Questions regarding Wazifa
Question
What are the rules concerning the tayamum for the litanies? Can we perform lazim with the same tayamum as the one we performed for the wazifa?
Answer
There is a point of divergence on this subject. The main rule is as follows: in the same way that a tayamum is needed for each prayer (according to the Malikite school), it is also needed for each litany because they have the status of a pious vow and therefore that of an obligatory deed. (Sheikh Idriss El ‘Iraqi)
The point of divergence concerns the lazim recitation with the tayamum of the wazifa, and the accomplishment of both with the tayamum of obligatory prayer. Some forbid it and others authorize it.
Among those who forbid it are:
- Sidi Muhammad Ibn ‘Abd al-Wahid an-Nazifi in ad-Dur- ra al-harida,
- Sheikh Muhammad Ibn ‘Abdullah Tasfawi in al-Fath ar- rabbani,
- Sheikh Muhammad al-hafiz in Qasd as-Sabil,
- Sheikh Nazifi totally forbade the recitation (of the litany) or the prayer with a previous tayamum.
The author of al-Fath ar-rabbani forbade the recitation of Lazim with the tayamum of the obligatory prayer. He also forbade the recitation of wazifa, lazim and ‘asru with a single tayamum. He said nothing about reciting wazifa with the tayamum of prayer.
The author of Qasd as Sabil authorized the recitation of wazifa with the tayamum of the prayer. He forbade the recitation of lazim with the tayamum of the obligatory prayer. He also forbade the recitation of wazifa with the tayamum of lazim. Sheikh Nazifi agrees with him.
The author of Fath el Rabbani agrees also with them, except concerning the accomplishment of the wazifa with the tayamum of the obligatory prayer. This was authorized by Shinqiti who said: “The wazifa may be recited with the tayamum of the obligatory prayer, because its “rank is less superior to that of the lazim”
He agrees with the prohibition of the recitation of lazim with the tayamum of the obligatory prayer. He said nothing about the prohibition of the recitation of lazim with the tayamum of the wazifa, because this is obvious.
The Sheikh and Sultan of Marocco ‘Abd al-hafiz in his book al-Jami‘a al-‘irfaniyya also forbids it.
Question
If a person is reciting litanies othen than the esssential ones and the recitations of the wazifa begins, should he interrupt his recitation?
Answer
Yes he should interrupt himself and join the brothers for the recitation of the wazifa.
Questions
a) If a person is reciting lazim or wazifa on a rainy night and people plan to gather both Maghreb an Icha prayers as mentioned in the shari’a.
b) What about reciting wazifa out loud near a group who is reciting the Hizb of the Quran
c) What about a person whose ablutions are invalidated at the time of the closing formula «Inna-l-Lah wa- mala’ikatahu yusalluna…»
Answers
a) He should interrupt lazim or wazifa to perform the obligatory prayers.
b) Wazifa should be accomplished, whenever possible, in a special place and not in a place where we could disturb other people praying and evoking.
c) See Question 12. (Sheikh an-Nazifi)
Question
Is it authorized to perform wazifa on the terrace of a mosque or a zawiya (that is to say in an elevated place)?
Answer
It is persmissible. (Sheikh an-Nazifi)
Question
If a person is performing lazim when the group begins wazifa, and by mistake he interrupts his lazim and begins the wazifa with them, what should he do?
Answer
He should do his lazim again. (Sheikh an-Nazifi)
Questions
a) If a person joins the group of wazifa late, should he wait for the end of Djawharatul kamal to complete wazifa, or should he wait for the closing formulas to do so ?
b) If a person is reciting Djawharatul kamal and has reached the 6th or 7th bead when he notices that his clothes are impure or when he remembers that his clothes are impure, what should he do?
Answers
a) The person who is late joining the group should recite the pillars (Istighfar, Salat ‘Ala Nabi, Heylala and Djawharatul kamal) with them. He is not required to recite the closing formulas because they are not part of the pillars. He will recite them when he has completed all the pillars. However, there is no harm in reciting the closing formulas with the brothers.
b) He should wash his clothes, or remove them if he has others and continue lazim or wazifa. This is also the case for the prayer. The person who only notices the impurity after finishing lazim or wazifa is advised to begin them again as long as he is in the time of accomplishement, although they both remain valid. (Sheikh an-Nazifi)
Question
What do you think of adding salat Fatihi in the prayer during the standing posture, the prostration, while sitting, during the first and the last tachahud, and also after the Qunut in the subh prayer?
