Sufi
concepts
with regards
to worship
suffer from
both
innovation
and
extremism.
This is
apparent in
the entire
Fazaail-e-Aamaal,
whether in
the chapter
of virtues
of Salaat or
Sadaqat or
Darood. But
in this
chapter, we
shall focus
our
discussion
on Dhikr and
Sufi
concepts
related to
it, in order
to analyze
the gross
misunderstanding
of the Sufis
in issues of
Ibaadah.
Dhikr or
remembrance
of Allah has
been used in
the Qur’aan
and the
Sunnah to
refer to the
prayer, the
Friday
prayer,
supplication,
good advice,
the Qur’aan
and even the
Messenger of
Allah (sallallahu
alaihi
wa-sallam).
Thus, just
like Ibaadah,
Dhikr too is
a
comprehensive
term that
refers to
those
actions of
the tongue
that please
Allah. This
is apparent
from the
Hadeeth of
Allah’s
Messenger,
“The world
and all that
it contains
is cursed,
except for
the
remembrance
of Allah and
what
supports it,
and a
scholar and
a student.”[1]
Dhikr is
also used to
refer to the
practice of
glorifying
Allah by
mentioning
His Names,
saying
‘Subhan
Allahi wabi
Hamdihi
Subhana
Rabbiyal
Adheem’, the
Shahadah,
the Tasbeeh
after the
Salaat as
has been
prescribed
in the
various
Ahaadeeth of
Allah’s
Messenger (sallallahu
alaihi
wa-sallam).
Other highly
recommended
forms of
Dhikr
include the
recitation
of the
Qur’aan,
sending
blessings (Darood)
upon the
Messenger of
Allah (sallallahu
alaihi
wa-sallam),
and Du’aa
(supplications)
from the
Sunnah.
The
believers
have been
commanded by
Allah to
remember Him
much,
“O you who
believe!
Remember
Allah with
much
remembrance.”[2],
because
conscious
and
attentive
remembrance
of Allah
keeps a
person aware
of Allah,
increases
the faith,
bestows
Taqwa (fear
of Allah)
and brings
tranquility
to the
heart.
“Indeed, the
believers
are none
other than
those whom
when Allah
is
mentioned,
feel a fear
in their
hearts and
when His
Verses (this
Qur’aan) are
recited unto
them, they
(i.e. the
Verses)
increase
their Faith;
and they put
their trust
in their
Lord
(Alone).”[3]
“Those who
believed and
whose hearts
find rest in
the
remembrance
of Allah.
Verily, in
the
remembrance
of Allah do
hearts find
rest.”[4]
These
Qur’aanic
verses show
the virtues
and effects
of Dhikr.
The Sufis,
however,
have their
own concepts
with regards
to Dhikr,
whereby at
times, they
exaggerate
greatly in
the
prescribed
forms of
Dhikr whilst
at others,
they simply
utter ‘Hu,
Hu’ that
means ‘He
He’, which
is neither
from the
prescribed
Dhikr nor
does it have
any meaning
on its own.
They also
add
conditions
with regards
to the
place,
posture and
breathing
during Dhikr.
Even the
effects that
the Sufis
claim from
their Dhikr
is in no way
similar to
the effects
of the Dhikr
prescribed
in the
Qur’aan and
the Sunnah.
Sufis at
times due to
the
intensity of
the Dhikr
loose their
sanity and
utter the
weirdest
statements.
[1]
Sunan
Ibn
Majah
(no.4112)
and
authenticated
by
Shaikh
al-Albanee
in
Saheeh
al-Jamee
(no.3414).
