Sources for the Tijaniyyah Dzikr

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

The following is adapted from the introduction by Shaykh Hasan ibn ‘Ali Sisi (q.s.), of Shaykh Ibrahim ibn ‘Abdullah Niyas al-Kawlakhi’s (q.s.) “Revival of the Sunnah”. 

It is recorded, in Swahih Muslim that Sayyidina Abu Hafsw ‘Umar ibn al-Khaththab al-Faruq (r.a.) said, “One day we were sitting in the company of Rasulullah (s.a.w.), when there appeared before us a man dressed in extremely white clothing; his hair was extraordinarily black.  There were no signs of travel on him and none of us knew him.” 

He sat before Rasulullah (s.a.w.), his knees supported against the Prophet’s (s.a.w.), his palms placed on his thighs, and said, “O Muhammad, tell me about Islam.” 

Rasulullah (s.a.w.) said, “Islam is to testily that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and that you establish swalah, pay zakat, observe the fast of Ramadhan, and perform haj to the House if you have the means to do so.” 

The stranger said, “You have told the truth.’” 

Sayyidina ‘Umar (r.a.) commented, “It astonished us that he would ask and then verify the truth.” 

The stranger asked, “Inform me about iman.” 

Rasulullah (s.a.w.) replied, “It is that you believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Day of Judgment, and that you believe in Divine Preordination, whether good or bad.” 

The stranger responded, “You have told the truth.”  He then asked, “Inform me about ihsan.” 

Rasulullah (s.a.w.) said, “That you worship Allah as if you see Him, for though you do not, know that He Sees you.” 

The stranger asked, “Inform me about the Hour.” 

Rasulullah (s.a.w.) remarked, “The one being asked knows no more than the questioner.” 

The stranger said, “Tell me some of its signs.” 

Rasulullah (s.a.w.) said, “That the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress, and that you will find barefooted, destitute goat-herders vying with one another in the construction of magnificent buildings.” 

Sayyidina ‘Umar (r.a.) said, “Then he went on his way, but I stayed with him for a long while,” meaning he stayed with Rasulullah (s.a.w.). 

Rasulullah (s.a.w.) then said to him, “Umar, do you know who the questioner was?” 

Sayyidina ‘Umar (r.a.) replied, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” 

Rasulullah (s.a.w.) replied, “It was Gabriel.  He came to teach you your religion.” 

It should be obvious from this hadits that a human being has greater needs than an animal.  In the same way he needs food for his body, he also needs food for his spirit; and the best food for the spirit is the dzikr of Allah (s.w.t.).  Dzikr provides the direct link between the servant and Allah (s.w.t.).  Surely there is wise counsel in the saying, “The dzikr of Allah is the means to acquire wilayat.” 

The Thariqa’ Tijaniyyah is based on three principles: istighfar, tahlil and swalawat. 

The first, istighfar, asking Allah (s.w.t.) for Forgiveness, is the foundation.  It is forbidden for a Muslim to stop his brother in Islam from saying. “astaghfirullah.”  None of us are infallible.  The same way we do something right today, we may do it wrong tomorrow.  Consequently, the Prophet (s.a.w.) has directed us, saying, “Your sickness is the sins and the remedy of your sickness is to say ‘astaghfirullah.’”  In addition, there are many verses in the Qur’an Advising us to say astaghfirullah.  For example, in Surah al-Hadid, we are told: 

سُوۡرَةُ الحَدید

سَابِقُوٓاْ إِلَىٰ مَغۡفِرَةٍ۬ مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡ … (٢١) 

Be you foremost (in seeking) Forgiveness from your Lord ... (Surah al-Hadid:21) 

And then, there is the example of our most excellent guide, the Prophet (s.a.w.).  This is in spite of the infallibility of his station, and what Allah (s.w.t.) has Stated clearly in Surah al-Fath: 

