Reviving the Tradition of Zikr

[Brandon Benton]

ٱتْلُ مَآ أُوحِىَ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلْفَحْشَآءِ وَٱلْمُنكَرِ ۗ وَلَذِكْرُ ٱللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ ٤٥

Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Indeed, prayer should deter from indecency and wickedness. The remembrance of Allah is even greater. And Allah knows what you do.

Surah Al Ankabut 45

There is a beautiful tradition of hosting group Zikr on Thursday nights after Isha. It involves gathering in a group, two or more, and reciting Zikr out loud. Such a practice can be a transcendent experience that strengthens Emaan. It is also a way to express creativity with different prayers, Koran recitations, and with melody. Zikr is better than music, it uplifts us in direct prayer.

If you are blessed with a Masjid available to you for congregational prayer, or you are the leader of a Masjid, consider the merit of organizing a group Zikr on Thursday night and reviving this old tradition. It is worth discussing with brothers and with your Imam.

Here is a beautiful example from our brothers in Cape Town, South Africa at Masjidul Quds. This is an alternative to attending a secular music concert and is more spiritually beneficial and meaningful.

Additionally, women can have group Zikr among themselves and be led by a woman in prayer, which is a tradition in Chechnya. So it is not only for the brothers.

Look around online and you will find many different types of Zikr that are great to listen to along with Koran recitation.

 

وعنه وعن أبي سعيد رضي الله عنهما قالا‏:‏ قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم‏:‏ ‏ "‏لا يقعد قوم يذكرون الله عز وجل إلا حفتهم الملائكة، وغشيتهم الرحمة ونزلت عليهم السكينة، وذكرهم الله فيمن عنده‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه مسلم‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

 

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "When a group of people assemble for the remembrance of Allah, the angels surround them (with their wings), (Allah's) mercy envelops them, Sakinah, or tranquillity descends upon them and Allah makes a mention of them before those who are near Him."

 

Riyad as-Salihin 1448

[Hameedeh]

7 minutes ago, Brandon Benton said:

There is a beautiful tradition of hosting group Zikr on Thursday nights after Isha. It involves gathering in a group, two or more, and reciting Zikr out loud. 

Salam. Most Shias read Dua Kumayl on Thursday nights after Isha. 

[Abu Hassanain]

Salam

Sunni tend to duaa individually and dhikr in groups

Shia tend to do duaa ziyarah in groups and dhikr individually

Many would be leery of this practice because it is associated with Sufi we have many narrations condemning them, and our scholars are reading treaties against them

wallahu alam

In our school of thought, as a postscript, the best time to do long dhikr isn’t the prolonged prostation after the obligatory prayer

[Brandon Benton]

3 minutes ago, Hameedeh said:

Salam. Most Shias read Dua Kumayl on Thursday nights after Isha. 

Thank you, this is the ideal practice. If one finds a time recite Zikr with brothers or sisters in the Masjid or in a private home, it is a good use of time. Worship is never a waste.

[Abu Hassanain]

Salam

ex 

There is no objective worship, but thou forgive me. I have been the wrong door.
 

One of the scholars quoted an ad narration recommended reciting this 4000 times or 4500 times each and two frustrations after the obligatory prayer

[Brandon Benton]

Just now, Abu Hassanain said:

Salam

Sunni tend to duaa individually and dhikr in groups

Shia tend to do duaa ziyarah in groups and dhikr individually

Many would be leery of this practice because it is associated with Sufi we have many narrations condemning them, and our scholars are reading treaties against them

wallahu alam

In our school of thought, as a postscript, the best time to do long dhikr isn’t the prolonged prostation after the obligatory prayer

 

There are also Sufi orders in the Shia tradition, though it is traditionally associated with Sunnis.

Of course discernment is needed to avoid bidah. Shias have a mystical practice if one inquires into its history.

Speaking generally, it is not wrong to praise Allah alone or in a group. Surah Al Ankabut recommend remembrance of Allah.

There are some practices of Sufi which veer into bidah and should not be followed, but group Zikr is not a sin and is a powerful practice.

It is a good deed to worship Allah, alone or in a group. If a group of brothers gather in a Masjid to pray to Allah it is a good deed.

It is ideal that the Masjid is filled with prayer and that we praise Allah, Zikr allows us to fill the time between Salah with prayer.

Zikr is also a useful way to engage the youth who may be distracted by things like secular music or losing their religiosity.

Generally speaking, the mystical practice has a long tradition in Shias and is a way to revive, preserve, and preach Islam.

We have many traditions that give us the tools to revive religion and to fight against secularization and loss of Emaan.

[Abu Nur]

15 minutes ago, Abu Hassanain said:

Salam

ex 

There is no objective worship, but thou forgive me. I have been the wrong door.
 

One of the scholars quoted an ad narration recommended reciting this 4000 times or 4500 times each and two frustrations after the obligatory prayer

Salaam Aleikum, 

We have sahih narrations where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) accept little from His servants. If you can do this much, May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) reward you for it, but if not, then do little.

[Brandon Benton]

37 minutes ago, Abu Hassanain said:

Salam

ex 

There is no objective worship, but thou forgive me. I have been the wrong door.
 

One of the scholars quoted an ad narration recommended reciting this 4000 times or 4500 times each and two frustrations after the obligatory prayer

Wa Alaikum Salaam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh,

You have done no wrong by having a different view, it is fine.

Am not offended or angered, I forgive you brother, we are being civil.

I will admit that the mystical tradition among Shias is a very obscure matter as it is.

It is already a great difficulty studying the mystical tradition in Islam as it is, this is by nature as seclusion is a part of it.

Though Shias do have their mystics as well as champions of ascetic practice, like Sayyid Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr.

The Bektashi, for example, revere Imam Ali, the Twelve Imams, and observe Ashura as well.

They are considered to be Shias. They have lodges, Zawiya, in Anatolia and the Balkans.

So it is not beyond Shias to practice group Zikr, to remember Allah in a group.

Neither is it beyond Shias to lodge ascetics, as in Al Suffah of Madinah.

It is, after all, the Sunnah of our Prophet, salallahu alayhi wa salam.

[Brandon Benton]

44 minutes ago, Abu Nur said:

Salaam Aleikum, 

We have sahih narrations where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) accept little from His servants. If you can do this much, May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) reward you for it, but if not, then do little.

 

حَدَّثَنَا الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ حُرَيْثٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْفَضْلُ بْنُ مُوسَى، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، هُوَ ابْنُ أَبِي هِنْدٍ عَنْ زِيَادٍ، مَوْلَى ابْنِ عَيَّاشٍ عَنْ أَبِي بَحْرِيَّةَ، عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ، رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ أَلاَ أُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِخَيْرِ أَعْمَالِكُمْ وَأَزْكَاهَا عِنْدَ مَلِيكِكُمْ وَأَرْفَعِهَا فِي دَرَجَاتِكُمْ وَخَيْرٌ لَكُمْ مِنْ إِنْفَاقِ الذَّهَبِ وَالْوَرِقِ وَخَيْرٌ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَنْ تَلْقَوْا عَدُوَّكُمْ فَتَضْرِبُوا أَعْنَاقَهُمْ وَيَضْرِبُوا أَعْنَاقَكُمْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالُوا بَلَى ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ ذِكْرُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ مُعَاذُ بْنُ جَبَلٍ رضى الله عنه مَا شَيْءٌ أَنْجَى مِنْ عَذَابِ اللَّهِ مِنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى وَقَدْ رَوَى بَعْضُهُمْ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ مِثْلَ هَذَا بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ وَرَوَى بَعْضُهُمْ عَنْهُ فَأَرْسَلَهُ ‏.‏

the Prophet said: “Should I not inform you of the best of your deed, and the purest of them with your Master, and the highest of them in your ranks, and what is better for you than spending gold and silver, and better for you than meeting your enemy and striking their necks, and they strike your necks?” They said: “Of course.” He said, “The remembrance of Allah.” Mu’adh bin Jabal said: “There is nothing that brings more salvation from the punishment of Allah than the remembrance of Allah.”

 

Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3377

 

Hadith teaches that remembrance of Allah is even higher than spending in the cause of Allah as well as fighting and dying in the cause of Allah.

 

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ ٥٦

 

I did not create jinn and humans except to worship Me.

 

Surah Adh-Dhariyat 56

 

To worship and serve Allah is the very purpose of our existence. It is the meaning of life.

[Abu Hassanain]

14 minutes ago, Brandon Benton said:

Wa Alaikum Salaam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh,

You have done no wrong by having a different view, it is fine.

Am not offended or angered, I forgive you brother, we are being civil.

I will admit that the mystical tradition among Shias is a very obscure matter as it is.

It is already a great difficulty studying the mystical tradition in Islam as it is, this is by nature as seclusion is a part of it.

Though Shias do have their mystics as well as champions of ascetic practice, like Sayyid Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr.

The Bektashi, for example, revere Imam Ali, the Twelve Imams, and observe Ashura as well.

They are considered to be Shias. They have lodges, Zawiya, in Anatolia and the Balkans.

So it is not beyond Shias to practice group Zikr, to remember Allah in a group.

Neither is it beyond Shias to lodge ascetics, as in Al Suffah of Madinah.

It is, after all, the Sunnah of our Prophet, salallahu alayhi wa salam.