Answer
The salat Fatihi should only be recited (during the obligatory prayer) during the prostration (and during the last tachahud) and nowhere else. Allah said: «do not commit excess in your religion» (Surat 4, The women, verse 171) After the words « … His servant and His Messenger » during the first tachahud after the invocation of Qunut, salat Fatihi should not be recited. What an innovation! This is just exaggeration! (According to Sheikh an-Nazifi and Sheikh Idriss El ‘Iraqi)
Questions
a) If the ablutions of a person leading the wazifa are invalidated, should he perform tayammum instead?
b) If a person is overcome by drowsiness (sleep) during the wazifa, should we wake him up?
Answers
a) If a person’s ablutions are invalidated, he should leave the circle to the best of his ability, and perform his ablutions again. In this case, tayamum is not suitable.
b) If a person is dozing, he should be woken gently. (Sheikh an-Nazifi)
Question
Is it authorized to recite wazifa with one’s wife if she is a Tidjani disciple?
Answer
Yes, it is authorized. Otherwise, one recites with the brothers. (Sheikh Nazifi)
Question
If a person enters the mosque after ‘Asr prayer, having formulated the intention to recite wazifa, and finds the brothers reciting haylala thinking that they were reciting wazifa, but whereas in fact they were reciting haylala, is his haylala valid?
Answer
No, he must perform it again because intention is a condition of validity. (Sheikh Nazifi)
Question
Should we recite this « Sayyiduna Muhammadun Rasulu-l-Lah ‘alayhi salamu-l-Lah » at the last beads of haylala (3rd pillar of both Lazim and Wazifa) ? Some say that we should not use the word « Sayyiduna », is this right?
Answer
After the last bead of haylala, you should recite « Sayyiduna Muhammadun Rasulu-l-Lah ‘alayhi salamu-l-Lah » or « Sayyiduna Muhammadun Rasulu-l-Lah salla-l-Lahu ‘alayhi wa-sallama ».
The purpose of the word « Sayyiduna » is a sign of respect towards the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). You should know that the word « Sayyiduna » is, for all for Sufis, a duty required by the Book, the Sunna, consensus (ijma’) (agreement of the Muslim community).
ALLAH (The Glorified, The Exalted) said : « Do not make [your] calling of the Messenger among yourselves as the call of one of you to another.” (Surat 24 The Light, verse 63)
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said : « Without arrogance, I am the « Sayydi » Master of the sons of Adam.”
In the consensus, the scholars of both apparent and hidden knowledge are unanimous regarding the use of the word “Sayyid”, in prayer as well as other forms of evocation.
One of the greatest demonstrations of this is the salat Fatihi which is not a human composition. It was sent down upon Sidi Muhammad al-Bakri (May ALLAH be pleased with him) and written with the pen of the Almighty on a tablet of light.
It descended accompanied by the word «Sayyid ». The Truth (The Glorified, The Exalted) named his Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) with the word “Sayyid”, likewise we should show respect to him by using the word “Sayyid” and venerating him.
Among the important figures who have used the word « Sayyid » after haylala, in lazim, wazifa and also ‘asrou, are:
– Sidi Ibn Baba in al-Munyat.
– Sidi Ubayda in Mizab ar-Rahma.
– Sidi Umar al-Futi in Rimah.
– Sidi Arabī Ibn as-Sa’ih in al-Bugya.
– Sidi Ahmad Bibi in Bulug al-amani.
– Sidi Makki Badr Salama in an-Nafahat al-Fadila.
– Sidi Ahmad at-Tijani as-Sinqiti in al-Futuhat ar- rabbaniyya.
– Sidi Abd ar-Rahman as-Sinqiti in Sahadat al-Jani.
– Sidi Muhammad Hajjuji in Taysir al-amani
– Sheikh Nazifi in Ad-Durratu al-harida
Sidi Muhammad Ibn Hasan al-Jakani said (may ALLAH be pleased with him) :
« The scholars were asked whether it was preferable to conform to the following phrase « Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa-‘ala ali Muhammad… » or whether, demonstrating more respect, it was preferable to say: « Allahumma sali ‘ala Sayyidina Muhammad… ».
They said: « It is correct to show respect as it is indicated in the story of Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (may ALLAH be pleased with him), when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) (during his sickness) instructed him to finish guiding the Prayer in congregation. He did not comply and out of respect, he stepped back.
Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) completed the prayer and asked him: “Why did you not complete the prayer?” Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (may ALLAH be pleased with him) replied: “Abu Quhafa should not stand in front of the Messenger of ALLAH (peace and blessings be upon him)”.
Question
If some people are outside of the time frame for the accomplishment of wazifa (it has therefore become a debt) can they gather (gather together) to accomplish wazifa?
