Origins of the Awrad of All Sufi Orders

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The format of the adzkar and awrad of all Sufi Orders can be traced back to the practices of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.).  There may be variations amongst the various orders and preferences amongst the shuyukh based on the condition of their followers and the nature of the amal, but in no way is any of it innovated.  The following is adapted from the writings of Shaykh Ibrahim ibn ‘Abdullah Niyas al-Kawlakhi (q.s.), from Kashf al-Ilbas ‘an Faydh al-Khatm Abu al-‘Abbas.  It was initially translated from Arabic by Ustadz Muhammad ‘Abdullahi at-Tijani al-Ibrahimi. 

As for the origin of instruction, talqin, of the adzkar and awrad, the source is the Prophet (s.a.w.) himself.  It has been reported by Imam Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Hanbal (r.a.), in his Musnad, with a sound chain of transmission, and also by Imam Abu al-Qasim Sulayman ibn Ayyub ath-Thabarani (r.a.) and others, on the authority of Shaykh Ya’la ibn Shaddad (r.a.) who said his father, Sayyidina Shaddad ibn ‘Aws al-Answari (r.a.), narrated to him, in the company of Sayyidina ‘Ubadah ibn asw-Swamit al-Answari (r.a.), who verified that he was telling the truth, the following hadits: “We were with the Prophet (s.a.w.), and he asked, 'Are there any strangers among you?’”  He meant if there were any Jews or Christians present. 

We answered, 'No, O Messenger of Allah.' 

He then ordered that we lock the door, and then he said, 'Raise your hands and say ‘Laa ilaha illa Allah’, so we held our hands up for some time.  Then he said, ‘All praise and thanks is for Allah!  O Allah, You have Sent me with this word and You have Entrusted me with it, and You have Promised me Paradise on account of it, and You do not break Your promise!’  Then he said, ‘Rejoice!  Allah (s.w.t.) has Granted you all Forgiveness!’” 

Imam Shihab ad-Din Abu al-Fadhl Ahmad ibn ‘Ali ibn Hajr al-‘Asqalani (r.a.) said, the report of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (r.a.) and Imam ath-Thabarani (r.a.) is sound with an excellent chain of transmission, but he added the following wording: “The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) raised his hands and so we raised our hands as well.  Then he said, ‘Lower your hands and rejoice, because Allah (s.w.t.) has Forgiven you!’” 

It has been reported by Shaykh Yusuf al-Kuzani (r.a.), who is well-known as “al-‘Ajami”, in his Risalah, that Sayyidina ‘Ali ibn Abu Thalib (k.w.) once asked the Prophet, “O Messenger of Allah!  Guide me to the shortest path to reach Allah (s.w.t.), the easiest on His servants and the most favoured in the Presence of Allah (s.w.t.).” 

The Prophet (s.a.w.) replied, “O Ali, I advise you to persist in the dzikr of Allah (s.w.t.) in moments of seclusion.” 

Sayyidina ‘Ali (k.w.) asked, “Does this virtue of this dzikr depend on its being performed by every human being?' 

The Prophet (s.a.w.) replied, “O ‘Ali, the Last Hour will not come as long there is someone on the face of the Earth saying ‘La ilaha illa Allah’.” 

Sayyidina ‘Ali (k.w.) then asked, “How am I to perform the dzikr, O Messenger of Allah?' 

The Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “Close your eyes and listen to me say it three times, then you say it three times while I listen to you.”  Then the Prophet (s.a.w.) closed his eyes and raised his voice saying, “La ilaha illa Allah,” while Sayyidina ‘Ali (k.w.) listened.  Then Sayyidina ‘Ali (k.w.) said the dzikr three times while the Prophet (s.a.w.) listened. 

These two prophetic narrations have also been reported by the author of Kitab ar-Rimah, Shaykh ‘Umar ibn Sa’id al-Futi Thal (r.a.), in which he said that this is what was taught to Shaykh Abu Sa’id ibn Abu al-Hasan Yasar al-Baswri (q.s.) by Sayyidina ‘Ali (k.w.), and he taught it to Shaykh Habib ibn Muhammad al-‘Ajami al-Baswri (q.s.), who taught it to Shaykh Abu Sulayman Dawud ibn Nusayr ath-Tha’i (q.s.), who taught it to Shaykh Abu Mahfuzh Ma’ruf ibn Firuz al-Karkhi (q.s.), who taught it to Shaykh Abu al-Hasan Sirri ibn Mughallis as-Saqathi (q.s.), who taught it to Imam Abu al-Qasim al-Junayd ibn Muhammad al-Baghdadi (q.s.).  They had been taught by the masters of spiritual training, tarbiyyah, to whomsoever Allah (s.w.t.) has Willed.  This is the origin of teaching the awrad and adzkar.