Allahumma Swalli Alaa Sayyidina Muhammadin Wa alaa Aali Sayyidina Muhammadin Wa Sallim Madad Ya Al Haqqani Madad Ya Sahibu Saif, Madad Ya Ambiya Wa Awliya Allah There are eight Naqshbandi Principles formulated by the Imam of the Khwajagan (early Naqshabndi Silsila) order , Hazret Shaykh Abdul Khaliq Ghujdavani (Q.S) and three other principles formulated by the Imam of the Tariqah Khwajah Muhammad Baha’uddin Naqshbandi Al-Uwaisi Al-Bukhari (Q.S). They are: 1-Hosh Dar Dam (Awareness of breath), 2-Nazar Bar Qadam (Watching the step), 3-Safar dar Watan (Inward Journey in the Spiritual Path) , 4-Khalwat Dar Anjuman (Solitude in the Society) , 5-Yad Kard (Reminding outwardly and inwardly of God’s Name), 6-Baz Gasht (return to the responsibilities of a person according to Shari’ah after performing pure Zikr), 7-Concentration on God (Yaddasht), 8-Nigadasht (Guarding one’s spiritual state) Other three Principles taught by Khwajah Shah Baha’uddin Naqshbandi (Q.S) as an additional three methods of training the students were: 9-Awareness of time (Wuquf E Zamani), 10-Counting the Zikr repetitions (Wuquf e Adadi), 11-Constant Attachment of Heart to God (Wuquf E Qalbi) In this article I am inspired to write about: Yad Kard (Remembering outwardly and inwardly of God’s Name)
Remembrance of God’s Name (Yad Kard):
The remembrance of God (Zikr) are two types. The Loud Zikr and Silent Zikr. Today the Naqshbandi Way emphasize on both “Loud Zikr” and “Silent Zikr” Hazret Abdul Khaliq Ghujdevani (Q.S) taught the loud Zikr (remembrance of God), to recite it as a regular spiritual exercise by all followers of the Khwajagan way. “la ilaha illa Allah” is repeated loudly. The word ‘la’ Which means “no”, is the rejection of everything in concerns from the human senses. The rejection are two types, one is the rejection of the a person who believe in his God/ that which prevails in his heart as something. The other rejection “la” is of atheists. They reject without returning to affirmation of truth! “ilaha” which means “everything that bond to heart in the form of deity (attachments) also include the Almighty God”, it can be idols, people, wealth, self (ego), women, status, authority etc! “illa” which means “except/other than” the completion of “ila Ilaha illa” is to deny every deities including the self,then surrendering to something that is realized which Alone Exists. “Allah” the Mighty and Sublime God that to affirm the Real Existence is Only for Allah. Except Him nothing exists. It is narrated in a Hadith: “Everything is Bathil (Falsehood) except Allah” The purpose of Zikr is to achieve complete Submission and Annihilation(Sacrifice) in the Divine Presence and Nothing remains Except Him Alone. Grand Shaykh Sulthanul Awliya Mawlana Shaykh Nazim Al-Haqqani (Q.S) said: “We ask to be no one and nothing, as long as we are someone, we are not complete” Some groups and spiritual paths calling to become someone and something, but Naqshbandiya calling to become “A Servant of Allah” and the Ownership and authority of a Servant belongs to His Master. A Servant do not claim anything except to remind himself that “I am a Weak Servant of my Lord”. Whatever the Master give Servant take it, He is not desiring the Wealth or properties of the Master. Even in human world , a servant who desire the wealth of his master is considered as treacherous servant!. Tariqah is the Path of Ihsan. the Path of Perfection. We are not looking at the elegant shopping malls of dunya (here) and aakhirath (next world) Al-Bayhaqi relates from Ibn ‘Umar radiallaahu ‘anhu that AlIah’s Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:“For everything there is a polish, and the polish for the hearts is the Zikr (remembrance) of Allah. There is nothing more potent in saving a person from the punishment of Allah than the Zikr of Allah.“ It was said: Not even Jihad in the path of Allah. So he replied: “Not even if you were to continue striking with your sword until it breaks.”
