What is your opinion regarding the dhikr known as the *Wird al-Rabita* and the *Wird al-Du'a* after the Fajr, Maghrib, and 'Isha' prayers? What is the degree of authenticity of these two wiruds, and what is the ruling on adhering to them and maintaining them consistently?

The questioner : I read in the book *al-Mathurat* something that I did not find in other books of supplications. What I read is known as the *Wird al-Rabita*. It involves a person reciting the words of Allah the Exalted: up to His words: , then reciting the following supplication: "O Allah, this is the approach of Your night and the departure of Your day, so forgive me." Then, he visualizes in his mind the image of a known brother among his brothers, and he feels the spiritual connection between himself and those he does not know. Then, he supplicates for them with a supplication like this: "O Allah, You know that these hearts have gathered in love for You, met in obedience to You, united in calling to You, and pledged to support Your Shari'ah. So, O Allah, unite their bond, perpetuate their affection, guide them to their paths, fill them with Your light that does not fade, expand their chests with the abundance of faith in You and beautiful reliance upon You, revive them with knowledge of You, and let them die upon martyrdom in Your cause. You are the best Master and the best Helper." He also mentioned another wird called the *Wird al-Du'a*, in which one says: "I seek forgiveness from Allah" one hundred times, then supplicates for the da'wah, the brothers, and oneself with whatever easy supplication is available after the Fajr, Maghrib, and 'Isha' prayers and before sleeping. One should not break the wird for a worldly matter except out of dire necessity. I have read a lot in books of hadith and *Riyad al-Salihin*, and I did not find anything indicating the authenticity of this mentioned matter. So, I hope you will alert us to its degree of authenticity and the ruling on adhering to it and maintaining it?

The Shaykh : The matter is as the questioner mentioned, in that these supplications are supplications that have no basis in the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and they are not authentic. It is not permissible for anyone to adhere to them, nor even to perform them as an act of worship for Allah, because they are a religious innovation (bid'ah). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . What has become apparent to me from the condition of this female questioner is that she reads many books, especially books of dhikr and wiruds. What I advise her is to be very cautious, because a great deal has been written regarding innovative dhikr and innovative supplications. It is regrettable that they are widely circulated among Muslims, and their circulation may be greater than that of authentic supplications and dhikr. So, I advise her, and I advise all my Muslim brothers, to be careful in these matters, so that they do not worship Allah the Exalted in ignorance, misguidance, and innovation. In the authentic books authored by those whose knowledge, trustworthiness, and religion are reliable, there is what suffices for that. So, referring to them is obligatory, and discarding such books as the questioner mentioned, and others that contain innovative dhikr and supplications, and warning against them, is obligatory upon Muslims, so that innovations do not spread among them and misguidance does not multiply among them. I ask Allah to guide us and our Muslim brothers to what is in the well-being of our religion and our worldly affairs, for He is the Generous, the Bountiful.

The questioner : O Allah, amen. May Allah reward you with the best reward.