Naqshbandi Practices for Muharram: Structured Devotion, Not Performative Grief

The following is adapted from Futuhat al-Haqqaniyyah by Shaykh Muhammad ‘Adnan al-Qabbani.  These are the basis for the ‘amal and ‘ibadah of Muharram as practised by those who seek closeness with Allah and His Prophet.  The ‘amal mentioned are the practices of the shuyukh of the Naqshbandi Haqqani thariqa’.  These practices are best performed in addition to the daily awrad and the other sunnah.  In no way must the aspirant neglect that which is fardh.

The Eve of ‘Ashura

The sunnah nafl offered on the eve of ‘Ashura consists of 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 will Purify such a person from all their sins and Grant them endless bounties and blessings in Paradise.

The Day of ‘Ashura Itself

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 it is normally performed at the time of dhuha’.  It is said that whoever does so, Allah Forgives his sins of fifty years, and builds for him a pulpit from light.

The Du’a of ‘Ashura

This du’a may be recited at any time, but it is best performed after ‘Aswr.

Recited 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.

Recited 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.

Before Maghrib

About an hour before the adzan for maghrib toward ‘Ashura, sit facing the qiblah and finish the daily adab of thariqa’.  Then make tawaswswul with Sayyidina Husayn ibn ‘Ali and the martyrs of Karbala.  After breaking fast, dedicate the Blessings and Rewards of the fast and daily awrad upon the Prophet for the Oceans of Secrets that lie open on the 14^th Muharram.

Muharram carries particular weight for the Naqshbandi order beyond ‘Ashura itself.  The imam of the thariqa’, Shah Baha’ ad-Din Muhammad an-Naqshband, was born on the 14^th of this month.  It is therefore desired that the Ahl ath-Thariqa’ congregate on the eve of this day for khatm and dzikr, read the Mawlid an-Nabi in dedication to Shah Baha’ ad-Din an-Naqshband, and read excerpts from his life.

Shaykh ‘Abdillah al-Fa’iz ad-Daghistani maintained the tradition of offering qurban of two sheep on the day of ‘Ashura, distributing the meat to the poor and needy among the members of the thariqa’, and repeated this practice on the birthday of Shah Baha’ ad-Din an-Naqshband.  A further Naqshbandi practice involves reciting Surah al-Ikhlasw a thousand times on the 9^th and 10^th of Muharram, seeking Allah’s Pleasure for the coming year.

Compare this against the mourning practices examined elsewhere in this space, the self-flagellation and manufactured spectacle that senior Shi’ah authorities themselves, including Ayatollah Sayyid ‘Ali al-Husayni Khamenei, have condemned as fabricated tradition with no textual precedent.  Nothing here involves blades, blood, or public self-injury.  Every element is textually anchored: specific raka’at, specific suwar, a du’a with documented wording, charity distributed to the poor rather than spectacle staged for an audience.  This is what disciplined devotion during Muharram actually looks like when built on structure rather than sentiment.  Grief has its place.  It does not require a blade to prove its sincerity, and it certainly does not need one when the sunnah itself already provides forty-eight raka’at, a thousand recitations, and a shared meal for the poor, none of which leave a mark on anyone’s body to prove they happened.