Importance Of Focus

[FADIA BINT ISMAIL]

Allah [swt] says in the Qur’an!

Chapter 51 Adh-Dhariyat

 

 

And [Tell Them That]

I Have Not Created The Invisible Beings And Men

To Any End Other Than That

They May [Know And] Worship Me.

[Verse 56]

 

In this article, we will explore the importance of focusing our faculties and building concentration in order to have a fruitful relationship with Allah [swt]. Our venerable scholars have interpreted ‘worship’ to know Allah and to understand Him. This is the reason we are created and thus by default this is the command of Allah [swt] for us.

 

But How Can One Love, Worship And Build A Relationship

With Someone He Doesn’t Know?

 

This is where the importance of knowing the names of Allah [swt] comes in. Allah summarized most of the knowledge about Him, that He wants us to know, in His own names and attributes. This is the kind of knowledge that if once comprehended, makes following the deen not only practical, but enjoyable. However, in the middle of high speed cyclone of dunya, religion has become very insignificant and of lesser value for people, including Muslims.

 

Even, “Religious” Muslims Are Happy

With Some Halal And Haram,

Salah, Fasting Or Some Other Aspect Of Islam

And Are Contented With Just This Much.

 

Therefore, we are in reality deprived of the actual magnitude of Islam.

 

We Need To Re-Learn Islam

As A ‘Message’ From The Creator For All Humanity.

We Have To Learn That Islam

Is The Status Of The Heart

And A Muslim Is Required To Be Surrendered

To The Will Of Allah [swt] At Any Given Time.

 

His thinking, desires, emotions, goals, and ambitions all should be according to Islam. This requires a person to be very focused and concentrated, and to be strong enough to not only differentiate between distractions and rightful interests, but be able to instantly make the correct decisions.

 

Power of focus and concentration is not a new phenomenon. Yoga and Zen are well known concentration exercises and there are amazing things that can be achieved through that. Martial arts and the almost super human accomplishments of the artists are known examples of this practice.

 

This Ability To Focus And Concentrate

Is An Integral Part Of Our Deen...

No Messenger And Prophet Received Guidance And Revelation

Without First Mastering The Ability

To Focus His Thinking

Focus Of Thinking On The Creator!

 

Absence or lack of this focus will result in absence of divine power and energy in a person. In this high speed life, we are unable to have pure and clear thinking. A person always has so much to think about that thinking about one topic clearly becomes impossible.

 

The Inability To Focus With Allah [swt]

Results In Preoccupation With

Dunya [world], Shaytaan [satan], Nafs [Desires]

And The Distractions In Life Keeps Increasing

 

While studying the lives of the prophets and messengers, one will notice the pattern of them spending time in seclusion before receiving revelation from Allah [swt]. This seclusion is what is supposed to develop clear thinking and concentration which spiritually prepares the person to carry the burden of conveying allah’s message to masses.