Q: Mr. `Isa Jibril wants to know about the revelation sent down to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He also asked about the Wird (portion of Qur'an recited with consistency) recited by the followers of Al-Tijaniyyah order; is it authentic or not? He hears that many Islamic Schools are against this wird. However, followers of Al-Tijaniyyah recite it regularly after Maghrib (Sunset) Prayer. Usually they spread out a piece of white cloth in the mosque, sit around it, and recite, 'La ilaha illa Allah' (There is no god but Allah) and two other supplications a hundred times. Mr. `Isa Jibril would like you to explain the Truth about these practices.

A: The Islamic Shari`ah enjoins Muslims to perform Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah) and encourages it greatly. The Shari`ah explains that Dhikr revives souls and relieves hearts. Allah (Exalted be He) says: O you who believe! Remember Allâh with much remembrance. And glorify His Praises morning and afternoon [the early morning (Fajr) and ‘Asr prayers]. Allah also says: Those who believed (in the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism), and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allâh: verily, in the remembrance of Allâh do hearts find rest. (Part No. 2; Page No. 317) Also the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: The similitude of one who remembers his Lord and one who does not remember Him, is like that of the living and the dead. Narrated by Al-Bukhari. Just as the Qur'an and Sunnah encourage Muslims to perform Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah) in general, they explain in detail the proper way of performing Dhikr. For example, the Qur'an explains that Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah) may be done by the hearts e.g. When a Muslim glorifies, reveres, and fears Allah in hope and fear without loud words in the morning and evening. Also the Qur'an explains that Salah (Prayer) is the best type of Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah). Allah (may He be Exalted says): Guard strictly (five obligatory) As-Salawât (the prayers) especially the middle Salât (i.e. the best prayer - ‘Asr ). And stand before Allâh with obedience [and do not speak to others during the Salât (prayers)]. And if you fear (an enemy), perform Salât (pray) on foot or riding. And when you are in safety, offer the Salât (prayer) in the manner He has taught you, which you knew not (before). Allah says also: When you have finished As-Salât (the congregational prayer), remember Allâh standing, sitting down, and (lying down) on your sides, but when you are free from danger, perform As-Salât (Iqamat-as-Salât). Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah) in Prayer is represented in recitation of the Qur'an, Takbir (saying: "Allahu Akbar [Allah is the Greatest]"), Tahlil (saying: "La ilaha illa Allah [There is no god but Allah]"), Tasbih (saying: "Subhan Allah [Glory be to Allah]"), Tahmid (saying: "Al-Hamdu lillah" [Praise be to Allah]") and invoking Allah, as Allah (Exalted be He) says: And remember your Lord within yourself, humbly and with fear and without loudness in words in the mornings, and in the afternoons and be not of those who are neglectful. Similarly, the Sunnah, whether the sayings or the actions of the Prophet (peace be upon him), explains the types of authentic Adhkar (Supplications), when and how they are recited. For example, there are certain formulae of Adhkar for morning, evening, times of adversity and afflictions, before sleeping and (Part No. 2; Page No. 318) after awakening, for travel and return from journeys, etc. So the Sunnah specifies the words of the supplications, and the manner of reciting them. As in the Hadith, the seven people who will be in Allah's Shade when there will be no shade except His, include: a person who remembers Allah in privacy and his eyes shed tears. Therefore, whoever follows the Qur'an and Sunnah with regard to which, when, and how Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah) is performed, will be following the guidance of Allah (Exalted be He) and His Messenger (peace be upon him) and thus deserves Allah's Reward. On the other hand, whoever changes or innovates with regard to the Adhkar (Supplications) or even recites them in a manner Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) did not adopt, will be committing Bid`ah (innovation in religion). For example, whoever specifies or generalizes a manner for reciting Adhkar and this manner was not adopted at the time of Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him), the time of his Companions, nor the time of the early three good generations, will be innovating in religion that which Allah does not enjoin and will be deprived from Allah's Reward. They will be among those whose efforts have been wasted in this life while they thought that they were acquiring good by their deeds! Such rejected innovations in religion include the practices of followers of Sufi orders like followers of Al-Tijaniyyah order. They spread out a piece of white cloth then sit around it in the Masjid (mosque) after Maghrib (Sunset) Prayer, and recite, 'La ilaha illa Allah' (There is no god but Allah) and some other supplications. Here, Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah) is permissible and the words 'La ilaha illa Allah' (There is no god but Allah) are the best words said by the Prophets and one of the best supplications. However, spreading out the white piece of cloth, sitting around it, specifying the time after Maghrib (Sunset) Prayer for recitation, are Bid`ahs (innovations in religion). They have initiated this practice which neither Allah nor His Messenger ever mentioned. Therefore, the best of deeds are those done according to the Qur'an and Sunnah and the worst are those that are innovated. The Prophet (peace be upon him) says: Hold fast to my Sunnah and that of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs. Stick to them and hold fast to them. Avoid novelties, for every novelty is an innovation. He also says: (Part No. 2; Page No. 319)  Whoever introduces to our affair i.e. religion, things extraneous to it, his act is rejected. Also Bid`ahs (innovations in religion) related to remembrance of Allah include some people's sitting before or after Fajr (Dawn) Prayer or after `Isha' (Night) Prayer to worship Allah through innovated supplications. Some recite supplications in very unaccepted manners. They seem to be playing or acting than to be reciting Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah). Examples of this include some people's repetitive recitation of words like "hu" and "ah" which are not Names of Allah at all. In Arabic, the first word "hu" refers to the third person pronoun "he" while the second is an interjection said to express sudden physical pain. So using these words to perform dhikr is an abominable rejected innovation.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.