Answer
No they cannot. Each person should accomplis it individually. (Sheikh Nazifi)
Question
If a person joins the group for the wazifa and this same group notices an omission in one of the pillars (of wazifa) and goes back to that pillar in order to complete it, should the person who had joined them also go back with them to the incomplete pillar?
Answer
Yes, the person who joins the gathering should follow them in accomplishing the incomplete pillar and continue with them until the end. Then he should make up for what he missed before the incomplete pillar. (Sheikh Nazifi)
Question
If a group is reciting wazifa and adds something by mistake, of which some of them are sure and others have doubts, what is the rule?
Answer
If a person is accomplishing wazifa in congregation and he is sure that something is added to one of the pillars, he should not follow them. He should warn them by a gesture and if they do not understand, he can speak to them because it is authorised to speak in order to correct the prayer. If they continue in their mistake, he should not follow them. If he follows them despite being sure that they are adding something, then his wazifa is invalid and theirs is not. On the other hand, if a person has doubts, he should follow them and has nothing to repair. (According to al-Yawaqit wa-l-jawahiru al-mudi’a written by Hajj Makki)
Question
If a group has finished accomplishing wazifa, and goes to visit a muqaddam and find another group reciting wazifa, and joins them, should they afterwards catch up what they missed?
Answer
If a person has accomplished wazifa in congregation, he is not required to do it again as long as the first wazifa is valid. If he joins another group (of this muqaddam for example) then this comes under the following hadith (then this is conditioned by): “If you come across a heavenly garden, then celebrate”.
It is not necessary to catch up what he missed but if he does, he will be rewarded because we are encouraged to perform zikr abundantly. On the other hand, if he had accomplished wazifa alone and then joined a group, he is recommended to perform wazifa again with them, and in this case he should catch up what he has missed. (According to al-Hidaya ar-rabbaniyya)
Question
If a person is reciting wazifa in congregation and he has doubt (whereas the other members of the group do not) and so he alone adds something in order to dissipate this doubt, does he need to repair?
Answer
When the group performing wazifa doubts the number of recitation in of the pillars or is sure of a lack then they should base their recitation on that of which they are certain (the minimum value), then they perform the remaining pillars, in the correct order, which is a necessary condition for validity. The person who adds recitation alone does not need to repair with a hundred “astaghfirullah” when he has finished. However, when the entire group makes a mistake, repairing the zikr by one hundred “astaghfirullah” is required.
Question
When we want to catch up what we missed of the wazifa, having finished with the group, should we recite the formula of intention?
Answer
No, it is not necessary to recite the forumula, neither when we join the group, nor when we catch up what we missed. If a person does recite it, no reparation is necessary. (According to Manahil ar-rasad by Sheikh Abu Bakr ‘Atiq)
Question
What are the responsibilities of the muqaddam who leads the wazifa?
Answer
His responsibilites are:
– to rectify mistaken additions to one of the pillars of the wazifa
– to return in order to complete an incomplete pillar and to respect the order when resuming what comes afterwards
– To instruct the person who should replace Djawharatul Kamal with Salatul Fatihi but has forgotten to do it, and vice versa
In all these cases, if some members make a mistake, repairing by a hundred “Istighfar” is not required because of the baraka of the group. (Sahadat al-Jani)
In these cases, If a person is reciting alone, and as long as it is a mistake (not on purpose otherwise…), he should repair.
The pillars of the wazifa are not the responsibility of the muqaddam, Each disciple should accomplish each pillar entirely for the wazifa to be valid (that is to say istighfar, salāt ‘ala-n-Nabiyy, haylala, the Baraka of the group covers any missing beads (a few) of one its members in any of the pillars as informed by Sheikh Idriss El ‘Iraqi)
Question
If a person has begun wazifa alone, and then a group joins him to perform it, should he stop reciting or should he raise his voice in order to invite the group to join him?
Answer
He should raise his voice, and the group should join him. Once they have finished, those who had joined should make up for what they missed. This also applies to haylala (or ‘asru). (According to Ibn Baba in his book Munya)
Question
What if a person performs wazifa with a Tidjani disciple who neglects the accomplishment of wazifa in congregation: that is to say sometimes he attends, and sometimes he does not?
Answer
If a person performs wazifa with one of the brothers in the Tariqa who neglects the accomplishment of wazifa in congregation, the wazifa is valid, and gathering with him is equally valid. But the person, who is neglectful without valid legal cause, commits a sin, which if he does not repent, can take him outside (exclude) of the tariqa. (According to al- Yawaqit wa-l-Jawahiru- al-mudi’a by Hajj Makki)
Question
If a person gathers with a child to perform wazifa, is this sufficient or should he do it again with people who had reached age of puberty?
