Wazifa not established from Hadith

[ummtaalib]

Assalamu alaykum,

I received the following message:

 

“When asked regarding Palestine situation, Hadhrat Moulana Yusuf Motala Saheb replied that make dua but also recite 125000 times amongst families, friend’s, group’s etc..

 

لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ

 

Hadhrat also said this was the ma’mool of Hadhrat Shaikh (r.a.) during trouble time’s, Hadhrat Shaikh would firstly instruct immediate family then other’s.

Plz encourage friend’s & families..”

 

I just want to know if the prophet SAWS ever did that during their times of hardship? If so, then we will do it, insha Allah.

 

Kindly advise.

Answer

Wa'alaykum as Salam wa rahmatullahi wa baraktuhu,

 

Allah Ta'ala revealed the Quran and has divinely empowered it. Every verse has phenomenal power. From the glorious era of prophethood, the companions used many verses of the Quran to avert calamities, and Allah unveiled for them exceptional results. When the prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would come to know of these verses, not only would he acknowledge them, he would even praise and endorse those verses. A famous narration comes in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim on the authority of Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him):

 

قال الإمام البخاري حدثنا أبو النعمان حدثنا أبو عوانة عن أبي بشر عن أبي المتوكل عن أبي سعيد رضي الله عنه قال انطلق نفر من أصحاب النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم في سفرة سافروها حتى نزلوا على حي من أحياء العرب فاستضافوهم فأبوا أن يضيفوهم فلدغ سيد ذلك الحي فسعوا له بكل شيء لا ينفعه شيء فقال بعضهم لو أتيتم هؤلاء الرهط الذين نزلوا لعله أن يكون عند بعضهم شيء فأتوهم فقالوا يا أيها الرهط إن سيدنا لدغ وسعينا له بكل شيء لا ينفعه فهل عند أحد منكم من شيء فقال بعضهم نعم والله إني لأرقي ولكن والله لقد استضفناكم فلم تضيفونا فما أنا براق لكم حتى تجعلوا لنا جعلا فصالحوهم على قطيع من الغنم فانطلق يتفل عليه ويقرأ الحمد لله رب العالمين فكأنما نشط من عقال فانطلق يمشي وما به قلبة قال فأوفوهم جعلهم الذي صالحوهم عليه فقال بعضهم اقسموا فقال الذي رقى لا تفعلوا حتى نأتي النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فنذكر له الذي كان فننظر ما يأمرنا فقدموا على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فذكروا له فقال وما يدريك أنها رقية ثم قال قد أصبتم اقسموا واضربوا لي معكم سهما فضحك رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال أبو عبد الله وقال شعبة حدثنا أبو بشر سمعت أبا المتوكل بهذا (متفق عليه)

 

“A group of companions of the messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) set out on a journey and travelled until they reached the vicinity one of the Arab tribes. They requested to spend the night there but the tribe refused to host them. Co-incidentally, the chief of that tribe was stung by a scorpion and the clan tried everything but nothing helped them. Some of them said, ‘Why don’t you go to those people who are camped (near us), maybe they can offer some assistance.’ So they went to them and said, ‘O people, our chief has been stung by a scorpion and we have tried everything but nothing helped him. Can any of you do anything?’ One of them said, ‘Yes, by Allah, I will recite ruqyah for him, but by Allah we asked you for hospitality and you did not host us, so I will not recite ruqyah for you until you give us something in return.’ They agreed upon a flock of sheep.’ This companion went and spat drily and recited Surah Fatiha over him. (The chief) got up as if he was released from a chain and started walking, and there were no signs of sickness on him. They paid them what they agreed to pay. Some of them (i.e. the companions) then suggested to divide their earnings among themselves, but the one who performed the ruqyah said, ‘Do not divide them until we go to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and tell him what happened, then wait and see what he tells us to do.’ So they went to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and told him what had happened. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) asked, ‘How did you know that it (al-Faatihah) is a ruqyah?’ Then he added, ‘You have done the right thing. Share out (the flock of sheep) and give me a share too.’ And the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) smiled.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 3/93, Sahih Muslim, 4/1727)

