PERFORMING DHIKR OF ALLAH (SWT):
The term
Dhikr literally means ‘to call back to memory’ or ‘to have
something in conscious mind’. Therefore, when we are told to perform
Dhikr of Allah (SWT), it actually implies that we have to be
God-conscious or conscious of Allah (SWT) at all times. We must always
strive to remember Him in all situations and conditions.
We have
been instructed to perform Dhikr of Allah (SWT).
“O you who have faith! Remember Allah with frequent remembrance, and
glorify Him morning and evening”.
(33:41-42)
The Holy
Prophet (saww) has said, “Verily my Lord
has commanded to me that: My speech should only be His Dhikr
(Remembrance); My silence should only be reflection; and My observation
should only be for the sake of learning”. (Bihar al-Anwaar)
ADVANTAGES OF DHIKR:
Many
benefits of Dhikr have been mentioned in the Holy Quran, Hadeeth
and in the supplications taught by the infallible Imams (as). Some of
them have been outlined below:
Allah
(SWT) remembers him, who remembers Allah (SWT).
“Remember Me and I will remember you, and thank Me, and do not be
ungrateful to Me”.
(2:152)
The Holy
Prophet (saww) has said, “Allah (SWT) says:
‘My servant! If you remember Me in
privacy, I will also remember you in privacy; And if you remember Me in
an assembly, I will also remember you in an assembly which is better and
greater (than your assembly)’”.
(Kanzul-‘Ummaal)
It
brings tranquillity to the heart.
“…Look! The hearts find rest in Allah’s remembrance”.
(13:28)
Imam ‘Ali
bin Abi Talib (as) has said, “The true
goodness of heart is in its occupation in the remembrance of Allah”.
(Ghurar al-Hikam)
It
qualifies one for great rewards.
“…And the men who remember Allah greatly, and the women who remember
(Allah greatly) –Allah holds in store for them forgiveness and a great
reward”.
(33:35)
Imam ‘Ali
bin Abi Talib (as) has said, “One who
remembers Allah is among the successful ones”. (Ghurar al-Hikam)
It
safeguards one from NIFAAQ ‘Hypocrisy’.
“The hypocrites indeed seek to deceive Allah, but it is He who outwits
them. When they stand up for prayer, they stand up lazily, showing off
to the people and not remembering Allah except little, wavering in
between: neither with these nor with those. And whomever Allah leads
astray, you will never find any way for him”.
(4:142-143)
Imam ‘Ali
bin Abi Talib (as) has said, One who
remembers Allah extensively is safe from hypocrisy”. (Ghurar al-Hikam)
It
keeps Satan away from us.
Imam
Zaynul-‘Aabideen (as) says in his supplication:
“O God! So defeat his (Satan) authority over us through Thy authority,
such that Thou holdest him back from us through the frequency of our
supplication to Thee and we leave his trickery and rise up among those
preserved by Thee from sin!”
(The
Psalms of Islam: Dua’ no.25)
Imam ‘Ali
bin Abi Talib (as) has said,
“Remembrance of Allah throws Satan away”.
(Ghurar
al-Hikam)
To be continued…………….
Mulla Mujahidali
Sheriff
mulla@almahdi.org.uk