سُوۡرَةُ الفَتْح

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

إِنَّا فَتَحۡنَا لَكَ فَتۡحً۬ا مُّبِينً۬ا (١) لِّيَغۡفِرَ لَكَ ٱللَّهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِن ذَنۢبِكَ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ وَيُتِمَّ نِعۡمَتَهُ ۥ عَلَيۡكَ وَيَہۡدِيَكَ صِرَٲطً۬ا مُّسۡتَقِيمً۬ا (٢) 

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Verily We have Granted you a manifest victory: That Allah may Forgive you thy faults of the past and those to follow; Fulfill His Favour to you; and Guide you on the Straight Way. (Surah al-Fath:1-2) 

Despite this, the Prophet (s.a.w.) asked Allah’s (s.w.t.) Forgiveness more than one hundred times every day.  If that is the case with him, what about those of us who live in this corrupt time of disbelief and sin? 

The second principle is to say, “Laa ilaha illa Allah,” “There is none worthy of worship but God.”  In a hadits, the Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “The best words I have ever said together with the previous prophets are the words, ‘laa ilaha illa Allah.’” 

And, again, in Surah al-Baqarah: 

سُوۡرَةُ البَقَرَة

فَٱذۡكُرُونِىٓ أَذۡكُرۡكُمۡ وَٱشۡڪُرُواْ لِى وَلَا تَكۡفُرُونِ (١٥٢) 

Then do you remember Me; I will Remember you.  Be grateful to Me and reject not faith. (Surah al-Baqarah:152) 

And in Surah Ali ‘Imran: 

سُوۡرَةُ آل عِمرَان

ٱلَّذِينَ يَذۡكُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ قِيَـٰمً۬ا وَقُعُودً۬ا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمۡ وَيَتَفَڪَّرُونَ فِى خَلۡقِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقۡتَ هَـٰذَا بَـٰطِلاً۬ سُبۡحَـٰنَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ (١٩١) 

Men who celebrate the praises of Allah standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and contemplate the (wonders of) Creation in the heavens and the earth, (with the thought), “Our Lord!  Not for naught have You Created (all) this!  Glory to You!  Give us Salvation from the Penalty of the Fire.” (Surah Ali ‘Imran:191) 

And, again, in Surah al-Jumu’ah: 

سُوۡرَةُ الجُمُعَة

... وَٱذۡكُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرً۬ا لَّعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ (١٠) 

… and celebrate the Praises of Allah often (and without stint): that you may prosper. (Surah al-Jumu’ah:10) 

Surely, when Allah (s.w.t.), Who has no limit, Says to remember Him “often”, it is not to be taken lightly. 

And the third principle is swalawat ‘ala an-Nabi, the offering of salutations upon the Prophet (s.a.w.).  Allah (s.w.t.) has Ordered the community of the believers to offer prayers upon the Prophet (s.a.w.) just as He has Himself Done together with His angels: 

سُوۡرَةُ الاٴحزَاب

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَـٰٓٮِٕڪَتَهُ ۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّۚ يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ صَلُّواْ عَلَيۡهِ وَسَلِّمُواْ تَسۡلِيمًا (٥٦) 

Allah and His angels, Send Blessings on the Prophet: O you that believe!  Send you blessings on him and salute him, with all respect. (Surah al-Ahzab:56) 

Moreover, the Prophet (s.a.w.) said in another hadits, “Whoever offers one prayer upon me, Allah will Offer ten upon him.”  In another report, the Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “Whoever offers one prayer on me, Allah will Offer ten on him; if he makes it ten, Allah will Make it one hundred for him; if he makes it one hundred, Allah will Make it one thousand for him; if he makes it a thousand, he will enter Paradise shoulder-to-shoulder together with me.” 

Support for the dzikr of the Thariqa’ Tijaniyyah thus is solely derived from Qur’an and ahadits.  We are Muslims looking for the Truth, and wherever we see the Truth, we shall follow.