  Beside those good and honourable people who can look at our hearts, Satan can also look.  And this is one reason why emphasis is placed on wudhu as a measure is to keep him out.  If he gets a single opportunity, he can divert our focus.  He does not want us to gain closeness to the Allah (s.w.t.) and His Rasul (s.a.w.). 

And something to remember: Before Adam (a.s.) was Sent to Earth, who used to pray more than Satan?  He worshiped more than even the angels.  But look at what happened to him in the end.  His intention was not for Allah (s.w.t.) but for status and promotion.  And he achieved it all until the test came and he showed his true self.  The same principle is found in spirituality.  We can be progressing along well, until we get a test and Satan will use it as an opportunity to divert us.  For example, when we are in a bad mood, how will we generally respond to others?  This is possibly why Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) said, “The eyes of Allah's Apostle sleep but his heart does not sleep”.  Satan cannot whisper to his heart and divert him. 

We also try to do the same.  When we are in meditation we are supposed to think our shaykh is in front of us, because he can help.  So long as we sit and connect our heart, Allah (s.w.t.), through His Grace, and the status He Gave Prophet (s.a.w.), will Direct us properly.  If our thought wavers, our Prophet (s.a.w.) and our shaykh will know.  Our goal is to get closer to Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), so we must blank our mind from all others things.  It is not easy.  It takes patience and peace of the mind and heart.  We should pay no heed to all those who talk about spirituality being haram, bid’a and shirk.  We make du’a for them because only we will know of the experience.  If we do it for the sake of Allah (s.w.t.), He will Strengthen and Guide us.  Through dzikirullah, our personality becomes bright and shining.  May Allah (s.w.t.) Enable us to continue striving along the spiritual path and may He Protect us from those who wish to divert our focus, insha’Allah.