Chapter: On the Remembrance of Allah

باب فی ذکر اللہ — اللہ کی یاد کے بارے میں

بَابٌ فِي ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ — On Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah)

وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ

"And the remembrance of Allah is greatest." (Al-'Ankabut, 29:45)

فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ

"Remember Me and I will remember you." (Al-Baqara, 2:152). The author says: Dhikr is the greatest act of worship. Through it the heart finds rest (al-Qur'an: 'Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest' — Al-Ra'd, 13:28), and through it the servant draws close to Allah.

The author describes eight forms of dhikr: (1) dhikr of the tongue — vocal remembrance, (2) dhikr of the heart — inner contemplation, (3) dhikr of the limbs — every righteous act performed consciously in awareness of Allah, (4) dhikr with wealth — giving in charity, (5) dhikr holding the breath — a form of concentration, (6) dhikr releasing the breath — another form, (7) dhikr while mixing with people — maintaining God-consciousness in society, (8) dhikr of continuity — maintaining God-awareness in all moments.

The author also discusses the conditions of authentic dhikr: purity of intention, presence of the heart, appropriate voice level (not too loud nor too quiet), and accompanied by understanding of the meaning. He quotes from the spiritual masters that vigorous, heartless dhikr is of lesser value than gentle, heart-present dhikr.

قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: وَالذَّاكِرِينَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا وَالذَّاكِرَاتِ أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا

"Indeed, the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so — for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward." (Al-Ahzab, 33:35)

مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَرْتَعَ فِي رِيَاضِ الْجَنَّةِ فَلْيُكْثِرْ ذِكْرَ اللَّهِ

"Whoever loves to graze in the meadows of Paradise, let him increase his remembrance of Allah." (Narrated from Mu'adh ibn Jabal — Kanz al-'Ummal)

إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى: مَنْ شَغَلَهُ ذِكْرِي عَن مَسْأَلَتِي أَعْطَيْتُهُ فَوْقَ مَا أَعْطَيْتُ السَّائِلِينَ

Allah the Exalted says: 'Whoever is so occupied with My remembrance that he does not ask Me, I will give him more than I give to those who ask.' (Narrated from Hudhayfa — Kanz al-'Ummal)