Dhikr is a powerful yet simple form of worship. It is a highly recommended act in Islam, encouraging believers to continuously remember and glorify Allah. Dhikr, which means to remember, can be performed through short phrases, such as repeatedly saying "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is the Greatest).
When you are actively engaged in Dhikr, you are constantly in the remembrance of Allah. This practice helps to keep your heart and mind focused on His presence and greatness throughout the day. You are constantly feeding your heart a good sustenance that will serve as a protection from Shaytaan and prevent you from going astray.
“Verily, in the body is a piece of flesh that if good, the entire body is good, and if corrupt, the entire body is corrupt. Truly, it is the heart.” - Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
Dhikr serves as a means to strengthen your connection with Allah, bringing tranquillity and peace to your heart. It also reminds you of His endless blessings and mercy, fostering a sense of gratitude and humility. When you fill your heart with good things, it will lead you towards goodness.
Allazeena aamanoo wa tatma'innu quloobuhum bizikril laah; alaa bizikril laahi tatma'innul quloob
“Those who have faith and whose hearts find peace in the remembrance of God –– truly it is in the remembrance of God that hearts find peace.” [13:28]
The Prophet Muhammed (Peace be Upon Him) constantly reminded us to engage in the act of dhikr and the benefits associated with it.
The Prophet Muhammed (Peace be Upon Him) said, "Whoever says, 'Subhan Allah wa bihamdihi,' one hundred times a day, will be forgiven all his sins even if they were as much as the foam of the sea.” Sahih al-Bukhari
The Messenger of Allah (Peace Be Upin HIm) said, “He who recites after every prayer: Subhan-Allah (Allah is free from imperfection) thirty-three times; Al-hamdu lillah (praise be to Allah) thirty-three times; Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greatest) thirty-three times; and completes the hundred with: La ilaha illallahu, wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu, wa Huwa ‘ala kulli shai’in Qadir (there is no true god except Allah. He is One and He has no partner with Him. His is the sovereignty and His is the praise, and He is Omnipotent), will have all his sins pardoned even if they may be as large as the foam on the surface of the sea.” [Muslim].
The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings be upon him) said, "Allah the Exalted says: 'I am as my slave expects me to be, and I am with him when he remembers Me. If he remembers me inwardly, I will remember him inwardly, and if he remembers Me in an assembly, I will remember him in a better assembly (i.e., in the assembly of angels)." (Bukhari)
The more we remember Allah, the more Allah will remember us. Engaging in Dhikr not only brings us closer to Allah but also opens the door to numerous spiritual rewards and benefits. As we immerse ourselves in the remembrance of Allah, our hearts become more attuned to His presence. It helps guide our actions.
Dhikr is also mentioned in the Quran,
Wa maa khalaqtul jinna wal insa illaa liya'budoon Maaa ureedu minhum mir rizqinw wa maaa ureedu anyyut'imoon Innal laaha Huwar Razzaaqu Zul Quwwatil Mateen
“I created jinn and mankind only to worship Me I want no provision from them, nor do I want them to feed Me God is the Provider, the Lord of Power, the Ever Mighty.” [51:56-58]
Allah does not get any benefit from our worship. He created us to worship Him, the more we engage in it, the more reward we earn.
Tusabbihu lahus samaawaatus sab'u wal ardu wa man feehinn; wa im min shai'in illaa yusabbihu bihamdihee wa laakil laa tafqahoona tasbeehahum; innahoo kaana Haleeman Ghafooraa
“The seven heavens and the earth and everyone in them glorify Him. There is not a single thing that does not celebrate His praise, though you do not understand their praise: He is most forbearing, most forgiving.” [17:44].
Everything on this earth praises Allah, from the ground all the way up to the stars. They praise Allah in a way that we don’t understand but this shows us that everything around us is always engaging in dhikr.
Wa yusabbihur ra'du bihamdihee walmalaaa'ikatu min kheefatihee wa yursilus sawaa'iqa fa yuseebu bihaa mai yashaaa'u wa hum yujaadiloona fil laahi wa Huwa shadeedul mihaal
“The thunder sounds His praises, as do the angels in awe of Him; He sends thunderbolts to strike whoever He will. Yet still they dispute about God –– He has mighty plans.” [Quran 13:13]
Despite the many signs Allah sends us, like thunder and lightning, people still dispute whether He is real or not.
Now that you know the importance of dhikr, how do you perform dhikr?
Dhikr essentially boils down to any remembrance of Allah outside of salah. The best and most straightforward way of doing dhikr is reading the Quran. However, not everyone is able to sit down or listen to the Quran when they are out and about. Which is why there are other ways for you to engage in dhikr.
As mentioned above saying short phrases such as;
SubhanAllah or SubhanAllah wa bihamdihi
Allah the Merciful is free from imperfection
Alhamdulillah
All praise is to Allah
La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah
there is no power and no strength except with Allah
Astaghfirullah
I seek Allah’s forgiveness
All these are great ways to engage in Dhikr. You can also recite the names of Allah as a form of Dhikr. Each name of Allah carries profound meaning and reflects His divine attributes, making their recitation a powerful act of remembrance and worship.
The essence of Dhikr is to keep your tongue moist in the remembrance of Allah, no matter where you are or what you are doing. This practice helps you remain mindful of Allah’s presence in all aspects of your life. During blessed times like Dhul Hijjah and Ramadan, engaging in Dhikr becomes even more significant as these periods are filled with immense spiritual opportunities and rewards. By actively remembering Allah during these sacred times, you can maximize the blessings and deepen your spiritual connection with Him.
Engaging in Dhikr regularly and sincerely allows you to cultivate a constant awareness of Allah, bringing peace and contentment to your heart. It reinforces your faith and serves as a protection from the evil we are constantly surrounded by.
May Allah allow our tongues to be moist with the remembrance of Allah and a way to be close to Him.
