Remembering of Allāh

Remembering of Allāh

In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful;

All the praise and thanks is due to Allāh, the Lord of al-`ālameen. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allāh, and that Muhammad, Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam is His Messenger.

Dzikir a supererogatory act which helps the person get closer to Allāh. But it would be a sin if he leaves any of the Dzikir that should be said in the Solāt like the Dzikir during the Ruku, the Sujud, the Tashahhud and invoking blessing on the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam). Allāh Subhānahu wa ta`ala tells us to do as much dzikir as it helps a person to be closer to Allāh and provides a lot of benefits do daily life and in the Hereafter.

Allāh Almighty Says: 

• "O you who believe! Remember Allāh with much remembrance. And glorify His Praises morning and afternoon [the early morning (Fajr) and `Asr prayers].'' (Al-Ahzāb, 33:41,42)
• “… and the men and the women who remember Allāh much with their hearts and tongues (while sitting, standing, lying, etc. for the remembrance of Allāh during the five compulsory congregational prayers or praying extra additional Nawafil prayers of night in the last part of night, etc.) Allāh has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise).” [Al-Ahzab, 33:35].
• "And remember your Rabb by your tongue and within yourself, humbly and with fear and without loudness in words, in the mornings and in the afternoons, and be not of those who are neglectful.'' (7:205)
• "And remember Allāh much, that you may be successful.'' (Al-Jumaah, 62:10)
• "Verily, the Muslims (those who submit to Allāh in Islam) men and women... (up to)... And the men and the women who remember Allāh much with their hearts and tongues. Allāh has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward (i.e., Jannah).'' (Al-Ahzāb, 33:35)
• “O you who believe! When you meet (an enemy) force, take a firm stand against them and remember the Name of Allâh much (both with tongue and mind), so that you may be successful.” [Al-Anfal, 8: 45]. 

The person has to do as much Dzikir as he can as this will give him great benefits and profits in this life and the Hereafter. Some scholars believe that there numerous such as mentioned by Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullāh) in book "Al-Wabil Al-Sayib".

Dzikir a supererogatory act which helps the person get closer to Allāh. But the person commits a sin if he leaves any of the Dzikir that should be said in the solāt like the Dzikir during the Ruku’, the Sujud, the Tashahhud and invoking blessing on the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) as stated by the  scholars.

The benefits of mentioning Allāh that the slave will harvest in this world as well as the Hereafter:

1. The seeds of the Paradise is Dzikirullah.

Ibn Mas`ud (radiyallāhu`anhu) narrated that Allāh's Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said:

“I met Ibrāhīm (`alaihissalam) on the Night of Isra’ and Al- Mi’raj [i.e., The Night of Ascension]. He said: ‘Convey my greetings to your nation, O Muhammad, and tell them that Jannah has a vast plain of pure soil and sweet water. It is a plain levelled land, treeless plain and the seeds are: ‘Subhān Allāh (Glory be to Allāh)’, ‘Al-Hamdulillāh (All praise is due to Allāh), ‘Lā Ilāha illallāh (There is none worthy of worship but Allāh)’; and ‘Allāhu Akbar (Allāh is the Greatest).’”

[At-Tirmidzi in his takhrij in his Jami’ says:  “Then say: `Lā hawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh (There is no change of a condition nor power except by Allāh) in the same manner.'']

[This is recorded by At-Tirmidzi (3462): Hasan Gharib]

Abu Musa (radiyallāhu`anhu) narrated: The Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said to me, "Shall I not guide you to a treasure from the Treasures of Jannah?'' I said: "Yes, O Messenger of Allāh!'' Thereupon he (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said, "(Recite) ‘Lā hawla wa lā quwwata illa billāh’ (There is no change of a condition nor power except by Allāh).'' [This is recorded by Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Abu Hurairah (radiyallāhu’anhu) reported: The Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said, "He who recites after every solah: Subhān-Allāh (Allāh is free from imperfection) thirty-three times; Al-hamdu lillah (praise be to Allāh) thirty-three times; Allāhu Akbar (Allāh is Greatest) thirty-three times; and completes the hundred with: Lā ilaha ill Allāhu wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu, wa Huwa `ala kulli shai'iñ Qadīr (There is no true god except Allāh. 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.''

