“O Lord, grant me your love, grant me that I love those who love you; grant me, that I might do the deeds that win your love. Make your love dearer to me than the love of myself, my family and wealth.” (Tirmidhi)
By: Aijaz Ahmad Bhat
Dhikr meaning “Remembrance” is the devotional act in Islam in which short Duas and prayers are recited repeatedly to remember Allah (SWT). Dhikr is a very powerful and simple way to worship Allah (SWT) when we have a lack of time, which carries many benefits and virtues.
‘In today’s world of 21st century, the peace of mind and heart is in crises due to speed and complicacies of life. If someone wants tranquility and peace of heart he/she could get it in the remembrance of Allah (SWT).
Allah Almighty says in Holy Quran:
(أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّـهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ)
(Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.)-(Qur’an 13: 28)
Truthfulness is beloved by Allah and is purifying soap for the heart. And there is no deed that gives such pleasure to the heart, or has greater reward, than the remembrance of Allah.
(فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ )
(So remember Me and I will remember you) – (Qur’an 2: 152)
Remembrance of Allah is His paradise on earth, and whoever does not enter it will not enter the Paradise of the Hereafter. Remembrance is not only a safe haven from the problems and worries of this world, but it is also the short and easy path to achieving ultimate success. Read the various revealed texts that refer to the remembrance of Allah, and you will appreciate its benefits.
When you remember Allah, clouds of worry and fear are driven away, and the mountains that make up your problems are blown away.
We should not be surprised when we hear that people who remember Allah are at peace. What is truly surprising is how the negligent and unmindful survive without remembering Him.
(وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ أَيَّانَ يُبْعَثُونَ أَمْوَاتٌ غَيْرُ أَحْيَاء)
([They are] dead, lifeless, and they know not when they will be raised up.) (Qur’an 16: 21)
O’ whosoever complains of sleepless nights and is in shock over his misfortune, call out His Holy Name.
(هَلْ تَعْلَمُ لَهُ سَمِيًّا)
(Do you know of any that is similar to Him! [There is nothing like unto Him and He is the All-Hearer; the All-Seer]) – (Qur’an 19: 65)
To the degree that you remember Allah, your heart will be calm and cheerful. His remembrance carries with it the meaning of total dependence upon Him, of turning to Him for aid, of having good thoughts about Him, and of waiting for victory from Him. Truly, He is near when supplicated: He hears when He is called and He answers when He is invoked, so humble yourself before Him and ask of Him sincerely. Repeat His beautiful blessed name, and mention Him as being alone worthy of worship. Mention His praises, supplicate to Him, and ask forgiveness from Him: you will then find – by the will of Allah- happiness, peace, and illumination.
(فَآتَاهُمُ اللَّـهُ ثَوَابَ الدُّنْيَا وَحُسْنَ ثَوَابِ الْآخِرَةِ)
(So Allah gave them the reward of this world and the excellent reward of the Hereafter) (Quran 3: 148)
The name of Allah (sw) and his remembrance is the ultimate way to achieve satisfaction in today’s world of materialism. The way there is number of cleansers for the body and clothes like soap, a Hadith says the cleanser for the heart is Allah’s remembrance. This Hadith signifies the superiority of Allah’s remembrance which the most effective cleanser for the heart.
Interestingly the cleanliness of the heart is responsible for the Ikhlas (sincerity) which is the foundation of the worship. The Hadith suggests that the remembrance means the remembrance by tongue and remembrance by heart.
The remembrance by heart means its attention towards Allah all the time, which is the essence of all the worships. Worth to mention, that in such state of mind no worship would be ignored by Allah almighty.
Somebody asked Hazrat Salman (R.A) about the greatest act. He replied, “Have you not read the Quran?. The Quran says Allah’s remembrance is the greatest”.
The remembrance by heart means “Meditation and thinking of heart”. The hadith says that a little thinking (about Allah) is better than seventy year of worship.
According to a hadith narrated by Sahl (R.A), the remembrance of Allah becomes seventy hundred thousand times more virtuous than to spend (money) in the path of Allah.
Dhikr of Allah Almighty removes the worries and sadness from one’s heart. Those who remember Allah (SWT) the feelings of calmness, tranquility and happiness will penetrate on their heart.
In short, remembering Allah (SWT) is one of the virtuous acts of worship through which one can achieve tranquility, rest and peace of mind and heart. May Allah gives us the strength to do Dhikr regularly and can get Allah Almighty blessings. Ameen!
Aijaz Ahmad Bhat is principal at Model Public School in Sopore. For feedback he can be reached at: abuqareenah@gmail.com
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