Comparative and Critical Study of Mantrashastra

Author(s): Mohanlal Bhagwandas Jhaveri, K V Abhayankar
Publisher: Sarabhai Manilal Nawab

Page 152

MYSTICISM OF DARVISHES: MURAQBAH INSILA AND TAWAJJUH
143
MURĀQBAH, INSILĀ AND TAWAJJUH There are two spiritual conditons resulting from contemplation and prayerfulness: one is called Murāqabah and the other insilā. The former is an ordinary state of pious contemplation in wakeful moments when the senses are overpowered by the soul-force but the body and the soul are unseparated; the latter is the condition when the soul leaves the body and wanders about without regard to time or space. "It was in this latter (condition that the Prophet is believd to have ascended in the spirit to heaven, borne there on an imaginary celestial animal, called the Burāq"-says Brown. Shaikh Muhyy-ud-Din al-'Arabi describes the insilä and also speaks of his having exercised fascination i. e. habs-e-nazr (meaning fixing of the gaze) and having arrested another until he obtained an answer from him so that the latter was unable to move at all until permitted to do so by the former. Ibn-' Isai founder of the Order of 'Isä wis explains in a work written by him the above phenomenon. Tälib signifies the Darvish or the active agent. Matlab is the person desired to appear. Mulāhaza is the action of thought of the Talib* compelling the Matlāb* to appear.
Tawajjuh is the producing of the person. Ahl-e-häl is the person having power of making others appear. Ahl-e-tasarruf is the holy person possessing the power. Hal is the state of ecstasy into which the person goes who makes the absent appear to him. Hal is the condition of perfect submission of the person thus appearing to the power of the Hál. Shughl is operation of the performance of this act of power. Tasawwur is visualizing the matlab in imagination.
Tawajjuh is produced in two manners: firstly by fixing one's gaze upon the heart of the matlab and secondly not by looking at his heart but by praying to the Almighty. One must continue to pray with warmth and fervour until the matláb finally appears. Then the Talib blows as it were in the mouth of the matláb reciting the invocation
* Talib and Matlub are the same as the Sadhaka and Sadhya of the Tantrikas.