Sufi Zikr Meditation London: August 2009

Tuesday, 25 August 2009

Khatm for Grand Sheikh Abdullah Ad-Dagestani

786

As Salaam Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatuh

Mashallah & May Allah Almighty bless and reward, here and hereafter, everyone that took part across the world for Grand Sheikh Abdullah Faiz Ad-Dagestani's URS (4th Ramadhan) Khatm.

Mashallah many thanks to brother Sajad who was instrumental in helping getting the word out for this Khatm (and others to come too!).

Khatm Total: Tuesday 25th- August 4.41pm - GMT

1,172,711 -Kalima
893,700 - Salawat
296 - Yasin
1341 - Ikhlaas Shareef
800 - Shahadah
4 - Dalail Khayrat
100s of Surah Fatiha
also many Juz's from Quran -Also other Dhikr of Allah, Bismillah, has also been read too,

We are fortunate to have the opportunity to remember Allah Almighty in this Holy month of Ramadhan and He has given his endless Mercy through His Holy Rememberance to benefit everyone.

We have relayed this message to Cyprus and Inshallah wait for a response.

There will be other Khatms following Inshallah and this will be posted shortly.

Salaams

'mwc'

Sufi Zikr

Khatm for Haji Nefi Adil, Elder brother of Sheikh Nazim Al-Haqqani

Salaams to All

Alhamdulillah Bismillah

Both brother Sajad and us would like to thank everyone that took part in the Khatm of Shaykh Nazim's elder brother's, Haji Nefi (as confirmed was a secret Awliya of Allah), Khatm.

Alhamdulillah - the totals read by 3:11pm 6th Thursday August 2009

381,400 kalima
152,500 salawat
209 yasin
1,000 Ikhlas
1 Dalail khayrat

The numbers and message have been passed on and we hope, Inshallah, to hear back with a message shortly.

====================================================
Urs Khatm for Grandsheikh Shaykh Abdullah Ad-Dagestani (KS)
Passed away September 30th, 1973 CE- which is 4th of Ramadan, 1393 H.
====================================================

The next Khatm will be for Grandsheikh Shaykh Abdullah Ad-Dagestani (KS) & gift for Sheikh Nazim also we intend to target to achieve 1,000,000 Kalima, 250,000 Salawat & 99 Yasin.

Inshallah, with Divine support through all of the Sheikhs of the Golden Chain of the Naqshbandi Order and our good intentions we will collectively reach this for their sake.

Salaam Alaikum

'mwc'

Sufi Zikr

15 Shaban - Prayers on this Holy Night - 5 or 6 August 2009

Salaams

According to your Islamic Calendar, 15 Shaban falls on this evening or tomorrow evening.

Here are the Nafl (optional) prayers below for believing men and women to gain forgiveness, blessings and Divine Mercy from God Almighty.

On the Holy Night of 15th Shaban, after Maghrib or Isha prayer it is traditional practice to read Surah Yasin three times, and after each time, read a special du'a with the following intentions:

1st Yasin then 2 rakah Nafil reading the niyyat (intention) for should be for a Long Pious & Righteous Life - Read Dua Nisf-Shaban after each Yasin

2nd Yasin then 2 rakah Nafil reading the niyyat (intention) should be for Protection from Heavenly & Wordly Calamities - Dua Nisf-Shaban as above

3rd Yasin then 2 rakah Nafil Reading the niyyat (intention) should be for not being needy to anyone except Allah - Dua Nisf Shaban as above

It is highly advisable that just as others observe this night, you observe it too. To make an invitation to feed people on that night, to remember Allah (swt) and to remember His Prophet (s), and to fast its day and pray its night, will be rewarded for that night and for whoever observes it.

In order to observe the Night of Bara'ah, one should remain awakened in this night as much as one can. If someone has better opportunities, he should spend the whole night in worship and prayer. However, if one cannot do so, he/she can select a considerable portion of the night, preferably of the second half of it for this purpose and should perform the following acts of worship:

The Prayer of Benefits Salat al-Khair

It is good to spend that night praying Salat ul-Khair, which conists of 100 raka'ts, in each raka't reciting Sura al-Fatiha and 10 Surat Ikhlas. To complete the prayer one recites 1000 Sura Ikhlas.

