Question:
Is it permissible to practice certain zikr, supplication and recitation of surah from verses of the Quran without learning them from a teacher?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
If we understand Arabic, supplication is ma’thur (مأثور), then it is not a wrongdoing. Except when someone wants to practice certain wirid following certain tarikat (Sufi groups), then he should first learn them from a teacher or syeikh.
We would like to state regarding ijazah. It is better if it is with sanad and in the practice of following certain tarikat (group), but regarding zikr where the meaning is understood, then it is permissible for him to practice it like what is written by al-Syahid Hasan al-Banna, for he himself take zikr from renown evidences. For example, it is stated by the publisher in the introduction of his book, al-Ma’thurat by al-Ustaz Hasan al-Banna are from hadiths from al-Jami’ al-Soghir, al-Jami’ al-Sahih, al-Sunan, Amal al-Yaum wa al-Lailah and numerous other renown books. Thus, it is permissible for us to practice these zikrs without getting the ijazah.
Here, we cite two evidences from the Quran which mention the status and sanctioning of zikr. Allah SWT state:
إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَالْقَانِتِينَ وَالْقَانِتَاتِ وَالصَّادِقِينَ وَالصَّادِقَاتِ وَالصَّابِرِينَ وَالصَّابِرَاتِ وَالْخَاشِعِينَ وَالْخَاشِعَاتِ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقَاتِ وَالصَّائِمِينَ وَالصَّائِمَاتِ وَالْحَافِظِينَ فُرُوجَهُمْ وَالْحَافِظَاتِ وَالذَّاكِرِينَ اللَّـهَ كَثِيرًا وَالذَّاكِرَاتِ أَعَدَّ اللَّـهُ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا ﴿٣٥﴾
“Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so - for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.”
Surah al-Ahzab (35)
In another statement of Allah SWT:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا اللَّـهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيرًا ﴿٤١﴾ وَسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا ﴿٤٢﴾
“O you who have believed, remember Allah with much remembrance. And exalt Him morning and afternoon.”
Surah al-Ahzab (41-42)