Loud Thikr

Hadhrat Thaanvi (rahmatullah alayh) never encouraged even permissible forms of loud thikr. He had rules for regulating such thikr even in his private khaanqah. Commenting on this issue, Hadhrat Thaanvi (rahmatullah alayh) said: “The Fuqaha have said that Thikr-e- Jahr is permissible if musallis and sleeping persons are not disturbed. On the basis of this principle, I do not allow Thikr-e-Jahr here (in the Khaanqah) from 12 p.m. until after the Athaan of Zuhr Salaat.

Similarly, during the night time from after Isha until Tahajjud. Thereafter there is permission. And, when it is allowed (in the Khaanqah), then too, there is no permission for jahr-e-mufrit (excessive loudness).

While (mureeds) are sleeping, I do not allow them to practise even silent thikr with a hum. They should ‘recite; in their minds (i.e. in total silence).”

Hadhrat Thaanvi, Hadhrat Masihullah and other Akaabireen, particularly of their Line of Tasawwuf, did not have halqah thikr programmes in public Musaajid. All those Jalalabadi participants in the newfangled bid’ah halqah thikr programmes can bear testimony that they NEVER saw their seniors practise this bid’ah in all their student years. Suddenly, after a couple of decades of ostensibly following the Path of their Akaabir, and after their demise, they verge sharply from the Straight Path to slip into bid’ah.

Their senior is dead, hence the opportunity has developed to give vent to and display the hidden lust for aggrandizement which is today surfacing in the form of these public displays of bid’ah halqas. The opportunity to be Khalifahs thwarted them during the lifetime of Hadhrat Masihullah (rahmatullah alayh). May Allah Ta’ala save us from the evil which always lurks in our nafs.