Category: Etiquettes

On Balancing the Qur’an and Adhkar

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

What do I do if I do not have enough time to recite the Qur’an, read my adhkar and perform other acts of worship?

The general rule is that you try to combine all these acts of worship and have a specific time for everything. However, if there is not enough time for everything, precedence should be given to reciting the Qur’an, as this is one of the greatest adkhar. But bear in mind that one of the Qur’an’s injunctions is to engage in dhikr. Engaging in dhikr is thus acting upon the Qur’an. You should not allow the Devil to trick you into completely leaving the adhkar because he may then trick you into leaving the Qur’an too.

 

On Forgetting the Number of Adhkar you have Recited

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

What do you do if you have a certain number of adhkar to read and you forget the number that you have read?

You should estimate the number you are certain you have read. If you are unsure whether you read 3,000 or 4,000 for example, you should always go with the lesser amount.

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.

On Movements while Making Dhikr

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

Some of the followers of other spiritual paths make movements while making dhikr. Should we take part?

They do this seeking to attain presence with Allah following the instructions of their shaykhs. We should joyfully participate with them in the dhikr without making these movements.