Page:Thomas Patrick Hughes - Notes on Muhammadanism - 2ed. (1877).djvu/264

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243

LI.—ZIKR, OR THE RELIGIOUS SER-
VICES OF THE DARWESHES.

Zikr is the religious ceremony, or act of devotion, which is practised by the various religious orders of Faqírs, or Darweshes. Almost every religious Muhammadan is a member of some order of Faqírs, and, consequently, the performance of zikr is very common in all Muhammadan countries; but it does not appear that any one method of performing the religious service of zikr, is peculiar to any particular order.

Zikrs, are of two kinds, zikr-i-jalí, that which is recited aloud, and zikr-i-khafí, that which is performed either with a low voice, or mentally.

The Nagqshbandía order of Faqírs usually perform the latter, whilst the Chishtía and Qádiría orders celebrate the former. There are various ways of going through the exercise,