Ruling on raising the voice collectively in dhikr without coordination
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Question:
We have observed that whenever the attendees hear His Eminence the Shaykh say, "There is no god but Allah," they say, "There is no god but Allah" in a somewhat loud voice. Is it not sufficient to believe in the heart and not to raise the voice repeatedly every time the phrase "There is no god but Allah" is mentioned? Is this a religious innovation or not?
Answer:
As for what the Sufis do with a collective voice, where they gather and raise the dhikr with collective voices, this is a religious innovation. However, if a person is remembering Allah and another is remembering Allah, and when he hears someone remembering Allah, he remembers Allah because he was reminded by his brother, there is nothing wrong with that. This is a prescribed matter. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: They said: O Messenger of Allah, what about those who are alone? He said: Sahih Muslim 2676.
Remembering Allah is always required. Allah the Exalted said: [Surat al-Zukhruf: 36], and He the Exalted said: [Al-Ahzab 33:41] and glorify Him in the morning and in the evening [Surat al-Ahzab: 41-42].
Therefore, the believer should frequently remember Allah in every place. If he hears the dhikr from his brothers and is reminded, and remembers Allah just as his brothers remembered, this is something required. Likewise, sending blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and peace upon him should be done frequently. However, organizing it in a specific way with a collective voice is what is condemned; it is a religious innovation, and it is what the Sufis do. A group did this long ago in the time of Ibn Mas'ud, during the era of the Companions, and Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him and grant him satisfaction) condemned them for it.
We have observed that whenever the attendees hear His Eminence the Shaykh say, "There is no god but Allah," they say, "There is no god but Allah" in a somewhat loud voice. Is it not sufficient to believe in the heart and not to raise the voice repeatedly every time the phrase "There is no god but Allah" is mentioned? Is this a religious innovation or not?
Answer:
As for what the Sufis do with a collective voice, where they gather and raise the dhikr with collective voices, this is a religious innovation. However, if a person is remembering Allah and another is remembering Allah, and when he hears someone remembering Allah, he remembers Allah because he was reminded by his brother, there is nothing wrong with that. This is a prescribed matter. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
The ones who have gone ahead
سبق المفردونthose males and females who remember Allah much
الذاكرون الله كثيرًا والذاكراتRemembering Allah is always required. Allah the Exalted said:
And whoever is blinded from remembrance of the Most Merciful - We appoint for him a devil, and he is to him a companion.
وَمَنْ يَعْشُ عَنْ ذِكْرِ الرَّحْمَنِ نُقَيِّضْ لَهُ شَيْطَانًا فَهُوَ لَهُ قَرِينٌO you who have believed, remember Allah with much remembrance
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيرًا Therefore, the believer should frequently remember Allah in every place. If he hears the dhikr from his brothers and is reminded, and remembers Allah just as his brothers remembered, this is something required. Likewise, sending blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and peace upon him should be done frequently. However, organizing it in a specific way with a collective voice is what is condemned; it is a religious innovation, and it is what the Sufis do. A group did this long ago in the time of Ibn Mas'ud, during the era of the Companions, and Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him and grant him satisfaction) condemned them for it.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.