18 November 1987
Q: Is doing Zikrullah very important for Muslims? Can you explain the importance of Zikr, particularly for a Salik (seeker of God). Do we have to do it (Zikrullah) frequently and is there any mention to do it excessively in the Holy Quran and Hadith? What are its rewards from Allah s.w.t?
A: The importance of frequent Zikr is stressed everywhere in the Holy Quran and Hadith. It is said in one ayat of the Holy Quran that the true Momins are always engaged in Zikr (every moment). It says: “And they are perpetually in Salat." Salat here means Zikr of the highest degrees in Latifa Khafi and Akhfa, which is then named Fana. And frequent Zikr does lead to that highest stage of Zikr in due course. It said in a Hadith that Allah Taala commands the angels to go about with trays full of Anwar and Tajalliyat (Divine Gifts) and throw them into the hearts of those who are found engaged in Zikr. When any of the angels finds Halqa of Zikr being done anywhere, he calls all other angels there, and all of them empty their trays and fill the hearts of the attendants (Zakirin) with Divine Anwar (plural of Nur). The Hadith goes on saying that when the angels go back, Allah s.w.t asks them, “How did you find My servants.” The angels say, “Sir, they were engaged in Thy Zikr.” Allah says, “Why do they recite My Zikr.” The angels say, “For fear of Hell.” Allah says, ‘Have they seen Hell?” Angels say, “No Sir.” Allah says, “What will happen if they see the Hell.” The angels say, “If they happen to see Hell they will do more and more Zikr.” Then Allah says, “What is the other reason for their Zikr.” Angels say, “For the love of Paradise.” Allah says, “Have they seen Paradise?” The angels say, “No Sir.” Allah says, “What will happen if they see Paradise.” The angels say, “If they see Paradise they will never stop Zikr.” Allah says, “What is the other reason for their Zikr.” The angels say, “It is Thy love.” Allah says, “Have they seen Me?” The angels say, “No Sir.” Allah says, “what will happen if they see Me?” The angels say, “If they see Thee they will go mad in Thy Zikr.” Allah says, “I forgive all of them.” The angels say, “Sir, there were some in the Halqa-i-Zikr who had come for other purposes and not for Zikr.” Allah says, “I forgive them also, because I do not let those who sit with the Zakirin (reciters of Zikr) go empty-handed.”
The above Hadith shows that the Baraka of Zikr is so great that the attendants (Zakirin, reciters of Zikr) are forgiven on the very first day. Not only those who recite Zikr but those who happen to sit with them, they are also forgiven. You should read out this portion of my letter to the audience frequently before Halqa-i-Zikr.
Q: Can you teach me some doas? What doa to recite at the end of the Halqa-i-Zikr?
A: The pattern of doa which my Shaikh (r) used to recite at the end of the Halqa-i-Zikr was:
1. Allahummaa Bijahi Nabiyikal Mustafa Wa Habibikal Mujtaba Iftah lana Abwaba Inayati Wal karamat; Wa Waffiq lana Littaati Wal Ibadat; Wahfazna Ya Fayyazo Min Jamiyil Afati Wal Baliyat; Wa Barik lana firrizqi Wal Hasnat.
( Ya Allah, through the greatness of Thy chosen Nabi and selected Beloved, open for us the doors of Thy Bounties and Favors; and enable us to obey Thee and worship Thee; and protect us, O Protector, from all calamities and catastrophes; and bestow upon us Thy rizk (livelihood) and Thy virtues.)
2. Allahumma Innaka Afuwwun, Tuhibbul Afwa Faafo Anna.
( Ya Allah, Thou art the Forgiver, and love Forgiving, so Forgive us.)
3. Allahumma Ahyaina Bizikrika, Wa Amitna Bizikrika, Wahshurna Maa Zakirin.
( Ya Allah, enable us to remember Thee excessively while living in this dunya, and also to remember Thee after death and place us among the Zakirin – among those who remember Thee continuously/perpetually.)
4. Allahumma Tahhir Qulubona Binoori Maarifatika Wa Mahabbatika Abadan Ya Allah! Ya Allah! Ya Allah!
(Ya Allah, remove from our hearts the thought of what is other than Thee, and illuminate our hearts with the Light of Thy Maarifat (gnosis) and Mohabbat (love).)
5. Allahumma Salli Ala Syedina, W Habibina Wa Nabiyyina Mohammadin Wa alihi Wa Ashabihi Wa Azwajihi Wa Zurriyatihi, wa Jami Auliya-i-Ummatihi Ajmaiin Birahmatika Ya Arhamurrahimin.
(Ya Allah, bless Our Master, Our Beloved and Our Nabi Mohammad, his descendants, his Companions, his wives, his posterity, and all the Auliya of his Ummat by Thy Grace, O, the Best and greatest of all Merciful!)
Q: Can we say Salatul Isha after our weekly Halqa-i-Zikr.?
A: You can say Salatul Isha after Halqa-i-Zikr provided the audience can stay back. If they wish, it is better to say salat with Jamaat.The Hadith says saying Salat with Jamaat has 27 times sawab (blessing) more than saying individually. Those who have to go to attend their works or some urgent duties, they should be allowed to go. There should be no compulsion. The spiritual mood formed by Halqa-i-Zikr does not change by Salat. In fact it grows stronger. It is only food, drink, talk and other worldly deeds that change the spiritual mood. The reason why cold drink is prohibited after Halqas, is that the throat, heart and the whole body gets heated up in Halqa and cold water is harmful immediately after it. Spiritual mood created by Halqas remains intact by keeping silent for some time. It is disturbed by eating, drinking, talking, etc. But it does not mean that one should keep silent and sit idle for long time after Halqa. People can go home in silence, but they can attend to other works, food and drink, etc say after half an hour or so.
The mood can even be preserved during eating and drinking or writing, driving, etc if one takes care to keep his mind concentrated on Allah s.w.t. But a time comes when the mood (Hal) gets so strong that nothing can remove or disturb it. That state has been described in the Holy Quran in the ayat: “They are perpetually in Salat.” This is the state of Fana which is followed by Fana-al-Fana (Fana of Fana). This is again folloed by Baqa-bi-Allah which is the combination of both Fana and Baqa (intoxication and sobriety) called Jamiyyiat ( for more details on Fana, Baqa and Jamiyyiat, readers may refer my book “Islamic Sufism”, chapter 4,The Sufi Path).