Remembrance of Allah (Dhikr)
“Verily, in the remembrance of Allah, do the hearts find rest.” (Quran 13:28)
Remembrance of Allah (Dhikr) is the means of purifying a believer’s heart. Because all the troubles and worries arise from hearts denied of beholding Allah.
” O ye who believe let not your riches or your children divert you from the Remembrance of Allah if any act thus, the loss is their own.” (63:9)
What do we mean by Remembrance?
It essentially refers to be aware of Allah in heart and mind at all times. So, Remembrance of the tongue and worship of the limbs is a means to this. This is the worship that has no special time, but is performed constantly so that it permanently links up man’s life with Allah and His service. Because Allah (SWT) says in the Holy Qur’an
“O you who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance.” (33:41)
Remembrance is the means of attaining Allah’s attention and mercy as He says in the Quran,
“So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me.” (2:152)
Remembrance of Allah (Dhikr) is a means of blessings and reward from Allah and is essential for peace of mind and soul. So,It is vital for our salvation that we remember Allah at all times, both in private and when among people. The AlQuran mentions the men and women who remember Allah among the categories of people that are dear to Allah. We have been told about them:
“And for men and women who engage much in Allah’s remembrance. For them has Allah prepared forgiveness and a great reward.” (33;35)
The Holy Prophet (Peace be Upon Him) said,
“He who remembers his Lord and he who does not are like the living and the dead.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
Ways Of Remembrance:
Reading and reciting the Holy Quran is the most significant other than the daily five time prayer. Because Allah refers to the Quran as ‘Adh-dhikr’ i.e. ‘The Remembrance’ or ‘The Reminder’ in as many as fifty five places in the Quran. Reading, understanding, reflecting and pondering on Allah’s words is the most effective way of remembering Him.
We have also been taught the prescribed dhikr for the mornings and evenings.So, Allah tells us in the Quran regarding prayers and remembrance:
“So glorify Allah when you come up to the evening and when you enter the morning. And His are all the praises and thanks in the heavens and the earth; and in the late afternoon and when you come up to the times when the day begins to decline.” (30; 17-18)
“Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah . Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured.”(13:28)
Ways of Dhikr:
There are many prescribed ways of dhikr that are acceptable and praiseworthy in our religion. It is important to remember that dhikr must be done in these prescribed ways as Allah tells us:
“And celebrate His praises as he has directed you.” (2:198)
Thus creating one’s own ways of dhikr e.g. reading something or reading something for a specific number of times, and there is evidence of it in the Quran and the Sunnah,So, is to avoid as it may result in the wastage of one’s good deeds.
May Allah save us all from wandering and guide us to increase our Imaan by remembrance of Allah. Ameen.
“So is one whose breast Allah has expanded to [accept] Islam and he is upon a light from his Lord [like one whose heart rejects it]? Then woe to those whose hearts are hardened against the remembrance of Allah . Those are in manifest error.” (39:22)
“Satan only wants to cause between you animosity and hatred through intoxicants and gambling and to avert you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. So will you not desist?” (5:91)
