Q: The `Alawiyyah Tariqah (Sufi order) has recently spread in our country. They are known as "the poor"; they are like Sufis. They are a group of people who mention Allah (Exalted be He) and His Messenger (peace be upon him) on Thursday nights, and when one of them dies. They come from Algiers; they dress in white; and they make lunatic movements. Please advise concerning this so that I remove the doubts from people. Thank you so much.

A: A person should mention Allah (Exalted be He) in the way that was reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) in the Sahih (authentic) Hadith regarding the timing and the form of Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah). Anything that contradicts the Sunnah is a rejected Bid`ah (innovation in religion). This is according to the saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him), Anyone who does an action which is not in accordance with this matter of ours (Islam), will have it rejected. Dhikr in the way mentioned in the question is a Bid`ah, as it contradicts the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him). In the funerals of Muslims, what should be done is washing the deceased, shrouding them, offering Salah (Prayer) on them, supplicating Allah (Exalted be He) to have mercy on them, attending the burial ceremony and burying them in the Shar`y (Islamically lawful) way. Anything other than this is a prohibited Bid`ah, such as the things mentioned in the question, whether wearing special clothes when attending the burial ceremony, making certain movements, raising one's voice, wailing, Tawassul (seeking to draw close to Allah through unlawful means), (Part No. 24; Page No. 272) seeking blessing through the deceased or otherwise.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.