Salam

I don’t like to give too much personal information, but I studied and taught both theoretical and practical Ifran for many years now

The mystical traditions in Islam do not resemble those of the other School nor the strange groups in Turkey

The book of the great Mystic Sayyid Bahruloom mentions a lot of programs of dhikr but nothing about Jamat we also don’t find this in the works of Mullah Sadr Majalisi Kayshani Fathi Behbani Sabawazi Qadi Tabatabai Allammah Tabatabai Amini Khumanyi Bahjat etc 

There’s nothing wrong with having an opinion, but if you are going to report that Sufi practices originate from the 14 you must show evidence because we have numerous narrations where these people are condemned

 

[Abu Nur]

16 minutes ago, Brandon Benton said:

They are considered to be Shias. They have lodges, Zawiya, in Anatolia and the Balkans.

They are not considered to be Shias because they accept and respect Muawiya (la). 

 

[Abu Hassanain]

1 minute ago, Brandon Benton said:

 

حَدَّثَنَا الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ حُرَيْثٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْفَضْلُ بْنُ مُوسَى، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، هُوَ ابْنُ أَبِي هِنْدٍ عَنْ زِيَادٍ، مَوْلَى ابْنِ عَيَّاشٍ عَنْ أَبِي بَحْرِيَّةَ، عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ، رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ أَلاَ أُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِخَيْرِ أَعْمَالِكُمْ وَأَزْكَاهَا عِنْدَ مَلِيكِكُمْ وَأَرْفَعِهَا فِي دَرَجَاتِكُمْ وَخَيْرٌ لَكُمْ مِنْ إِنْفَاقِ الذَّهَبِ وَالْوَرِقِ وَخَيْرٌ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَنْ تَلْقَوْا عَدُوَّكُمْ فَتَضْرِبُوا أَعْنَاقَهُمْ وَيَضْرِبُوا أَعْنَاقَكُمْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالُوا بَلَى ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ ذِكْرُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ مُعَاذُ بْنُ جَبَلٍ رضى الله عنه مَا شَيْءٌ أَنْجَى مِنْ عَذَابِ اللَّهِ مِنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى وَقَدْ رَوَى بَعْضُهُمْ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ مِثْلَ هَذَا بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ وَرَوَى بَعْضُهُمْ عَنْهُ فَأَرْسَلَهُ ‏.‏

the Prophet said: “Should I not inform you of the best of your deed, and the purest of them with your Master, and the highest of them in your ranks, and what is better for you than spending gold and silver, and better for you than meeting your enemy and striking their necks, and they strike your necks?” They said: “Of course.” He said, “The remembrance of Allah.” Mu’adh bin Jabal said: “There is nothing that brings more salvation from the punishment of Allah than the remembrance of Allah.”

 

Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3377

 

Hadith teaches that remembrance of Allah is even higher than spending in the cause of Allah as well as fighting and dying in the cause of Allah.

 

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ ٥٦

 

I did not create jinn and humans except to worship Me.

 

Surah Adh-Dhariyat 56

 

To worship and serve Allah is the very purpose of our existence. It is the meaning of life.

salam

The verse you mentioned is about the whole life being a form of worship as we find in the supplication of Kumayl with some mystics relate, was narrated to the holy prophet peace, and blessings upon him on the first of the grand Knights by Khidr then taught to the commander of the faithful, who taught it to Kumayl 

Oh Allah accept all my prayers and supplication and let my entire life. Take the form of prayer and supplication.

That is the meaning of that verse on a basic level

What made the 14 great is what we see at the end of Bayan when the commander of the faithful says I am mad I am mad. I am that I am the one I’m the one the one ends with, but all praise due to the Lord in the world. I am but his servantso he shows he has a mighty powerful high status almost beyond human comprehension, but still admit he is nothing without a lot or compared to a lot. That is what gave them their high-level of availability and their high level of piousness. That is whythey have the great status they have because they fulfill that verse in the ultimate level.

As for the narration, the tax in itself is not wrong per se, but we don’t accept narrations from the other school of thought in law theology and particularly mysticism. We mainly use them to debate with the others.There’s a very strict criteria for accepting, even a few of their narrations, which there has to be a reliable person from our school of thought in the chain, and even then it can only be graded at the lowest level ofacceptability

Wallahu Alam 

 

[Abu Hassanain]

4 minutes ago, Abu Nur said:

They are not considered to be Shias because they accept and respect Muawiya (la). 

 

Salam

they like muwiyah la ? I don’t know too much about that group. I know more about the ones in Syria. If you have the time, could you post the source or message me? I’d be interested in knowing that I know they mix a lot of paganism and other religions with their school of thought, I didn’t know they liked the cursed tyrant of old Syria 

[Abu Nur]

From wikipedia 

The Bektashis were originally one of many Sufi orders within Sunni Islam. By the 16th century, the order had adopted some tenets of Twelver Shi'ism—including veneration of Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad, and the Twelve Imams—as well as a variety of syncretic beliefs.

Bektashis believe in the ismah of the prophets and messengers and the Fourteen Infallibles: the Prophet Muhammad, his daughter Fatima, and the Twelve Imams.[14] In contrast to many Twelver Shia, Bektashis respect all of the Companions of Muhammad, including Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Talha and Mu'awiya, with Ali considered the greatest of the Companions.[15]

Edited October 1 by Abu Nur

[Abu Hassanain]

56 minutes ago, Abu Nur said:

Salaam Aleikum, 

We have sahih narrations where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) accept little from His servants. If you can do this much, May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) reward you for it, but if not, then do little.

Salam

indeed, that is true I was mentioning that only because some of these groups to 67 hours of group dhikr I wanted to point out what no more dedicated among our scholars 

I understand your point the laity can’t even bear to do two months and eight days with programs every day when the 14th did tha

My point was to emphasize some of the actions of our elite versus the elite of the other school

[Abu Nur]

1 minute ago, Abu Hassanain said:

Salam

indeed, that is true I was mentioning that only because some of these groups to 67 hours of group dhikr I wanted to point out what no more dedicated among our scholars 

I understand your point the laity can’t even bear to do two months and eight days with programs every day when the 14th did tha

My point was to emphasize some of the actions of our elite versus the elite of the other school

People who accept Abu Bakr leadership while denying or rejecting Imams Ali (عليه السلام) rights, even if they worship all their time will not be accepted from them. This is why I don't take any Sufi or Sunni seriously, even if they may have powers, perform miracles etc. Even Christians have miracles, sees Hell Fire and Heaven, walks with Angels in dreams, but they believe in Shirk. 

[Brandon Benton]

1 minute ago, Abu Hassanain said:

Salam

I don’t like to give too much personal information, but I studied and taught both theoretical and practical Ifran for many years now

The mystical traditions in Islam do not resemble those of the other School nor the strange groups in Turkey

The book of the great Mystic Sayyid Bahruloom mentions a lot of programs of dhikr but nothing about Jamat we also don’t find this in the works of Mullah Sadr Majalisi Kayshani Fathi Behbani Sabawazi Qadi Tabatabai Allammah Tabatabai Amini Khumanyi Bahjat etc 

There’s nothing wrong with having an opinion, but if you are going to report that Sufi practices originate from the 14 you must show evidence because we have numerous narrations where these people are condemned

 

 

I had trouble reading your earlier post and interpreted it as that you were seeking forgiveness because you were in the wrong, as narrations report Zikr prayer, and they do.

Quote

Salam

ex 

There is no objective worship, but thou forgive me. I have been the wrong door.
 

One of the scholars quoted an ad narration recommended reciting this 4000 times or 4500 times each and two frustrations after the obligatory prayer

I do not quite understand what you mean by this. Reciting which prayer? What do you mean by frustrations?

Quote

Many would be leery of this practice because it is associated with Sufi we have many narrations condemning them, and our scholars are reading treaties against them

What exactly is gained by the scholars reading treaties against other Muslims? I don't understand how this improves Islam. As well, some scholars tell lies.

I report this as a matter of knowledge, rather than opinion. As the practice of Zikr and the lodging of ascetics is in the Sunnah of our Prophet, salallahu alayhi wa salam, rather than the scholars or the Imams.

Beyond the Sufis, the practice of Zikr and the lodging of ascetics is derived directly from the Sunnah of Nabi Muhammad, salallahu alayhi wa salam. It is in the Sunnah of Al Suffah of Madinah, which you will found in the related narrations and in the history of Madinah.

As well, the revelation of Rasul Allah, salallahu alayhi wa salam, commends the remembrance of Allah directly. To be clear, I find the authority of Allah and Rasul Allah, salallahu alayhi wa salam, to be above the scholars and there various sectarian disputes.

On principle, I am against sectarianism and promote Islamic unity as was the policy of Imam Ruhollah Khomeini. It seems that many scholars have made a comfortable career out of spreading division between Muslims and weakening the Ummah rather than praising Allah and making Dawah as we are commanded.

Quote

The book of the great Mystic Sayyid Bahruloom mentions a lot of programs of dhikr but nothing about Jamat we also don’t find this in the works of Mullah Sadr Majalisi Kayshani Fathi Behbani Sabawazi Qadi Tabatabai Allammah Tabatabai Amini Khumanyi Bahjat etc 

 

What do you mean by Jamat?

I am not defending all the practices and views of the Bektashis.

Here is my only point, to clear up all confusion:

It is not wrong to pray Zikr and it is not wrong to take care of the poor and homeless.

It is not wrong to love Allah and praise Him in congregation or to shelter the poor in the Masjid.

That is it. This is not on the authority of the scholars or books or what have you.

