By doing Muraqaba regularly, certain types of light and waves begin to accumulate within the practitioner, which negate gravity. Due to these lights, the student experiences states where gravitational pull seems absent. For example, during Muraqaba, or even while walking, sitting, or lying down, the sensation of weight disappears (weightlessness). Sometimes the person sees themselves made of light. During Muraqaba, this weightlessness may cause the body to feel suspended. The person sees themselves flying through space. With both closed and open eyes, lights of various colors are seen. Flashes of light, similar to a camera flash, are felt inside the brain. Sometimes the body becomes hypersensitive, and the electrical flow within the body is also felt. Due to this concentration of light, the body may experience slight shocks. Feelings of peace and serenity deepen. Cognitive and problem-solving abilities improve. These and other sensations reveal the vibrancy of the luminous system and the enhancement of spiritual energy.
The following are Muraqaba reports sent to the author by various students:
Report I
When I close my eyes for Muraqaba, milky white light appears around my eyes. During Muraqaba, thoughts come and go. Sometimes I get drowsy, while other times only Allah is the focus. Lights of other colors also appear during Muraqaba—for example, blue, red, and so on. When the influx of thoughts increases, I start the dhikr of Ya’ Haiyu Ya’ Qayyum. After Muraqaba, different things happen. Sometimes my body feels very light, other times very heavy. Sometimes I don’t feel like I have a body at all. Occasionally, I feel as though my body has moved upward. I also feel sensations in my brain, which are pleasant in nature. During Muraqaba, these pleasant sensory waves engulf my brain. My brain becomes intoxicated, and I usually fall into deep sleep afterward. Sometimes it feels like a dreamlike state. On one occasion, my whole body defied gravity and moved upward. I lost awareness of my surroundings. Often during Muraqaba, even the process of inhaling and exhaling feels like an interruption. Occasionally, I see images of my murshid (author), and during Muraqaba, I visit various places. The scenes are so beautiful that describing them is almost impossible.
—Haroon Ahmed, Lahore
Report II
At the start of Muraqaba, I saw a greenish-yellow circle (chakra), then felt like my bed and I were shaking. For a short while, an eye made of light appeared near my right eye. My head and shoulders felt heavy, and my body felt pulled upward. Dark shadows appeared before my eyes. Once, a very red light appeared. I felt something in my back that went all the way to the back of my head. I felt as if under the magnetic influence of something.
I did Muraqaba for fifteen minutes. I was able to focus on the image. Throughout, it felt like drops of rain falling, especially on my head. The sensation was so strong it felt like the drops were making holes in my head. I became so focused on that sensation that I became unaware of my body. I saw a large door open to the north, with white light coming from it and falling on my body. Then a rain of light began to fall from the sky. I could feel it on the right side of my body. Suddenly, the rain intensified, and the light fell on my body so strongly that I felt a shock.
—Misbahuddin, Karachi
Report III
I did Muraqaba after predawn prayers and saw myself as a statue of pure light. Rings of pure light encircled me. I felt as though I had two bodies: one was myself, the other made entirely of light.
Additionally, I’m experiencing certain changes. For instance, when someone is about to speak to me, I become aware of it beforehand—and even what they’re going to say comes to mind. Secondly, if I wish to meet someone, that person often contacts me of their own accord. Thirdly, if a major event is about to occur, I start feeling uneasy beforehand.
—Allam, Mangla Dam
Idraak (Awareness)
I continued the practice of Muraqaba and eventually overcame drowsiness. The reason for drowsiness in the beginning is that the consciousness is overwhelmed by the influx of inner light.
When consciousness is no longer affected by drowsiness and the mind remains active, the flow of inner (esoteric) information begins. The student can comprehend these spiritual phenomena through cognition. Awareness is a thought that, although delicate, has a form.
The speed of the mind meets that form. For example, when someone says “apple,” the image of an apple appears in the mind. These images are too subtle for the physical eyes to see, but the senses can perceive them. Sometimes, hidden information comes as a voice. The voice is usually faint, but it conveys the news or vision.
Report IV
I gained focus right after starting Muraqaba. It felt as if waves of thoughts were entering through my ears. Whenever an image appears, sounds accompany it.
—M. Salam
Report V
During Muraqaba, I hear noises like tidal waves crashing against a coastline. After a few days, I began to hear voices—as if someone were speaking. It wasn’t an external sound but rather one that came from within. One day, someone called my name during Muraqaba. When I opened my eyes, no one was there. I realized the sound came from within—it was an echo of my inner self.
Report VI
Today I was so absorbed in Muraqaba that when someone tapped me on the shoulder, I was startled and opened my eyes—but no one was there. I returned to Muraqaba. After that, whenever I thought of my body, I felt a shiver. Recently, I’ve also noticed that when I drink water, it tastes sweet. It seems my sense of taste is changing. Sometimes I hear whistles in my ears.
Report VII
After Muraqaba, I performed the pre-dawn (fajr) prayer. I remained focused throughout. On one occasion, the thought that God is in front of me became so strong that I felt overwhelmed. That state lasted for a while. During Muraqaba, it felt like the dhikr was being performed by my inner self.
Report VIII
I gained complete concentration during Muraqaba and felt as if I were ascending into space and had reached higher ground. In my mind, I heard an echo so profound it’s impossible to describe. The sound frightened me slightly. Then I saw Jerusalem, where people were praying. I was staring at the Dome of the Rock. During that moment, an unseen being whispered in my ears. I was overwhelmed by the whisper. The voice said, “Staring at the Dome is not a noble deed. What is noble is contemplating the lives of the Prophets and Apostles—to see what hidden treasures of Divine Knowledge these noble beings held. Every member of the human race is entitled to access these treasures.”
Hearing this message made me anxious. My heartbeat increased, and I came out of Muraqaba. At that moment, I was drenched in sweat.
—Kamal