قَالَ الله تعالىٰ: {وَٱصبِر نَفسَكَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدعُونَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلغَدَوٰةِ وَٱلعَشِيِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجهَهُۥ وَلَا تَعدُ عَينَاكَ عَنهُم} [الكهف: 28].
Allah Almighty says: {Be patient with those who call upon their Lord morning and evening, seeking His pleasure. Do not turn your eyes away from them} [Surat al-Kahf: 28]
1) فضل الاجتماع عَلَىٰ الذكر والدعاء، وفق الهدي المتبع.
1) The merit of gathering for reciting Dhikr and making invocations, according to the followed guidance.
2) مدار العبودية علىٰ الإخلاص، فهؤلاء مَا اجتمعوا إلَّا وهم يريدون وجه الله تعالىٰ.
2) Sincerity is the mainstay of servitude to Allah, for the people in reference gathered for the sole purpose of seeking Allah’s pleasure.
3) الموفَّق من عباد الله من عرف حقيقة الدنيا وحقيقة الآخرة، فلزم الهدىٰ وترك الهوىٰ.
3) A successful slave is the one who realizes the reality of the worldly life and the Hereafter, thus, he adheres to guidance and shuns personal whims and inclinations.
1/1447 ــ وعن أبي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «إنَّ للهِ تعالىٰ ملائكةً يطُوفُون في الطُّرُق يلْتَمسُون أهلَ الذِّكر، فإذا وجَدُوا قوماً يذكُرُونَ اللهَ _عز وجل_ تَنَادَوا: هلُمُّوا إلىٰ حاجَتِكُمْ، فيحُفُّونَهُمْ بأجْنحتِهِمْ إلىٰ السَّماء الدُّنيا، فيسألُهم ربُّهُم ــ وهوَ أعلمُ: مَا يقولُ عبادي؟ قَالَ: يقولون: يُسبِّحونَكَ، ويكبِّرُونَكَ، ويحمدُونَكَ، ويَمُجِّدُونَكَ، فيقول: هل رَأَوْني؟ فيقولون: لا، واللهِ مَا رَأَوْكَ، فيقُولُ: كيفَ لو رَأَوْني؟! قَالَ: يقُولون: لو رَأَوْكَ كانُوا أشدَّ لك عبادَةً، وأشدَّ لك تمجيداً، وأكثرَ لك تَسْبيحاً، فيقولُ: فماذا يسألُونَ؟ قَالَ: يقولون: يسألونكَ الجَنَّةَ، قَالَ: يقولُ: وهل رَأَوْهَا؟ قَالَ: يقولون: لا، واللهِ يا ربِّ مَا رأوْهَا، قَالَ: يقولُ: فكيف لو رَأَوْها؟! قَالَ: يقولون: لو أنَّهُمْ رَأَوْهَا كانوا أشدَّ عليها حرصاً، وأشدَّ لها طلباً، وأعظمَ فيها رَغْبَة، قَالَ: فَمِمَّ يَتَعَوَّذُونَ؟ قَالَ: يتَعَوَّذُونَ منَ النَّار، قَالَ: فيقولُ: وهلْ رأَوْهَا؟ قَالَ: يقولون: لا، واللهِ مَا رَأَوْهَا، فيقولُ: كيفَ لو رأَوْها؟! قَالَ: يقولون: لو رأَوْهَا كانُوا أشَدَّ منها فرَاراً، وأشدَّ لها مَخَافَةً، قَالَ: فيقُولُ: فأُشهدُكُمْ أنِّي قد غَفَرْتُ لهم. قَالَ: يقولُ مَلَكٌ مِنَ الملائكةِ: فيهم فلانٌ ليْسَ منهم، إنَّما جاءَ لحَاجَةٍ، قَالَ: هُمُ الجُلساءُ لا يَشْقَىٰ بهم جليسُهم». متفق عليه.