This is on the authority of Allah and on Nabi Muhammad, salallahu alayhi wa salam.

On the clear revelation of Rasul Allah, salallahu alayhi wa salam, and on the Sunnah of Madinah.

[Abu Nur]

6 minutes ago, Brandon Benton said:

I report this as a matter of knowledge, rather than opinion. As the practice of Zikr and the lodging of ascetics is in the Sunnah of our Prophet, salallahu alayhi wa salam, rather than the scholars or the Imams.

The Imams (عليه السلام) saying are the Sunnah of our Prophet (saws). The Imams (عليه السلام) are the closest line to the Prophet saying. The greatest injustice Sunnis do is that they venerated the prophets and their families and lineage, but when it comes to Prophet Muhammad (saws) family, they have no idea who these Imams are. 

Edited October 1 by Abu Nur

[Brandon Benton]

4 minutes ago, Abu Nur said:

People who accept Abu Bakr leadership while denying or rejecting Imams Ali (عليه السلام) rights, even if they worship all their time will not be accepted from them. This is why I don't take any Sufi or Sunni seriously, even if they may have powers, perform miracles etc. Even Christians have miracles, sees Hell Fire and Heaven, walks with Angels in dreams, but they believe in Shirk. 

 

I take Sunni seriously. My brother in Gaza is a Sunni and he accepts Shias as Muslims. His home was destroyed by zionist imperialists in an airstrike and now he lives in a tent on the sand. He spends his days going to aid trucks where the zionist criminals open fire into crowds of starving civilians. Clearly, the mass genocide of Muslims is more important than religious disputes between different schools of thought.

The starvation of our people, the suffering of the poor, can be reduced by housing and feeding the poor in the Masjid. This is exactly what Nabi Muhammad, salallahu alayhi wa salam, did in his Masjid in Madinah. Our priorities as an Ummah are completely out of line. How can we be spending our time reading treaties against each other while Muslims are starving to death, massive genocide is being carried out, orphans are suffering in tents on the sand?

I propose this: Let's praise Allah and lets increase our prayers and fill our Masjids with prayer and devotion to Allah. Let us revive Islam. We need to revive Islam. You say: Well, this school and that school, and the scholars love to hate them and denounce them with pride. Akhi, why discourage prayer and praise to Allah? Why discourage people to gather in a Masjid and praise Allah? To recite Koran? It is the purpose of our existence according to Nabi Muhammad, salallahu alayhi wa salam. Do you want Emaan to be weak? Do you want to discourage people from gathering in the Masjid to pray and worship Allah?

The Koran and Sunnah recommend Zikr in clear terms. It is good to praise Allah.

Another Sunnah, to take care of poor Muslims by housing them in the Masjid and feeding them. Another path to revive Islam. It is the Sunnah of Al Suffah in Madinah.

It is not the scholars, it is not the Shias and Sunnis and Sufis, it is not the books and disputations and treaties. It is the clear Koran and Sunnah. It is Islam.

If it is the clear command of the Koran and Hadith, then it does not matter what the scholars say. Are the scholars starving in tents on the sand? No.

I will repeat: It is not wrong to praise Allah and it is not wrong to help the poor. On the Koran and Sunnah, above all of the proud scholars.

[Abu Nur]

34 minutes ago, Brandon Benton said:

 

I take Sunni seriously. My brother in Gaza is a Sunni and he accepts Shias as Muslims. His home was destroyed by zionist imperialists in an airstrike and now he lives in a tent on the sand. He spends his days going to aid trucks where the zionist criminals open fire into crowds of starving civilians. Clearly, the mass genocide of Muslims is more important than religious disputes between different schools of thought.

The starvation of our people, the suffering of the poor, can be reduced by housing and feeding the poor in the Masjid. This is exactly what Nabi Muhammad, salallahu alayhi wa salam, did in his Masjid in Madinah. Our priorities as an Ummah are completely out of line. How can we be spending our time reading treaties against each other while Muslims are starving to death, massive genocide is being carried out, orphans are suffering in tents on the sand?

I propose this: Let's praise Allah and lets increase our prayers and fill our Masjids with prayer and devotion to Allah. Let us revive Islam. We need to revive Islam. You say: Well, this school and that school, and the scholars love to hate them and denounce them with pride. Akhi, why discourage prayer and praise to Allah? Why discourage people to gather in a Masjid and praise Allah? To recite Koran? It is the purpose of our existence according to Nabi Muhammad, salallahu alayhi wa salam. Do you want Emaan to be weak? Do you want to discourage people from gathering in the Masjid to pray and worship Allah?

The Koran and Sunnah recommend Zikr in clear terms. It is good to praise Allah.

Another Sunnah, to take care of poor Muslims by housing them in the Masjid and feeding them. Another path to revive Islam. It is the Sunnah of Al Suffah in Madinah.

It is not the scholars, it is not the Shias and Sunnis and Sufis, it is not the books and disputations and treaties. It is the clear Koran and Sunnah. It is Islam.

If it is the clear command of the Koran and Hadith, then it does not matter what the scholars say. Are the scholars starving in tents on the sand? No.

I will repeat: It is not wrong to praise Allah and it is not wrong to help the poor. On the Koran and Sunnah, above all of the proud scholars.

I absolutely agree that we should work together but at the same time let each follow their religion. 

And no where I said anything about that people should not gather to remember Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى).

But I want to make you understand that for 1400 years we have suffered from the Sunnis and their Takfirsm, so don't have a wrong image that Shias don't want to have a peaceful unity for sake of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى), while Sunnis have always been the backstabbers, treating horribly anyone who does not agree with them. You can read the history. 

Edited October 1 by Abu Nur

[Brandon Benton]

29 minutes ago, Abu Nur said:

I absolutely agree that we should work together but at the same time let each follow their religion. 

And no where I said anything about that people should not gather to remember Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى).

But I want to make you understand that for 1400 years we have suffered from the Sunnis and their Takfirsm, so don't have a wrong image that Shias don't want to have a peaceful unity, while Sunnis have always been the backstabbers, treating horribly anyone who does not agree with them. It came in many forms. 

 

I do not mean you, I mean the earlier dispute against gathering for Zikr. Saying it is too much like Sufis to praise Allah in congregation or do Zikr with more than one person.

You agree, it is not wrong to pray group Zikr. In other words, it is not wrong to gather with other Muslims and praise Allah beyond Salah, if people even show up for Salah beyond Jummah.

Am well aware of the crimes against Shias, not only by the sectarian violence but also by the systemic legal oppression of Shias across the Muslim world.

Notice it is these adults with ego and pride disputing each other, intellectual authorities denouncing each other, while children are being bombed.

4.5 million Muslims have been massacred, so far, in the "Global War on Terror" and here we are arguing about whether it is right or wrong to gather to remember Allah and praise Him.

Does your animosity to Sunnis extend to the children being bombed in Gaza? It is does not for the Shias in Hizb Allah, people who are actually fighting in the way of Jihad for Allah.

It does not matter to these Shias in Lebanon who are giving their lives, alongside Christians, to defend Muslims and Christians, Sunnis and Shias, from zionist genocide.

Wallah what is gained from telling a brother that he should not organize a prayer circle? What is gained from telling a brother not to shelter the poor to help them?

I am not anyone important. I am not an authority in Islam, I have zero status in Islam let alone American society and in this world. I'm not anyone important.

This is my only suggestion, ignore it, shoot it down, quote the scholars, fine. I'm not any sort of authority in Islam at all anyways, so it does not matter:

We should pray more and we should help the poor. We should do this together as Muslims. That is it. If you disagree, fine. Allah commands it anyways.

[Abu Nur]

13 minutes ago, Brandon Benton said:

Does your animosity to Sunnis extend to the children being bombed in Gaza? It is does not for the Shias in Hizb Allah, people who are actually fighting in the way of Jihad for Allah.

I don't have any animosity to Sunnis nor Shias have any animosity toward Sunnis. You should focus on the Sunnis and their problems siding with wrong people and not us. Just because we have beliefs that condemn and send la'nah to the enemies of Ahlulbayt (عليه السلام) who Sunni loves, we don't takfir those who love them. 

13 minutes ago, Brandon Benton said:

Wallah what is gained from telling a brother that he should not organize a prayer circle? What is gained from telling a brother not to shelter the poor to help them?

As long it does not fall for Bidha. The problem is to innovate things and call people to do them. One of the most dangerous thing in Tasawwuf and Irfan is that it can easily create bidha beliefs and practices. 

 

13 minutes ago, Brandon Benton said:

We should pray more and we should help the poor. We should do this together as Muslims. That is it. If you disagree, fine. Allah commands it anyways.

As much possible, I agree. 

Edited October 1 by Abu Nur

[Brandon Benton]

35 minutes ago, Abu Nur said:

I don't have any animosity to Sunnis nor Shias have any animosity toward Sunnis. You should focus on the Sunnis and their problems siding with wrong people and not us. Just because we have beliefs that condemn and send la'nah to the enemies of Ahlulbayt (عليه السلام) who Sunni loves, we don't takfir those who love them. 

As long it does not fall for Bidha. The problem is to innovate things and call people to do them. One of the most dangerous thing in Tasawwuf and Irfan is that it can easily create bidha beliefs and practices. 

 

As much possible, I agree. 

My focus is on helping innocent Sunnis from being massacred by zionist imperialists, not disputing their scholars. There is animosity, as evidenced by sectarian conflict, inflamed by zionist imperialists.

