Question
Assalamu alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh Sayyidi,
I hope you are well.
I am emailing to you a few questions, I hope you do not mind receiving so many...
There are some known hadiths that busying oneself with Quran and dhikr is more profitable than making dua. Likewise, a famous hadith indicates that to make all of one's dua for the Prophet sall Allahu alayhi wasallam instead of oneself and one's loved ones leads to one's concerns to be removed, sins forgiven and desires fulfilled.
This would make me think that it would be wise to stop making dua except salawat for the Prophet sall Allahu alayhi wasallam. If someone wished to do so, should he refrain from making dua for what he feels in his heart and duas for others and just hold on to salawat convinced that through that all ambitions will be reached anyway? Or is the matter less strict than this?
Is there anyone from the Qawm (People/Folks) who is known to have substituted salawat to dua?
People who have done their tarbiya (spiritual training) should know that the Prophet sall Allahu alayhi wasallam encompasses existence and is its Master. Hence, Allah's salah on him sall Allahu alayhi wasallam seems to benefit the whole creation. In fact it could be said that salah on him sall Allahu alayhi wasallam brings forth Allah's tajalli as ar-Rahman. This understanding seems to strengthen the idea that salawat is a comprehensive dua. What do you think?
Also, can a Tijani recite the Names of Allah and La ilaha ill Allah as daily Adhkar, in ADDITION to the Wird and Wazifah?
JazakumuLlahu khayran wa hafizakumuLlah
Wassalam,
Answer
Wa Alaykum As-Salam Sidi,
Hope you are well Bi-IzniLlah!
Shaykhuna Ahmad al-Tijani (RA) was ordered by the Master of Existence (SAW) to turn to Allah Almighty through the Salat al-Fatih rather than the Asma al-Husna (which he initially wanted to recite).
So Salat al-Fatih is our KEY. It is the sum total of the Manifestations of all Names.
The Haylalah (لا اله الا الله) is done by us in our daily Wirds, Wazifah and Dhikr al-Jumah. Talibes in Senegal and elsewhere sing it whole night sometimes!
Of course, we love it.
However, our actual Suluk (Spritual Sojourn) is through the Salat al-Fatih, as that is the Ultimate manifestation of the Oneness.
Yes, in the Tarbiyah process, the Haylalah is prescribed with certain Asma al-Husna, with a certain number, coupled with the Salat al-Fatih of course.
Other than that, we focus on the Salawat, with the Idhn of our Shaykhs and Muqaddams. The key in Tasawwuf is to NOT to recite what one thinks is "good for me" as such thoughts may emanate from the Nafs, BUT to recite what the Shaykh Murabbi prescribes. Suluk is about Submission.
As for Salawat replacing Dua. Well, Dua is also a form of Ibadah that pleases the Lord Most High. We are ordered by Qur'an and Sunnah to make Duas. All Anbiya and Awliya made Duas.
In our own Tariqah, there are numerous long Duas narrated from Shaykh al-Tijani (RA) and Shaykh Ibrahim (RA). Check the Ahzab wa Awrad and al-Kanz al-Masun.
Yes, one should not make Dua purely for Egoistic purposes. The Arif makes Dua as an Ibadah and act of obedience, and his Dua is considered a form of Dhikr.
In his last years, Shaykhuna al-Tijani (RA) had stopped making any personal Duas, except the Sunnah Duas. A Talibe may go through that state also (of making no Dua at all), but shouldn't stay in it.
So, in summary, Salawat does not replace Dua.
Salawat is for Suluk. Dua is part of our practice, in Shariah and Tariqah.
Dua reminds us of our Slavehood (extremely important after Tarbiyah).
Try however to recite the Duas of our Shaykhs though, starting with the Masnun Duas of the Habib (SAW).
Of course, the greater part of your Ibadah must be Dhikr, and more specifically Salat al-Fatih. The rewards and benefits of Dhikr and Salawat are much more than Dua, as stated in authentic Ahadith.
Barak Allahu feekum!
Was-Salam alaykum
Servant of the Tijani Door
Fakhruddin Cisse