edin1’s blog

“Other peculiar forms of spiritual exercises include making loud dhikr with bodily motion whether standing, as in the case of hadrah as performed by the Shadhilīs, or sitting, as performed by the Chishtīs. Other exercises include certain breathing exercises like pās anfās as performed by the Chishtīs and various forms of murāqabah (meditation) as done by the Naqshbandīs etc.

The inherent permissibility or impermissibility of some of these exercises will rest upon the differences of the various Madhāhib since some of these practices cross the boundary of a mere internal metaphysical sphere to the externally physical; thus, falling under the jurisdiction of the Fuqahā’. To present a brief example, the practice of hadrah, a type of spiritual bodily movement similar to swaying that some refer to dancing coupled with loud dhikr, is permissible for the followers of the Shāfi‘ī Madhhab since according to their ‘Ulamā and Madhhab dancing is permissible with certain conditions.

…

It is important to bear in mind that unfortunately, there has always existed groups of self-centered, worldly motivated pseudo-Sufis who misrepresented Tasawwuf and used some of the practices of the Sufis, not to mention concocted some of their own, to suit their nafsānī (selfish) desires. Some of them feign being Sufis in order to gain fame and popularity, others to engage in singing and dancing and others to earn money etc. It is from such people that deviances began to crop up in this pristine and praiseworthy science. Examples of their innovations include the Qawāli where singing and music are rampant under the guise of Dhikr, grave-worship where people commit shirk by prostrating to the inmates of the grave, Salāmī where people stand up to offer salutations upon Rasūlullah صلى الله عليه و سلم with the belief that Rasūlullah صلى الله عليه و سلم visits the gathering and other similar practices that have no real connection with Tasawwuf. Because of the existence of such perfidious people and their impermissible practices, it has become a daunting task for sincere people such as you to find a true Shaykh and Tarīqah. Every Tarīqah has these imposters in their midst preying upon the ignorant masses; therefore, one must be cautious as to who one takes as a Murshid (guide). You should ensure that before taking formal bay‘ah to any Shaykh or entering into any Tarīqah, that the Shaykh is a complete adherent of the Sharī‘ah and upholds its dictates. Anyone who intentionally and openly breaks a single commandment of the Sharī‘ah is not worthy to be a Shaykh.”

via Ask Imam :: Fatwa.

see also: sunniforum.com – Mufti Desai on Shadhili Hadrah, Chishti Dhikr, Naqshi muraqabah, etc.

“We are living in a world where everybody is pre-occupied with his / her own world – as if their world IS the world. Nobody has time anymore for each other – for each other’s worlds – for each other’s concerns, dreams and ambitions. What we don’t realise is that by sharing in other people’s worlds you are in fact enriching your own world. Make your world a bigger world by incorporating the worlds of others into your own and not by inflating your own ego.”

via LISANULARAB – ض – THE ARAB TONGUE: My Life With Bint ‘Adnan: a brief autobiography.

al-Awza`i said: “Whoever holds on to the rare and unusual positions of the scholars has left Islam.”

see also: http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?id=5072

“It is better to weep tears of joy than to joy at tears of weeping”

“Four things come not back — the spoken word, the sped arrow, the past life, and the neglected opportunity” – Arab proverb