[This is recorded by Muslim]

Abu Hurairah (radiyallāhu`anhu) reported: The Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said, "The uttering of the words: "Subhān-Allāh (Allāh is free from imperfection), Al-hamdu lillāh (all praise is due to Allāh), Lā ilaha illallāh (There is no true god except Allāh) and Allāhu Akbar (Allāh is the Greatest)' is dearer to me than anything over which the sun rises.''

[This is recorded by Muslim]

Commentary:  This Hadith highlights the fact that the formulas which mention the Praise and Glory of Allāh, His Majesty and Oneness are liked by the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) more than anything in the world, because this is one of the virtues which will survive and will be rewarded, while the world and all that it has will perish.

Abu Hurairah (radiyallāhu’anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said: “He who says: `Subhān-Allāhi wa bihamdihi, Subhān-Allāhil-Azeem (Glory be to Allāh, and to Him belongs all praise Glory is to Allāh, the Greatest devoid of imperfection)’; his sins will be forgiven, even if they were like the foam of the sea. (Tirmidzi Says: “Allāh wipes out sin.”)

[This is recorded by At-Tirmidzi: Sahih.]

Abu Hurairah (radiyallāhu’anhu) reported: The Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said: "There are two statements that are light for the tongue to remember, heavy in the Scales and are dear to the Merciful: `Subhān-Allāhi wa bihamdihi, Subhān-Allāhil-Azeem (Glory is to Allāh and to Him is the praise, Glory is to Allāh, the Greatest devoid of imperfection)'.''

[This is recorded by Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Commentary: This Hadith affirms that man's actions carry weight. On the Day of Judgement, his actions will be cast into the Balance. At that time Allāh will endow these actions with weight, or according to some scholars, those records which register man's actions will be weighed. This is quite possible for the reason that Almighty Allāh is Capable of weighing things without even their physical form. This discussion apart, when actions will be cast into the Balance, the formula mentioned in the Hadith, the utterance of which is very easy, will prove weighty. Every Muslim should make it a practice to repeat them frequently.

Abu Hurairah (radiyallāhu`anhu) reported: The Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said, "He who recites in the morning and in the evening the statement: “Subhān-Allāhi wa bihamdihi, Subhān-Allāhil-Azeem”(Glory is to Allāh and to Him is the praise, Glory is to Allāh, the Greatest devoid of imperfection)” one hundred times, will not be surpassed on the Day of Resurrection by anyone with better deeds than one who utters the same words or utters more of these words.''

[This is recorded by Muslim]

2. The continuous mentioning of Allāh by His slaves protects them from being neglected by Allāh, which is the direct cause of their misery in this world and the Hereafter.

Forgetting Allāh leads to forgetting one’s own self and what benefits it, as Allāh Says:

“And be not like those who forgot Allāh, so He made them forget themselves. Those are the defiantly disobedient.”

[Al-Hashar, 59: 19]

By forgetting one’s own soul, a person becomes oblivious of taking care of its interests, which inevitably causes its degradation and destruction. Had there been no other benefit of mentioning Allāh than guarding oneself against this, it would have been reason enough. Whoever forgets Allāh Almighty will be made to forget his own soul in this world, and the Lord will leave him in the torture of the Hellfire in the Hereafter; Allāh Says: “And whoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e. neither believes in this Quran nor acts on its orders, etc.)  – indeed, he will have a depressed [i.e., difficult] life, and We will gather [i.e., rise] him on the Day of Resurrection blind. He will say: 'My Lord! Why have you raised me blind while I was [once] seeing?' [Allāh] will say: 'Thus did Our signs come to you, and you forgot [i.e., disregarded] them; and thus will you this Day be forgotten.'" [Ta-Ha, 20: 124-126] Meaning, such a slave will be forgotten in the torment just as he forgets the Lord’s proofs, verses, signs and revelations, neither reciting them nor acting upon them. The depressed and difficult life mentioned in the verses refers to the difficulties, privation and sufferings he will face in this world, the grave and the Hereafter. Opposite of this is what the righteous people will lead, which is a happy life in this world, the grave and the Hereafter;

Allāh Says:

“Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer – We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do.”

 [Al-Nahl, 16: 97]

This applies both to his stay in the grave as well as the Hereafter.

