Ibn Mas‘ud's Prohibition of Loud Dhikr

Question

Question: In Kathiawar, after the ‘Isha prayer, in all the mosques every day people recite a litany — blessings upon the Prophet [and] the Verse of Yunus (21:87) — over almonds and the like, then blow on water, and all the worshippers drink it; and whoever does not recite the litany and does not drink this water is regarded as a bad person. Is this an innovation (bid‘a) or not?

Answer

The encouragement and emphasis regarding blessings upon the Prophet is established by the Noble Qur'an and the noble hadith. It is a matter of great goodness, blessing and felicity, and every Muslim should keep to it frequently; but for this no new form should be invented — rather, the method that was practised in the best generations, testified to as good, should be adopted.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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