The Night of Bara'ah is a night in which special blessings are directed towards the Muslims. Therefore, this night should be spent in total submission to Allah Almighty, and one should refrain from all those activities which may displease Allah.

Fast of the 15th Sha'ban On the day immediately following the Night of Bara'ah, i.e. the 15th of Sha'ban, it is mustahabb (advisable) to keep fast. Prophet Muhammad (s), is reported to have recommended this fast emphatically. A large number of the predecessors (salaf) of the Ummah have been observing the fast of the 15th of Sha'ban.

Therefore, it is advisable to fast the 15th of Sha'ban as an optional (nafl) fast. One can also keep a fast of qada on this day and it is hoped that he can also benefit from the merits of this fast.

Abu Huraira (may Allah be well pleased with him) reported the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) as saying: Gabriel (peace be upon him) came to me on the night of mid-Sha'ban and said to me: "O Muhammad, raise your head heavenwards!" I asked him: "What night is this?" and he replied: " This is the night when Allah (Glorified is He) opens three hundred of the gates of mercy, forgiving all who do not make anything His partner . The only exceptions are those who practice sorcery or divination, are addicted to wine, or persist in usury and illicit sex; these He does not forgive until they repent."

At a quarter of the night, Gabriel (peace be upon him) came down and said: "0 Muhammad, raise your head!" So I looked up, to behold the gates of Paradise wide open. At the first gate an angel was calling: "Good news for those who bow in worship this night!" At the second gate an angel was calling: "Good news for those who prostrate themselves in worship this night!" At the third gate an angel was calling: "Good news for those who offer supplication this night!" At the fourth gate an angel was calling: "Good news for those who make remembrance this night!" At the fifth gate an angel was calling: "Good news for those who weep this night from fear of Allah!" At the sixth gate an angel was calling: "Good news for those who submit this night!" At the seventh gate an angel was calling: "Will anyone ask, that his request may be granted?" At the eighth gate an angel was calling: "Will anyone seek forgiveness, that he may be forgiven?"

I said: " O Gabriel, how long will these gates remain open?" He replied: "From the beginning of the night until the break of dawn." Then he said: "0 Muhammad, tonight Allah has as many slaves emancipated from the Fire as the number of woolly hairs on the flocks and herds ofKalb."

Most extracts taken from the Ghawth-Al-A'zam Sayyid Abdul Qadir Gilani-Book al-Ghunya li-Talibi - Complied by Muhammad Sajad Ali Qadiri

'mwc'

Sufi Zikr

What is Zikr (Dhikr - Zikrullah)? and Why We Should All Do More Zikr

Mention of Zikr in the Holy Qur'an

Zikr is mentioned in many places in the Holy Qur'an, and in most verses, what was meant by the word Zikr is tasbih, glorifying; takbir, exalting; tahmid, praising; and praising and praying upon the Prophet (s).

Allah said in Surat al-Baqara, 152: "Remember Me and I will remember you." [2:152]

He said in Surat al-Imran, 41, "...and remember your Lord much and glorify Him in the evening and in the early morning." And again, 191, "Those who remember Allah while standing, sitting, and lying on their sides..." [3:41, 191]

He said in Surat al-Rad, 28, "Those who believe, and whose hearts find their rest in the remembrance of Allah--for, verily, in the remembrance of Allah hearts do find their rest." [13:28]

And He said in Surat al-AhZab, 35, "...and men who remember Allah much and women who remember Him..." And again, 41,42, "O you who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance; and glorify Him morning and evening." [33: 35, 41-42]

There are many, many other verses of Qur'an mentioning Zikr. Imam Nawawi said in his book, "Futahat ar-Rabbani ala-l- Adhkar an-Nawawiyya," vol. 1, p. 106-109, "All scholars of Islam have agreed on the acceptance and permissibility of Zikr by heart and by tongue, for the adult men and women, for children, for the one who has ablution, and for the one without ablution; even for the woman during her menses. Moreover, Zikr is allowed by all scholars in the form of tasbih, tahmid, takbir and praising and praying for the Prophet (SWS)."

