Understanding Dhikr
A man came to the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and said “O Rasulullah, the laws and conditions of Islam have become too many for me. Tell me something that I can always keep.” The Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi was sallam) said, “Keep your tongue always moist with dhikrullah.” (Tirmidhi)
Want to get a great amount of reward in a short amount of time? Easy, occupy your tongue with the dhikr of Allah! Dhikr is to remember Allah by thinking about Him or mentioning His names and attributes or His rulings. The benefits of dhikr are magnificent, but overlooked by so many of us. In so many ahadith our beloved Prophet (sallallhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) mentions dhikr. Did you know that dhikr will elevate your status in the Hereafter more than giving charity or dying for the sake of Allah?
The Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) once asked his companions, “Shall I tell you about the best of all deeds, the best act of piety in the eyes of your Lord, which will elevate you above your status in the Hereafter, and carries more virtue than the spending of gold and silver in the service of Allah or taking part in jihad and slaying or being slain in the path of Allah? The dhikr of Allah.” (Ahmed)
I want you to think about the last time when you just sat there wasting time or waiting for something, or were just simply bored. The Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “The people of paradise will not regret except one thing alone: the hour that passes them by in which they made no remembrance of Allah.” (Bayhaqi in Shu’ab’l-iman) We have so many chances during the day, so many opportunities, to make dhikr. Anytime you’re commuting, walking to class or simply just waiting for someone, make dhikr! Any chance you get, make dhikr!
Ways of dhikr: what are some different types of dhikr?
Would you like a palm tree to be built for you in Jannah? Simple, make dhikr! “For him who says: Subhanallahi wa bi hamdihi (Allah is free form imperfection, and His is the praise),’ a palm tree will be planted in Jannah.” (Tirmidhi) Did you also know that simply reading Surat’l- Ikhlas, according to a Hadith in Bukari, is equal to reading 1/3rd of the Quran!
There are also some great ways to do dhikr after you have finished praying. When the Prophet (pbuh) used to finish his prayer he would say “Astaghfirullah” (I seek Allah’s forgiveness) 3 times, and “Allahumma anta’l-salam wa minka’l-salam tabarakta ya dhal-jalali wa’l-ikram” (O Allah, You are peace and from you is all peace, blessed are You, O possessor of majesty and honor) once. (Muslim)
The three words “subhanAllah, alhamdulillah, and Allahu Akbar” are so significant that:
Narrated Abu Huraira: Some poor people came to the Prophet and said, "The wealthy people will get higher grades and will have permanent enjoyment and they pray like us and fast as we do. They have more money by which they perform the Hajj, and 'Umra; fight and struggle in Allah's Cause and give in charity." The Prophet (S) said, "Shall I not tell you a thing upon which if you acted you would catch up with those who have surpassed you? Nobody would overtake you and you would be better than the people among whom you live except those who would do the same. Say "SubhanAllah", "Alhamdu- lillah" and "Allahu Akbar" thirty three times each after every (compulsory) prayer."
*The sunnah is to count with the fingertips of your right hand by putting them on the palm of the same hand.
Benefits of dhikr
First and foremost, it prevents you from sinning! If you keep mentioning Allah with your tongue, there will come a time when your tongue will remind your heart of Allah. A person who keeps reminding himself/herself of Allah, has no time to do deeds that are displeasing to Him. Also, the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) says “Remember Allah during times of ease and He will remember you during times of difficulty” (Tirmidhi). Anytime you make dhikr of Allah, you feel serenity and peace in your heart. That serenity can’t be compared to anything of this world. People chase so many things in this world, just to feel a sense of peace. They go after the latest fads and chase temporary, worldly amusements, but for the believer it is as simple as making dhikr. Another great benefit of dhikr is that it protects you from Shaytan. This is such a great benefit that when Ibn-al-Qayim heard of this, he said, If this is the only virtue then this is enough.” Umar (radyAllahu ‘anhu) would always make dhikr and the Shaytan would run away from him.
Now, I want you to imagine something beautiful: Allah remembering you. How can anything of this world even compare to that? In this beautiful Hadith Qudsi, Allah (swt) says “I am to my servant as he expects of Me, I am with him when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me in his heart, I remember him to Myself, and if he remembers Me in an assembly, I mention him in an assembly better than his…” (Bukhari and Muslim) One of the beautiful things about dhikr is that it connects you with Allah all the time. There is dhikr to say when you leave your house, when you see something good, and when you see something bad. When it is raining or there is thunder, there is something to say. These daily adhkar keep the heart soft and keep you in constant remembrance of Allah (swt).
