“In the name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate. All praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, Most Merciful and Compassionate, Master of the Day of Reckoning. You alone we worship, in You alone we seek help. Guide us in the straight way, the way of those You have blessed, not of those whom wrath is upon, nor those who are lost” (Koran 1:1-7).

   “Verily those who swear fealty to you are only swearing fealty to Allah: Allah’s hand is above theirs. So he who violates his oath but violates it against himself; and whoever fulfills his covenant to Allah, He shall give him a tremendous wage” (Koran 48:10).

   The wird of this Hashimi-Darqawi Shadhili tariqa, its lineal succession connected to the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), is that you make remembrance of Allah morning and evening, beginning with “I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Devil” one time and “In the name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate” three times, then:

   “Whatever you send ahead for yourselves of good you shall find with Allah is better and greater in reward; and ask Allah’s forgiveness, verily Allah is Oft-Forgiving and Compassionate” (Koran 73:20).

   Then you say, “I ask Allah’s forgiveness, I ask Allah’s forgiveness, I ask Allah’s forgiveness,” one hundred times. On the hundredth, you say, “I ask forgiveness of Allah, the Living, the Ever-Subsisting Through Whom All Subsists, and I repent to Him.” Then you say:

   “Verily Allah and His angels bless the Prophet; O you who believe: Bless him and pray for peace for him” (Koran 33:56).

   Then you say, “O Allah, Bless our liegelord Muhammad, Your servant and messenger, the Unlettered Prophet, and his folk and Companions, and grant them peace,” one hundred times. On the hundredth, you say, “and grant him peace as great in magnitude as the greatness of Your entity, at every moment and time.” Then:

   “So know that there is no god but Allah” (Koran 47:19).

[Then,] “There is no god but Allah,” one hundred times, and on the hundredth, “There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” Or if you wish, you may say, “There is no god but Allah alone, without partner, His is the dominion, His the praise, He has power over everything”—if you have time, though if not, you may confine yourself to “There is no god but Allah,” and on the hundredth time: “There is no god but Allah: Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah: Allah bless him and his folk and Companions and give them peace.” Then you read Surat al-Ikhlas (Koran 112) three times, and close with the Fatiha. Then you pray for yourself, your parents, your sheikhs, the dervishes of the Sufis, and all Muslims.

   All of us are solemnly obliged to perform the prescribed prayer, honor our parents, and give sincere advice and counsel to every Muslim. We have become brethren in Allah: whoever of us is saved must take his brother by the hand. We take this covenant upon you that you perform this wird to the best of your ability, likewise the hizbs of Abul Hasan [al-Shadhili], and to recite the Koran during the day in the amount that you are able, even if only a little. We ask Allah for success; and praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds.

(Selection from The Shadhili Tariqa) MCMXCIX © N. Keller