According to Bukhari, Abu Musa al-Ashcari related that the Prophet (SWS) said, "The difference between the one who makes Zikr and the one who doesn't make dhikr is like the difference between the living and the dead."

Tirmidhi narrated from Anas (r) that the Prophet (SWS) said, "If you pass by the Paradises of Heavens stay there." They asked, "Ya Rasul-Allah, what are the Paradises of Heavens?" He said, "The associations of Zikr!"

Bukhari narrated in his book from Abu Huraira that the Prophet (SWS) said, "Allah, Almighty and Exalted, has angels who seek the people of Zikr. If they find the people of Zikr they encompass them until they reach the first heaven. And Allah asks his angels, 'What are my servants doing?' The angels say, 'O Allah, they are praising You and glorifying You and they are making Zikr.' Allah says, 'Did they see Me?' The angels answer, 'No, they didn't see You.' Then Allah asks, 'How would it be if they were to see Me?' The angels reply, 'O Allah, if they were to see You, they would be making more praise of You and more glorification of You and more Zikr of You.' And Allah asks 'What are they asking for?' The angels say, 'They are asking for Your Paradise.' Allah asks, 'Did they see My Paradise?' The angels answer, 'No, Our Lord.' Allah continues, 'How would it be if they saw My Paradise?' The angels reply, 'They would be more attracted and more eager to reach it.' Then Allah asks them, 'Of what are they afraid?' And the angels say, 'They are afraid of hellfire.' and Allah asks, 'How would it be if they saw my Hellfire?' and they reply, 'They would be running more and more away from it and asking more and more protection from it.' Then Allah said,' I am making you all My witnesses: that I am forgiving them of all their sins.' Then one angel asked, 'O our Lord, there is among these people one who is not from them, he came only to ask for something from one of them.' Allah said, 'Those are my beloved ones who are making My Zikr. Anyone who comes into their circle will be forgiven, and I am forgiving him.'"

In Bukhari and Muslim it is narrated from Abu Huraira (r) that the Prophet (SWS) said, "As my servant thinks about Me so will I be for him. I am with him if he will remember Me. If he calls on Me in himself I will call him in Myself, and if he calls on Me in a group of people, I mention him in a better group in My presence. If he approaches Me one handspan, I will approach him one arm's length; if he approaches Me one arm's length, I will approach him by a cubit; if he comes to Me walking, I will come to him running."

Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah narrated on the authority of Abi Darda that the Prophet (SWS) said, "Do you want me to tell you of your best deeds, and the most honored and praised and sanctified to Your Lord, and the highest in its reward; better than spending gold and better than meeting your enemy and cutting their necks in the jihad?" They said, "Yes, Ya Rasulallah." He said, "Zikrullah."

The Prophet (SWS) said, "Everything has its polish and the polish of hearts is Zikrullah."

Mu'adh bin Jabal (r) said, "Nothing saves you from Allah's punishment except Zikrullah."

There are many, many other hadith about the benefits and blessings of Zikr such that it is impossible to quote all of them here.

From the Sayings of Imams and Scholars about Zikr

Ibn Abbas (r) said "Allah, Almighty and Exalted, put a limit on all the obligations that He ordered human beings except for Zikr. For it there is no limit."

Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya said in his book, Al-Wabil as-Sa'ib, p. 52, "There is no doubt that the heart oxidizes, just as copper and silver oxidize. Its polishing is the Zikr, which will make it like a white mirror. The oxidation of the heart is due to heedlessness and sin. Its polishing is by means of two actions: repentance and Zikr. If someone's heart is cloudy, the reflections of images will be unclear, he will see falsehood as truth and truth in the image of falsehood (batil). When there is too much oxidization on the heart, the heart will be darkened, and in the darkness the images of the Truth and Reality never appear. The best way to polish it is through Zikrullah."

