Techniques of Practicing Muraqaba by Sufis in Malay Archipelago

Abstract

Muraqaba is one of the meditation's methods in Sufism that is practiced by those who wish to attainmàrifa Allah (God's gnosis). This article aims to identify some similarities and differences in the techniques of practising muraqaba recommended by two different Malay religious figures in the 19th century, namely Shaykh Wan Sulaiman Wan Sidek and Sayyid Abdul Rahman al-Aydarus. This study used content analysis method by examining their primary manuscripts which areMàarij al-Lahfan Fi al-Taraqqi Ila al Irfan for the former and Risala Nihaya al - Matlub Li Tasfiyya al - Qulub for the latter . It is found that an obvious similarity in the use of aspects of muraqaba at the stage of dhikr nafy ithbat (negation - affirmation remembrance) meanwhile an explicit difference found in the classifications of muraqaba . The former mentioned three sections which are muraqaba ahadiyya (contemplation of the Oneness of Allah) , muraqaba mà iyya (contemplation of Divine togetherness) and muraqaba aqrabiyya , (contemplation of Divine nearness) while the latter mentioned only the first two sections .