Wird al-Nawawi

The Litany of Imam Al-Nawawi [wird al-Nawawi] is a personal collect of the luminous sage and savant of the Levant, Imam Abu Zakaria Yahya b. Sharaf al-Nawawi, may Allah be well pleased with him and please him. The wird is found in various prayer compendiums, including:

• Ahmad Ziya’uddin Gumushanevi’s abridged Al-Qulub Al-Dari’a
• Isma’il Muhammad Sa’id al-Qadiri’s Al-Fuyudat Al-Rabbaniya
• Habib Umar b. Hafidh’s Khulasat Al-Madad Al-Nabawiyyi

 

Arabic Text & English Translation

 
mam Abu Abdi-Llah Muhammad ibn al-Tayyib al-Fasi  (D. 1170AH), the prominent Maghribi-born Madinan scholar, has written a commentary to the Wird. A mid-18th century manuscript of this work [Sharh Hizb Al-Imam Al-Nawawi] is available online at the Hathi Trust Digital Library. Dr. Umar Faruq Abd-Allah, Chairman of Nawawi Foundation (Chicago, USA), in an upcoming translation and commentary of the litany, states:

This devotion (hizb) is not specific to any particular spiritual path (tariqa) and is highly respected and widely accepted by them all. It is a unique and proven fortress of physical and spiritual protection. By God’s will, the one who recites this devotion will be with God’s protection. He will put a shield around his or her family, friends and associates. Among its many benefits is the subtle way it helps to purify intentions, facilitate aspirations and give access to spiritual perfection. Anyone whom God has given the good fortune to recite this devotion has gained an invaluable treasure.

— Amal Press: http://www.amalpress.com/index.php?l_dis=publications_descr&id=52

Shaikh Dr. Mohamed Said Ramadan al-Bouti al-Shahid (martyred 1434 AH), wrote about the blessings of Wird al-Nawawi in the following emphatic manner:

Before us today there are many litanies of these righteous people. However I have selected from all of these for you the litany (hizb) of the great Imam, in whom there was gathered profuse knowledge along with utmost taqwa of Allah. An Imam who dedicated all of his life in the path of Allah in knowledge, action, abstention (zuhd), remembrance, service to the generality of the Muslims and giving sincere advice to their leaders.
He is Imam Yahya bin Sharaf al-Nawawi who passed away in the year (676 Hijri). It is my conviction that if this Imam was not from the great godly righteous friends of Allah, then Allah, the most High, does not have on the earth any friends after him. Our discussion will become lengthy if I entered into the mentioning of his biography and unveiling of his unique states, excellences and qualities.
However it is sufficient for you to know that the Imam, Ali bin Abdullah al-Kafi al-Subki, the father of Taj al-in al-Subki, author of ‘Tabaqat al-Shafiyyah’ – and he is well known for his immense virtues and vast knowledge – came from Cairo to Damascus intending the ‘Dar al-Hadith’ to visit Imam al-Nawawi, as he (Allah have mercy on him) was resident there.
It was said to him (al-Subki) that he (al-Nawawi) had departed for his home place of Nawa. He then passed away there after falling ill for a few days. So he (al-Subki) asked for the place where he (al-Nawawi) used to sit, when they pointed it out to him Imam al-Subki placed his head on the ground of that place and covered his cheek and face with dust on it saying:

And in Dar al-Hadith there is a subtle meaning
On carpets where I incline and take refuge:
Perhaps I might touch with my very face
A spot touched by al-Nawawi’s foot.

This great Imam had a litany consisting of supplication, invocation and prayer that he would recite daily along with his other litanies which was his habit. This litany of his was met with widespread acceptance from the scholars and Imams after him till this day. They recite it every morning, and it reflects in their heart the radiance of tawhid, the familiarity of intimate supplication (munajat) and pleasure in the slavehood of humility to Allah.
It is from the prayers (ibtihalat) proven for the relief of distress and repelling of the plots of the oppressors … I will not lengthen the commentary, for I have personally experienced the blessing of this litany. For its light has grown in my heart, and I have witnessed many of its effects in my life.
So make a firm resolve to be regular in its recitation every morning with the attention of the mind and humility of the heart, and this is after your completing the invocations which I advised you with.

— Dar Al-Hadith. (2009). Shaykh al-Buti On The Blessings Of The Wird al-Nawawi. Available: http://daralhadith.wordpress.com/2009/01/12/shaykh-al-buti-on-the-blessings-of-the-wird-al-nawawi/. Last accessed 31st Jul 2013.

He dismisses the aspersions cast on the authenticity of the work by saying:

It has reached me that there are people who doubt, or raise doubts regarding the ascription of this litany (hizb) to Imam al-Nawawi without reliance upon any research or verification of the matter.
Here I present before those and their likes the continuous chain for the receiving of this noble litany, reaching to its author Imam al-Nawawi, Allah the most High have mercy on him and be pleased with him.  Imam Umar al-Shabrawi said in the introduction of his commentary on this litany:
I received it from our Sheikh, Allamah Muhammad al-Sibaiee, and he from his father Allamah al-Sayyid Salih al-Sibaiee, and he from Allamah al-Sheikh al-Dardir, and he from his teacher Sheikh al-Hifni, and he from his teacher Sheikh Mustafa al-Bakri, and he from Sheikh Muhammad bin Ahmad al-Dimyati al-Shafi better known as Ibn al-Mayit al-Budairi, and he from Sheikh al-Shibramallasi, and he from Sheikh Allamah Abd al-Rahim al-Iraqi, from Sheikh Ala al-Din Ibn al-Attar, and he from the Qutb: Yahya al-Nawawi – Allah be pleased with him.