Ibn Ata'illah as-Sakandari said, "By Zikr you leave behind heedlessness and forgetfulness, and you keep your heart Present with Allah, Almighty and Exalted. The best way to approach His Presence is by reciting the name 'Allah,' in the heart or on the tongue, or by reciting any of His Names." [Miftah al-Falah, p. 4]

Abul Qasim al-Qushayri said, "Zikr is the strongest support in the way of Allah, 'Azza wa Jall. No one can reach the Divine Presence except by continuing to recite Zikr." [Risalat al-Qushayriyya]

Mulay al-Arabi ad-Darqawi said, "Do not say, 'I am nothing'; neither say, 'I am something.' Do not say: 'I need such and such a thing'; nor yet: 'I need nothing.' But say: 'Allah,' and you will see marvels." [Letters of a Sufi Master]

We see from what has been mentioned that all guides and perfect sheikhs advised the seeker in the Way of Allah to make continuous Zikr in all states of their lives and to keep the company of the people in associations of Zikr. We see that the Holy Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet (SWS) and the scholars are all in accordance on this matter.

The Types of Zikr

Zikr can be can be done both silently or aloud. The Prophet (SWS) encouraged people to do both kinds. Among the scholars of Shari'ah and the Sufi Sheikhs, some preferred the loud Zikr and some preferred the silent Zikr.

Loud Zikr

Bukhari narrated that Abu Huraira (r) reported that the Prophet (SWS) said, "If My servant mentions Me in himself, I will mention him in Myself. If he mentions Me in a group, I will mention him in a group in My presence." We understand from this hadith that to mention Allah in a group indicates loud Zikr. Some scholars determined from this that using loud Zikr is permitted.

Bukhari narrated in his book of hadith, that Ibn 'Abbas (r) said, "In the time of the Prophet (SWS) the people used to raise their voices in Zikr."

Bukhari narrated in his book of hadith, that Abu Ma'bad (r), the freed slave of Ibn 'Abbas (r), said: "Ibn 'Abbas told me, 'In the lifetime of the Prophet (SWS), it was the custom to celebrate Allah's praises aloud after the obligatory congregational prayers.'" Ibn 'Abbas (r) continued, "When I heard the Zikr, I would know that the congregational prayer had ended."

Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi related that as-Sa'ib (r) preported that the Prophet (SWS) said, "Jibril came to me and ordered me to order my Companions to raise their voices in takbir."

It is narrated by Bukhari and Muslim and mentioned by Jalaluddin as-Suyuti, from other collections, that 'Ali bin Abi Talib (r) said, "I asked the Prophet (SWS) one time, 'O Messenger of Allah, guide me to the shortest way to Allah's Presence, and the easiest way to worship, and the best way for Allah, Almighty and Exalted. The Prophet (SWS) said, 'O 'Ali, you have to be continuously making Zikrullah, silently and aloud.' I replied, 'O Prophet (SWS), all human beings are making Zikr. Give me something special.' The Prophet (s) said, 'O 'Ali, the best of what I, and all prophets before me, said is, La ilaha illAllah. If all the heavens and earth were placed on one side of the balance and La ilaha illAllah were placed in the other, La ilaha illAllah would be heavier. Judgment Day will never come as long as there are people on this earth saying La ilaha illAllah.' Then I said, 'How should I recite.' The Prophet (SWS) said, 'Close your eyes and listen to me reciting La ilaha ill-Allah three times. Then you say it three times and I will listen to you.' Then the Prophet (SWS) said it and I repeated it in a loud voice."

In the narration of Imam Ahmad and Tabarani this hadith is continued, describing how the Prophet taught his Companions the Zikr. "'Ibada bin Samit said that the Prophet (SWS) said, 'Is there any stranger among you?' And we said, 'No, Ya Rasul-Allah.' He said, 'Close the door.' Then he said, 'Raise your hand and repeat after me La ilaha illAllah' We raised our hand and said, La ilaha illAllah. Then the Prophet (SWS) said, 'Praise be to Allah that He sent me to this world with this Kalimah, and He ordered me with it, and He promised me the Paradise with it, and He never changes His Promise.' Then the Prophet (SWS) said, 'Be happy! Allah has forgiven you.'"

