*OFFICE OF SHOOBA TA’LIM, MKAGH* *Remembrance of Allah* *========================== *Misunderstandings about Dhikr* *========================= *Misguided Forms of Dhikr* *========================== Similarly, some others have invented the practice that they gather to listen to poetry or arrange for qawwalis [sufi devotional songs employed as a form of worship], and female dancers come and perform—yet they contend that this a gathering getting warmed up for the remembrance of Allah. They then appease the heart so that the sounds of ‘Allah, Allah’ emanate from it. In short, strange and sundry things have been invented. At some places hearts are being enlivened; at others, blows are being struck upon hearts; while yet at others, attempts are made for sounds to emanate from the soul—and they have assigned these names themselves! At times they say that they raise the remembrance of Allah from the heart, which goes to prostrate at the very Throne of God before returning. And at other times they say that they cause the sound of ‘Allah, Allah’ to emanate from every limb of their body. These and many other such innovations have been invented by them. There are also others who recite some verse of the Holy Quran and dance. Some engage in the remembrance of Allah in the manner that one person recites some couplets of poetry etc. and others dance and say that they are in a state of ecstasy and have become unconscious. Then, while they are seated in the gathering, they burst out yelling, ‘Allah! Allah!’ and jump suddenly. So these are the strange and sundry types of dhikr that have been introduced, whereas they have absolutely nothing to do with the religion of Islam. Notwithstanding, on account of this, it cannot be said that Dhikr-e-Ilahi is a bad thing. Yes! It can be said that these innovations which these people have created are bad. *=========================* *( *Remembrance of Allah—20*)* *=========================*