Dimensi Baru dalam Amalan Rabitah Tokoh Sufi Kontemporari Malaysia

Rabitah in Sufism is defined as a link of deep love between a murid and his shaykh and tying one’s heart to the accomplished shaykh by keeping his image in one’s imagination, even in his absence. It is expected that the students are loved by God, for the love of one who loved God. However this article mainly attempts to highlight a new dimension on the concept introduced by a foremost contemporary sufi figure in Malaysia named Shaykh Haji Jahid Haji Sidek. The interview method is conducted in this study to obtain data required for analysis. The study found that rabitah according to the shaykh has the same meaning as well as signs of God (ayat Allah), in terms of both are instruments for knowing God. Thus he believed that rabitah practice is obligatory for everyone to know God as well as the Holy Quran urges people compulsorily on observing the signs of God. The study also found that the obligation of practising rabitah which he meant, just as the obligation of practising nazar which is decided by Islamic theology scholars