Sufi Teachings

Al-Wird ash-Shadhiliyya

The wird is the daily practice used in the Shadhiliyya Tariqa using the prayer beads as counters. Meaning a “return to the watering hole,” al-wird is deeply purifying for the heart. It is suggested by our guide that it be performed twice daily, particularly after Fajr and Maghrib prayers, before dawn and at dusk. The litanies are as follows:

Say: ASTAGhFIR ALLÂH AL-‘ADhÎM (100x)

Then say: LÂ ILÂHA ILLÂ HÛ AL-HAYY AL-QAYYÛM WA ATÛBU ILAYH(1x)

Translation: I seek forgiveness in Allah the Almighty.
There is no god but Him, the Living, the Everlasting, and I turn to Him [in repentance].

Say: ALLÂHUMMA SALLI ‘ALÂ SAYYIDINÂ MUHAMMADIN WA ÂÂLIHI WA SAHBIHI WA SALLIM (100x)

Then say: MUHAMMADIN RASÛL-ULLÂH (1x)

Translation: Oh Allah send Your revelation upon our Master Muhammad and his family, and Your Peace.
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.

Say: LÂ ILÂHA ILLA-LLÂH (100x)

Then say: MUHAMMADUN RASÛL-ULLÂH (1x)
Translation: There is no god but Allah.
Muhammad is His messenger.

Say: ALLÂH (100x)

(on Sundays and Thursdays, say Allah 500x or for 1/2 hour)

Dhikr Community Gatherings

Of all of the many practices to purify the heart in the Shadhiliyya Path of Sufism, one of the cornerstone practices is dhikr, or the Remembrance. It is the essential and foundational practice of a Sufi. This practice consists of simply remembering Allah (SWT), usually by repetition of His Name or qualities. The principal effect of dhikr is to bring the heart back to awareness of God. During remembrance, the person who remembers invokes the essential light of God. This light fills the heart, eventually returning the Sufi to the reality of existence.

In Shadhiliyya Sufism, there is a very old tradition of gathering together to do the dhikr as a community. Often called a healing circle, the Farm of Peace community has many offerings of weekly and monthly dhikr gatherings from the DC area, Central Pennsylvania and right here at the Farm of Peace. Sometimes it is followed by a potluck. Visit our Calendar to learn more.

Jum’ah (Friday Prayer)

Each Friday, inshallah, we gather in community at the Farm of Peace, for the special Jum’ah prayer. All are welcome.

Jum’ah is the Salat Prayer that Muslims hold every Friday, just after noon instead of the Dhuhr prayer. Ordinarily we pray five times each day according to the path of the sun in the sky. Jum’ah means Friday in Arabic. Among the seven days of the week, it is said that Friday is the day when Allah’s (SWT) special mercies are granted.

Significance of the Jum’ah Prayer:

Allah said in His Qur’an:

“O you who have believed when the adhan is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu’ah (Friday), then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew.” [Qur’an 62:9]

It is said that on Fridays, all prayers are granted.
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) emphasizing this one specialty of Friday:

“From Abu Hurairah who said: Abu al Qaasim (SAW) said, ‘On Friday there is an hour when, if a Muslim happens to pray at that time and ask Allah for something good, He will give it to him.” ~ Bukhari and Muslim.

Jum’ah (Friday Prayer)

Each Friday, inshallah, we gather in community at the Farm of Peace, for the special Jum’ah prayer. All are welcome.

Jum’ah Prayer:

Allah said in His Qur’an:

It is said that on Fridays, all prayers are granted.
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) emphasizing this one specialty of Friday.

And… One of the days where sins are forgiven, The Prophet (SAW), as narrated by Salmaan (RA):

“Any man who performs Ghusl on Friday, perfumes himself if he has perfume, wears the best of his clothes, then goes to the mosque and offers as many prayers as he wishes while not harming anybody, then listens quietly while the Imaam speaks until he offers the prayer, will have all his sins between that Friday and the next forgiven.” ~ Bukhari.

Prophet Muhammad (SAW) once said that Jum’ah was a day better than all days, including the day of al-Fitr and the day of al-Adha:

“In the sight of Allah (SWT) Friday is the master of days. It is more valuable than the day of al-Adha and the day of al-Fitr (Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid –ul-Adha).” ~ Bukhari.