Zikr is not an innovation. It is a clear command of the Koran and a practice in the Hadith. Calling people to pray Zikr is not an innovation, it is the tradition of Muslims.

We need to revive Islam. To quote Sayyid Ruhollah Khomeini:

"We Muslims are busy bickering over whether to fold or unfold our arms during prayer, while the enemy is devising ways of cutting them off."

And also:

"Muslims should be awake, Muslims should be alert that if a dispute takes place among Sunni and Shi'ite brothers, it is harmful to all of us, it is harmful to all Muslims. Those who want to sow discord are neither Sunni nor Shi'ite, they are agents of the superpowers and work for them.Those who attempt to cause discord among our Sunni and Shi'ite brothers are people who conspire for the enemies of Islam and want the enemies of Islam to triumph over Muslims. "

"I hope that through considering this Islamic precept - that all Muslims are brothers - all Islamic countries will triumph against the superpowers and succeed in actualizing all Islamic ordinances. Muslims are brothers and will not be segregated by the pseudo-propaganda sponsored by corrupt elements. The source of this matter - that Shi'ites should be on one side and Sunni on the other - is on the one hand ignorance and on the other hand propaganda of the foreigners."

"Shi'ites and Sunnis brothers should avoid every kind of dispute. Today, discord among us will only benefit those who follow neither Shi'ia nor Hanafi. They neither want this nor that to exist, and know the way to sow dispute between you and us."

"We must pay attention that we are all Muslims and we all believe in the Qur'an; we all believe in Tawheed and must work to serve the Qur'an and Tawheed."

Zikr is not an innovation. It is how you fill a Masjid with believers and with prayer. Masjids where people may not even be showing up for daily Salah, maybe for Jummah, probably on Eid. Zikr, remembering Allah and praising Him, is not an innovation. It is the purpose of our existence and the meaning of life to serve and worship Allah according to the clear Koran. I agree with Imam Ruhollah Khomeini on this matter. Those who promote sectarianism are doing the work of the enemies of Islam and striving to weaken the Ummah. We need to be united and strong.

The Mujahideen of Hamas and Hizb Allah, Sunnis and Shias, have no issue working together towards a common enemy. It is the scholars, not all of them, but too many. They make a whole career out of promoting sectarianism. Muslim scholars used to do science, research, engineering, astronomy, mathematics, medicine, discovery, now they promote sectarianism. This is a problem with the scholars. Again, not all of them, many are righteous and do good work, but the decline of the Islamic Golden Age saw our intellectuals promoting sectarianism over things like free academic inquiry, education, and even the basic tenants of Islam.

Go to Gaza and explain to a grieving mother who lost her child in an airstrike about how her beliefs as a Sunni are not quite in line with the scholars and your personal theology. Do you see my point? I am tired of this hypocrisy. I am tired of the intellectuals of Islam focused more on disputing various sects rather than the open genocide and slaughter of our people oppressed. Whether you realize it or not, if you promote Islamic sectarianism you are serving the zionists and their genocide. The same zionists which strive to play both sides, which recruit Salafist extremists online to shoot and bomb Shias in Iraq and steal their homes.

Stop with this sectarianism. Find a better application of your knowledge and time. Such as reviving Islam. Such as encouraging worship and good deeds. Such as teaching the Koran and the Hadith. If the purpose of this platform is to promote disputes and sectarianism, to debate trivial nonsense as the Shaheed and the Mujahideen fall day after day, I will have nothing to do with it. Take a step back and look at what is happening. We need to revive Islam in order to rally support against this present evil. We need Islamic unity and to make Dawah, boldly, and preach Islam openly.

Zikr, not an innovation. It is Sunnah, it is the command of the Koran. Sheltering the poor in the Masjid, not an innovation. It is the Sunnah of Al Suffah in Madinah, which is the origin of the Islamic mystical tradition before Sunnis and Shias and Sufis even existed. If you are going to use theology and religious dispute to suppress worship and good deeds, to divide and weaken Islam, it is hurting Islam and weakening our Ummah. I will not participate in these sectarian disputes. I propose good deeds, not innovation, literally to worship Allah. That is my final word.

I forgive both of you for what you have said, but the greater mercy is from Allah. Please, mend your ways. We are Muslims, we should act like Muslims, not enemies of Muslims.

Edited October 1 by Brandon Benton

[Abu Nur]

24 minutes ago, Brandon Benton said:

Zikr, not an innovation. It is Sunnah, it is the command of the Koran. Sheltering the poor in the Masjid, not an innovation. It is the Sunnah of Al Suffah in Madinah, which is the origin of the Islamic mystical tradition before Sunnis and Shias and Sufis even existed. If you are going to use theology and religious dispute to suppress worship and good deeds, to divide and weaken Islam, it is hurting Islam and weakening our Ummah. I will not participate in these sectarian disputes. I propose good deeds, not innovation, literally to worship Allah. That is my final word.

Tarawih is dhikr but Bidha, and Imam Ali (عليه السلام) tried to remove it but the people kept insisting it so it became a practice among Sunnis. Nothing reward will they get from it. 

This is why one need to always check if something is legit or bidha.

What I have stated about Shia beliefs have nothing to do with dividing the Ummah. The Ummah is divided exactly because Muslims are so materialistic who don't care to find any truth or practice the religion of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) as how it should be practiced. 

24 minutes ago, Brandon Benton said:

 

I forgive both of you for what you have said, but the greater mercy is from Allah. Please, mend your ways. We are Muslims, we should act like Muslims, not enemies of Muslims

You don't need to forgive because we did not do any wrong. And I'm not an enemy of Muslims. 

Edited October 1 by Abu Nur

[Abu Hassanain]

43 minutes ago, Brandon Benton said:

My focus is on helping innocent Sunnis from being massacred by zionist imperialists, not disputing their scholars. There is animosity, as evidenced by sectarian conflict, inflamed by zionist imperialists.

Zikr is not an innovation. It is a clear command of the Koran and a practice in the Hadith. Calling people to pray Zikr is not an innovation, it is the tradition of Muslims.

We need to revive Islam. To quote Sayyid Ruhollah Khomeini:

"We Muslims are busy bickering over whether to fold or unfold our arms during prayer, while the enemy is devising ways of cutting them off."

And also:

"Muslims should be awake, Muslims should be alert that if a dispute takes place among Sunni and Shi'ite brothers, it is harmful to all of us, it is harmful to all Muslims. Those who want to sow discord are neither Sunni nor Shi'ite, they are agents of the superpowers and work for them.Those who attempt to cause discord among our Sunni and Shi'ite brothers are people who conspire for the enemies of Islam and want the enemies of Islam to triumph over Muslims. "

"I hope that through considering this Islamic precept - that all Muslims are brothers - all Islamic countries will triumph against the superpowers and succeed in actualizing all Islamic ordinances. Muslims are brothers and will not be segregated by the pseudo-propaganda sponsored by corrupt elements. The source of this matter - that Shi'ites should be on one side and Sunni on the other - is on the one hand ignorance and on the other hand propaganda of the foreigners."

"Shi'ites and Sunnis brothers should avoid every kind of dispute. Today, discord among us will only benefit those who follow neither Shi'ia nor Hanafi. They neither want this nor that to exist, and know the way to sow dispute between you and us."

"We must pay attention that we are all Muslims and we all believe in the Qur'an; we all believe in Tawheed and must work to serve the Qur'an and Tawheed."

Zikr is not an innovation. It is how you fill a Masjid with believers and with prayer. Masjids where people may not even be showing up for daily Salah, maybe for Jummah, probably on Eid. Zikr, remembering Allah and praising Him, is not an innovation. It is the purpose of our existence and the meaning of life to serve and worship Allah according to the clear Koran. I agree with Imam Ruhollah Khomeini on this matter. Those who promote sectarianism are doing the work of the enemies of Islam and striving to weaken the Ummah. We need to be united and strong.

The Mujahideen of Hamas and Hizb Allah, Sunnis and Shias, have no issue working together towards a common enemy. It is the scholars, not all of them, but too many. They make a whole career out of promoting sectarianism. Muslim scholars used to do science, research, engineering, astronomy, mathematics, medicine, discovery, now they promote sectarianism. This is a problem with the scholars. Again, not all of them, many are righteous and do good work, but the decline of the Islamic Golden Age saw our intellectuals promoting sectarianism over things like free academic inquiry, education, and even the basic tenants of Islam.

Go to Gaza and explain to a grieving mother who lost her child in an airstrike about how her beliefs as a Sunni are not quite in line with the scholars and your personal theology. Do you see my point? I am tired of this hypocrisy. I am tired of the intellectuals of Islam focused more on disputing various sects rather than the open genocide and slaughter of our people oppressed. Whether you realize it or not, if you promote Islamic sectarianism you are serving the zionists and their genocide. The same zionists which strive to play both sides, which recruit Salafist extremists online to shoot and bomb Shias in Iraq and steal their homes.

Stop with this sectarianism. Find a better application of your knowledge and time. Such as reviving Islam. Such as encouraging worship and good deeds. Such as teaching the Koran and the Hadith. If the purpose of this platform is to promote disputes and sectarianism, to debate trivial nonsense as the Shaheed and the Mujahideen fall day after day, I will have nothing to do with it. Take a step back and look at what is happening. We need to revive Islam in order to rally support against this present evil. We need Islamic unity and to make Dawah, boldly, and preach Islam openly.

