Does One Need Permission to Recite the Litanies of the Ba ’Alawi Path?
Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch
Question
I’m looking at different Sufi tariqas and have a fascination for the different variations of Dhikr in different cultures. I’ve always found the Ba ‘Alawi Tariqa interesting, along with the teachings of Imam al-Haddad, his Wird al-Latif, and his Ratib.
Does one need permission to recite the litanies of the Ba ‘Alawi path? Also, is taking the pledge to the path something that is emphasized?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
For the general litanies like those mentioned, the “Wird al-Latif” and the “Ratib” of Imam al-Haddad – permission (Ijaza) is not required. However, there is a great benefit and an increased impact for those with permission.
Pledging oneself to the Ba ‘Alawi path is indeed encouraged, if one’s heart is content with the teachings of the Ba ‘Alawi path and Habib Umar bin Hafiz (Allah preserve him) as their spiritual guide (Shaykh).
This does not mean one cannot benefit from the teachings of the Ba ‘Alawi scholars unless they are formally part of the spiritual path. However, like above, a formal and deeper connection will likely lead to greater benefits.
A Summary of the Ba ‘Alawi Path
Sayyiduna al-Habib Umar mentioned that the Ba ‘Alawi path is explained and summarized in two specific works of Imam ‘Abdullah bin ‘Alawi al-Haddad:
- Etiquettes of the Seeker.
- Book of Assistance.
Al-Habib ‘Ali bin Muhammad al-Habshi, one of the great sages and scholars of the Ba ‘Alawi path, mentioned:
“Our path is based on knowledge, implementing knowledge, adopting good character, and abundantly reciting litanies (and other invocations).”
More details about the Ba ‘Alawi path and its scholars can be found here.
Related:
- Habib Umar on the Path of Spiritual Excellence: An Explanation of Ba’l Faqih’s Treatise The Spheres of Islam, Iman, Ihsan, and ‘Irfan. [Course]
- On Spirituality: Living the Sunna, Leaving Sin, and Acquiring Good Character: Ghazali’s Beginning of Guidance. [Course]
- What is Islamic Spirituality? A Reader
Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Yusuf Weltch teaches Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he completed four years at the Darul Uloom Seminary in New York, where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences.
He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he studied for three years in Dar al-Mustafa under some of the most outstanding scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib.
In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Quran and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Quranic exegesis, Islamic history, and several texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.