1447/1- Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Allah, the Exalted, has teams of angels who roam on the roads seeking those who remember Allah. When they find some people remembering Allah, they call to one another and say: ‘Come to what you are looking for,’ and they surround them with their wings till the space between them and the lowest sky is fully covered. Allah, the Exalted, asks them (though He knows everything): ‘What are my slaves saying?’ They say: ‘They are glorifying You with Tasbīh, Tahmīd, Takbīr, and Tamjīd (i.e. they are declaring Your Perfectness, praising You, and remembering Your Greatness and Majesty).’ He asks: ‘Have they seen Me?’ They reply: ‘No, by Allah, they have not seen You.’ He asks: ‘What if they see Me?’ They reply: ‘If they see You, they would engage more earnestly in worshiping and glorifying You and would extol You more.’ He would then say: ‘What do they ask of Me?’ They say: ‘They ask You for Paradise.’ Allah says: ‘Have they seen it?’ They say: ‘No, by Allah, O Lord, they have not seen it.’ He says: ‘What if they see it?’ They reply: ‘If they see it, they would be keener on it and would ask for it more intensely.’ He then asks: ‘Against what do they seek My Protection?’ They (the angels) say: ‘Against the fire of Hell.’ He says: ‘Have they seen it?’ They say: ‘No, by Allah, they have not seen it.’ He says: ‘What if they see it?’ They say: ‘If they see it, they would flee from it more and fear it more.’ He says: ‘Then bear witness that I have forgiven them.’ One of the angels says: ‘There is amongst them so-and-so who is not one of them (not part of the assembly of Dhikr). He only came for some need.’ Allah says: ‘They are the assembly with whom the one who sits shall not suffer.’” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
وفي رواية لمسلم عن أبي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه عن النَّبيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ: «إنَّ لله ملائكةً سيَّارةً فُضُلاً يتتبّعون مجالسَ الذِّكرِ، فإذا وجدُوا مجلساً فيه ذكرٌ قعدُوا مَعَهُم، وحفَّ بعضُهُمْ بعضاً بأجنحتِهِمْ حتىٰ يملؤوا مَا بينهم وبين السَّماءِ الدُّنيا، فإذا تفرَّقُوا عرَجُوا وصَعدُوا إلىٰ السَّمَاء، فيسألُهُمُ اللهُ _عز وجل_ ــ وهو أعْلَمُ: من أين جئتُمْ؟ فيقُولُون: جئنا مِن عندِ عَبادٍ لكَ في الأرض: يُسبِّحُونَكَ، ويُكبِّرُونَكَ، ويُهَلِّلُونَكَ، ويَحْمَدُونَكَ، ويسألُونكَ. قَالَ: وماذا يسألُوني؟ قالوا: يسألونَكَ جَنَّتَكَ، قَالَ: وهَلْ رأَوْا جنَّتي؟ قالُوا: لا، أيْ ربِّ، قَالَ: فكيفَ لو رأَوْا جَنَّتي؟! قالُوا: ويستجيرونَكَ. قَالَ: ومِمَّ يَسْتَجيرُوني؟ قالوا: مِن نارِكَ يارَبِّ، قَالَ: وهلْ رَأَوْا ناري؟ قالوا: لا، قَالَ: فكيف لوْ رَأَوْا نَاري؟! قالُوا: ويستغفرُونكَ، فيقول: قدْ غَفَرْتُ لهُمْ، وأعْطَيْتُهُمْ مَا سَألُوا، وأجرْتُهُمْ ممَّا استجَارُوا. قَالَ: فيقُولُون: ربِّ فيهمْ فُلانٌ، عبدٌ خطَّاءٌ، إنَّما مَرَّ، فَجَلَسَ مَعَهُمْ، فيقولُ: وله غَفَرْتُ، هُمُ القومُ لا يشقىٰ بهم جليسُهُمْ».
In another version by Muslim: Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Allah Almighty has extra squads of angels whose task is to follow the assemblies of Dhikr, so when they find an assembly in which there is Dhikr (of Allah) they sit in it and they surround each other with their wings till they fill the space between them and the sky of this world. When they disperse (after the assembly of Dhikr is adjourned), they go up to the heaven and Allah, the Exalted, asks them although He is best informed about them: ‘Where have you come from?’ They say: ‘We have come from where there are servants of Yours in the earth who had been glorifying You (saying Subhān Allah), celebrating Your Greatness (saying Allahu Akbar) and uttering Your Oneness (saying Lā ilāha illa Allah) and praising You (saying al-Hamdulillāh) and begging of You.’ He says: ‘What do they beg of Me?’ They say: ‘They beg You for Your Paradise.’ He says: ‘Have they seen My Paradise?’ They say: ‘No, our Lord.’ He says: ‘What if they see My Paradise?’ They say: ‘And they seek Your protection.’ He says: ‘From what do they seek My protection?’ They say: ‘Our Lord, from Your Fire.’ He says: ‘Have they seen My Fire?’ They say: ‘No.’ He says: ‘What if they see My Fire?’ They say: ‘And they seek Your forgiveness.’ He says: ‘I have forgiven them, bestowed upon them what they asked for and granted them protection against what they sought protection from.’ They say: ‘Our Lord, there is one amongst them, so-and-so, who is an avid sinner. He happened to pass by, so he sat with them.’ He says: ‘I have forgiven him too, for they are the people with whom the one who sits shall not suffer.’”
