Our school of Sufism is based on the Qurʾān and uncontested authentic Prophetic tradition (Sunnah). Nothing can be demanded from the lovers, well-wishers and seekers in this school except that which is established in the Qurʾān and uncontested authentic Prophetic Sunnah.
Being a seeker or a student in this school entails your agreement to learn more and improve.
We aim to do so through a journey to continuously perfect our Farḍ and Sunnah practices and prioritize them, then commit ourselves to the following, as an extra practice that’s not binding textually:
The General Wird (daily litany):
1 – Reading some Qurʾān every day, even if it is 7 short verses, such as Al-Fatiha. It would be good to start the Qur’an from the beginning and read some verses everyday until the end, and then start again. (The exact number of verses is not important nor binding, it’s just an example or a suggestion to help the starter).
2 – Trying to practice one Prophetic Sunnah or more, even if it’s a smile.
3 – Commit to a daily litany of Adhkār (remembrance, or being present with Him in your heart and tongue). These specific litanies (Wird) are Prophetically established. We recommend:
a – Istigfār (asking for forgiveness from Allah Taʾāla and returning to the commitment of self-improvement -repentance- and purification) by reciting:
Astaghfiru Allah Al-Aẓīm wa Atūbu ilayh (أستغفر الله العظيم وأتوب إليه).
b – Reciting Lā illāha illa Allāh (لا إله إلا الله). This is the proclamation of the Oneness of The One Creator of all.
c – Sending Ṣalawāt upon (salutations and establishing direct spiritual connection with) the most beloved who was sent as a loving mercy to the universe; Sayyiduna Muḥammad صلى الله تعالى عليه وآله وسلم.
This can be done in the most authentically documented Prophetic form, which is:
اللهم صل على محمد وعلى آل محمد (Allāhumma Ṣalli ʾalā Muḥammad wa ʾalā Ᾱli Muḥammad).
Other Ijtihadi formats of Ṣalawāt are permissible so long they are consistent with the Qur’an and Sunnah guidelines. The preference is clear that no form of Ṣalawāt should be prioritized over the most authentic Prophetic one.
The daily repetition for each of the above is recommended to be Kathīr (plenty) as the Qurʾān stipulates:
یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱذۡكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ذِكۡرࣰا كَثِیرࣰا
[الأحزاب ٤١]
Which means: O you who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance.
Many of the scholars of Arabic linguistics interpret Kathīran (plenty) as at least 300. Hence, we recommend this number for each of the above daily litanies on a daily basis, either in one setting or divided by two, one in the morning and one after sunset. The Qur’ān praises those who remember Him mornings and nights (al-Kahf: 28).
Though the exact number of 300, just like the above exact litanies are not obligatory. The only obligations, again, are those whom the Qurʿān and Sunnah deemed as such.
We do recommend the seeker and student in this school to perform multiple Adhkār daily Kathīran (a lot) without keeping a specific limit. His Knowledge of the state of your heart suffices, so keep your heart awakened and present.
Any additional litany (Dhikr) that is not in the above 1, 2 or 3, is optional to adopt, so long it is consistent with the Qur’an and Sunnah and not prioritized over them.
The rest of our methodology and practices are found in the following books, which we recommend all seekers and students to indulge therein daily or as much as possible:
1 – The Qur’ān and the Prophetic Sunnah.
2 – Al-Adhkār (الأذكار) by al-Muḥddith al-Nawawī.
3 – Riyaḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn (رياض الصالحين) , by the same author.
Non-essential and supplemental books:
4 – The Ḥikam of Ibn ʾAṭā Allah al-Sakandarī by Ibn ʿAbbād and for a longer commentary; Sharḥ al-Ḥikam by Muḥammad bin Yaḥya al-Nīnowy.
5 – The 40 Ḥadīth in the virtues of Madina and visiting the Prophet صلى الله تعالى عليه وآله وسلم, by Muḥammad bin Yaḥya al-Nīnowy.
6 – Ḥaqīqat al-Taṣawwuf (حقيقة التصوف في الكتاب والسنة لمحمد بن يحيى النينوي) by Muḥammad bin Yaḥya al-Nīnowy.
7 – The Book of Love and the 40 Ḥadīth on Mercy by Muḥammad bin Yaḥya al-Nīnowy.