— Dar Al-Hadith. (2009). Shaykh al-Buti On The Blessings Of The Wird al-Nawawi. Available: http://daralhadith.wordpress.com/2009/01/10/wird-al-nawawi-and-its-authenticity-sh-al-buti/. Last accessed 31st Jul 2013.

And Allah and His Messenger know best.

 Surah Al-Fath

Surah:	48 – Al-Fath (The Opening)
Verses:	29
Period:	Madani

Background

This honorable Surah was revealed after the Messenger of Allah (upon him be blessings and peace) returned from the area of Al-Hudaybiyyah, during the month of Dhul-Qa`dah, in the sixth year of Hijrah. This is when the idolaters prevented him from reaching Al-Masjid Al-Haram to perform the `Umrah he intended. They stopped the Prophet from reaching Makkah at that time, but then were prone to peace negotiations. A peace treaty was conducted stipulating that the Messenger would return this year and then come back for `Umrah the following year. The Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) agreed.
However, some of the Companions disliked these terms, including sayyidina `Umar bin Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him). After the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) slaughtered his sacrificial animals in the area where he was stopped and headed back to Al-Madinah, Allah, Most High, revealed this Surah about what occurred between him and the idolators. Allah declared the Al-Hudaybiyyah peace treaty a manifest victory, because of the benefits peace would carry and the good results that did originate from it.

Virtue of Surah al-Fath

Imam Ahmad records that sayyidina `Umar bin Al-Khattab said:

“We were with the Messenger of Allah salla-Llahu ‘alaihi wa sallam on a trip, and I asked him about a matter three times, but he did not answer me. So I said to myself, `May your mother lose you, O son of Al-Khattab! You were stubborn in repeating your question three times to the Messenger of Allah salla-Llahu ‘alaihi wa sallam; each time he did not respond to you.’
So I mounted my animal, my camel, and went ahead for fear that a part of the Qur’an might be revealed in my case. Suddenly, I heard a caller calling, `O `Umar!’ So, I went to the Messenger salla-Llahu ‘alaihi wa sallam while fearing that part of the Qur’an was revealed about me. The Prophet said:

“Last night, a Surah was revealed to me that is dearer to me than this life and all that it contains: ‘Verily, We have given you a manifest victory. That Allah may forgive you your sins of the past and the future.‘”

— Al-Bukhari, At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa’i collected this Hadith from several chains of narration through Malik, may Allah grant him His mercy

Benefits of Reciting Surah al-Fath

In Al-Munjiyat, Shaikhuna writes the following salient and experiential benefits to be accrued from reciting this surah:

Benefits for Regular Recitation

• Attain the same reward if one had given the “Pledge of Support” to the Messenger of Allah (upon him be blessings and peace) under the shade of the tree where the “Treaty of Hudaibiyya” was recorded.
• Attain the same reward if one had participated in the “Opening of Makka” [fathu-l makkah] with the Prophet of Allah (upon him be blessings and peace).

Benefits for Particular Days

• If recited during the 3 days preceding the month of Ramadan, it will ward off the strain of fasting for the whole month
• If recited during the 1st night of Ramadan, Allah’s protection and help will manifest for the year ahead

Allāh and His Beloved Messenger (upon him be blessings and peace) know best. And success and guidance is from Allah, eminent is His Glory.

 Surah:

44 – Ad-Dukhân (Smoke)

 ur Shaikhuna highly emphasises the recitation of Surah Al-Dukhân on Friday nights (Thursday evenings) as “whoever recites ad-Dukhan on the night of al-Jum’ah, seventy thousand angels will ask for forgiveness for that person until morning”.

This is based on the following two narrations found in Sunan Al-Tirmidhi:

Chapter 8 – Virtues of Surah ad-Dukhân

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ قَرَأَ حم الدُّخَانَ فِي لَيْلَةٍ أَصْبَحَ يَسْتَغْفِرُ لَهُ سَبْعُونَ أَلْفَ مَلَكٍ

[2897] Our master Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him), reported that Allah’s Messenger (upon him be blessings and peace) said, “If anyone recites Hâ Mîm ad-Dukhân in the night he will see the morning while seventy thousand angels seek forgiveness for him.”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ قَرَأَ حم الدُّخَانَ فِي لَيْلَةِ الجُمُعَةِ غُفِرَ لَه

[2898] Our master Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him), reported that Allah’s Messenger (upon him be blessings and peace) said, “If anyone recites Hâ Mîm ad-Dukhân on the night of Friday then he is forgiven.”

In addition, according to one of the renowned students of Ibn ‘Abbas, ‘Ikrimah (may Allah be pleased with them both), the 15th of Sha’ban is the night in which “is made distinct every precise matter,” (Al-Dukhan:4) i.e. the night on which the destiny for the coming year is written.
It is perhaps due to this interpretation that some of the pious and austere Gnostics have found benefit in reciting this Sūrah 7 times in the middle night of Sha’bān and have encouraged the masses to do so. They have said that doing so will grant the fulfilment of 70 needs of this world and 70 needs in the Hereafter.
Allāh and His Messenger (upon him be blessings and peace) know best. And success and guidance is from Allah, eminent is His Glory.