In our busy lives, it can sometimes be hard to find the time to solely dedicate ourselves to Allah (SWT) and practice perfecting our deen. But in between carrying out the commitments and worldly responsibilities we have as modern Muslims, there is one beloved and powerful act of worship that has been made simple and easy for anyone to do: Dhikr!
What is Dhikr?
In Islam, Dhikr means the Remembrance of Allah (SWT) and is a very direct and powerful way of strengthening our relationship with Him. The importance of this act of worship is so great that it is frequently mentioned in the Quran to bring great reward and blessing from our Creator.
“And the men and the women who remember Allah much with their hearts and tongues. Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward.” (33:35)
When we perform Dhikr we speak the name of Allah softly in our hearts and by the tongue. An example of Dhikr would be our recitation of “Subhanallah” (Glory be to God), “Alhamdulillah” (All Praise be to God) and “Allah Akbar” (God is the Greatest) thirty-three times each after salah. Within these simple, but regular practices of Dhikr, we perform a great deed that pleases Allah (SWT) and weighs heavily in our favour on the Day of Judgement.
How beloved our remembrance of Him is to Allah (SWT) can be exemplified in this verse of the Quran, wherein we are reminded:
“Therefore remember Me. I will remember you.” (Al Baqarah, 2:152)
Thus it is through Dhikr that we endear ourselves to Allah (SWT) and see more of His blessings.
Further Benefits of Making Regular Dhikr
Dhikr nourishes the soul just like good and wholesome food nourishes the body. When we make a habit of doing Dhikr regularly in our lives, we become more connected to Allah (SWT). In our constant consciousness of God, we feel more rightly guided by Him and are encouraged to do more good sincerely and for His sake.
Dhikr, in turn, brings joy, happiness and relaxation to our hearts. It wipes away our worries through the reassurance of Allah (SWT) and His guidance. For in the Quran, it says:
“Those who believe and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah: Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.” (Quran: 13: 28)
It is also through this ease that Allah (SWT) brings to our hearts that Dhikr also strengthens our resolve and love for our deen. The Remembrance of our Creator is our protection against sin and Shaytaan. The more we focus on Allah (SWT) the less we think about committing deeds that are displeasing to Him and feel more remorse for the misdeeds we do act upon.
The protection regular Dhikr gives us is related to this hadith, narrated by Mu’adh Ibn Jabal (RA), who said that Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) said:
“For everything there is a polish, and the polish for the hearts is the dhikr (remembrance) of Allah. There is nothing more potent in saving a person from the punishment of Allah than the dhikr of Allah.” (Al-Jami)
Another hadith says “If somebody recites it during the day with firm faith in it, and dies on the same day before the evening, he will be from the people of Paradise; and if somebody recites it at night with firm faith in it, and dies before the morning, he will be from the people of Paradise.” (Bukhari)
In these reminders, we are encouraged to polish our hearts by practising Dhikr as often as we can so that Allah (SWT) may guide us on the righteous path. In our ongoing quest to ensure Allah (SWT) remains pleased with us, how do we go about regularly implementing Dhikr in our lives?
How to Practice Dhikr
The act of Remembering Allah (SWT) has been made simple and easy for us so we can do it as often as possible. Beyond reciting “Subhanallah”, “Alhamdulillah” and “Allah Akbar” thirty-three times each after salah, these are also phases we can say throughout the day at mostly any time.
Increase the amount of Dhikr you do by reciting these phases while on your daily commutes or carrying out your chores. You can also elevate your Dhikr by reading dua from adhkar booklets like Husnul Muslim (The Fortress of the Muslim).
Long or short, if we have a minute or two to spare or need something to calm our nerves, making Dhikr gives us a great source of strength. It is a powerful reminder that Allah (SWT) is always there for us – through the good and the bad. And as long as we keep Him in our hearts, insha Allah, we’ll experience so many reminders of the Mercy and Blessings, in turn.
Keywords: dhikr, Allah (SWT), islam, salah, dua, virtues, remembrance, what to say, tasbih, quran, benefits
Questions: What is Dhikr?