Answer
Puberty is not a condition for taking the Tariqa nor even to be appointed muqaddam. The condition is having acquired reasoning. (Sheikh Ahmad Sukayrij, may Allah be pleased with him)
Question
If a person arrives late for the wazifa, joins the group and then having finished with them, he forgets to make up for what he missed, and only remembers later, what should he do?
Answer
If he remembers shortly afterwards, he makes up for what he missed, without adding anything. On the other hand, if he only remembers later, or his ablution are invalidated or he has performed an act of adoration in the meantime, then he should do the whole wazifa again. (al-Yawaqit wa-l-Jawahiru al-mudi’a de Hajj Makki)
Question
If a person forgets to perform wazifa on Thursday and remembers only having completed the wazifa on Friday (for he who only performs it once a day), what is the rule?
Answer
If a person has performed wazifa on Friday after Asr prayer, and only then remembers that he had forgotten it on Thursday, he should perform Thursday’s wazifa because he is still within the time of necessity for the wazifa of the day before which goes from the ‘Asr prayer until sunset the following day as stipulated by Hidaya ar-rabbaniyya. Then he should repeat (perform again) Friday’s wazifa because everything should be done in the right order. If, on the other hand, he performs Friday’s wazifa after sunset, he should only repeat Thursday’s wazifa. So it is not necessary to repeat Friday’s wazifa.
Question
If a person habitually performs wazifa in the evening and wishes to perform it in the morning instead, what is the rule?
Answer
Only one wazifa is obligatory per twenty-four hours, so he who wants to change with or without reason, has the right to do so. On the other hand, if he recites it twice a day, the rules concerning recitation and catching up are the same as for lazim. (al-Yawaqit wal-Jawahiru al-mudi’a de Hajj Makki)
Question
If a person thinks that he has performed the Asr prayer and recites wazifa and then he realizes that in fact he has not yet performed Asr prayer, what should he do?
Answer
Sheikh Nazifi said what signifies: “He should do it again after having performed ‘Asr prayer because wazifa should be accomplished from the accomplishment of ‘Asr prayer onwards (until ‘Asr prayer of the next day). The time of the accomplishment of the (evening) lazim also begins after the performance of ‘Asr prayer.”
Question
If a person who is performing wazifa in congregation sneezes, yawns or coughs, and because of this, finds himself two beads behind the others, what should he do?
Answer
In the case where the disciple finds himself behind the others by one or two beads –for example two beads of istighfar or two of salatoul fatihi or two beads of another pillar — he should continue the zikr with them and when they have finished the pillar in question of the wazifa, he makes up for what is missing while they are reciting the formulas of glorification. If it is only a matter of one or two beads, he may also whisper quickly to catch up with them, but if he is afraid of disturbing them then it is better to follow the group and then once the pillar is complete, he may catch up the two missing beads and no reparation is due for this. (Sheikh Idriss El ‘Iraqi mentions that even if the missing beads are not caught up, the wazifa remains valid because of the Baraka of the group).
If a person says “AKH!” during the recitation by mistake or necessity, no reparation is needed. If it is done deliberately, his wazifa (or his lazim) is nullified. (al-Kawkab al-wahhaj by Sukayrij)
Question
If someone is prevented (due to some impediment) for the whole day to perform wazifa, is it authorized to perform it at night (before Fajr) in the same way that it is authorized for the lazim ?
Answer
This is only authorized if he recites wazifa twice a day: he brings forward (performs in advance) his morning lazim and then his morning wazifa. If he only recites wazifa once a day, this is not authorized (because he has 24 hours to perform it).
It is said in certain books of the Tariqa: “We have a day and a night to perform wazifa one time, either during the day or during the night, but it is better to accomplish it twice a day, and in this case, one of the wazifa is meritorious. The best time to accomplish it is between Maghreb and Isha prayers (following in the footsteps of Seyyidina Ahmed Tidjani (may ALLAH sanctify his precious secret) towards the end of his life.” (Futuhat al-minan de Sheikh Abu Bakr ‘Atiq)
Question
If a person has not accomplished the ‘Asr prayer and joins the recitation of the wazifa in congregation late, and then a group enters and performs the Asr prayer, should he interrupt his wazifa and joint them?
Answer
If a person has not accomplished the ‘Asr prayer and joins the recitation of the wazifa in congregation late, he takes note of what he has accomplished and joins the group of ‘Asr prayer. On completion of the ‘Asr prayer, he returns to the wazifa group and completes it with them. Then he makes up for what he has missed beginning with that which he missed while performing the ‘Asr prayer and then returning to catch up the beginning of the wazifa that he had missed because he was late. (al-Ira’a by Hajj al-Hasan al-Ba‘qili)