Zikr Without A Shaykh is Not Accepted? “Why I can’t do Zikr myself without a Shaykh and an Ijazah (Permission)? The Answer is given in the Book: Khala’idul Jawahir:182
“من يذكر الله تعالي بلا شيخ لا الله حصل له ولا نبيه ولا شيخه “
“Whoever do Zikr without a Shaykh,as well as he has no Shaykh,he will not get Allah and he will not get Allah’s Beloved Rasool (alaihiswalathu wa salam)“Qalaidul Jawahir:182 The great venerable Shafi’e Fiqh Scholar from Malabar region of South India, “Shaykh Zainuddin Maqdum-1 (radiyallahu Anhu) who was a worldwide renowned scholar in Shafi Madhab is saying about the importance of having a Shaykh and Ijazah(permission) and the Adab (Discipline) of doing Zikr and Dua, in His Book “Adkiya” “Then you turn towards Qibla and sit in the Meditation (Rabita/Muraqaba) and recite “Tahleel” and hard work with the Zik (Wird-The Regular Zikr), you got from the Shaykhs of the well known tarikat, Do not talk,Then you will find the light(Noor) and warmthness (relief) in you and your heart will shine through the removal of dirty charecters and habits in you” (Adkiya). Shaykh Zainuddin Maqdoom (radiyallahu anhu) teaching that your zikr Must be according to the Ways of the Shaykhs of the Tasawwuf. Imam Swawi (Radiyallahu Anhu) says:
من هنا انّ الذاكر لا ينتفع بالذكر ولا ينور باطنه الا اذاكان الشيخ عارفا اذنه في ذالك و الذاكر مشتاقا -حاشية الصاوي”
“If anyone want to benefit from the Zikr he is doing and to purify the heart with light (Noor), then he must take the permission (ijazah) of a spiritual knower of Allah (Shaykh Arif billah) and should do Zikr with most sincere way”.SWAVI-1:224 “Those who do not have a Shaykh, their Shaykh is Satan”-Saying of Sulthanul Awliya Shaykh Abdul Qadir Al Jilani in Ghunya (Qaddasallahu Sirrahul Azeez) and Shaykh Abu Yazid Al Bistami (R.A) So that, the Question “Is that not enough to Do Zikr without a Shaykh?” is not valid. As the quran states, Satan will be mastered in a person who does not have a shaykh aand lead him astray, though you will be doing heedless zikr. That kind of heedless Zikr coming from all sects and groups. But the “Zikr” that heals and cures, the Zikr that has heavenly power is coming from heavenly station. Zikr with correct heading comes with following Imams of Zikr and Tasawwuf:
When Imam Mahdi (A.S) and his soldiers say: “Allahu Akbar” the armies will fall dead, because that Zikr is inspired from heavens to chosen Saints of Allah. So take Zikr from the Saints of Allah, only that Zikr bring benefit to you. This is an up to date article on the “Essential Remembrance” with relevant verses from Quran and Hadith to explain those who do want to seek it’s prospects in the written texts! “Whosoever turns away from My remembrance, his life will be made tight and narrow on the Day of Resurrection We shall raise him blind” Quran (Surah 20: Verse 124) Shah Naqshbandi (Q.S) said: “If anyone turn away from my Tariqh, fear Kufr (disbelief) afflicted in him” So one must accept Tariqah and Zikr with most sincere heart and individual effort to do it without fail. “Believers, do not let either your possessions or your children divert you from the Remembrance of Allah. Those who do that shall be the losers”. Quran (Surah 63: Verse 9) 24:37 By men whom neither trade nor business diverts from the remembrance of Allah and performing of prayer and paying of the poordue (Zakat) They fear a day in which hearts and eyes shall be turned about. So the essential daily zikr must be acquired and practiced all time by every seeker, from his Shaykh with sincerity and faith. wa Salamun alal Mursaleen walhamdulillahi Rabbail Aalameen
– Jouhar Ali Naqshbandi Al-Hassani Ar-Rabbani
