dsaly1969
Member
In this age of the decline of organized religion in the West, I am a Hanif who follows the ancient, simple faith of Abraham which predates all of the complications created by the establishments of later Abrahamic religious traditions including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and the Baha’i Faith. I believe in pure monotheism (tawheed), that there is only one God, and that we should not set up equals or partners with God (shirk). The sin of shirk includes ascribing divine qualities such as infallibility or inerrancy to anything besides God, including, but not limited to, human beings (including “prophets and Messengers”), books (such as “scriptures”), sects, traditions, leaders, dogmas, and institutions. This tendency of organized religions to commit shirk is the primary reason they have become infected with literalism, fundamentalism, extremism, dogmatism, intolerance, and the inability to evolve ideas and teachings with new discoveries, social understandings, and scientific findings.
There are few rules and restrictions in the Hanifan Path as compared with the Abrahamic religions. The Hanifan Path promotes: 1) declaring oneself to be a Hanif, 2) twice daily prayer in the morning upon arising and in the evening before retiring, 3) sincere repentance by asking for forgiveness from God and from those we have harmed and working on changing how we behave, 4) giving charity and assistance to those in need, and 5) acting in daily life towards oneself and others as if one sees God everywhere, and although one cannot literally see God, one undoubtedly believes that God is constantly watching over them. Hanifs believe that God is far more concerned about what people actually do versus what they claim to believe; therefore, Hanifs believe that the righteous of all peoples and faiths will be rewarded for their good deeds.
I developed a daily prayer for the morning and evening based upon the prayer practices and the information that we have about Abraham from the established Abrahamic religions.
The Daily Prayer of a Hanif
Stand up, and facing East, say:
“Who can be better in religion than one who submits his whole self to God, does good, and follows the way of Abraham the true in Faith? My Lord, make this a Place of Peace, and feed its people with fruits, such of them as believe in God and the Last Day. My Lord! Make me one of those who submit to You, and of my progeny a people who submit, bowing to Your Will; and turn unto us in Mercy for You are the Most Merciful.”
Bend down, with hands resting on the knees, and say:
“Exalted are You above my praise and the praise of anyone beside me, above my description and the description of all who are in heaven and all who are on earth!”
Then, stand with open hands, palms upward toward the face, and say:
“Disappoint not, O my God, him that has, with beseeching fingers, clung to Your mercy and Your grace! Your forgiveness has emboldened me, and Your mercy has strengthened me, and Your call has awakened me, and Your grace has raised me up and led me unto You.”
“My Lord! Bestow knowledge on me, and join me with the righteous. And grant me an honorable mention in later generations. And make me one of the inheritors of the Paradise of Delight.”
Sit down on a chair, put hands on one’s knees, and bow low at the waist with elbows turned outward, and say three times:
“Greater is God than every great one!”
Rise and sit upright in the chair, and say:
“I bear witness to Your unity and Your oneness, and that You are God, and that there is no other God beside You. Our Lord! Accept this service from us for You are the All-Hearing, the All-knowing.”
There are few rules and restrictions in the Hanifan Path as compared with the Abrahamic religions. The Hanifan Path promotes: 1) declaring oneself to be a Hanif, 2) twice daily prayer in the morning upon arising and in the evening before retiring, 3) sincere repentance by asking for forgiveness from God and from those we have harmed and working on changing how we behave, 4) giving charity and assistance to those in need, and 5) acting in daily life towards oneself and others as if one sees God everywhere, and although one cannot literally see God, one undoubtedly believes that God is constantly watching over them. Hanifs believe that God is far more concerned about what people actually do versus what they claim to believe; therefore, Hanifs believe that the righteous of all peoples and faiths will be rewarded for their good deeds.
I developed a daily prayer for the morning and evening based upon the prayer practices and the information that we have about Abraham from the established Abrahamic religions.
The Daily Prayer of a Hanif
Stand up, and facing East, say:
“Who can be better in religion than one who submits his whole self to God, does good, and follows the way of Abraham the true in Faith? My Lord, make this a Place of Peace, and feed its people with fruits, such of them as believe in God and the Last Day. My Lord! Make me one of those who submit to You, and of my progeny a people who submit, bowing to Your Will; and turn unto us in Mercy for You are the Most Merciful.”
Bend down, with hands resting on the knees, and say:
“Exalted are You above my praise and the praise of anyone beside me, above my description and the description of all who are in heaven and all who are on earth!”
Then, stand with open hands, palms upward toward the face, and say:
“Disappoint not, O my God, him that has, with beseeching fingers, clung to Your mercy and Your grace! Your forgiveness has emboldened me, and Your mercy has strengthened me, and Your call has awakened me, and Your grace has raised me up and led me unto You.”
“My Lord! Bestow knowledge on me, and join me with the righteous. And grant me an honorable mention in later generations. And make me one of the inheritors of the Paradise of Delight.”
Sit down on a chair, put hands on one’s knees, and bow low at the waist with elbows turned outward, and say three times:
“Greater is God than every great one!”
Rise and sit upright in the chair, and say:
“I bear witness to Your unity and Your oneness, and that You are God, and that there is no other God beside You. Our Lord! Accept this service from us for You are the All-Hearing, the All-knowing.”
