Rabita – Connection

“Nothing works more for you in this world than your connection to Allah”

– Murshid Shaykh Taner Vargonen Ansari

Articles about Rabita

Rabita

CONNECTION

Rabita as a Refuge

Rabita as a Communication Tool

Language of Communication

Root meaning of Rabita

Root letters: ra ba twa

Meaning
to bind
to make fast
to tie
to connect
to combine
to unite
to strengthen
to make firm
to be constant
to strengthen one’s heart connection to Allah

“Your heart is the place to recognize the Truth. If you want to find the Truth, clean your heart and connect.”

– Murshid Shaykh Taner Vargonen Ansari

Rabita in the Qur’an

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

Bismillah Al Rahman Al Rahim

In the name of Allah, The One Who Acts with Mercy, The Source of Mercy

(Al Fatiha:1)

Ya ayyuhallazina amanu isbiru wa sabiru wa rabitu wat taqullaha la’allakum tuflihun

O you who believe, be patient and persevere, and surpass others in patience and perseverance, 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)

Iz yughash shikumun nu’aasa amanatan minhu wa yunazzilu ‘alaykum minas sama-i ma an li yu tahhirakum bihi wa yuz hiba ‘ankum rijzash shaytani wa li yarbita ‘ala qulubikum wa yu sabbita bihil aqdaam

When Allah made drowsiness fall upon you, He did it only as a reassurance from Him, and He sent down rain from the sky to purify you, and to remove the pollution (of fear and doubt) of Satan from you, and to strengthen the connection in your hearts, and to thus make your feet firm.

(Al Anfal:11)

Nahnu naqussu ‘alayka nabaahum bil haqq. Innahum fityatun amanu bi Rabbihim wa zidnaahum huda wa rabatna ‘ala qulubihim iz qamu fa qalu Rabbuna Rabbus samawati wal-ard. Lan nad’u min dunihi ilahan laqad qulna izan shatata

We tell you their story with truth. Indeed, they were youths who believed in their Rab [Lord], and We increased them in guidance, and We connected their hearts to Us when they stood up and said, “Our Rab is the Rab of the heavens and the earth. Never will we call on any other than Him as ilah [god]. Had we done so, it would have been a deviation from Allah’s Oneness — an outrageous transgression.

(Al Kahf:13-14)

Wa asbaha fu-adu ummi Musa farighan in kaadat latubdi bihi law la an rabatna ‘ala qalbiha li takuna minal mu’minin

And the fu’ad [spiritual heart] of the mother of Musa [Moses] filled with the anguish of separation, and she almost gave her feelings away (about the identity of her son), had We not strengthened the connection of her heart. (We did so) that she might be of the mu’minin [believers].

(Al Qasas:10)

There are many places in the Qur’an where references are made to rabita, connection, without the actual word rabita itself being used.

Every time it says
Bismillah Al Rahman Al Rahim,
In / By / With the name of Allah, The One Who Acts with Mercy, The Source of Mercy,
that is rabita.

Basically, every time a Name of Allah is mentioned with “Al” in front of it, that is rabita, connection to that specific Name of Allah. For example,
Al Aziz: The Revered One
Al Wadud: The Source of Love; The Loving One
Al Ghafur: The Absolver of Sins; The Tolerant One

The following words in the Qur’an-i Karim [Generous Text] also refer to rabita, connection:

salat: connection to Allah

taqwa: self-vigilance

ittiqa: action with connection

zikr: repeated remembrance with contemplation

tasbih: continuous glorification

A’budu: Make connection and devotion to

Na’budu: We connect to, are devoted to and love

‘ibada: act of connection and devotion

And the list goes on.

Every letter, every word, every ayat [verse], every vibration in the Qur’an is a symbol of rabita as it has all been inspired, uploaded by rabita into the heart of the beloved Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him from his Rab [Lord; Master], Al Malik, The King, The Ruler, The Owner of All Dominion, The Owner of All Connection, Allah.

203. When you do not bring an ayat to them, they say, “Why have you not chosen (to bring) it?” Tell them, “I follow only what is inspired in me by my Rab. This Scripture is insight from your Rab, and a guidance and mercy for the believing community.”

205. And you (O Muhammad), do zikr of your Rab within yourself quietly, with humility and awe, morning and evening, and do not neglect this.

206. Without a doubt, those who are in the close quarters of your Rab are not too proud to connect and devote themselves to Him: They do tasbih [repeated glorification] of Him and do sajda [prostration] before Him. (Note: Please prostrate, as is customary, when reading this and other sajda ayats.)

(Al A’raf)

This post has been compiled and edited by the AQRT Staff Team, including Wakil Rosie, Khalifa Rubina Ghoor Ansari, and Es-Seyyid Es-Shaykh Nishaat Ahmed Siddiqi. The translation of the verses and Arabic terminologies are from Es-Seyyid Es-Shaykh Taner Vargonen el Ansari. Allah razi olsun. Al Fatiha.

Love, peace and togetherness in goodness

Ya Wadud Ya Salaam Ya Jami Ya Nafi

Published on January 25, 2024