What is the ruling on collective dhikr sessions in the Sufi manner?
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The questioner : Is there any hadith that indicates dhikr sessions as practiced by the Sufis, meaning collective dhikr?
The Shaykh : There is no mention in the Sunnah, nor in the sayings of the Salaf and the Imams, of dhikr in the manner practiced by the Sufis, which is their gathering to remember Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in unison, with a single rhythm and a single tone. Rather, it is beyond doubt that this is among the newly invented matters, because any act of worship that was not known in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and in the three blessed generations is, without a doubt, a misguided innovation that has no connection to the prescribed worship. This is especially true if this type of innovated dhikr is accompanied by swaying to the right and left, resembling dancing. In that case, it is without a doubt not merely an innovation but forbidden, because the statement of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) regarding non-Muslims applies to them:[Al-A'raf 7:51]. Therefore, some scholars said that the place where such dhikr is gathered must be dug up and the ground cleaned of it, due to the severity of its pollution by the double sin of innovation and prohibition. And some jurists-poets said this about such people:
"O generation of evil innovation, the worst of generations, you have brought forth an impossible matter.
Did my God say to you in the Qur'an: 'Eat like animals and dance for me'?"
Far from it. Therefore, such dhikr is not doubted by the people of knowledge and remembrance to be an innovation in Islam. It is not permissible for a Muslim, not only to perform this dhikr, but also to mix with them or sit with them. Among the best works written on this subject is a treatise by one of the Hanafi scholars, known asThe Shaykh : MuhammadAl-Halabi : the author of the book known among the Hanafis as al-Halabi al-Saghir. That is, he has a treatise called al-Rahs wa al-Waqas for those who consider dancing permissible. This dancing is not European dancing, but rather, unfortunately, Sufi dancing. I do not call it Islamic dancing, as the Europeans do. This is the answer to your question.
The Shaykh : There is no mention in the Sunnah, nor in the sayings of the Salaf and the Imams, of dhikr in the manner practiced by the Sufis, which is their gathering to remember Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in unison, with a single rhythm and a single tone. Rather, it is beyond doubt that this is among the newly invented matters, because any act of worship that was not known in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and in the three blessed generations is, without a doubt, a misguided innovation that has no connection to the prescribed worship. This is especially true if this type of innovated dhikr is accompanied by swaying to the right and left, resembling dancing. In that case, it is without a doubt not merely an innovation but forbidden, because the statement of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) regarding non-Muslims applies to them:
took their religion as distraction and amusement
اتَّخَذُوا دِينَهُمْ لَهْوًا وَلَعِبًا"O generation of evil innovation, the worst of generations, you have brought forth an impossible matter.
Did my God say to you in the Qur'an: 'Eat like animals and dance for me'?"
Far from it. Therefore, such dhikr is not doubted by the people of knowledge and remembrance to be an innovation in Islam. It is not permissible for a Muslim, not only to perform this dhikr, but also to mix with them or sit with them. Among the best works written on this subject is a treatise by one of the Hanafi scholars, known asThe Shaykh : MuhammadAl-Halabi : the author of the book known among the Hanafis as al-Halabi al-Saghir. That is, he has a treatise called al-Rahs wa al-Waqas for those who consider dancing permissible. This dancing is not European dancing, but rather, unfortunately, Sufi dancing. I do not call it Islamic dancing, as the Europeans do. This is the answer to your question.
Source
www.al-albany.com
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