Question:
Can we practise certain zikir (remembrance of Allah SWT), supplications and reciting certain surah from verses of the Quran without learning them from ustaz (a knowledgeable person in religious matter)?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the many countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
If we understand Arabic and the supplication is among the ma’thur (مأثور) supplication, then it is not an offense. Unless, if someone wants to practise certain wirid, following certain tariqah, then he must commit to an ustaz or syeikh.
We would like to touch on the issue of accreditation, it is best if the sanad and practice of certain tariqat is a well-known zikir, as explained by al-Syahid Hasan al-Banna, for he himself only practise something from sound and correct evidences. As an example, in the beginning of the book al-Ma’thurat written by al-Ustaz Hasan al-Banna, he includes the sources he referred to which are al-Jami’ al-Soghir, al-Jami’ al-Sahih, al-Sunan, Amal al-Yaum wa al-Lailah and other renown books. Thus, it is permissible for us to practise it without accreditation.
Here, we presented two evidences from the Quran regarding the commandments of zikr. Allah SWT states:
إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَالْقَانِتِينَ وَالْقَانِتَاتِ وَالصَّادِقِينَ وَالصَّادِقَاتِ وَالصَّابِرِينَ وَالصَّابِرَاتِ وَالْخَاشِعِينَ وَالْخَاشِعَاتِ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقَاتِ وَالصَّائِمِينَ وَالصَّائِمَاتِ وَالْحَافِظِينَ فُرُوجَهُمْ وَالْحَافِظَاتِ وَالذَّاكِرِينَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا وَالذَّاكِرَاتِ أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُمْ مَغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
“Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so - for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.”
Surah al-Ahzab (35)
In another verse of Allah SWT:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيرًا (٤١) وَسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلا
“O you who have believed, remember Allah with much remembrance, and exalt Him morning and afternoon.”
Surah al-Ahzab (41-42)
Wallahua’lam.