On Remembrance of the Beloved (Dzikr)

On Remembrance of the Beloved (Dzikr)

In the Name of AllaaHu, the Singular Love, Lover, and Beloved


Salaam,

Let me ramble a bit on remembrance (dzikr) here. Basically, people of remembrance diverge in their opinions. There are also many hadiths stating the importance of loud dzikr in addition to the silent one. Just choose the one that suits your personality best. Personally, I think that silent dzikr is superior than loud dzikr which is practiced by the majority. But it is intended only for advanced Sufis who understand that the Reality of the Beloved can only be fully perceived in the Great Silence behind things, which is the Bridal Chamber, the Chamber of Disappearance of the self into the Source and Reality of Love.

Due to their advanced station and concentration (penetrating awareness), the advanced Sufi hears the thin voice of truth {...Hu...} both in the crowd and in solitude. That is why the Beloved Prophet SAW spoke about both the silent and the loud dzikr. For the same reason, in Islaam we have many Tariqahs (Sufi orders) in order to accomodate the diversity in the personalities. The honorable Sufi order called "Khwajagan" (School of Masters) also known as the Naqshbandi Tariqa is famous for stressing on silent dzikr. The Tijani Sufi order uses loud dzikr. It usually varies in the Qadiri, Rifa'i, Shadzili, Darqawi, Alawi, Mevlevi and Chishti, and the rest of the genuine Sufi orders. By a genuine Sufi order I mean a Sufi order whose lineage springs forth directly from the Boundless Oceanic Heart of the Prophet Muhammad SAW, Master of all Sufis and those drawn near to AllaaHu SWT, either through the "Gate" (Baab) of Sayyidina 'Ali RA or Sayyidina Abu Bakr as-Shiddiq RA.

Whatever may be the case, dzikr must be accompanied by reciting durood sharif or salawaat upon the Holy Prophet SAW. That is because no Sufi acquires Knowledge of the Reality of realities (Ma'rifat ul-Haqq) unless he is at the station of the Prophet Muhammad SAW, the highest, most exalted station. It is that which is referred in the Qur'an surah al-Isra' (the Night Journey or Ascension) as the furthermost Lotte Tree and the Clear Horizon. Shaykh al-Akbar Ibn Arabi RA said that the color of the station of Muhammad absorbs and hides the mysteries of all colors. This station is the station of the Divine Pole (Qutb) and Power (Qudrat). It is the Primordial Isthmus (Barzakh) between the Essence (Dzat Allaahu) and Manifestation (Tajjali). It is an Ocean of realities. This is the genuine Reality of Nur Muhammad.

By the way, I've known Ahmed Hulusi's school of realism for sometime now. Wonderful : ). Here's the link: http://www.ahmedhulusi.org/en/index.htm. He shows what true meditation or remembrance is. (Read, for example, the article "Muhammad's Allah".) Maybe his words are weighty somewhat. But that's only because he is a philosopher and scientist. Or maybe you can say he is a Sufi of the same kind as Ibn Arabi and Suhrawardi.

Salaam e Ishq,

{Dani}