Collective Dhikr inside the Masjid

360

Q: What is the ruling regarding performing collective Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah) inside the Masjid (mosque) while standing and swaying from side to side and turning the lights off? And is it permissible to remember Allah with repeated mentioning of the proper Name saying (Allah - Hayy (Ever-Living) - Qayyum (Self-Subsisting) - Qahhar (the Subduer)? Are there any reported Hadiths in this regard?

A: Collective Dhikr in unison is Bid`ah (innovation in religion), whether done in the Masjid or other place and in the presence of lights or not, because it has never been reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) made Dhikr in this manner. He (peace be upon him) said: Anyone who does an action which is not stated in this matter of ours (Islam) will have it rejected. Likewise, making Dhikr through the Proper Name of Allah is also a Bid`ah and not an authentic way of making Dhikr, because it does not convey a meaningful supplication.