Zikr, not an innovation. It is Sunnah, it is the command of the Koran. Sheltering the poor in the Masjid, not an innovation. It is the Sunnah of Al Suffah in Madinah, which is the origin of the Islamic mystical tradition before Sunnis and Shias and Sufis even existed. If you are going to use theology and religious dispute to suppress worship and good deeds, to divide and weaken Islam, it is hurting Islam and weakening our Ummah. I will not participate in these sectarian disputes. I propose good deeds, not innovation, literally to worship Allah. That is my final word.

I forgive both of you for what you have said, but the greater mercy is from Allah. Please, mend your ways. We are Muslims, we should act like Muslims, not enemies of Muslims.

Salam

Brother, I don’t understand the focus and obsession on group dhikr

For instance, I have 280 Majalis a year and I teach six seminary classes three times a week

For the congregational prayer, we read Ziyarah Ashura after each of the 5 prayers

This is what helps us get close to Allah

This is the path of getting closer to Allah. We should follow what was recommended by the 14 not practices that they themselves did not do in the authentic narration from them, indicates the holy prophet, peace, and lessons upon them.

And brother, just a friendly note the way you were salawat is not correct as for our school of thought it’s salallahu alayhi wa Aaali wa Salam 

We include the family when we send blessings on our holy prophet, peace, and blessings be upon him in his pure righteous family

 

[Abu Hassanain]

Salam

There’s no proof from our Shia sources that the poor should live in the Masjid . In fact, the commander of the faithful peace be upon him, removed people from sleeping there got them land, houses wives, and jobs

[Ashvazdanghe]

5 hours ago, Brandon Benton said:

It is the Sunnah of Al Suffah in Madinah, which is the origin of the Islamic mystical tradition before Sunnis and Shias and Sufis even existed.

Salam for clarification people of al Suffah has been there next to masjid due to being poor due to migration which after a while when generally economics of muslims have became better so then they have left that place so then owned their own houses & got wives which their style of living doesn't mean that muslims must live likewise them which Sufis has misinterpreted it just for avoiding working & having a lazy  lifestyle which it's not recommended in shia Islam which as brother @Abu Hassanain has mentioned it's duty of leader of community to provide work & housing & opportunity of making living for whole of muslim society & fighting poverty which although the commander of the faithful peace be upon him & prophet muhammad (pbu) have had an aesthetic lifestyle for being in level of lowest ranking people of community not for promotion of lazy lifestyle & begging ; which their lifestyle has been misinterpreted by Suffis .

4 hours ago, Abu Hassanain said:

Salam

There’s no proof from our Shia sources that the poor should live in the Masjid . In fact, the commander of the faithful peace be upon him, removed people from sleeping there got them land, houses wives, and jobs

 

[Ashvazdanghe]

Addendum

In a story which is narrated in Nahj al-Balaghah, Imam ‘Ali (عليه السلام) had gone to pay a visit to ‘Ala’ Ibn Ziyad. He had a discussion with Asim Ibn Ziyad. In this story monasticism is distinctively rejected. The story goes like this11: When Imam (عليه السلام) saw the huge mansion of ‘Ala’, he asked him: What is the use of this huge house here when you will need it in the Hereafter? If you want to have a big house like this in the other world, you have got to have guests here, meet your relatives and pay people what you owe them. In this case you will have a big house in the next world. Then ‘Ala’ said: “I would like to complain about my brother Asim”. Imam (عليه السلام) asked: What is wrong with him? He answered: He wraps up a gown around himself and has said farewell to the world. The Imam ordered him to be brought to him. Imam ‘Ali (عليه السلام) told him: “Satan has misled you. Do you not have mercy on your family? Do you think that God would dislike you to use the good things He has made permissible for you? You are too insignificant before God for that!”

Asim said to Imam ‘Ali (as): “You (too) put on rough garments and eat coarse food”. Imam (عليه السلام) answered: “I am not like you. God has made it obligatory for the just leaders to make themselves like the indigent, so that the poor man’s burden of poverty is not unbearable for him.”
As we see from these texts: Islam opposes monasticism and the shunning of social responsibilities. Islam does not allow us to forget our social tasks; neither does it permit us to put on rough garments and abandon material pleasures altogether to engage in worship and asceticism.

Thus, by "Islamic asceticism" it is meant that man should live simply in order to carry out his individual and social responsibilities, and not to fear the hardships of life.

It is obvious that "Islamic asceticism" only makes a man do his social duties in proper ways and it is not to be taken to mean an approach which considers this world nasty or to suppose a contrast between this world and Hereafter or to shun responsibilities as is the principle of the monasticism.
Thus, Islamic asceticism is not inconsistent with being rich or having social positions. The point that a God-wary person should consider is that he should not love this life more than God or truthfulness. He should not sacrifice Divine aims for personal interests.12

https://al-islam.org/imam-alis-first-treatise-islamic-ethics-and-education-zainol-aabideen-qorbani-lahiji/6-cause-your

Quote

We should make our life as similar as possible to the life of the AhlulBayt ((عليه السلام).). We can never behave like Imam Ali ((عليه السلام).) in food and clothing. But in the path of imitating him, the least that is necessary is to avoid extravagance and luxury. Those who, like Muawiya, ate luxurious food and had luxury in all dimension of their lives, their path is far from that of the Imams ((عليه السلام).),” he emphasized, stating that we can never live in all things or details like Imam Ali ((عليه السلام).).

 

Quote

“We must take care of ourselves in piety and not walk in the path of sin,” Ayatollah Ramazani said, pointing out that we should all help society to recognize its responsibilities individually and socially.

“The path of a society that seeks progress should not be the path of sin, but the path of obedience to divine command so that man does not deviate from the path of truth,” added the Secretary General of the AhlulBayt ((عليه السلام).) World Assembly.

“The individual and the society that wants to grow must use their will seriously and not be disappointed,” he added.

 

Quote

“The people of the society must be firm and strong and do their duty properly and concerning all aspects. This is the meaning of wisdom. The quality of work and attention to work in our society must increase. Working is the essence of man and the cause of his perfection,” stated Ayatollah Ramazani, pointing out that pure thinking, chastity, and living pure, is necessary for society to be on the path of mental health.

“Any person who approaches the advice of Imam Ali ((عليه السلام).) according to his capacity can be effective (in society),” stated Secretary General of the AhlulBayt ((عليه السلام).) World Assembly.

https://ahl-ul-bayt.org/en/news/item/imam-ali’s-lifestyle-base-for-islamic-civilization-for-human-societies

Quote

Imam Ali ((صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)) and our time

What has been mentioned so far is only a small part of Imam Ali’s ((صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)) character and personality. All the characteristics and features that “human beings respect, whether they believe in Islam, are the followers of any other religion, or they disbelieve in any religion, can be all found in the personage of Ali ibn Abi Talib.”[15]  Many centuries have passed since his time and human beings are still afflicted by many problems and cruelties: from the spiritual and  intellectual capabilities and talents of teenagers and the youth being wasted due to seductive, abusive cultures, turning women into instruments for material pleasures, and training men in such a way that they practice this objectifying and commodifying view of women; to the innocent children in front of their parents being easily killed, thousands of children being deprived of their parents due to drone attacks to civilian areas, and black families sleeping hungry in the continent that is filled with gold, precious stones, and metals. Under such conditions where the world is full of humanitarian slogans and at the same time is afflicted by these aforementioned crises, it seems necessary and effective to ponder over and pay serious attention to the thoughts and the “practical” managerial model of Imam Ali ((صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)).

https://english.khamenei.ir/news/8473/A-brief-look-at-the-character-and-thought-of-the-first-Imam-of

Thematic Analysis of Asceticism in Teachings of Nahj al-Balagha

https://www.nahjmagz.ir/article_108083_en.html

Quote

Asceticism is related to worldly goods and riches and even to positions. If you ask whether worldly goods and wealth and position are good or bad, the answer depends on their use or purpose? These things are a form of power, but the question is: what do you want them for? You may be a slave of your lust, and intend to satisfy them by means of these powers. If you are such a person whatever you use to attain your carnal desires (whether it is position, wealth, knowledge, religion or even devoutness) will be bad.

However, if you purify yourself, and do not lust, avoid self-centredness, and have a divinely worthy social objective, then the wealth, or position which you employ in this way, is used properly. This is worship and devotion, since you are using them for your spiritual goals. This is emphasized by Imam Sadiq ((عليه السلام).).

A number of ascetics of his time discussed asceticism with him . The Imam ((عليه السلام).) said: "If what you say were true, then, how is it that after Prophet Yusuf (Joseph) was proved innocent and released from prison, he sought from the Egyptian ruler a position of crucial importance to the whole wealth of the country? Why does the Qur'an mention this without accusing Yusuf ((عليه السلام).) of being worldly? Because Yusuf ((عليه السلام).) was devoted to God. He wanted that position for divine and spiritual goals, and so his action is not worldly but spiritually motivated.

Islamic men of learning say that accepting position from a tyrannical government is illegitimate, but if his goal in doing so is service, or to help the oppressed, it is not only not a sin, but according to religious verdicts, it is sometimes recommended, and sometimes even obligatory. This applies to wealth, too. Why do you gather wealth? If you have good morals and gave a spiritual goal, then you must use this power to that end, and if you do not, you are sinful.

