Nazar bar Qadam is a farsi (persian) term used by our Naqshbandi elders, which literally means, "Eyes on the Feet." It has 3 layers of meaning:
1) That literally we should lower our gaze and look down at our feet so that firstly, our gaze does not fall on ghair mehrams, and secondly, to maintain our focus on Allah (swt) because the sights around us will distract us from His remembrance.
2) To look at the example of the Prophet (saws) and follow exactly in his footsteps; to know where he stepped and to put our feet exactly where he put them in the path to Allah (swt) by following his sunnah so that we do not go off the path.
3) To keep our sight focused on the steps that we have to take in our spiritual journey, and not look too far beyond. When a person is climbing stairs, if he keeps looking at the top of the staircase then there is danger of him tripping and falling and then he will never make it to the top. He must look instead at where he has to put his foot next, and then step by step he will reach the top of the staircase. Same is with our spiritual journey, we must stay focused on what we have to do at this time and take the steps that are necessary for us now, rather that just thinking and talking about high goals that are at the moment beyond our reach as this will become a distraction.
And Allah knows best.
-by Ustadha Myra Kamal
1) That literally we should lower our gaze and look down at our feet so that firstly, our gaze does not fall on ghair mehrams, and secondly, to maintain our focus on Allah (swt) because the sights around us will distract us from His remembrance.
2) To look at the example of the Prophet (saws) and follow exactly in his footsteps; to know where he stepped and to put our feet exactly where he put them in the path to Allah (swt) by following his sunnah so that we do not go off the path.
3) To keep our sight focused on the steps that we have to take in our spiritual journey, and not look too far beyond. When a person is climbing stairs, if he keeps looking at the top of the staircase then there is danger of him tripping and falling and then he will never make it to the top. He must look instead at where he has to put his foot next, and then step by step he will reach the top of the staircase. Same is with our spiritual journey, we must stay focused on what we have to do at this time and take the steps that are necessary for us now, rather that just thinking and talking about high goals that are at the moment beyond our reach as this will become a distraction.
And Allah knows best.
-by Ustadha Myra Kamal
RSS Feed