Jalaladin as-Suyuti mentioned in an article called "Natijat al-Fikr fi Jahri-dh-Dhikr," the Benefits of Loud Zikr, twenty-five authentic hadiths which mention doing loud Zikr.

Silent Zikr

Allah mentioned in Surat al-Araf, 205, "And remember thy Lord in thy self with humility and fear, and without loudness of speech, in the mornings and evenings; and be not of the neglectful." [7:205]

Imam Ahmad narrated, "Abu Huraira reported that the Prophet (s) said that Allah says, 'I am with my servant when he remembers Me and by his remembrance of Me his lips move." Commenting on this hadith, Imam Nawawi said, "Allah is with the one who remembers Him and calls Him in his heart, and calls Him on his tongue, but we must realize that the Zikr of the heart is more perfect. The rememberer made Zikr of the tongue in order to reflect the occurrence of the Zikr in his heart. When the love of Allah and His Remembrance overwhelms the heart and the spirit, the tongue is moved and the seeker brought near."

Sheikh Amin al-Kurdi said in The Enlightenment of Hearts (Tanwir al-Qulub) p. 522: "The Zikr by tongue, which combines sounds and letters, is not easy to perform at all times, because buying and selling and other such activities altogether divert one's attention from such Zikr. The contrary is true of the Zikr by heart, which is named that way in order to signify its freedom from letters and sounds. In that way nothing distracts one from his Zikr, as the poet says:

With the heart remember Allah, secretly from creation, wordlessly and speechlessly.

That remembrance is best of all: out of it flowed the sayings of the saints.

"That is why our Naqshbandi masters have chosen the Zikr of the heart. Moreover, the heart is the place where the Forgiver casts his gaze, and the seat of belief, and the receptacle of secrets, and the source of lights. If it is sound, the whole body is sound, and if it is unsound, the whole body is unsound, as was made clear for us by the chosen Prophet (SWS).

"Something that confirms this was narrated on the authority of A'isha (r): 'Allah favors Zikr above Zikr seventy fold (meaning, silent Zikr over loud Zikr).

On the Day of Resurrection, God will bring back human beings to His account, and the Recording Angels will bring what they have recorded and written, and Allah Almighty will say: See if something that belongs to my servant was left out? The angels will say: We left nothing out concerning what we have learnt and recorded, except that we have assessed it and written it. Allah will say: O my servant, I have something good of yours for which I alone will reward you, it is your hidden remembrance of Me.' Bayhaqi narrated it.

"Also on the authority of A'isha (r): 'The Zikr not heard by the Recording Angels equals seventy times the one they hear.' Bayhaqi narrates it."

Source: Naqshbandi.org

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Tuesday, 25 August 2009

Khatm for Grand Sheikh Abdullah Ad-Dagestani

Thursday, 6 August 2009

Khatm for Haji Nefi Adil, Elder brother of Sheikh Nazim Al-Haqqani

Wednesday, 5 August 2009

15 Shaban - Prayers on this Holy Night - 5 or 6 August 2009

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Labels

What is Zikr (Dhikr - Zikrullah)? and Why We Should All Do More Zikr

Check the New Maida Vale Naqshbandi Rabbani Website here

Sufi Zikr Meditation London

How to Find Us

Venue Entrance

Sheikh Nazim Video Talks

Naqshbandi Biographies

AUTHENTIC SUFISM LINKS

Zikr Allah Circles

Prayers for Divine Help

Sufi Blog Archive

About Us

Tuesday, 25 August 2009

Khatm for Grand Sheikh Abdullah Ad-Dagestani

Thursday, 6 August 2009

Khatm for Haji Nefi Adil, Elder brother of Sheikh Nazim Al-Haqqani

Wednesday, 5 August 2009

15 Shaban - Prayers on this Holy Night - 5 or 6 August 2009

Zikr Online Videos

SALTANAT VIDEO LINK

Subscribe Here

Sufi Reading

Sunnah Practices

Sufi Meditation Zikr London

Sheikh Nazim Video Talks

BOOKMARK THIS PAGE

Sufi Links

BEFORE ARMAGEDDON

Labels

What is Zikr (Dhikr - Zikrullah)? and Why We Should All Do More Zikr