The Hadra according to Qu’ran and Sunna

From a linguistic point of view, the word Hadra refers to the notion of presence, of proximity to a thing. As for the word raqs (dance), it is said of someone who dances when the latter is agitated and moves his body to the rhythm of a music or song. In the tariqa karkariya: This is the Chu’aibiy heart, which grouping all the apparent things of the universe as well as the deep human truths (Haqâ’iq) through vision, divine proximity (al-qurb) and unveiling (kachf) of what covers the reality of the secret and this thanks to the pre-eternals Lights (anwar ul-qidam).

The Hadra in the Qu’ran:

“Those who, standing or siting, lying down on their sides, invoke Allah and meditate on the creation of the heavens and the earth (saying):” Our Lord! You did not create that in vain. Glory to You! Keep us from the chastisement of the Fire.” [Surah Al-Imran, verse 191]

“When you have performed the Ṣalāt, invoke the name of Allah, standing, sitting or lying on your sides. Then when you are safe, perform the Ṣalāt (normally), for the Ṣalāt remains a prescription for believers at certain times.” [Surah an-Nisā ‘, verse 103]

“If We had sent down this Qu’ran on a mountain, you would have seen it humble itself and split for fear of Allah. And these parables We give them to the people so that they reflect.” [Surah al-Hashr, verse 21]

The Hadra in the Hadith:

According to Anas (radiAllahu anhu): The Habashas was dancing before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying: “Muhammadun ‘abdun sālih: Muhammad is a pious servitor”. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then said, “What do they say?” he was answered, “They say, Muhammad is a pious servant”. [Musnad, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Hadîth: 12303]

Sayidunâ Aliy (radiAllahu anhu) reports: “I visited the Prophet ﷺ with Ja’far (ibn Abi Talib) and Zayd (ibn Haritha). The Prophet ﷺ said to Zayd, “You are my freedman (anta mawlay),” and Zayd began to skip on one foot around the Prophet ﷺ. The Prophet said to Ja’far, “You are like me in my constitution and in my character,” and Ja’far began to skip behind Zayd. The Prophet ﷺ then said to me: “You are part of me and I am part of you” and I started to jump behind Ja’far.” [Musnad, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Hadith: 835]

In a long hadîth reported by sayidinâ ibn ‘Abbâs (radiAllâhu’ anhumâ), Ali ibn Abi Tâlib, Ja’far and Zayd ibn Hâritha (radiAllâhu’ anhum) one day disagreed about which of them would be the most entitled to receive the office of a woman whom Sayiduna Ali had withdrawn from the hands of the mouchrikin of Mecca … The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, who was there, therefore cut off between them in favor of sayidinā Ja’far. Muhammad ibn ‘Umar al-Waqidiy said, “And when he ﷺ decided in favor of Ja’far, the latter stood up and began to jump on one foot around the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He asked him, “What are you doing, Ja’far?” He replied: “O Messenger of Allah, when the Najachiy filled a person, the latter was rising and hopped on one foot around him.” The Prophet then said, “Marry you with her”. He replied, “This is the daughter of my brother of milk…” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ therefore married him to Salma ibn Abiy Salma.” [Dala’il al-Nubouwa, al-Bayhaqiy, Hadith 1710]

According to Abiy Qatâdah, Anas ibn Mālik (radiAllâhu ‘anhu) told them that the Prophet ﷺ went up on Uhud mountain with Abiy Bakr, Omar and Othmân and the latter began to shudder. (rajafa, in Arabic: to be seized by a shudder caused by a feeling). The Prophet ﷺ said to him, “Remains motionless Uhud, for there is a Prophet, a Siddīq, and two Shahīd on you.” [Sahih al-Bukhâriy, Hadîth 3423]

‘AbduLlâh ibn’ Umar (radiallahu ‘anhuma) reports that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said from the top of the minbar: “Al-Jabbār takes in His hand His heavens and His earths” Prophet made the gesture of closing his fist and opening it, after which he said, “I am al-Jabbâr! I’m al-Malik! where are the jabbâroûn? where are the moutakabbiroûn? And saying this, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ swayed from right to left. I watched the minbar and saw it moving as well, to the point that I wondered if it had not fallen with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.” [Sunan ibn Mâjah, kitâb az-zuhd, Hadîth 4273]

Sayidunâ Ali (karramAllahu wajhah) said, describing the companions of the Prophet ﷺ: “I have seen the companions of the Messenger of Allah, and I see no one today who is comparable to them : By Allah when morning rose on them, their faces were pale, their hair disheveled and their bodies covered with dust. Between their eyes was the mark of their prostrations, after they had spent the whole night reciting the Book of Allah oscillating back and forth, invoking Allah by swinging as the tree swings in a strong wind day. By Allah, and their eyes filled with tears until they wet their clothes.” [Huliyat ul-‘Awliya ‘, Abu Na’im: 118/1]