IHSAN THE ART OF THE SUFIS

IHSAN THE ART OF THE SUFIS
Part II
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An inward research on the famous Hadeeth on various perspectives
From the Hadeeth, it is very clear that it is not possible for all the people to attain the state of Mushahadha (worshipping Him as if seeing Him). If it is possible then the word, 'fa inlam' (if you can't or if you are not able to) would not have been put there by the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him). But being in the thought that He is seeing us is possible for everyone.
Before proceeding with the explanations of Muraakhaba and Mushahadha, I want to make one thing clear. Since the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) has used the word, 'Antha'budallaha' (worship Allah), it does not mean that we should try to be in the state of Ihsan only during our prayers. In fact, it is due to our misleading thought that we have confined the term Ibadath (worship) in Salah (the regular prayers). Are not Sawm (fasting), Zakath (giving compulsory alms) and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) also Ibadath (worship)? Is not living according to the Shariath (laws put forth by the Qur'an and Sunnah) Ibadath? In fact, every act of an Abid (slave) is Ibadath (worship). So, it would be incorrect to say, that the state of Ihsan is possible only during a particular period. The state of Ihsan is possible and is required to be present in the Mumins (believers) all through the day, all the time. The Sufis have said and proved that it is possible to be in the state of Ihsan and some sufis have even told that being in the state of Ihsan is Ibadath.
Allah is seeing all of us and our actions irrespective of our religion, caste or creed and actions. This is very much clear from the Qur'an and no body has any doubt over it. But, being in the thought that He is always seeing us, is something which has to be brought into our lives. If this thought gets into our mind, then the chances of trespassing the Shariath is totally ruled out. Allah is not seeing our body alone but also our thoughts. So, a person who has attained the state of always being in the thought that Allah is seeing him, his actions and thoughts will never go against His Lord's wish and will never forget His Lord.
Now comes the quesion, From where is Allah seeing us and How is He seeing us? Here comes the concept of Allah's omnipresence. Though everyone accepts that Allah sees us all, most of the people don't accept the theory of omnipresence of Allah. Well, I am not going to debate on that and who are we to debate once Allah has made it clear in the Qur'an that ' huwa ma'akum ayna ma kuntum' (He is with you, wherever you are Qur'an 57:4).
Allah is present everywhere and sees us from everywhere. He sees from the person standing opposite to us, He sees from the person behind us, He sees from the chair we are sitting, He sees from the keyboard we are typing, He sees from the computer monitor, He sees from our hands, legs and what not.....
This experience and spirit will come to us once we understand that the Sifathe Basarath (the characteristic of Seeing) that belongs to Allah is 'Zaathy' (His own) and is present where ever He is Present and He is present everywhere. This understanding will come only through the Faizan (blessing) of a Kamil Shaikh. The Sahabas attained this state through the Faizan of their Shaikh, in reality the only Shaikh, Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).
May Allah, shower His blessings on us to attain this state of Ihsan. In the next article we will discuss about the higher state of Ihsan, the Mushahada.