 

Similarly, 'Allamah Ibn Kathir stated via Ibn Abi Hatim,

 

وقال ابن أبي حاتم: حدثنا يحيى بن نصر الخولاني، حدثنا ابن وهب، أخبرني ابن لهيعة، عن أبي هبيرة عن حنش بن عبد الله؛ أن رجلا مصابا مر به عبد الله بن مسعود، فقرأ في أذنه هذه الآية: {أفحسبتم أنما خلقناكم عبثا وأنكم إلينا لا ترجعون * فتعالى الله الملك الحق} ، حتى ختم السورة فبرأ، [فذكر ذلك لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم] ، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "بماذا قرأت في أذنه؟ " فأخبره، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "والذي نفسي بيده، لو أن رجلا موقنا قرأها على جبل لزال". (تفسير ابن كثير (5/ 501)

 

"Abdullah bin Masood (may Allah be pleased with him) once passed by an ill person and whispered the ending verses of Surah al-Muminun in the ear of that ailing person. He hardly completed the Surah, and that person immediately got cured. This was mentioned to the prophet of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). The prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) asked Abdullah bin Masood, 'Which verse did you recite in his ear?' Abdullah bin Masood informed the prophet of Allah, upon which the prophet responded, 'By that Being in whose power lies my life, if a person reads these verses with full faith on a mountain, the mountain will vanish." (Tafsir Ibn Kathir, 5/501)

 

The afore-mentioned clearly demonstrates the power and might of the Quran. In both incidents we find that the companions recited specific verses and only informed the prophet (salllalahu alayhi wa sallam) later on. That proves that we do not need a separate narration for each verse outlining its virtues and powers. Rather, if certain people recite a verse and find a particular power in it, it will be correct for others to also recite that same verse for a similar purpose.

 

When we look at the particular verse which the honourable Shaykh Yusuf (may Allah preserve him) has advised, we find that there are absolutely lucid narrations which illustrate their great influence and strength.

Firstly, these are the exact same verses which the Prophet Yunus (may peace be upon him) recited in the stomach of the whale. Allah says in verses 87 and 88 of Surah al-Anbiya,

 

وذا النون إذ ذهب مغاضبا فظن أن لن نقدر عليه فنادى في الظلمات أن لا إله إلا أنت سبحانك إني كنت من الظالمين ، فاستجبنا له ونجيناه من الغم وكذلك ننجي المؤمنين

 

"And (remember) Dhun-Nun (Yunus) , when he went off in anger(his anger was towards his people for not accepting his call to Allah), and imagined that We shall not punish him (for his impatience)! But he cried through the depths of darkness (saying): "La ilaha illa Anta, subhanaka inni kuntu min adhaalimin (none has the right to be worshipped but You (O Allah), Glorified (and Exalted) are You [above all that (evil) they associate with You]! Truly, I have been of the wrong doers.) So, We answered his call, and delivered him from the distress. And thus We do deliver the believers (who believe in the Oneness of Allah, abstain from evil and work righteousness." (Surah al-Anbiya, verses 87 and 88)

 

This clearly shows that a great prophet like Yunus (peace be upon him) recited this supplication at a time of difficulty and Allah praised him for it in the Quran. In fact, Allah even mentions that had he not glorified Allaah in this manner, he wouldn't have been relieved of his difficulty.

