Rabita as a Refuge

Rabita in Qur’an

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim. Start in the name of Allah. When you say Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim, you are making rabita to Allah: I am not doing this, Allah is. It is in the Qur’an, and yet some people do not believe in rabita.

…and make rabita [purposeful and heartfelt spiritual connection], keep your connection, and have taqwa [self-vigilance], as Allah has prescribed, so that you may reach salvation. (Aal-e Imran:200)

A’uzu billahi minash-shaytanir rajim. Allah told us to say that and then Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim.

“A’uzu billahi minash-shaytanir rajim” means: “I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the outcast or the one kicked out or the one stoned.” Who stoned Satan? When people go to perform Haj [Pilgrimage] they are supposed to throw stones at Satan. Throw small stones, not big ones so as not to kill each other. Hazrat Ibrahim [Abraham], alayhi salaam [peace be upon him] stoned Satan there.

Seek refuge in Allah from Satan

If Satan causes you trouble, seek refuge with Allah. Truly, He is Sami [Hearing and Listening] and Alim [All-Knowing]. There is no doubt that for those who act with taqwa when any temptation from Satan troubles them, they only have to do zikr [repeated remembrance with contemplation] (of Allah), and that will bring them to clear sight. Otherwise, their friends (who are the tools of Satan) will plunge them into error, and will not cease doing so. (Al A’raf:200-202)

Satan can be anybody or anything against Allah that tempts you, urges you to go against the sharia [proper behavior; commandment; law] of Allah and the Prophet (peace be upon him). Allah is saying, do not make rabita to Satan but to Allah. If you do not make rabita to Allah, Satan can get in there.

Did I not make a covenant with you, O Children of Adam, saying not to worship Satan, that he is indeed your clear enemy, and to connect and devote yourselves to Me only? This is the confirmed and sure path. (Ya Sin:60-61)

Glossary

A’uzu billahi minash-shaytanir rajim. Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim: “I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, who is pelted, cast out. In the name of Allah, The One Who Acts with Mercy, The Source of Mercy.”

‘ibada: act of connection and devotion

ittiqa: watching for Allah’s good pleasure with one’s deeds; guarding oneself from evil or harm; not offending Allah in one’s actions; action with connection

qalbi zikr: inner zikr

rabita: purposeful spiritual connection; heartfelt connection

sharia: the body of Islamic religious canons; injunctions attributed to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) regarding proper behavior for Muslims; proper behavior; commandment; law; divine law

taqwa: self-vigilance; following the guidelines of Allah; watching over one’s deeds to conform with Allah’s rights and wrongs; devotion

zikr: remembrance; recognition; repeated remembrance with contemplation; mentioning Allah’s name repeatedly with intention, contemplation, glorification or supplication; reminder; the practice of repeating the names of Allah; litany of remembrance

This is an edited excerpt of the Online Saturday Sohbet given on November 24, 2007 by Murshid Shaykh Taner Vargonen Ansari and published on sufiview.com on May 3, 2021. The translation of the Qur’an verses are also from Murshid Shaykh Taner Vargonen Ansari.

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