Duties of a Murīd 

Bismi Llāhi r-Raḥmāni r-Raḥīm

AlhamduliLlah we are gathering on the night of Jum’ah. Jum’ah is a gift from Allāh ﷻ to Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam. A day begins from a night’s Maghrib until the next day’s Maghrib. But for Jum’ah, it is said it begins from Maghrib until Saturday Fajr. Allāh ﷻ gives us an extra day. Everything you do on the day of Jum’ah is more valuable in the Divine Presence of Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla.

For this, most of the time, we are doing Dhikr and Khatmu l-Khwajagan on this night or day. On other days also; to make it easy for people. According to each’s situation, when it is easy for them to attend Khatmu l-Khwajagan and Dhikr. For this, they sometimes do it on Saturday, sometimes Sunday or Monday. But of course, the best day is Friday because it is a gift from Allāh ﷻ to Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam, to the Ummah of Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam.

We thank Allāh ﷻ that He ﷻ created us from the Ummah of Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam. It is a big honor to be from his ﷺ Ummah. So, this is also a gift from Allāh ﷻ. The best of everything Allāh ﷻ created, He ﷻ gave it to Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam. And Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam is happy for his ﷺ Ummah to take from what Allāh ﷻ has given him ﷺ. He ﷺ likes to give.

Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam is the most generous one. Not only materially, but he’s ﷺ also giving you what’s best for you in every good deed. So, you must take as much as you can from this. For this, ṭarīqah is the way to be a winner, more and more, from Allāh’s ﷻ gifts. You must collect, you must take from what Allāh ﷻ has given you. Take as much as you can. AlhamduliLlah we are doing this without feeling tired. AlhamduliLlah this is good.

But of course, many people’s ego or shayṭān makes them feel that it’s too difficult to worship or come to Khatm or Dhikr or every gathering that Allāh ﷻ loves. They become lazy, they become – we can’t call them tired because these days nobody is tired. They are doing more tiring things and are happy doing so. But when it comes to worship, many people become lazy and say “later.”

For this, we are saying that they must come once every week to Khatmu l-Khwajagan. If you cannot then every two weeks. If you cannot then once every three weeks at the least. If you have an excuse the first and second week it’s okay. But the third week, you must come. I heard that many times from Mawlānā Shaykh ‘Abdu Llāh ad-Dāghestānī: “What is the excuse to not come to Khatmu l-Khwajagan and Dhikr?”

He said, “If they said whoever comes here can take one gold coin. If one cannot come to take this gold coin, then he has an excuse. But if he can come to take the gold coin, but can’t come for Dhikr then it’s not an excuse.” So if he left the gold, he has an excuse. But if he’s running for the gold coin, then he must come to Dhikr. As we said, at least once every three weeks.

Also now there’s livestream on the internet. If one is very lazy or very far from people, they can follow from there. So he will be for half an hour with Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla, with majlis of Dhikr and Khatmu l-Khwajagan. If he doesn’t do this – what can we say then. Nowadays, it’s easy for people to follow [online]. Many people are living far away from Muslim places, or far from places where they make Dhikr, so they can follow at least online. And Allāh ﷻ gives them according to their niyyah, intention in maintaining nearness to Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla and Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam.

Also of course, the daily practices (Awrād). This is not obligatory but everyone in ṭarīqah must do them as much as he can. You should at least do the first part. Later, if you can do the rest, you can. If not, then do it the next day or so. Even while you are working, you can make Dhikr Khafi (silent) in your heart, “Allah, Allah, Allah” without holding a tasbīh. This can also be.

Our main distinction in the Naqshbandī Ṭarīqah is to make Dhikr in the heart. If you have a long drive, you can make Dhikr by heart; no need to hold a tasbīh and make an accident after that. So, you can say “Allah, Allah” by heart; that’s okay also. The first part, you can finish it everyday in maybe five minutes.

Also, they say they are gathering for Dalāil Al-Khayrāt. If you can come together, get Murīds together to read Dalāil Al-Khayrāt together, it’s okay. It will be good for them not to be watching TV or doing other things instead. You can come together, speak together, mention good things, give ideas for good things you can do about any situation around you. So you do so.

If not, you can read Dalāil Al-Khayrāt in your house. It’s very important also. Whoever can’t read it must make at least 100 times salawāt. Some people ask, “When can we recite it, at tahajjud?” You can do it anytime in the 24-hours. No problem, just do it. Our way is a way of ease.

Rābita is also easy. Many people ask about Rābita. Because they usually say you must take from here to the right side then left side, up and down; half an hour to make Rābita. After that, they run away. No, there’s no need for this. To make Rābita you only say BismiLlah and finish. No need to make it so long, you have other things to do.

Our way alhamduliLlah is easy and full of rewards, full of happiness, full of mercy from Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla. There are many examples of how it is easy to follow ṭarīqah. Because people usually think that ṭarīqah is very difficult, very tiring for people. There’s no need for this.

You can be in your office working and be better than the one saying “I am Dervish,” and doesn’t have this heart connection. You can also be rich and your heart is only with Allāh ﷻ and all your business is for helping people. You can do everything with intention being to be a servant of Allāh ﷻ, to serve people. Because to serve Allāh ﷻ, you should serve people.

Mawlānā Shaykh Nāẓim was telling this story many times about Sayyidinā Ibrahīm ‘alayhi s-salām. Once Sayyidinā Ibrahīm ‘alayhi s-salām said, “I will invite Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla to dinner.” SubhanAllah he is a ‎Prophet and he knows, but this is in order to be an example. So he was waiting and a man came. This man was a fire-worshipper, majusi.

Sayyidinā Ibrahīm ‘alayhi s-salām sent him away saying, “You can go. I am waiting for someone more important.” Waiting and waiting, nobody came. So he said, “O Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla!” Allāh ﷻ said, “I sent you one man for your dinner. You didn’t accept him. You invited Me but I don’t eat or drink. I sent somebody and you kicked him out. Go quickly look for him and invite him to come.”

He went running, looking for this man. He found him. This man said, “What happened! You fired me and told me to go away. Now you came to take me back. What are you doing!” He said, “Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla sent me especially to get you. He blamed me for not inviting you in. That’s why I ran after you.” When this man heard this, he became Muslim. He left his religion and became Muslim.

For this, what we are doing is for Allāh ﷻ. In serving people, we are serving Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla. This is very important. Our way is this way. To serve people only for the sake of Allāh ﷻ, in shā’a Llāh. May Allāh ﷻ make us do for Him ﷻ and not let our ego show up in front of that. May Allāh ﷻ help us. Maybe speaking of it is easy but most of the time doing it is not so easy. But we ask help from Allāh ﷻ and Allāh ﷻ helps us, in shā’a Llāh.

Wa min Allah at-Tawfiq.

Al-Fatiha.

•⁠ ⁠Mawlana Sheikh Muhammad Adil ar-Rabbaniق

22 October 2026/ 11 Jumada al-Awwal 1448

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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