Asceticism in Islam signifies spiritual strength, and having this spiritual strength enables one to make good use of wealth. Those who asked Imam Sadiq ((عليه السلام).) about asceticism were ignorant of the philosophy of it. They had heard that Imam Ali ((عليه السلام).) had been ascetic, and had supposed that an ascetic must, under all conditions, wear worn-out garments and eat barley bread. They were ignorant of the reason for eating barley bread. Imam Sadiq ((عليه السلام).) explained it for them, and told them that Ali ((عليه السلام).) just wanted to be human. He was not an ascetic of a type who would choose seclusion.

Quote

The asceticism of Ali ((عليه السلام).) was based on sympathy, and sympathy is human. He did not even make full use of his legitimate earning. He gave himself only the wage of a soldier out of the public fund and he was not willing to sleep with a square meal. Why? Because his heart and conscience did not allow him. He said: "There are many hungry ones around me. How can I sleep with a full stomach?

He was not referring only to his neighbours. He was thinking of the Islamic lands as a whole in which someone might be in dire want of a loaf of bread. If you find such an example of asceticism, he deserves being honoured by the whole humanity. But we seem to call our incapability, immobility and deadness asceticism. But Ali ((عليه السلام).) said: "Should I be one of those about whom they say; 'it is enough pain for you to sleep in satiety while others are hungry around you?'

The Prophet ((صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم).) in his old age was exerting himself with a self-sacrificing spirit so much that he was inspired in a Qur'anic verse to observe moderation. Once the Prophet's companions noticed that the Prophet ((صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم).) did not arrive in time for prayer. It was found later that an ill-clad man had come to his house at that hour, and the Prophet had nothing to offer him except his own clothes and this delayed his prayer. The Prophet had sent someone to buy the man a robe. The man bought a fine one for twelve Dirhams.

The Prophet ((صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم).) on seeing the robe said: "I can do with a cheaper one." The Prophet ((صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم).) went out and obtained refund, and on the way back he met a slave girl who was weeping. Asked why, she said that she had lost four Dirhams of her master. He gave her four Dirhams out of the twelve and bought two robes with the remainder, giving one of them to the ill-clad man. Later the Prophet ((صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم).) came across the same girl who was again found crying. He asked her the reason, and she said; "If I go back I will be beaten (because I took your money)

." The Prophet ((صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم).) offered to accompany her. On reaching her house he shouted his customary greetings from outside. He repeated his greetings three times as was his habit. The inmate were now sure that the Prophet ((صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم).) was there. So they invited him to come in. The Prophet asked why they did not answer his first greeting. They said: "We loved to hear your voice since it brings us blessings, and if we had acknowledged your first greeting, we would have been deprived of the second and the third." The Prophet silently entered and said: "I have come to intercede for this slave girl. If she is late, do not trouble her." They said: "In honour of your presence here, we will set her free." The Prophet ((صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم).) expressed his thanks to God that with twelve Dirhams he has clothed an ill-clad or underclothed man and freed a slave. This indicates real asceticism, piety, sympathy and humanity.

This verse (8:24) shows that Islamic teaching's are capable of enlivening every aspect of life, when they penetrate one's heart and produce a renewed spirit, insight and activity. Therefore any other teaching which causes human stagnation or "deadness" is not of Islam. The history of Islam confirms the lively position indicated by the verse through several centuries.

https://www.shiavault.com/books/reviving-islamic-ethos/chapters/5-4-islamic-position-concerning-asceticism-and-renunciation-of-the-world/

The Real Meaning of Asceticism

حَقيقَةُ الزُّهدِ

Quote

6ـ رسولُ اللهِ‏ِ (صَلَّيَ اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): الزُّهدُ في الدنيا قَصرُالأمَلِ ، وشُكرُ كُلِّ نِعمَةٍ ، والوَرَعُ عن كُلِّ ما حَرَّمَ اللّه‏ُ.

6– The Prophet (S) said, ‘Asceticism from worldly pleasures means to cut short one’s hopes of this world, to be grateful for every single bounty, to have piety and to keep away from all that which Allah has prohibited.’[Tuhaf al-’Uqul, no. 58]

7ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (صَلَّيَ اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): الزُّهدُ لَيسَ بتَحريمِ الحَلالِ ، ولكنْ أن يكونَ بما في يَدَيِ اللّه‏ِ أوثَقَ مِنهُ بما في يَدَيهِ.

7– The Prophet (S) said, 'Asceticism is not to prohibit oneself that which is allowed. Rather it is to find that which is with Allah more secure than that which is in one's own possession.’[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 77, p. 172, no. 8]

8ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): الزُّهدُ كَلِمَةٌ بينَ كَلِمَتَينِ ، قالَ اللّه‏ُ تعالى: «لِكَيْلا تَأْسَوا عَلَى ما فاتَكُمْ وَلا تَفْرَحُوا بِما آتاكُمْ واللّه‏ُ لاَ يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتالٍ فَخُورٍ» فَمَن لَم يَأسَ على الماضِي ، ولَم يَفرَحْ بالآتي فقد أخَذَ الزُّهدَ بِطَرَفَيهِ.

8– Imam Ali ((عليه السلام).) said, 'Asceticism is summed up between two phrases in the Qur’an, where Allah, most High, says, "So that you may not grieve for what has escaped you, nor be exultant at what He has given you.” [Qur’an 57:23] Therefore, one who neither grieves about past losses nor is overjoyed about the possessions he is granted has perfected his asceticism from both sides.’[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 70, p. 317, no. 23]

9ـ الإمامُ الصّادقُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): الزُّهدُ مِفتاحُ بابِ الآخِرَةِ ، والبَراءةِ مِنَ النارِ ، وهُو تَركُكَ كُلَّ شيءٍ يَشغَلُكَ عنِ اللّه‏ِ ، مِن غَيرِ تَأسُّفٍ على فَوتِها ، ولا إعجابٍ في تَركِها ، ولا انتِظارِ فَرَجٍ مِنها ، ولا طَلَبِ مَحمَدَةٍ علَيها ، ولا عِوَضٍ مِنها ، بل تَرى فَوتَها راحَةً وكَونَها آفَةً ، وتكونُ أبدا هارِبا مِنَ الآفَةِ ، مُعتَصِما بِالرّاحَةِ.

9– Imam al-Sadiq ((عليه السلام).) said, 'Asceticism is the key to the door of the Hereafter and immunity from the Fire, and it is to abandon all those things that preoccupy you from Allah, neither experiencing regret upon their loss, nor self-admiration for having abandoned them, nor awaiting deliverance from them, nor seeking praise on account of them, and nor anything else in exchange for them. Rather you see their loss as a source of comfort and their presence as a source of misfortune, such that you consistently run away from misfortune and seek refuge in comfort.’[Bihar al-Anwar, p. 315, no. 20]

https://al-islam.org/mizan-al-hikmah-scale-wisdom/asceticism

[Abu Nur]

8 hours ago, Abu Hassanain said:

For the congregational prayer, we read Ziyarah Ashura after each of the 5 prayers

Is this with 100 salaam and Lanat for each prayer? 

[Abu Hassanain]

14 hours ago, Abu Nur said:

Is this with 100 salaam and Lanat for each prayer? 

Salam

no English because it’s quicker with each of the text read once . 

[Abu Nur]

56 minutes ago, Abu Hassanain said:

Salam

no English because it’s quicker with each of the text read once . 
 

 

Salaam Aleikum, May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) reward you.
 

اَللَّهُمَّ ٱجْعَلْنَا مِمَّنْ دَأْبُهُمُ ٱلاِرْتِيَاحُ إِلَيْكَ وَٱلْحَنِينُ
allahumma ij`alna mimman da'buhum alirtiyahu ilayka walhaninu
O Allah, place us among those whose habit is rejoicing in You and yearning for You,

وَدَهْرُهُمُ ٱلزَّفْرَةُ وَٱلأَنِينُ
wa dahruhum azzafratu wal-aninu
whose time is spent in sighing and moaning!

جِبَاهُهُمْ سَاجِدَةٌ لِعَظَمَتِكَ
jibahuhum sajidatun li`azamatika
Their foreheads are bowed down before Your mightiness,

وَعُيُونُهُمْ سَاهِرَةٌ فِي خِدْمَتِكَ
wa `uyunuhum sahiratun fi khidmatika
their eyes wakeful in Your service,

وَدُمُوعُهُمْ سَائِلَةٌ مِنْ خَشْيَتِكَ
wa dumu`uhum sa'ilatun min khashyatika
their tears flowing in dread of You,

وَقُلُوبُهُمْ مُتَعَلِّقَةٌ بِمَحَبَّتِكَ
wa qulubuhum muta`alliqatun bimahabbatika
their hearts fixed upon Your love,

وَأَفْئِدَتُهُمْ مُنْخَلِعَةٌ مِنْ مَهَابَتِكَ
wa af'idatuhum munkhali`atun min mahabatika
their cores shaken with awe of You.

[Abu Hassanain]

11 hours ago, Abu Nur said:

Salaam Aleikum, May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) reward you.
 

اَللَّهُمَّ ٱجْعَلْنَا مِمَّنْ دَأْبُهُمُ ٱلاِرْتِيَاحُ إِلَيْكَ وَٱلْحَنِينُ
allahumma ij`alna mimman da'buhum alirtiyahu ilayka walhaninu
O Allah, place us among those whose habit is rejoicing in You and yearning for You,

وَدَهْرُهُمُ ٱلزَّفْرَةُ وَٱلأَنِينُ
wa dahruhum azzafratu wal-aninu
whose time is spent in sighing and moaning!

