The Naqshbandi Haqqani Principle of Wuquf-i Zamani

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The ninth principle of the Naqshbandi Haqqani Sufi Order is “Temporal Pause”, Wuquf-i Zamani.  Shah Muhammad Baha’ ad-Din an-Naqshband (q.s.) said that this consciousness is the maker and guide of the disciple.  It means to be attentive to one's state of mind at any given moment and to know whether it is a cause for giving thanks or for repenting.  Wuquf-i Zamani is to keep account of one’s temporal states, to distinguish presence, hudhur, from absence, ghaflah.  Shah an-Naqshband (q.s.) described this as self-possession or mindfulness.  He added that one should always be grateful when one returns to a state of presence. 

In Wuquf-i Zaman, the seeker remains constantly aware of his changing states.  Shah an-Naqshband (q.s.) explained, “Wuquf-i Zamani is the work of the traveller on the Path; to be attentive of his state, and to know whether it is a cause for giving thanks or for repenting, to give thanks while feeling spiritual elation, and to repent while in spiritual dryness or contraction.”  He also stated, “The foundation of the work of the seeker has been established in the awareness of time as seeing at each moment whether the perceiver of breaths is with presence or with forgetfulness.” 

Khwaja Ya’qub ibn ‘Utsman ash-Sharkhi (q.s.), in his explanation of the Names of Allah (s.w.t.), said, “Khwaja,” referring to Shah an-Naqshband (q.s.), “instructed that in the state of qabdh one should seek Allah’s Forgiveness, whereas in the state of basth, one should offer thanks.  Close observation of these two states constitutes Wuquf-i Zamani.”  Wuquf-i Zamani of the Naqshbandi Path is equivalent to muhasabah. 

Mawlana Nur ad-Din ‘Abd ar-Rahman Muhammad Dashti Jami’ (q.s.), in his Risalah-i Nuria, said, “Wuquf-i Zamani is a term meaning keeping account of the times one passes in tafriqah or jam’iyyat.”