"The true condition of the heart cannot be expressed by the tongue, nor understood by the mind."
This is an underground ritual.
Join the secret Zikir in the beautiful Fatih Mosque and discover an unusual, unknown and unexplored part of yourself. Experience that the universe not only speaks to you, but is ultimately found within yourself. The sun, planets and stars not only revolve around you, but through you as you participate in one of Sufism's most mystical rituals.
The Zikir has never before been open to a wide audience in Amsterdam and has rarely, if ever, been performed jointly by men and women. The experience is enhanced by rhythmic light art by Coen den Haan. Muslims and non-Muslims alike are welcome to participate in this ritual!
In Sufism, Zikir (or Dhikr) refers to a "remembrance exercise" that brings one closer to the Divine. It involves repeating sacred phrases or the names of God, often combined with rhythmic movements, to evoke a sense of divine presence and promote spiritual awakening.
Upon entering, follow the directions of the spiritual leaders and volunteers during this sacred and intimate ritual. Come in black or white clothing! Women must cover their heads. Your phone is not allowed inside; no filming or photography is allowed.
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Here are some important points to consider:
The Ghusl
For a full experience, we recommend doing a ritual great ablution (ghusl) at home. You do this as follows:
- Speak the intention for the great ablution.
- Rinse your mouth with water three times.
- Then rinse your nose three times.
- Then wash your entire body thoroughly, without leaving a dry spot.
Dress code
- Come dressed modestly and comfortably, preferably in white or black!
- Do not wear makeup and avoid jewelry that makes noise.
- Women are requested to wear a scarf around the head; full veiling is not required.
Practicing Mantras During the ritual, the imam will repeat a mantra that we sing together. Make sure you know these words and have practiced them aloud a few times:
La ilahe illallah
("There is no god but Allah. Allah represents the 99 attributes of the Creator.").
You don't have to memorize the second part, but you may sing it along:
Hasbi Rabbi jallallah ma fi qalbi ghayrullah
Nuru Muhammad sallallah, haqq, la ilaha illallah
You can listen to the mantra through this link.
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Doors open at 7:30 pm and close at 8:00 pm. The Zikir starts at 20:00 and ends at 21:00. Afterwards, there will be room to land and chat with tea and a cookie.
Watch this video on youtube for an idea of what a Zikir can be.
