Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah)

Dhikr ( remembrance of Allah) is the greatest thing in our life and a well tried excellent method for purification of our heart. It eradicates all diseases from heart, produces in it the love of Allah and creates the consciousness of His Greatness; it brings us divine peace and satisfaction. Allah the Almighty Himself asked us to remember Him as much as possible. Says the Holy Quran:

" O ye who believes remember Allah very often and glorify Him morning and evening." (33:41-2)

Another verse says Quran says

" And when Salaat is finished then ye may disperse through the land and seek of the Bounty of Allah and celebrate the Praises of Allah much and often; they ye may prosper ( here as well as in the next world.) (62-10)

In another verse the Holy Quran says the Dhikr imparts tranquility and peace to the mind and the soul.

" Behold in the Remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction." (13-28)

In a verse, men of Faith have specifically been warned not to forget Dhikr by getting absorbed in the wealth and the family

" 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)

Allah the Almighty shows His kindness to those who remember Him. He said:

" Then do ye remember Me I will remember you." (2-152)

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) says:

"Allah says when anyone remembers Me and his lips move in Dhikr I am by his side."

In a verse of the Holy Quran mentioning the qualities of pious servants and their reward, Allah says:

" Men whom neither traffic nor merchandise can divert from Remembrance of Allah nor from regular Salaat, nor from regular practice of Zakaat. (24-37)

To quote a few Hadith about Dhikr, the Holy Prophet ( Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) says:

" There is a polish for everything, for the hearts it is Dhikr of Allah."

He has also said:

" Those who remember Allah and those who do not are like those who are alive and those who are dead." (i.e. who remember Allah and celebrate, His praises are alive and those who do not are dead.)

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) was once asked who would be the most exalted among the servants of Allah on the Last Day, He (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) replied

" Those who remember Allah, be they men or women."

The Holy Prophet ( Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) once advised one of his companions.

" Keep your tongue always employed in repeating the name of Allah."

Negligence towards Dhikr causes more and more retrogression. Those who close their hearts and tongues to Allah are deprived of all divine virtues, their hearts get hardened and they - become close associates of the devils. Look what the Holy Quran says:

" He who turns away from the remembrance of His Lord He will cause him to undergo a severe Penalty." (72-17)

In another verse it has been sad:

" If anyone withdraws himself from the Remembrance of Allah Who is Most Gracious, He will appoint for him an evil one to be intimate companion to him" ( 43-36)

In another verse it has been said:

" Woe to those whose hearts are hardened against remembering of Allah, they are manifestly wandering" (39-22)

May Allah save us all form wandering

The highest and the required degree of Dhikr is to acquire such a solemn state of mind and heart in which we remain continuously full of remembrance of Allah and be never without His thought. The state of permanent and all pervading God's consciousness is achieved only through continuously engaging the tongue and heart in Dhikr and devout servant of Allah no doubt, achieve this state. The daily five Salaats are no doubt the remembrance of Allah but Dhikr has got a wider sense. It includes all sorts of the praises, be they with tongue of heart i.e. Salaats, the recitation of Holy Quran, the other prayers, the repetition His sacred names and devoted contemplation on the signs of Allah and the like come under Dhikr.

We are surrounded by evil forces that are trying to deviate us from the right path. To save ourselves from their grips we must remember Allah in every possible way. The more we remember Him the more benefited we are. The real Dhiker is that in whatever profession, state or cirumstances a Muslim may be, he should do his best to observe the commands of Allah that are intended for such a situation

" O ye who believe ! Let not your wealth and your children distract you from rembracne of Allah. (63:9)

Thus whoever observes the commandments of Allah applicable to any given time under all circumstances and observe his responsibilities toward his family and in other worldly affairs like buying and selling, carries out the Dhikr of Allah even while engages in them.