■ What Are Some Practices in the Qadiri Order?

In the Qadiri Sufi path (Tariqah Qadiriyyah), the foundational dhikr (remembrance of Allah) is La ilaha illa Allah (There is no god but Allah). Every new seeker is advised to recite this, at least 100 times. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ encouraged dhikr and contemplation, and once told Hazrat Ali (Karam Allahu Wajhahu) that Allah ﷻ said, ❝La ilaha illa Allah is My fortress, and whoever recites it enters My protection and safety.❞

Additional adhkar (plural of dhikr) for spiritual practice include:

1. Subhan Allah wal-hamdulillah wa la ilaha illa Allah wallahu Akbar

(Glory be to Allah, all praise is for Allah, there is no god but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest).

2. La hawla wa la quwwata illa billahil ‘aliyyil ‘azim

(There is no power and no strength except with Allah, the Most High, the Most Great).

3. Antal-Hadi, Antal-Haqq, laisa-l-Hadi illa Huwa

(You are the Guide, You are the Truth, and there is no guide but Him).

4. La ilaha illa Allahu wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu yuhyi wa yumitu wa biyadihil khayr, wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in Qadeer

(There is no god but Allah, alone, without partner; His is the sovereignty, and His is the praise; He gives life and causes death; all good is in His hand, and He has power over everything).

5. La ma‘buda illa Allah, la maqsooda illa Allah, la mawjud illa Allah

(There is no one worthy of worship except Allah; there is no one sought except Allah; there is none that exists except Allah).

6. Subhan Allah wa bihamdihi, subhan Allah al-‘aliyyil ‘azim wa bihamdihi

(Glory be to Allah, and all praise is due to Him; Glory be to Allah, the Most High, the Most Great, and all praise is due to Him).

7. Subhan Allah wa bihamdihi, subhan Allah al-‘azim wa bihamdihi, astaghfirullah wa atubu ilayh

(Glory be to Allah and all praise is due to Him; Glory be to Allah, the Mighty, and all praise is due to Him; I seek forgiveness from Allah and turn to Him in repentance).

In the Qadiri path, the Tahajjud prayer (performed in the late hours of the night) is particularly significant. The Holy Qur’an highlights its virtues, and it was among the beloved acts of worship of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Hazrat Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani once advised his followers, saying, ❝Those who pray in the darkness of the night shine like pearls.❞

Hazrat Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani also instructed his followers on specific prayers and methods for presenting their needs to Allah ﷻ, through which many devotees have been blessed by the Divine.

رضي الله عنه وأعلى مقامه في الدنيا والآخرة ونفعنا بعلومه وأسراره آمين

(May Allah be pleased with him, elevate his rank in this world and the Hereafter, and grant us benefit from his knowledge and secrets. Ameen.)