 

فلولا أنه كان من المسبحين للبث في بطنه إلى يوم يبعثون

 

“Had he not been of them who glorify Allah, He would have indeed remained inside its belly (the fish) till the Day of Resurrection.” (Surah As-Saffaat, 143-144)

 

The prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) also exhorted us to recite the same supplication when we ask from Allah, stating that by virtue of this verse, Allah will definitely respond to our prayers:

 

قال الإمام الترمذي حدثنا محمد بن يحيى حدثنا محمد بن يوسف حدثنا يونس بن أبي إسحق عن إبراهيم بن محمد بن سعد عن أبيه عن سعد قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم دعوة ذي النون إذا دعا وهو في بطن الحوت لا إله إلا أنت سبحانك إني كنت من الظالمين فإنه لم يدع بها رجل مسلم في شيء قط إلا استجاب الله له " . (أخرجه الترمذي في سننه (5/ 529)

 

"The supplication of Yunus which he prayed whilst in the belly of the whale is: La ilaha illa Anta, subhanaka inni kuntu minadhaalimin. Whichever Muslim recites it for anything, Allah will respond to his prayer." (Sunan at-Tirmidhi, 5/529)

Similarly, Abu Ya'la recorded that Saad (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:

 

قال أبو يعلي حدثنا أبو هشام الرفاعي، حدثنا أبو خالد الأحمر، حدثنا كثير بن زيد، عن المطلب بن عبد الله بن حنطب، عن مصعب بن سعد، عن سعد، قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: من دعا بدعاء يونس استجيب له (أخرجه أبو يعلى الموصلي في مسنده (2/ 65(

 

“Whoever offers supplication in the words of the supplication of Yunus, will be answered.” (Musnad Abi Ya'la, 2/65)

 

This establishes that the invocation advised by the Shaykh is in conformity with Quran and Hadith, and by us all reciting it, there is great hope that Allah will respond to our prayers.

 

As for the number of 125000, that too is fine. As mentioned above, if a particular manner of reciting a specific verse has been proven to be beneficial, there will be no harm in following that manner. Shaykh al-Hadith, Mawlana Zakariyya Kandhlawi (may Allah be pleased with him) found that this verse has amazing wonders if recited that many times. Thus, it is correct for us to follow him.

 

Ibn Taymiyya too would repeat particular verses multiple times. His student, Ibn al-Qayyim writes,

 

ومن تجريبات السالكين التي جربوها فألفوها صحيحة أن من أدمن يا حي يا قيوم لا إله إلا أنت أورثه ذلك حياة القلب والعقل.
وكان شيخ الإسلام ابن تيمية قدس الله روحه شديد اللهج بها جدا، وقال لي يوما: لهذين الاسمين وهما الحي القيوم تأثير عظيم في حياة القلب، وكان يشير إلى أنهما الاسم الأعظم، وسمعته يقول: من واظب على أربعين مرة كل يوم بين سنة الفجر وصلاة الفجر يا حي يا قيوم، لا إله إلا أنت، برحمتك أستغيث حصلت له حياة القلب، ولم يمت قلبه. (مدارج السالكين بين منازل إياك نعبد وإياك نستعين (1/ 446)

 

"Among the tried Awrad (Mujarrabat) which the spiritual travellers have tried and found to work is:
'He who continuously recites 'Ya Hayy Ya Qayyum, La Ilaha Illa Anta' his heart and mind will become alive.'
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah was very attached to repeating this Dhikr, and said about it: 'the Divine names Hayy and Qayyum have a strong spiritual effect on the heart' and he would say that they are the Ism al-A'dham (the Supreme Name). I heard Ibn Taymiyyah also say: 'He who recites Ya Hayy Ya Qayyum Laa ilaaha illa anta, bi rahmatika astaghith 40 times between the Sunnah of Fajr and its Fard, his heart will stay alive (spiritually) and not die." (Madaarij as-Saalikin, 1/446)

 

It is not proven that the prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) or any of the companions recited this supplication exactly that amount of times and exactly at the time in which Ibn Taymiyya suggested. Yet this practice of his has been followed.

 

In short, there is absolutely no problem reciting any verse of the Quran or any Dua for a specified amount of times. Yes, if the people begin regarding its recitation as necessary and criticize those who do not participate in its recitation, then it would not be permissible.

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