جِبَاهُهُمْ سَاجِدَةٌ لِعَظَمَتِكَ
jibahuhum sajidatun li`azamatika
Their foreheads are bowed down before Your mightiness,

وَعُيُونُهُمْ سَاهِرَةٌ فِي خِدْمَتِكَ
wa `uyunuhum sahiratun fi khidmatika
their eyes wakeful in Your service,

وَدُمُوعُهُمْ سَائِلَةٌ مِنْ خَشْيَتِكَ
wa dumu`uhum sa'ilatun min khashyatika
their tears flowing in dread of You,

وَقُلُوبُهُمْ مُتَعَلِّقَةٌ بِمَحَبَّتِكَ
wa qulubuhum muta`alliqatun bimahabbatika
their hearts fixed upon Your love,

وَأَفْئِدَتُهُمْ مُنْخَلِعَةٌ مِنْ مَهَابَتِكَ
wa af'idatuhum munkhali`atun min mahabatika
their cores shaken with awe of You.

salam

may you be rewarded as well,

i am the least of the least just trying to fulfil obligation of guiding 40 people as per hadith of imam sadiq as 

i dont like to exspose too much, but i wanted to show we have better methods for ifran than itimating sufi.

Ayatullah Khumanyi ra use to do before and after each prayer. Shaikh Bahjat at Fajr and Magharib.

Allah will forgive 70 major sins of a layman before he forgives 1 minor sin of a scholar - Imam Sadiq as

May Allah be mercy to all those who aquire even an iota of ilm wa hikmah 

Wallahu Alam

[Brandon Benton]

1. Praying in a Group

Muslims, including Shias, pray together for Salah, for Dua, and for Zikr. As referenced above, Shias are praying Dua in unison after Isha on Thursdays. If a Muslim is praying to Allah in the Masjid alone, it is a good deed. If he brings people together to pray to Allah, he is also doing a good deed. This is not an innovation, this is a good deed for Allah. Zikr, alone or in a group, is not an innovation. It is a righteous deed and a tool for reviving Islam, which is a very important task.

2. Asceticism

Defending the lifestyles of the rich goes against the Sunnah of the Prophet, salallahu alayhi wa salam, who we know by Hadith lived without any signs of luxury in his home. The rights of the poor are more important than the luxury of the world. The rights of the orphan, the oppressed, are more important than living like a rich person.

Choosing asceticism over materialism is the Sunnah of the Prophet, salallahu alayhi wa salam. This is the position of the Sayyid of the Shias, including the martyred Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr. Not the opinions of Muslims on an internet forum, but the ruling of our Ayatollahs and Sayyid in real life.

Imam Khomeini also criticized this "Americanized Islam" where the oppression of Muslims worldwide is ignored and shunned in favor of the pursuit of comfort and material wealth. Hypocrisy in the face of the global oppression of Muslims and the persecution in the Holy Land. Furthermore, our Marjas adopt lifestyles of simplicity and humility which is the Sunnah. This is to be admired from Shias, the lifestyles of humility.

How can we live like rich people when our Ummah is starving to death in tents on the sand? Not just the Sunnis of Gaza, the Shias of Yemen and their starving orphans as well. It is hypocritical and it is not the Sunnah. Even though the Prophet, salallahu alayhi wa salam, succeeded in his business and conquest, he still chose to live in humility and give his surplus to the Faqir of Al Suffah. To prioritize the basic material needs of the absolute poorest Muslims over living like some rich king.

3. Lodging of Ascetics

Monasticism is explicitly forbidden by the Koran and Muslims do not have monasticism. Yes, the people of Al Suffah were assisted, some even became Emirs and rulers. I do not advocate monasticism, but instead the Sunnah of Al Suffah in Madinah which is to lodge the poor in the Masjid and to feed them. To priotitize the needs of the poor over the comforts of the Dunya is the clear and undeniable Sunnah.

Additionally, ascetics in Zawiyahs engage in work and productive activity, such as maintainence of the Masjid and Madrasa, working as educators, even engaging in agriculture as in the example of Shaykh Amadou Bamba or Zawiya Ibrahim in Johannesburg today. A member of the Sayyid in Iraq has given the blessing for us to build a Masjid, Madrasa, and Zawiya here in the USA. A Khanqah, in Persian, a corner or lodge.

Members of such lodges tend to gardens, to animals, and engage in productive work. Additionally, all Muslims are encouraged to marry, and yes, it is the responsibility of a Muslim leader to help Muslims in all ways. This leads to building houses for the houseless, to affording marriage, and to providing for the economic success of Muslims. Look at Touba, it was once a hamlet and now it is a holy city with a beautiful Masjid because of this principle.

Here is a big problem in the Muslim world: Young men who are unemployed and/or unable to afford marriage. The Sunnah of Al Suffah not only solves this problem, it is the Shariah and the solution to all poverty and homelessness in the world. Shariah is the blueprint of the perfect society, Jannah al Dunya, the Law of God on Earth. It is not simply a system of legal punishment, it is an obligation to provide for the poor as in the time of Nabi Muhammad, salallahu alayhi wa salam.

To truly live as a tribe of people who take care of each others most basic needs, as was the Sunnah of Nabi Muhammad, salallahu alyhi wa salam, when he was alive and with his people.

4. Sectarianism

Imam Kohemeini was very clear on sectarianism. This business of slandering your fellow Muslims and disparaging sects is the work of the enemies of Islam, whether you realize it or not. All Muslims are brothers. To quote our Sunni brother in Gaza, a refugee of zionist imperialism: The Ummah is about hearts and not labels.

If a brother or a group of brothers is deviating, then guide them! Admonish them with compassion, correct them kindly. Do not hide behind closed doors and draft prideful insults and denouncements at each other. This is backbiting, it is a sin, do not backbite your brothers in Islam. Have the courage, the bravery, to talk to them and help them in their Deen.

Our love for each other as Muslim brothers should be stronger than sectarian theological differences. Otherwise, we are weak, we will not rise up together against our oppressors, and we will be subjugated and exploited, slaughtered and conquered, suppressed and humiliated. We must prioritize Islamic unity over our ego and our pride, over useless sectarian preaching, over status and title.

We must unite, we must be brothers, the Mujahideen of Shias in Hizb Allah do not have a problem with this. Hizb Allah literally has Sunni and Christian volunteers in their army. A successful, highly sophisticated, and well-equipped army which has repelled the zionist imperialists from South Lebanon multiple times. The Koran teaches us to make peace between brothers and that the People of the Book are believers. The Koran teaches that all companions of Jihad are granted Paradise. These Mujahideen fight in the way of Jihad for the glory of Allah according to the Koran and succeed because they obey Allah and have faith in Allah.

To promote sectarianism goes against the Koran and is only for the benefit of the enemies of Islam, to echo Imam Khomeini. The martyred Sayyid Hasan Nasrallah, an honorable cleric and scholar along with his cousin Sayyid Hashem Safieddine, stood with his Sunni brothers in Gaza and the Sunnis of Gaza honor him to this day. He fought for the Ummah, not fighting against the Ummah by preaching sectarianism.

In Summary:

I believe that the two of you are very misguided, and that religion has become something dim and legalistic in your heart. A series of rituals and titles, of obscure rulings and sectarian debate. Ego, pride, division, vanity. This is not how the Prophet, the Ahl al-Bayt, and the Sahaba lived, peace be upon them. I am trying to wake up your Emaan and bring your religion to life. It is on life support, it has become a passive routine and not an active spiritual Jihad.

Wake up! We are in a horrible crisis. Genocide, starvation, occupation, oppression, invasion. People are dying! We are being ruled over by genocidal zionists. We must make Dawah to increase support against our oppressors, here in America and abroad. We must revive faith and love for Allah in our Ummah where it has grown complacent and dead. We do this by increasing prayer, alone and in a group, and by service to the poor and needy, which is an opportunity to preach Islam. Sadaqah amplifies our Dawah when done together. Dawah is our Jihad and we must preach boldly, not hide behind closed doors.

Let our Masjids resonate with the sound of prayer, let them overflow beyond capacity with believers, let them become houses where the sounds of prayer are overflowing and the poor and needy are being fed and brought into Islam. Where the Deen is alive! Something active and visible that draws in people to participate.

There are places like Senegal where so many people come to pray that they have to pray outside because the building is beyond capacity and needs to be expanded, that is what is possible. Let us go out from the Masjid and from our comfortable space to openly preach Islam to the poorest in our communities.

You will not find a lack of people in desperate need to preach Islam to in Detroit, and I do not find a lack of people in need to preach to here in the Deep South. In every corner of this country, in every corner of the world, there are people that NEED Islam desperately, especially those living in addiction and destitution.

[Brandon Benton]

Please, listen to this Zikr from our brothers in South Africa. It is so beautiful, it is very calming. This is the real power of the circles of remembrance.

I must return to this forum for one more post, important Hadith that confirm the value of this tradition, multiple of them and graded authentic.

This is the clear Sunnah, adhere to the Sunnah.

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وعنه وعن أبي سعيد رضي الله عنهما قالا‏:‏ قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم‏:‏ ‏ "‏لا يقعد قوم يذكرون الله عز وجل إلا حفتهم الملائكة، وغشيتهم الرحمة ونزلت عليهم السكينة، وذكرهم الله فيمن عنده‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه مسلم‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

 

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "When a group of people assemble for the remembrance of Allah, the angels surround them (with their wings), (Allah's) mercy envelops them, Sakinah, or tranquillity descends upon them and Allah makes a mention of them before those who are near Him."

