Being Mindful of Allah: Doing What Is Right When No One Is Watching

In a time when appearances, images, and impressions occupy such a large space in people's lives, a Muslim needs a great act of worship that returns his heart to its true foundation — the worship of Muraqabah, mindfulness of Allah. A person's true worth does not lie in what people see of him, but in what Allah knows of his heart and his innermost self.

Muraqabah means that a servant keeps in mind that Allah is watching over him at every moment, knowing what he conceals and what he reveals, and seeing his deeds, his words, and his innermost thoughts, so that he remains diligent in obeying Him whether he is among people or alone.

This act of worship is among the greatest deeds of the heart; it is a path to sincerity, a cause of upright behaviour, and a sign of true Iman, for the true believer does not worship Allah only in front of people, but worships Him in private just as he does in public.

• What does Muraqabah (mindfulness of Allah) mean?

• The relationship between Muraqabah and the rank of Ihsan

• The difference between being mindful of the Creator and being mindful of created beings

• The levels of Muraqabah and their effects

• The fruits of Muraqabah in a Muslim's life

• Practical steps to strengthen your Muraqabah of Allah

What Does Muraqabah Mean?

Muraqabah means that a Muslim lives with the constant awareness that Allah, the Exalted, sees him, hears him, and knows everything that passes through his heart, so he watches over himself before people ever watch over him.

Allah, the Exalted, says:

﴿أَلَمْ يَعْلَم بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ يَرَىٰ﴾ [العلق: 14]

When this meaning settles firmly in the heart, a person becomes more diligent in obedience and further removed from disobedience, whether in front of people or away from them.

For this reason, Muraqabah of Allah is among the greatest acts of worship of the heart, purifying the soul and setting right one's deeds.

Muraqabah: A Path to the Rank of Ihsan

The Prophet ﷺ made Muraqabah the foundation of the rank of Ihsan, saying in the Hadith of Jibril, peace be upon him:

"That you worship Allah as though you see Him, and if you do not see Him, then indeed He sees you."Al-Bukhari (50), and Muslim (9)

Scholars have explained that this Hadith points to two great levels:

First: The Station of Witnessing (Mushahadah)

This is the highest rank of Iman, meaning that the heart becomes so filled with reverence for Allah and love of meeting Him that the servant worships his Lord as though he sees Him with the eye of his heart, so his Khushu' and eagerness toward obedience increase.

Second: The Station of Muraqabah

This means that a Muslim constantly keeps in mind that Allah sees him and watches over his deeds, which drives him toward sincerity, modesty before Allah, and avoiding disobedience.

This station is within reach of every Muslim who strives against himself to keep Allah's watchfulness in mind.

The Difference Between Being Mindful of the Creator and Being Mindful of Created Beings

Some people are diligent about improving their conduct in front of others, yet grow lax the moment people's eyes are no longer upon them.

The sincere believer, however, holds Allah, the Exalted, as his first and foremost watcher.

Being Mindful of People

If the motive is people's approval or praise, then one's behaviour changes depending on their presence or absence, and a person may fall into showing off or artificiality.

Being Mindful of Allah

If the motive, however, is Allah's pleasure, then a Muslim remains upright both privately and publicly, and is as diligent about setting right his heart as he is about setting right his outward conduct.

For this reason, the righteous predecessors used to conceal many of their good deeds, because they sought reward from Allah, not praise from people.

Examples from the Salaf in the Worship of Concealment

The Salaf paid great attention to hidden good deeds, because they are closer to sincerity.

One of the most beautiful examples is what Ali ibn Al-Husayn, Zayn al-Abidin, used to do: he would carry food at night to the poor without anyone knowing, and people only learned of this after his passing, when the marks left by carrying the sacks were found on his back.

This shows that a believer may keep certain deeds solely between himself and Allah, known to no one but Him, hoping for sincerity and acceptance.

The Levels of Muraqabah

The strength of Muraqabah varies according to the strength of Iman in the heart.

