Repeating the name of Allaah on its own, or the pronoun "Huwa" (He), Sufi bid'ah
Q: Is there any harm in repeating the names
of Allah SWT?
As zikr, or anything else?
I understand saying "Astagh firullah" or "Subhan Allah" or "Alhamdo
Lillah" are ok...
A: Praise be to Allaah.
There is no doubt that it is bid'ah to mention the name of Allaah
on its own or -even worse - to repeat the pronoun "Huwa" ("He").
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may
Allaah have mercy on him) said:
"The Name of Allaah on its own, either as a noun ("Allaah") or a
pronoun ("Huwa") is not a complete phrase or meaningful sentence.
It has no implications to do with eemaan (faith) or kufr
(disbelief), commands or prohibitions. This was not mentioned by
anyone from the Salaf (early generations) of this ummah, and it was
not prescribed by the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him). It does not bring any knowledge to the heart
or bestow any kind of benefit upon it. All it does is give an
unclear idea which is not defined by any negation or affirmation.
Unless there is previous knowledge in a person's mind or he is in a
state of mind where he could benefit from this, he gains no benefit
at all. Islam prescribes adhkaar which in and of themselves bring
benefit to the heart, without any such need for anything
else".
Some of those who persisted in this kind of "dhikr" ended up in
various kinds of heresies and ideas of "wahdat al-wujood" (unity of
all that exists, pantheism), as has been explained in detail
elsewhere.
It was mentioned that one of the shaykhs said: "I am afraid of
dying between negation and affirmation", but this is not an example
to be followed, because it is obviously erroneous. If a person were
to die in this state, he would die according to his intention,
because actions are judged by intention. It was reported that the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) commanded us to
tell the dying person to say Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah, and he said,
"Anyone whose last words are Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah will enter
Paradise." If this word (Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah) was something which
required caution, why should we tell the dying person to say
something which, if he dies in the middle of saying it, will lead
to an improper death? Rather, if this were the case, he would be
told to say "Allaah, Allaah" or "Huwa, Huwa."
Mentioning the pronoun on its own is further removed from the
Sunnah and is a worse kind of bid'ah, which is closer to the
misguidance of the Shaytaan. If a person says "Yaa Huwa, yaa Huwaa
(O He, O He)" or "Huwa, Huwa (He, He)" and so on, the pronoun does
not refer to anything except whatever his heart imagines, and
hearts may be guided or misguided.
Some shaykhs use as evidence to support saying "Allaah" (the name
on its own) the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):
"Say: 'Allaah.' Then leave them…" [al-An'aam 6:91], {قُلِ اللَّهُ ۖ ثُمَّ ذَرْهُمْ},
Transliteration: Quli Allāhu Thumma Dharhum. They think that Allaah
commanded His Prophet to say His Name on its own, but this is a
mistake according to the consensus of the scholars, because the
meaning of the phrase "Say 'Allaah'" is that it is Allaah Who sent
down the Book which was brought by Moosa. This is in response to
the question:
"Say (O Muhammad): 'Who then sent down the Book which Moosa (Moses)
brought, a light and a guidance to mankind which you (the Jews)
have made into (separate) paper sheets, disclosing (some of it) and
concealing (much). And you (believers in Allaah and His Messenger
Muhammad) were taught (through the Qur'aan) that which neither you
nor your fathers knew.' Say: 'Allaah (sent it down).'" [al-An'aam
6:91 - interpretation of the meaning], {قُلْ مَنْ أَنْزَلَ الْكِتَابَ الَّذِي جَاءَ
بِهِ مُوسَىٰ نُورًا وَهُدًى لِلنَّاسِ ۖ تَجْعَلُونَهُ قَرَاطِيسَ
تُبْدُونَهَا وَتُخْفُونَ كَثِيرًا ۖ وَعُلِّمْتُمْ مَا لَمْ
تَعْلَمُوا أَنْتُمْ وَلَا آبَاؤُكُمْ ۖ قُلِ اللَّهُ},
Transliteration: Qul Man 'Anzala Al-Kitāba Al-Ladhī Jā'a Bihi
Mūsá Nūrāan Wa Hudáan Lilnnāsi Taj`alūnahu
Qarāţīsa Tubdūnahā Wa Tukhfūna Kathīrāan Wa `Ullimtum Mā Lam
Ta`lamū 'Antum Wa Lā 'Ābā'uukum Quli Allāhu, i.e., Allaah is the
One Who revealed the Book which was brought by Moosa. This is a
refutation of the view of those who said, "Nothing did Allaah send
down to any human being (by Revelation)" [al-An'aam 6:91 -
interpretation of the meaning], {مَا
أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ بَشَرٍ مِنْ شَيْءٍ},
Transliteration: Mā 'Anzala Allāhu `Alá Basharin Min
Shay'in, Allaah says: Who then sent down the Book which Moosa
brought?, {قُلْ مَنْ أَنْزَلَ
الْكِتَابَ الَّذِي جَاءَ بِهِ مُوسَىٰ}, Transliteration: Qul
Man 'Anzala Al-Kitāba Al-Ladhī Jā'a Bihi Mūsá, Then He
says: Say Allaah sent it down, then leave these liars to play in
their vain discussions, {قُلِ اللَّهُ
ۖ ثُمَّ ذَرْهُمْ فِي خَوْضِهِمْ يَلْعَبُونَ},
Transliteration: Quli Allāhu Thumma Dharhum Fī Khawđihim
Yal`abūna.