A man came to the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and said “O Rasulullah, the laws and conditions of Islam have become too many for me. Tell me something that I can always keep.” The Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi was sallam) said, “Keep your tongue always moist with dhikrullah.” (Tirmidhi)
Want to get a great amount of reward in a short amount of time? Easy, occupy your tongue with the dhikr of Allah! Dhikr is to remember Allah by thinking about Him or mentioning His names and attributes or His rulings. The benefits of dhikr are magnificent, but overlooked by so many of us. In so many ahadith our beloved Prophet (sallallhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) mentions dhikr. Did you know that dhikr will elevate your status in the Hereafter more than giving charity or dying for the sake of Allah?
The Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) once asked his companions, “Shall I tell you about the best of all deeds, the best act of piety in the eyes of your Lord, which will elevate you above your status in the Hereafter, and carries more virtue than the spending of gold and silver in the service of Allah or taking part in jihad and slaying or being slain in the path of Allah? The dhikr of Allah.” (Ahmed)
I want you to think about the last time when you just sat there wasting time or waiting for something, or were just simply bored. The Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “The people of paradise will not regret except one thing alone: the hour that passes them by in which they made no remembrance of Allah.” (Bayhaqi in Shu’ab’l-iman) We have so many chances during the day, so many opportunities, to make dhikr. Anytime you’re commuting, walking to class or simply just waiting for someone, make dhikr! Any chance you get, make dhikr!
Ways of dhikr: what are some different types of dhikr?
Would you like a palm tree to be built for you in Jannah? Simple, make dhikr! “For him who says: Subhanallahi wa bi hamdihi (Allah is free form imperfection, and His is the praise),’ a palm tree will be planted in Jannah.” (Tirmidhi) Did you also know that simply reading Surat’l- Ikhlas, according to a Hadith in Bukari, is equal to reading 1/3rd of the Quran!
There are also some great ways to do dhikr after you have finished praying. When the Prophet (pbuh) used to finish his prayer he would say “Astaghfirullah” (I seek Allah’s forgiveness) 3 times, and “Allahumma anta’l-salam wa minka’l-salam tabarakta ya dhal-jalali wa’l-ikram” (O Allah, You are peace and from you is all peace, blessed are You, O possessor of majesty and honor) once. (Muslim)
The three words “subhanAllah, alhamdulillah, and Allahu Akbar” are so significant that:
Narrated Abu Huraira: Some poor people came to the Prophet and said, "The wealthy people will get higher grades and will have permanent enjoyment and they pray like us and fast as we do. They have more money by which they perform the Hajj, and 'Umra; fight and struggle in Allah's Cause and give in charity." The Prophet (S) said, "Shall I not tell you a thing upon which if you acted you would catch up with those who have surpassed you? Nobody would overtake you and you would be better than the people among whom you live except those who would do the same. Say "SubhanAllah", "Alhamdu- lillah" and "Allahu Akbar" thirty three times each after every (compulsory) prayer."
*The sunnah is to count with the fingertips of your right hand by putting them on the palm of the same hand.
Benefits of dhikr
First and foremost, it prevents you from sinning! If you keep mentioning Allah with your tongue, there will come a time when your tongue will remind your heart of Allah. A person who keeps reminding himself/herself of Allah, has no time to do deeds that are displeasing to Him. Also, the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) says “Remember Allah during times of ease and He will remember you during times of difficulty” (Tirmidhi). Anytime you make dhikr of Allah, you feel serenity and peace in your heart. That serenity can’t be compared to anything of this world. People chase so many things in this world, just to feel a sense of peace. They go after the latest fads and chase temporary, worldly amusements, but for the believer it is as simple as making dhikr. Another great benefit of dhikr is that it protects you from Shaytan. This is such a great benefit that when Ibn-al-Qayim heard of this, he said, If this is the only virtue then this is enough.” Umar (radyAllahu ‘anhu) would always make dhikr and the Shaytan would run away from him.
Now, I want you to imagine something beautiful: Allah remembering you. How can anything of this world even compare to that? In this beautiful Hadith Qudsi, Allah (swt) says “I am to my servant as he expects of Me, I am with him when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me in his heart, I remember him to Myself, and if he remembers Me in an assembly, I mention him in an assembly better than his…” (Bukhari and Muslim) One of the beautiful things about dhikr is that it connects you with Allah all the time. There is dhikr to say when you leave your house, when you see something good, and when you see something bad. When it is raining or there is thunder, there is something to say. These daily adhkar keep the heart soft and keep you in constant remembrance of Allah (swt).
InshaAllah, this week, let’s strive to make dhikr a priority and a habit that can improve the overall quality of our lives and akhirah. As Shaykh Waleed Basyouni said, “A heart without dhikr is like a fish without water.”
May we be amongst those people who Allah mentions in the Qur’an: “who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], “Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire.” (Qur’an, 3:191)
May we be amongst those people who Allah mentions in the Qur’an: “who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], “Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire.” (Qur’an, 3:191)