On Following Adhkar Through Live Broadcast

Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)

I follow the adhkar that are broadcast live from Dar al-Mustafa. However there is a time difference. Is it acceptable for me to read those adkhar at that time even though I am in a different time zone?

This is acceptable. There is some latitude because the time of the adhkar of the morning begins at midnight and ends at the time for zuhr prayer. The time of the adhkar of the evening begins at the time of the zuhr prayer and ends at midnight. It is also possible to change the wording of the adhkar. For example, in Dar al-Mustafa they may be saying: “I ask for the good of this night,” so you could say: “I ask for the good of this day.” Continue reading On Following Adhkar Through Live Broadcast

On the Dhikr ‘Hu’

Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)

Please explain more about the dhikr ‘Hu

Dhikr or remembrance means for the One being remembered to be present in the heart of the one remembering Him. ‘Hu’, meaning ‘Him,’ is a pronoun that refers to Allah the Creator. If your heart is present with the One being remembered while you are repeating the word ‘Hu’, then you have attained the purpose of the dhikr.

Should I Have a Wird of Reciting Surat al-Fatihah?

Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)

Surat al-Fatihah is one of the best awrad for the seeker. It is good if it can be recited 40 or 41 times a day. Doing so is a means of removing affliction and fulfilling one’s needs. Even better is reciting it 100 times a day. It can be either be read at one time standing facing the qiblah, or it can be apportioned over the five prayers as follows: 21 times after Fajr, 22 times after Zuhr, 23 times after Asr, 24 times after Maghrib, and 10 times after Isha. If you are unable to complete the appointed number at the specific time you can make it up after the next prayer. Imam al-Ghazali and many knowers of Allah mention this method. Imam al-Haddad composed a dua to be read after this recitation.[1]

[1] See Wasilat al-`Ibad

 

On Being Distracted While Making Dhikr

Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)

I find myself thinking about calling to Allah when I am making dhikr. Is this blameworthy?

You should focus on the meaning of the dhikr that you are reading. Everything has an appointed time and you should focus on the thing you are doing while you are doing it. An exception to this is an urgent issue relating to calling to Allah which needs to be addressed immediately.

On Continually Tasting the Sweetness of Dhikr

Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)

When we begin reciting a certain dhikr we taste the sweetness of the dhikr, but this gradually disappears. How do we retain this?

The soul naturally reacts to new things and gains new energy from them. So you should seek renewal in your presence every time you read your adhkar and increase your contemplation on them so that you receive new gifts from Allah.

The Effects of Allah’s Remembrance

Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him) reflects upon the effects of Allah’s remembrance.

Let us make use of our time, for it passes very quickly. The only regret that the people of Paradise have is over time which passed by in which they did not remember Allah. If the believer remembers Allah with a heart full of veneration, Allah will remember him with mercy and kindness: So remember Me and I will remember you.1 Continue reading The Effects of Allah’s Remembrance

On Wearing Prayer Beads around the Neck

Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)

Is it acceptable to wear a subhah (prayer beads) around my neck?

It is preferable not to do so, particularly in gatherings of remembrance and around other people. There is no harm in wearing it in private when reciting the Qur’an or in prayer.