--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extracted from
Ithaaf i's saail (Gifts For The Seeker) of Imam 'Abdallah Ibn 'Alawi al-Haddad
Translated by: Dr. Mostafa al-Badawi, Madina
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
La ilaha illa Allah
You should know that this phrase is the most comprehensive and profitable of all invocations; the nearest to bringing about the Opening and illumining the heart with the light of God. It is also the most suitable of invocations for all people, since it includes the meanings of all other invocations, such as al-hamdu li'Llah, subhan Allah, and so on. Each believer should therefore, make it his inseparable wird, his constant dhikr, without, however, abandoning the other invocations, of each of which he should have a wird.
Every human being is either a traveller, and arriver, or a non-traveller, and all three should hold unceasingly to this invocation. Travellers and non-travellers, since they perceive objects and attribute to them an existence of their own- something which may lead to subtle forms of hidden shirk- can only expel these from their souls by constantly repeating this phrase. As for the man who has arrived, this invocation is again the most appropriate for him, because although he perceives things by God, and unceasingly summons them to Him, he is not entirely free from perceiving his own self from time to time, and from reprehensible thoughts unworthy of his rank. It has been handed down to us that Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, may God be pleased with him, used to insert this phrase into his conversation: he would utter a few words, say la ilaha illa'Llah, and then resume what he was saying. This pertains to the Station of Subsistence (baqa) which follows that of Extinction (fana). As we said earlier, there is no invocation more appropriate for a man constantly to use than this; however, when the traveller reaches the initial stages of extinction, and is liberated from perceiving any of the worlds (as autonomous), then the most appropriate thing for him at that time is to keep to the Name of Allah. This is what the people of gnosis have advised.
All the above is from the point of view of choosing the best and the most appropriate alternative, for otherwise all the invocations are the paths leading to God. The shaykhs, may God be pleased with them, have many methods of uttering this honorable Phrase, whether aloud or silently, and have set conditions which the invoker who would expose himself to the Dive effulgence and the Lordly Opening needs to fulfil. These are explained in those of their treatises which deal with them specifically, where they can be found by whoever wishes to thread the path of such men. It is best that those who are able to find in their time a shaykh of authority should receive these from him directly, since books are a last resort for those who are unable to find (such a teacher); and what a difference there is between a man who receives the Path from a gnostic of authority who will take him to God, and one who only picks it up from a book!
God guides to what is right. To Him is the return, and success is from Him and in His Hand.
Source: Imam 'Abdallah Ibn 'Alawi al-Haddad, Ithaaf i's saail (Gifts For The Seeker), translated by Dr. Mostafa al-Badawi, The Quilliam Press, U.K, 1992, p18-19.
What dhikr is appropriate after the 5 daily prayers?
Answered by Shaykh Abu Usama, South Africa
Al-Salam `alaykum
The fuqaha have stated that, based on the Prophetic hadiths, after the five daily prayers it is recommended to seek the forgiveness of Allah Ta`ala by reciting Astaghfirullah thrice.
Is also recommended to recite 33 times Subhanallah, 33 times Alhamduilllah, 33 times Allahu akbar and once la ilaha illallah wahdahu la sharika lahu lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu wa huwa ala kulli shay in qadir.
It is mentioned in a hadith that whoever recites the above after every salah his sins will be forgiven if they are as much as the foam of the ocean. (Recorded in Sahih Muslim)
Besides the above it is also recommended to recite Sura al-Ikhlas (112), Sura al-Falaq (113) and al-Nas (114) (reported by al-Tirmidhi) and Ayat al-Kursi. (Reported by Al-Nasa`i)
There are also many other dhikrs and invocations that may be recited. It is best to do that which one can do consistently, because, as the Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace) told us, “The most beloved of actions to Allah are those its performer is constant on, even if little.” This is because such actions transform a person’s life.
The time after the five daily salah is also a time when du`as are accepted. Hence this oppurtunity to seek from Allah should be realized.
[Based on Durr al-Mukhtar, Radd al-Muhtar]
May Allah grant us all the ability.