سيّارة: يطوفون في الطرق كما ورد مفسَّراً في الرواية الأولىٰ، والحديث النبوي يفسّر بعضه بعضاً.
--
فضلاً: زيادة عن الملائكة المرتبين مع الخلائق، فهم مخصصون لحلق الذكر.
Extra squads: in excess of the angles that are appointed to accompany humans. They are appointed specifically to attend Dhikr gatherings.
1) فضيلة مجالسة الصالحين، فالجليس الصالح يعم نفعه لمن جلس معه.
1) Sitting in gatherings with righteous people is meritorious, for a righteous companion benefits all those who sit with him.
2) استحباب الاجتماع عَلَىٰ الذكر كقراءة القرآن مثلاً، أوْ تعلّم العلم وتعليمه، ونحو ذلك؛ ومن الاجتماعِ: الاجتماعُ عَلَىٰ الصلوات في المساجد.
2) It is recommended to join gatherings intended for making Dhikr like reciting the Qur’an, learning and teaching knowledge and the like. Gathering for performing the prayers in mosques is also included in this meaning.
3) الترغيب في الجنة لما اشتملت عليها من المكرُمات، وأنواع النعيم المقيم، والترهيب من النار، لما اشتملت عليها من المخوفات، وأنواع العذاب الأليم.
3) Stimulating people to desire Paradise, given the honor and aspects of enduring bliss it has, and intimidating them from Hell, given the horrors and aspects of painful punishment it has.
2/1448 ــ وعنهُ، وعن أبي سعيد رضي الله عنهما قالا: قَالَ رَسُولُ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «لا يَقْعُدُ قومٌ يذكُرُونَ الله _عز وجل_ إلَّا حفَّتْهُمُ الملائكَةُ، وغَشيتْهُمُ الرَّحْمَةُ، ونَزلَتْ عليهمُ السَّكينَةُ، وذَكَرَهُمُ اللهُ فيمَنْ عنْدَهُ». رواه مسلم.
1448/2- Abu Hurayrah and Abu Sa‘īd (may Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whenever a group of people sit and remember Allah Almighty, the angels surround them, mercy envelops them, tranquility descends upon them, and Allah mentions them to those who are with Him.” [Narrated by Muslim]
حفّتهم: كانوا حولهم من كل جانب.
--
غشيتهم: غطّتهم وأحاطت بهم.
--
1) مجالس الذكر تحوِّطها الملائكة، وتتنزل عليها السكينة، وتملؤها الرحمة، لِمَا يكون فيها من البركات.
1) The angels surround the gatherings of Dhikr and tranquility descends upon them. They are profusely showered with mercy due to the abundant blessing they involve.
2) من أعظم مجالس الذكر: الاجتماع عَلَىٰ مدارسة القرآن والحديث، لفظاً ومعنىً.
2) Among the greatest gatherings of Dhikr is to assemble to study the Qur’an and Hadīth, in terms of text and meaning.
3) الجزاء من جنس العمل، فمن ذكر اللهَ تعالىٰ فإنه سبحانه يذكره.
3) One reaps what he sows, so whoever mentions Allah Almighty with Dhikr, Allah mentions him.
3/1449ــ وعن أبي واقد الحارث بن عوف رضي الله عنه أنَّ رَسُولَ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بينما هُوَ جالسٌ في المسجد، والنَّاسُ معهُ، إذْ أقبلَ ثلاثَةُ نَفَرٍ، فأقبلَ اثنان إلىٰ رَسُول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، وذَهَبَ واحدٌ، فوقَفَا عَلَىٰ رَسُول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم. فأمَّا أحَدُهُما فرأىٰ فُرجَةً في الحَلْقَةِ فَجَلَسَ فيها، وأمَّا الآخرُ فَجَلَسَ خَلْفَهُم، وأمَّا الثالثُ فأدبَرَ ذَاهباً. فلمَّا فرغَ رَسُولُ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ: «ألا أخبرُكُمْ عن النَّفَرِ الثَّلاثةِ؟ أما أحدُهم فأوىٰ إلىٰ الله، فآواهُ اللهُ إليه، وأمَّا الآخرُ فاسْتَحْيا، فاسْتَحْيا الله منهُ، وأمَّا الآخَرُ فأعرَضَ، فأعرضَ اللهُ عَنْهُ». متفق عليه.