What we have said above is further explained by the comments of
Seebawayh and other grammarians, who noted that when the Arabs say
"Qaala" (or other forms of the verb meaning "to say"), they do not
quote verbatim, rather they state what was said, giving a complete
meaning. So what follows is a sentence with a complete meaning, or
a nominal sentence or a verbal sentence. Hence after saying "qaala"
they give a kasrah to the particle "anna" (making it "inna");
"qaala" cannot be followed by a noun standing alone. Allaah did not
command anyone to mention His Name on its own, and it is not
prescribed for the Muslims to say His Name on its own. Saying His
Name on its own does not enhance faith or explain anything about
the religion, according to the consensus of the scholars of Islam;
it is not enjoined in any act of worship or in any case where
Allaah addresses them (Majmoo'
al-Fataawa, 10/226-229).
And he (may Allaah have mercy on him)
also said:
"Repeating the Name of Allaah on its own, such as saying "Allaah,
Allaah," or the pronoun, such as "Huwa, Huwa" is not prescribed in
either the Qur'aan or the Sunnah. It is not reported that any of
the salaf of this ummah or any of the righteous scholars who are
taken as examples did this. It is only spoken by misguided people
of the later generations.
Perhaps they are following a shaykh who had no control over himself
in this regard, such as al-Shubli who, it was narrated, used to say
'Allaah, Allaah.' It was said to him, 'Why do you not say Laa
ilaaha ill-Allaah?' He said, "I am afraid of dying between the
negation [saying La ilaaha (there is no god)] and the affirmation
[ill-Allaah (except Allaah)]"!
This is one of the mistakes made by al-Shubli, who may be forgiven
for it because of the sincerity of his faith and the strength of
his emotions which overwhelmed him. Sometimes he would go crazy and
would be taken to the asylum, and he would shave off his beard.
There are other instances of this type in his case, which are not
to be taken as examples, even if he may be excused or rewarded for
them. If a person intends to say Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah, and he dies
before completing it, that will not harm him at all, because
actions are judged by intentions, and what he intended to do is
what will be written down for him.
Some of them go to extremes in this matter, and say that saying the
name of Allaah is for the 'elite' whilst saying La ilaaha
ill-Allaah is for the 'masses.' Some of them say that saying Laa
ilaaha ill-Allaah is for the mu'mineen (believers), saying 'Allaah'
is for the 'aarifeen' and saying 'Huwa' is for the muhaqqiqeen. One
of them may restrict himself to saying, when alone or in a
gathering, 'Allaah, Allaah, Allaah' or 'Huwa' or 'Yaa Huwa' or even
'La Huwa illa Huwa (there is no He except He)'!
Some of those who have written about spiritual matters have
expressed approval of this, quoting some known figures who,
however, were in a state of overwhelming emotion at the time, or
quoting opinions, or quoting false reports - for example some of
them reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) told 'Ali ibn Abi Taalib to say 'Allaah, Allaah, Allaah.'
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said it
three times, then he told 'Ali to say it three times so he said it
three times. This hadeeth is fabricated (mawdoo'), according to the
consensus of the scholars of hadeeth.
It is narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) taught people various adhkaar to say, and the best of
dhikr is Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah. This is what he urged his paternal
uncle Abu Taalib to say when he was dying. He said, «O uncle, say Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah and I
will defend you thereby before Allaah», And he said: «I know of a word which no one says when he
is dying but his soul finds rest in it», And he said, «Anyone whose last words are Laa ilaaha
ill-Allaah will enter Paradise», And he said, «Whoever dies knowing that there is no god
except Allaah will enter Paradise», And he said: «I have been commanded to fight people until
they bear witness that there is no god except Allaah and that
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah. If they do that, their blood
and wealth will be safe from me, except for what is due from them
[e.g., zakaah etc.], and their reckoning is with Allaah»,
And there are many similar ahaadeeth (Majmoo' al-Fataawaa,
10/556-558).
Whoever makes the Qur'aan and Sunnah his points of reference
concerning his worship will not fail to distinguish right from
wrong. We ask Allaah to bring us back to His religion in a gentle
manner. And Allaah knows best.
Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
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