A senior spiritual aspirant wrote,

‘Most of the time I am attentive (of Allah). However, a doubt pesters me all the time. That is, with this attention (towards Allah) spontaneouly my thoughts are directed (upwards) towards the sky.  I understand that I am exempted for such an unintentional thought, but its presence bothers me. May be it is from a (hidden) sub-section of unbelief (kufr). Please, prescribe some treatment for it if necessary.’

Hakim al-Umma Shaykh Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) replied,

“Peace and blessing be on you.

Allah, Most High is free from been given a direction.

However, His most selected effulgences (tajeliyat) have a special relationship with His Throne (‘arsh). It is for this reason thoughts of Him direct one’s attention insticntively upwards. This is based on a reality and there is nothing of unbelief (kufr) in it.”

Tarbiyet us Salik, volume 2, page 1126