1449/3- Abu Wāqid, Al-Hārith ibn ‘Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) was sitting with the people in the mosque when three men came over. Two of them stepped toward the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and one left. The two stood nearby the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him). One of them saw an empty place in the circle, so he sat in it. The other one sat behind them. As for the third one, he turned away and left. When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) finished, he said: ‘Shall I not inform you about these three persons? One of them sought refuge with Allah, so Allah gave him refuge. The second one felt shy, so Allah was shy towards him. The last one turned away, so Allah turned away from him.’” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
1) فضل الاجتماع عَلَىٰ مجالس الذكر، فهو هدي النَّبيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم من قوله، وفعله.
1) Gathering for Dhikr sessions is meritorious, as it was the verbal and practical guidance of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him).
2) الإعراض عن مجالس الذكر والعلم، من غير عذر، سببٌ لإعراض الله عن العبد.
2) Turning away from gatherings of Dhikr and knowledge without an excuse is a reason for Allah’s turning away from the doer.
3) الترغيب في المصافَّة والمسارعة إلىٰ الخيرات، ومن ذلك سَدّ الفُرَج والخلل في الصفوف، وفي حِلق العلم.
3) Encouraging sitting in order and hastening to doing good. Filling gaps in lines and circles of knowledge is part of this.
4/1450ــ وعن أبي سعيد الخُدْريِّ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: خرجَ معاويةُ رضي الله عنه عَلَىٰ حَلْقَةٍ في المسجد، فَقَالَ: مَا أجْلسَكُمْ؟ قالوا: جَلَسْنا نَذْكُرُ اللهَ، قَالَ: آللهِ، مَا أجْلَسَكُمْ إلَّا ذاك؟ قالوا: ما أجلسَنَا إلَّا ذَاكَ، قَالَ: أما إنِّي لم أستحْلفْكُمْ تُهْمَةً لَكُم، ومَا كَانَ أحدٌ بمنزلتي من رَسُول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أقلَّ عَنْهُ حديثاً منِّي: إنَّ رَسُولَ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم خرجَ عَلَىٰ حَلْقة من أصحابه، فَقَالَ: «مَا أجْلَسَكُمْ؟» قالوا: جَلَسْنَا نذْكُرُ الله، ونَحْمَدُهُ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَانا للإسْلام، ومَنَّ به عَلَيْنا. قَالَ: «آلله، مَا أجْلَسَكُم إلَّا ذَاكَ؟» قالوا: والله مَا أجْلَسَنَا إلَّا ذَاكَ، قَالَ: «أمَا إنِّي لم أسْتَحْلفْكُمْ تُهْمةً لَكُمْ، ولكنَّه أتَاني جبريلُ فأخْبَرَني أنَّ الَله يُبَاهي بكُمُ المَلائكَةَ». رواه مسلم.
1450/4- Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “Mu‘āwiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) came upon a group of people sitting in a circle in the mosque, so he asked them: ‘What made you sit together?’ They replied: ‘We are sitting together to remember Allah.’ He said: ‘I adjure you by Allah, is this the only reason that made you sit together?’ They replied: ‘This is the only reason that made us sit together.’ Thereupon, he said: ‘I did not adjure you because I suspected you (of lying). No one of my rank in the eyes of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) narrated from him lesser than I did: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) came upon a group of his Companions sitting in a circle and said: “What made you sit together?” They replied: “We are sitting together to remember Allah and praise Him for guiding us to Islam and bestowing His favors on us.” He said: “I adjure you by Allah, is this the only reason that made you sit together?” They said: “We swear by Allah, this is the only reason that made us sit together.” He said: “I did not adjure you due to suspicion (of lying), but Jibrīl (Gabriel) came to me and told me that Allah is taking pride in you before the angels.”’” [Narrated by Muslim]
1) استحباب مجالس الذكرِ، لأن الله يحبُّها، ويباهي بها الملائكة المقربين.
1) Joining gatherings of Dhikr is recommended because Allah Almighty likes them and takes pride in them before the favored angels.
2) لا بد أن يكون الاجتماع عَلَىٰ حِلَق الذكر وفق الطريقة النبوية، وطريقة الصحابة، ومن بعدهم من أئمة الهدىٰ والعلم، وليس اجتماعاً عَلَىٰ ذكر جماعي ورقص وتمايل، لم يرد فيه هديٌ ولا سنّة.
2) Gathering for Dhikr should comply with the way of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and the way of the Companions and those who succeeded them from among the imams of guidance and knowledge. It should not be an assembly involving collective Dhikr, dancing, and swaying, which are not supported by any evidence from the Sunnah or prophetic guidance.