Meditation

 MEDITATE DURING THE NIGHT FOR EXTRA CREDIT

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

[9:112] They are the repenters, the worshipers, the praisers, the meditators, the bowing and prostrating, the advocators of righteousness and forbidders of evil, and the keepers of GOD's laws. Give good news to such believers.

[17:79-80] During the night, you shall meditate for extra credit, that your Lord may raise you to an honorable rank. And say, "My Lord, admit me an honorable admittance, and let me depart an honorable departure, and grant me from You a powerful support."

[25:63-66] The worshipers of the Most Gracious are those who tread the earth gently, and when the ignorant speak to them, they only utter peace. In the privacy of the night, they meditate on their Lord, and fall prostrate. And they say, "Our Lord, spare us the agony of Hell; its retribution is horrendous. It is the worst abode; the worst destiny."

[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.

[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? Say, "Are those who know equal to those who do not know?" Only those who possess intelligence will take heed.

[50:39-40] ... praise and glorify your Lord before sunrise, and before sunset. During the night you shall meditate on His name, and after prostrating.

73:1-8 O you cloaked one. Meditate during the night, except rarely. Half of it or a little less. Or a little more. And read the Quran from Cover to Cover. We will give you a heavy message. The meditation at night is more effective, and more righteous. You have a lot of time during the day for other matters. You shall commemorate the name of your Lord, to come ever closer and closer to Him.

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. God has designed the night and the day, and He knows that you cannot always do this. He has pardoned you. Instead you shall read what you can of the Quran. He knows that some may be ill, others may be traveling in pursuit of Gods provisions, and others may be striving in the cause of God. You shall read what you can of it and observe the contact prayers (Salat), give the obligatory charity (Zakat), and led God a loan of righteousness. Whatever good you send ahead on behalf of your souls, you will find it at God far better and generously rewarded. And implore God for forgiveness. God is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

17:111 .....You shall magnify Him constantly

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 (Subhaana Rabbiyal A’laa). Prostration is a very humble pose of supplication and possibly assists us in ‘feeling’ the prayers and repentance we make to God in this position (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 Omniscient 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.

GOD'S NAMES

7:180 To God belongs the most beautiful names; call upon Him therewith. ......

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

  GOD IS

1:1 Most Gracious, Most Merciful
1:2 Lord of the Universe
1:4 Master of the Day of Judgment
2:115 Possessor of all power
2:245 One who provides and withholds
2:255 The Living
2:256 The Hearer
2:257 The Lord of those who believe
2:272 The only One who guides
3:54 The Best Schemer
3:68 The Lord and Master of the believers
3:199 The Most Efficient in Reckoning
4:6 The Reckoner
4:45 The Best Supporter
4:70 The Best Knower
4:149 The Pardoner
5:54 The Bounteous
6:62 The Ultimate Judge
6:62 The Most Accurate Reckoner
6:103 The Compassionate
6:133 The Possessor of All Mercy
6:147 Possesses Infinite Grace
6:149 Possesses the Most Powerful Argument
6:165 Efficient in Enforcing Retribution
7:54 The Most Exalted
9:118 The Redeemer
11:73 The Glorious
12:64 The Protector
12:80 The Best Judge
13:33 The One Who controls every single soul
14:47 The Avenger
14:48 The One
14:48 The Supreme
20:73 The Everlasting
22:58 The Best Provider
22:59 The Omniscient
22:59 The Clement
22:60 The Forgiving
22:61 The Seer
22:62 The Most High
22:62 The Truth
22:63 The Sublime
22:64 Most Praised
22:64 The Rich
22:65 The Most Kind
22:74 The Powerful
22:78 The Lord
23:14 The Most Blessed
23:!4 The Best Creator
23:29 The Best Deliverer
23:86 The Lord of the Seven Universes
23:86 The Lord of the great Dominion
23:116 The Most Honorable Lord
23:116 The Possessor of All Authority
24:10 The Redeemer
24:41 Fully Aware of everything they do
25:58 The One Who is Alive
25:58 The One Who Never Dies
25:58 Fully Cognizant of His creatures sins
25:62 The One Who designed the night and the day to alternate
28:68 The Most Exalted
31:27 The Most Wise
31:30 The Most Great
33:17 The Master
34:26 The Judge
34:50 The Near
35:1 Initiator of the heavens and the earth
35:15 Most Praiseworthy
38:9 The Grantor
40:3 The Forgiver
40:3 The Acceptor of repentance
40:3 Strict in enforcing retribution
40:15 Possessor of the Highest Ranks
40:15 The Ruler of the Whole Dominion
40:22 The Mighty
42:23 The Appreciative
42:31 The Helper
51:58 The Possessor of All Power
52:28 The Most Kind
53:49 The Lord of the Galaxies
55:2 The Teacher of the Quran
55:3 The Creator of the human being
55:27 The Possessor of Majesty
55:27 The Possessor of Honor
55:78 The Possessor of Majesty and Honor
56:74 The Great
57:3 The Alpha
57:3 The Omega
57:3 The Outermost
57:3 The Innermost
57:29 The Possessor of Infinite Grace
59:23 The Most Faithful
59:23 The Peace
59:23 The Most Dignified
59:24 The Creator
59:24 The Initiator
59:24 The Designer
62:1 The Most Sacred
62:8 The Knower of All Secrets and Declarations
67:14 Most Cognizant
70:3 The Possessor of the Highest Height
72:26 The Knower of the Future
73:9 Lord of the East and the West
74:56 Source of righteousness
74:56 Source of Forgiveness
78:37 Lord of the Heavens and the earth and everything between them
81:20 Possessor of the Throne
85:15 Possessor of the Glorious Throne
85:16 Doer of whatever He wills
89:14 Ever Watchful
112:2 The Absolute God
113:1 Lord of the Daybreak
114:1 The Lord of the people
114:2 The King of the people
114:3 The god of the people
 
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.