The ruling on the dhikr of “Hu Hu” and “Allah Allah” among the Sufis
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
This questioner says: Your Eminence the Shaykh, is the remembrance of Allah with “Ya Hu, Ya Hu” or “Aa, Aa,” which are the dhikr of some of the Sufis, valid in the Shari'ah and commanded, or is it a bid'ah (religious innovation) that must be avoided? Please give us a comprehensive answer, may Allah reward you with good, and may Allah make you happy in this world and the Hereafter.
Answer:
It is a bid'ah. This is a Sufi bid'ah, an invented bid'ah. “Hu Hu, Hu, Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah”—this is a bid'ah, it is wrong. The tasbih and dhikr are to say “La ilaha illa Allah” completely, “Subhan Allah” and “Alhamdulillah.” This is the dhikr prescribed by the Shari'ah. As for saying “Hu Hu,” meaning “Allah is Hu, Hu, Hu,” this is not prescribed. Or “Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah,” this is not prescribed. I say “Allahu Akbar,” “Allahu Akbar,” “La ilaha illa Allah.” This is what is prescribed. As for “Allah, Allah, Allah,” this is not prescribed. This is a bid'ah, one of the bid'ahs of the Sufis that they invented. Likewise, “Hu Hu,” meaning “Hu, Hu, Hu,” this is a wrong bid'ah. What is prescribed is to say “Subhan Allah,” “Alhamdulillah,” “La ilaha illa Allah,” and “Allahu Akbar.” He says “La ilaha illa Allah.” This is how the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught his Companions. He said to them (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan an-Nasa'i 3982Sahih (Darussalam) They rejoiced, and he said: Sahih Muslim 2137a And he said: “The lasting good deeds” Sunan an-Nasa'i 924Hasan (Darussalam) This is prescribed. As for what some of the innovating Sufis do, “Hu Hu” or “Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah,” this is a wrong bid'ah that must be known.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good,
This questioner says: Your Eminence the Shaykh, is the remembrance of Allah with “Ya Hu, Ya Hu” or “Aa, Aa,” which are the dhikr of some of the Sufis, valid in the Shari'ah and commanded, or is it a bid'ah (religious innovation) that must be avoided? Please give us a comprehensive answer, may Allah reward you with good, and may Allah make you happy in this world and the Hereafter.
Answer:
It is a bid'ah. This is a Sufi bid'ah, an invented bid'ah. “Hu Hu, Hu, Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah”—this is a bid'ah, it is wrong. The tasbih and dhikr are to say “La ilaha illa Allah” completely, “Subhan Allah” and “Alhamdulillah.” This is the dhikr prescribed by the Shari'ah. As for saying “Hu Hu,” meaning “Allah is Hu, Hu, Hu,” this is not prescribed. Or “Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah,” this is not prescribed. I say “Allahu Akbar,” “Allahu Akbar,” “La ilaha illa Allah.” This is what is prescribed. As for “Allah, Allah, Allah,” this is not prescribed. This is a bid'ah, one of the bid'ahs of the Sufis that they invented. Likewise, “Hu Hu,” meaning “Hu, Hu, Hu,” this is a wrong bid'ah. What is prescribed is to say “Subhan Allah,” “Alhamdulillah,” “La ilaha illa Allah,” and “Allahu Akbar.” He says “La ilaha illa Allah.” This is how the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught his Companions. He said to them (peace and blessings be upon him):
say La ilaha illallah
قولوا لا إله إلاThe dearest phrases to Allah are four: Subhan Allah (Hallowed be Allah), Al-Hamdulillah (Praise be to Allah), La ilaha illa-Allah (There is no deity but Allah), Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greater).
أحب الكلام إلى الله أربع سبحان الله والحمد لله ولا إله إلا الله والله أكبرSubhanAllah, wal-hamdulilah, wa la illaha ill-Allah, wa Allahu Akbar, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa Billah
سبحان الله والحمد لله ولا إله إلا الله والله أكبر ولا حول ولا قوة إلا باللهThe presenter:
May Allah reward you with good,
Source
فتاوى المسجد الحرام (شعبان ١٤١٧ هـ) - ٢ — archive.org (54:36)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.