Naqshbandi Practices for 'Ashura, & Muharram, in General

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

The following is adapted from Futuhat al-Haqqaniyyah by Shaykh Muhammad ‘Adnan al-Qabbani (r.a.), the following are the basis for the amal and ‘ibadah of Muharram as done by those who seek closeness with Allah (s.w.t.) and His Prophet (s.a.w.).  The amal mentioned are the practices of the shuyukh of the Naqshbandi Haqqani thariqa’.  These practices are best done in addition to the daily awrad and the other sunnah.  In no way must the aspirant neglect that which is fardh. 

On the eve of ‘Ashura, the sunnah nafl is to offer four raka’at: In every rak’ah, after Surah al-Fatihah, recite Ayat al-Kursi once and Surah al-Ikhlasw three times.  After completing this swalah, recite Surah al-Ikhlasw a hundred times.  It is said, Allah (s.w.t.) will Purify such a person from all their sins and Grant them endless bounties and blessings in paradise. 

The sunnah swalah of ‘Ashura is four raka’at.  After Surah al-Fatihah in each rak’ah, recite Surah al-Ikhlasw eleven times.  The intention is the sunnah Yawm al-‘Ashura in commemoration of ‘Ashura and is normally done at the time of dhuha’.  It is said that whomever does so, Allah (s.w.t.) Forgives his sins of fifty years, and Builds for him a pulpit from light. 

The following du’a may be recited at any time but it is best after ‘aswr.  The du’a of ‘Ashura is as follows.  Recite seventy times: 

حَسْبُنَا اللَّـهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ.  نِعْمَ الْمَوْلَىٰ وَنِعْمَ النَّصِيرُ 

Hasbunaallahu wa ni’ma al-Wakiil, ni'ma al-Mawlaa wa ni’ma an-Naswiir 

Sufficient is Allah for me as my Representative, as my Lord, as my Helper. 

Recite seven times: 

سُبْحَانَ اللَّـهُ مِلْءَ لْمِيْزَانْ وَمُنْتَهَى العِلْمَ، وَمَبْلَغَ الْرِضَا، وَزِنَةُ الْعَرْش، لَا مَلْجَاءَ وَلَا مَنْجَا مِنَ اللهِ اِلَا اِلَيْهِ. سُبْحَانَ اللهِ عَدَدَ شَفِيعْ وَالْعَرْشِ، وعَدَدَ كَلِمَاتِ رَبِّنَا التَامَّاتِ كُلِهَا. أَسْأَلُكَ السَّلَامَةَ، بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينْ. وَلَا حَوْلَه وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَا بِاللهِ الْعَلِيِ الْعَظِيْمِ. وَهُوَ حَسْبُنَا اللَّـهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ.  نِعْمَ الْمَوْلَىٰ وَنِعْمَ النَّصِيرُ.‌ وَصَل اللهُ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَلَي آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ اَجْمَعِينْ 

Subhaanallahu milaa’ al-miizaan wa muntahaa al-‘ilma wa mablagh ar-ridhaa wa zinat al-‘Arsh.  Laa maljaa wa laa manjaa min Allah illaa Ilayhi.  SubhaanAllah ‘adada ash-shafii’i wa al-‘Arsh wa ‘adada kalimaati Rabbinaa at-taammati kullihaa.  As’aluka as-Salaamata bi Rahmatika, Yaa Arham ar-Raahimiin, wa laa hawla wa laa quwwata illaa billahi al-‘Aliyy al-‘Azhiim.  Wa Huwa hasbunaallahu wa ni’ma al-wakiil.  Ni’ma al-Mawlaa wa ni’ma an-Naswiir.  Wa Swallaallahu ‘alaa Sayyidinaa Muhammadin wa ‘alaa alihi wa swahbihi ajma’in. 

Glorious is Allah, as much as what is in His Great Scale, and as far as His knowledge extends, and to such a degree as it attains His pleasure, and to whatever weight may be His Throne; there is no refuge and no safety from Allah except in Him.  Glorious is Allah, as many as there be perfect words of His.  We ask of You for Safety, by Your Mercy, O You Who is the Most Merciful of Merciful.  Sufficient for us is Allah, and the Best Disposer of affairs.  There is no power and no strength except in Allah, the High, the Great!  And He is the very best master and the very best help!  May the grace of Allah be upon our Master Muhammad and upon his family and his companions. 

About an hour before the adzan for maghrib, towards ‘Ashura, sit facing the qiblah and finish the daily adab of thariqa’.  And then make tawaswswul with Sayyidina Husayn ibn ‘Ali (r.a.), and the martyrs of Karbala.  After breaking fast, dedicate the blessings and rewards of the fast and daily awrad upon the Prophet (s.a.w.) for the Oceans of Secrets that lie open on the 14^th of Muharram. 

Muharram is also a month of great importance to Naqshbandi.  The imam of the thariqa’, Shah Baha’ ad-Din Muhammad an-Naqshband (q.s.) was born on the 14^th of this month.  It is thus important and most desired that the Ahl ath-Thariqa’ congregate on the eve of this day for khatm and dzikr, and read the Mawlid an-Nabi (s.a.w.) in dedication to Shah Baha’ ad-Din an-Naqshband (q.s.), and also read excerpts from his life. 

It is a tradition and practice of Shaykh ‘Abdullah al-Fa’iz ad-Daghistani (q.s.) to make qurban of two sheep on the day of ‘Ashura and distribute the meat to the poor and needy of the members of the thariqa’.  He also did this on the birthday of Shah Baha’ad-Din an-Naqshband (q.s.). 

Another practise of the Naqshbandi is to recite Surah al-Ikhlasw a thousand times on the 9^th and 10^th of Muharram.  This is to seek Allah’s (s.w.t.) Pleasure for the year.