✦ Ruling on Extinguishing Lights and Engaging in Loud, Swaying Dhikr in the Mosque ✦
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil fī Ḍawʾ al-Qurʾān wa al-Ḥadīth, Volume 01, Page 492
❖ The Question
Some people in our locality’s mosque gather after Maghrib prayer, extinguish the lights, and engage in loud dhikr by repeatedly saying “Allāh Hū” in a specific manner. During this dhikr, they sway their bodies, and at the end sweets are distributed.
Questioner: ʿIsmat Khān, Chhachhar Wali, Gujranwala — 3 July 1986
❖ The Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd:
The practice described in the question — extinguishing the lights, chanting “Allāh Hū” loudly in unison, swaying, and then distributing sweets — is neither established from the Qurʾān nor from the Sunnah or any authentic ḥadīth of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Therefore, engaging in dhikr in this particular manner and with this specific procedure is not correct.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
مَنْ أَحْدَثَ فِي أَمْرِنَا هٰذَا مَا لَيْسَ مِنْهُ فَهُوَ رَدّ
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, vol. 1, p. 371; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, vol. 2, p. 77)
In another narration in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, the Prophet ﷺ said:
مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلًا لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرُنَا فَهُوَ رَدّ
❖ Conclusion
Since this form of dhikr is not established by the Qurʾān or the Sunnah, and the Prophet ﷺ clearly warned against innovations in religion, the practice of extinguishing lights, swaying, and chanting “Allāh Hū” in a loud, collective manner must be regarded as an innovation (bidʿah) and therefore impermissible.
✿ ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب ✿
❖ References
➊ Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, vol. 1, p. 371
➋ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, vol. 2, p. 77
➌ Al-Aʿrāf 7:205
➍ Sunan Abī Dāwūd, vol. 1, Book of Ṣalāh, Chapter: Tasbīḥ with Pebbles