The Muraqabah of the God-Fearing (Muttaqin)

This means that a servant feels shy before Allah, so he watches over his words and deeds, and strives to remain within the bounds set by the Sharia.

The Muraqabah of the Truthful (Siddiqin)

This is a higher rank, in which the heart becomes so filled with reverence for Allah that His pleasure becomes one's foremost objective, so a person pays no attention to people's praise or blame, but remains occupied with closeness to Allah.

The Fruits of Muraqabah in a Muslim's Life

Muraqabah bears great effects that appear in a Muslim's life, the most important of which include:

Sincerity in One's Work

Muraqabah leads a Muslim to work for Allah alone, far from love of fame or seeking people's praise.

Abandoning Sin in Private

Whoever keeps in mind that Allah sees him feels too ashamed to disobey Him while alone, especially in a time when technology has made access to forbidden matters so easy.

Soundness of the Heart

Muraqabah drives a Muslim to continually review his intentions, and to purify his heart of showing off, envy, self-admiration, and other spiritual diseases.

Tranquility and Peace

Whoever knows that Allah is with him, hears him, and knows his state, finds his heart at ease, and the worries of this world grow lighter upon him.

Blessing in Knowledge and Deeds

A student of knowledge who is mindful of Allah seeks knowledge for His sake alone, so Allah blesses him in his knowledge and benefits him through what he has learned.

How Do You Strengthen Your Muraqabah of Allah in Your Life?

A Muslim can train himself in this great act of worship through practical steps.

First: Continually Renew Your Intention

Before every deed, ask yourself: do I seek Allah's pleasure through this deed, or people's approval?

Correcting one's intention is the beginning of sincerity.

Second: Learn Allah's Beautiful Names

Reflect often on names of Allah such as:

• Ar-Raqib (The Watchful)

• Ash-Shahid (The Witness)

• Al-'Alim (The All-Knowing)

• Al-Basir (The All-Seeing)

• As-Sami' (The All-Hearing)

The more your knowledge of these names increases, the more your awareness of Allah's nearness and encompassing knowledge grows.

Third: Hold Yourself Accountable Every Day

Set aside a few minutes at the end of your day, and ask yourself:

• Did I please Allah today?

• Did I fall short in His right?

• What will I correct tomorrow?

Self-accountability helps sustain lasting Muraqabah.

Fourth: Remember the Testimony of Your Limbs

Keep in mind that everything you do will bear witness against or for you on the Day of Judgment.

Allah, the Exalted, says:

﴿يَوْمَئِذٍ تُحَدِّثُ أَخْبَارَهَا﴾ [الزلزلة: 4]

And He, the Exalted, says:

﴿حَتَّىٰ إِذَا مَا جَاءُوهَا شَهِدَ عَلَيْهِمْ سَمْعُهُمْ وَأَبْصَارُهُمْ وَجُلُودُهُمْ بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ﴾ [فصلت: 20].

Whoever keeps this scene in mind strives to make his private conduct better than his public one.

Fifth: Be Diligent About Deeds Known Only to Allah

Set aside a hidden act of worship for yourself — a charity no one knows about, a night prayer, a Du'a made in the depths of the night, or helping someone in need without anyone seeing you.

Such deeds are among the strongest means of instilling sincerity in the heart.

Muraqabah of Allah is not a passing feeling; it is a way of life that raises a Muslim upon sincerity, and makes him steadfast in obedience both privately and publicly.

When it settles in the heart that Allah sees every movement and every stillness, and knows every intention and every fleeting thought, a servant becomes more modest before his Lord, more diligent in seeking His pleasure, and further removed from showing off and heedlessness.

Let us make Muraqabah of Allah a guiding principle in our worship, our studies, our work, and our dealings with others, so that we may attain the station of Ihsan that the Prophet ﷺ called us to, and become among those who set right their inner selves, so Allah set right their outward conduct, granting them acceptance in this world and the next.

We ask Allah, the Exalted, to grant us sincerity, mindfulness of Him both privately and publicly, to make our inner selves better than our outward appearance, and to enable us to attain the station of Ihsan.