 

Riyad as Salihin 1448

 

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عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ إِنَّ لِلَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى مَلَائِكَةً سَيَّارَةً فُضُلًا يَتَتَبَّعُونَ مَجَالِسَ الذِّكْرِ فَإِذَا وَجَدُوا مَجْلِسًا فِيهِ ذِكْرٌ قَعَدُوا مَعَهُمْ وَحَفَّ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضًا بِأَجْنِحَتِهِمْ حَتَّى يَمْلَئُوا مَا بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا فَإِذَا تَفَرَّقُوا عَرَجُوا وَصَعِدُوا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ قَالَ فَيَسْأَلُهُمْ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِهِمْ مِنْ أَيْنَ جِئْتُمْ فَيَقُولُونَ جِئْنَا مِنْ عِنْدِ عِبَادٍ لَكَ فِي الْأَرْضِ يُسَبِّحُونَكَ وَيُكَبِّرُونَكَ وَيُهَلِّلُونَكَ وَيَحْمَدُونَكَ وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ قَالَ وَمَاذَا يَسْأَلُونِي قَالُوا يَسْأَلُونَكَ جَنَّتَكَ قَالَ وَهَلْ رَأَوْا جَنَّتِي قَالُوا لَا أَيْ رَبِّ قَالَ فَكَيْفَ لَوْ رَأَوْا جَنَّتِي قَالُوا وَيَسْتَجِيرُونَكَ قَالَ وَمِمَّ يَسْتَجِيرُونَنِي قَالُوا مِنْ نَارِكَ يَا رَبِّ قَالَ وَهَلْ رَأَوْا نَارِي قَالُوا لَا قَالَ فَكَيْفَ لَوْ رَأَوْا نَارِي قَالُوا وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَكَ قَالَ فَيَقُولُ قَدْ غَفَرْتُ لَهُمْ فَأَعْطَيْتُهُمْ مَا سَأَلُوا وَأَجَرْتُهُمْ مِمَّا اسْتَجَارُوا قَالَ فَيَقُولُونَ رَبِّ فِيهِمْ فُلَانٌ عَبْدٌ خَطَّاءٌ إِنَّمَا مَرَّ فَجَلَسَ مَعَهُمْ قَالَ فَيَقُولُ وَلَهُ غَفَرْتُ هُمْ الْقَوْمُ لَا يَشْقَى بِهِمْ جَلِيسُهُمْ

 

Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, Allah Almighty has caravans of angels who have no other work but to follow gatherings of remembrance. When they find such gatherings in which there is remembrance, they sit with them and some of them surround the others with their wings until the space between them and the heavens is covered. When they disperse, they ascend to the heavens and Allah Almighty asks them, although He knows better than them: From where have you come? They say: We came from Your servants on earth who were glorifying You, declaring Your greatness and oneness, praising You and asking from You. Allah says: What do they ask from Me? They say: They ask for Your Paradise. Allah says: Have they seen My Paradise? They say no. Allah says: What if they were to see My Paradise? They say: They seek Your protection. Allah says: From what do they seek My protection? They say: From Your Hellfire, our Lord. Allah says: Have they seen My Hellfire? They say no. Allah says: What if they were to see My Hellfire? They say: They ask for Your forgiveness. Allah says: I will pardon them, give them what they request, and grant them protection. They say: Our Lord, there is one among them, a simple servant who happened to pass by and sit there alongside them. Allah says: I will also grant him pardon, for whoever sits with these fellows will not suffer misery.”

Sahih al Bukhari 2689

3

حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ حَفْصٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، سَمِعْتُ أَبَا صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى أَنَا عِنْدَ ظَنِّ عَبْدِي بِي، وَأَنَا مَعَهُ إِذَا ذَكَرَنِي، فَإِنْ ذَكَرَنِي فِي نَفْسِهِ ذَكَرْتُهُ فِي نَفْسِي، وَإِنْ ذَكَرَنِي فِي مَلأٍ ذَكَرْتُهُ فِي مَلأٍ خَيْرٍ مِنْهُمْ، وَإِنْ تَقَرَّبَ إِلَىَّ بِشِبْرٍ تَقَرَّبْتُ إِلَيْهِ ذِرَاعًا، وَإِنْ تَقَرَّبَ إِلَىَّ ذِرَاعًا تَقَرَّبْتُ إِلَيْهِ بَاعًا، وَإِنْ أَتَانِي يَمْشِي أَتَيْتُهُ هَرْوَلَةً ‏"‏‏.‏

 

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Allah says: 'I am just as My slave thinks I am, (i.e. I am able to do for him what he thinks I can do for him) and I am with him if He remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I too, remember him in Myself; and if he remembers Me in a group of people, I remember him in a group that is better than they; and if he comes one span nearer to Me, I go one cubit nearer to him; and if he comes one cubit nearer to Me, I go a distance of two outstretched arms nearer to him; and if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running.' "

Sahih al-Bukhari 7405

4

عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ إِذَا مَرَرْتُمْ بِرِيَاضِ الْجَنَّةِ فَارْتَعُوا قَالُوا وَمَا رِيَاضُ الْجَنَّةِ قَالَ حِلَقُ الذِّكْرِ

Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “When you pass by the meadows of Paradise, graze as you like.” They said, “What are the meadows of Paradise?” The Prophet said, “Circles of remembrance.”

Sunan al Tirmidhi 3510

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The group Zikr is the clear Sunnah and recommendation of Nabi Muhammad, salallahu alayhi wa salam. This Hadith on this subject are numerous and beyond doubt.

When a group gathers for Zikr, caravans of angels gather among them. The circles of remembrance are the meadows of Paradise on Earth.

Notice as well this portion from the second Hadith:

"They say: Our Lord, there is one among them, a simple servant who happened to pass by and sit there alongside them. Allah says: I will also grant him pardon, for whoever sits with these fellows will not suffer misery."

People who simply happen to pass by may join this gathering, and they are granted pardon and benefit from Allah. So if someone is not particularly religious, the gatherings of remembrance are a way to bring people to Islam and to revive Islam. Say someone who does not keep Salah, maybe they come upon the Zikr and it leads them to Allah and to deeper faith. We know from the Hadith that such gatherings bring people to Islam.

I recommend as well to study the Hadith on Al Suffah, and that a Shia will enjoy reading these Hadith. Read Sahih al-Bukhari 6452, a poor and hungry man asks Abu Bakr and Omar for some assistance and both pass him by! Then Nabi Muhammad, salallahu alayhi wa salam, listens to him and brings him inside to shelter him in a gathering of Al Suffah and something special happens. The hungry man is sleeping on his stomach and waiting outside and Nabi Muhammad, salallahu alayhi wa salam, brings him in to Al Suffah. By the Sunnah, there should be a little place like Al Suffah in every Masjid in the world.

To leave on a positive note and not a negative note:

May Allah bless all of you, peace and blessings of Allah upon all of you reading this, and thank for your guidance and knowledge both direct and indirect. Please accept the knowledge of this lowly slave of Allah and take from me no animosity or malice, only knowledge and passionate admonition. For if I did not love and care about you I would not admonish you, and I would not thank you or give a kind word to you. If, in my zeal, I have offended you or hurt your feelings, I apologize deeply and sincerely.

Please, for the sake of Allah, stop the sectarianism and preach Islamic unity instead. Do not deny the Sunnah of the gatherings of remembrance, of sheltering and feeding the poor Muslims in the Masjid, and of making bold Dawah without fear. These are the Sunnah, and the Sunnah is Islam. The Sunnah is how we revive our religion. We need to take care of each other, not backbite each other. We need to preach Islam boldly to non-Muslims, and we benefit greatly from gatherings of remembrance, the Zikr.

All of these things work together. Charity works with Dawah, combining acts of Sadaqah with Dawah, charity and preaching, work together to spread Islam. Nabi Muhammad, salallahu alayhi wa salam, brought Islam to the poor and destitute. Once someone is a Muslim and is keeping Halal, they can find refuge in the Masjid, shelter and food and water, and be brought back on their feet. In the midst of this, all the believers, rich and poor, can find refuge in the circles of remembrance.

If we do these things, Islam will come alive. Revival. Emaan will deepen and our religion will expand and grow rapidly. Because we will be feeding the poor in the street, feeding the poor in the Masjid, boldly preaching the message of Islam out in the open, and bringing our Deen alive in circles of remembrance which attract both the caravans of angels and many people to Islam.

I recommend soup, because soup is cheap to make in bulk and can be made into a complete meal with the right ingredients. Chicken and rice with veggies is also a good choice. Monthly, weekly, daily, we can feed Muslims and non-Muslims in the Masjid and in the streets while preaching our religion and gathering to remember Allah.

These are words, not actions, I will do this here in my community once we have built our Masjid, an effort blessed by an esteemed brother who is a Sayyid in Iraq.

Barakallah.

Edited October 2 by Brandon Benton

[Brandon Benton]

السلام عليكم جميعًا ورحمة الله وبركاته

بارك الله فيكم وفي منازلكم، ورزقكم من واسع فضله وتوفيقه

أسأل الله أن يرحمكم ويغفر لكم ويجمعكم في جنات النعيم

أسأل الله أن يجمعنا جميعًا في جناته المباركة، حيث لا نحزن ولا نبتلى

Edited October 2 by Brandon Benton