Speaking about his teacher Imam Ibn Taymiyyah, Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim said: “Allāh is my witness that I have never seen anyone living in a better condition than him, despite the hardships he faced including lack of welfare, imprisonment, constant threat, and exhaustive suffering. He was very tranquil (in his heart), optimistic, cheerful and radiant.”

3. The mentioning of Allāh is a deed that has a unique and distinctive sweet taste that other good deeds cannot come close to producing.

Malik bin Dīnār said: “Nobody ever found more sweetness and enjoyment than in mentioning Allāh.” 

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim (rahimahullāh) said: “I heard Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullāh) saying: ‘There is a [means to] Paradise in this worldly life (i.e. the mention of Allāh); he, who does not enter it (i.e. the mention of Allāh), will not enter the Paradise of the Hereafter’”.  Ibn Al-Qayyim (rahimahullāh) also quoted Ibn Taymiyyah as saying: “What can my enemies do to me? My Paradise (i.e. the mentioning of Allāh) is in my heart; it moves with me wherever I go. Imprisonment for me is a religious retreat. To kill and be killed (for me) is martyrdom, and to be expelled to another land is a spiritual journey" and also: "If I were to pay them (i.e., his enemies who imprisoned him) as much as the weight of this fortress (where he was imprisoned) in gold, that would still not repay them for the great favour they have done to me by imprisoning me; they cannot realise the great benefit I have gained from being in seclusion.”

4. It is a light for the one who mentions Allāh in this worldly life, in his grave and on the Day of Resurrection.

It will illuminate his way on the Sirat (i.e. the bridge over Hell) to pass it easily; Allāh Says:

“And is the one who was dead and We gave him life and made for him light by which to walk among the people like one who is in darkness, never to emerge there from?...”

[Al-An’am, 6: 122]

The first person mentioned in the verse is he who mentions Allāh and is thus granted the light of faith and the love of Allāh, while the second is he who is heedless of doing so.

5. It makes the person closer to Allāh and worthy of His love, support, and company.

Allāh says in a Qudsi narration:

“I am with My slave when he mentions Me and his lips move with utterance of Me.”

[This is recorded by Al-Bukhari]

6. It is superior to spending in charity for the sake of Allāh and better than fighting Jihad.

Abu Ad-Darda’ (radiallāhu`anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) said:

“Shall I not inform you of the best of your deeds which are the purest to your Lord, which exalt you to the highest ranks, which are more efficacious than spending gold and silver (in charity), and better for you than encountering your enemies whose necks you will smite and who will smite your necks?” The people replied: "Certainly!'' He (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: “The mentioning of Allāh the Exalted.”

[This is recorded by At-Tirmidzi]

7. It is the highest form of expressing gratitude; one who does not mention Allāh is certainly of the ungrateful.

Mu`adz bin Jabal (radiyallāhu`anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) once held him by the hand and said: “O Mu`adz! I swear by Allāh that I love you. I advise you not to miss supplicating after every solāt saying:  ‘Allāhumma a`inni `alāā dzikrika, wa shukrika, wa husni `ibadatika.’ (O Allāh! Assist me in mentioning You, expressing gratitude to You, and worshiping You in the finest manner).”

[This is recorded by Abu Dawud; An-Nasā`ie]

Here, the Prophet (Sallallāhu`alayhi wasallam) combined between gratitude and the mentioning of Allāh, because they are the means of attaining true felicity.

8. There is hardness in the heart that cannot be melted except by mentioning Allāh the Almighty.

Therefore, the slave must treat his hardened heart by mentioning Him. A man complained of his hard heart to Al-Hasan who responded by saying: “Melt it by mentioning Allāh.”

Hearts are cured by the medicine of mentioning Allāh and sickened by being heedless of and forgetting Him. `Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (radiyallāhu`anhu) said: “Mention Allāh, as it is the ultimate cure.”

Allāh’s blessings are not drawn, nor are His wrath appeased, by anything better than mentioning Him.

Remembrance of Allāh calls for the mercy of Allāh and the supplications of His angels for the one who does so.

Such a person will indeed be amongst the successful; Allāh Almighty Says:

“O, you who believe! Remember Allāh with much remembrance. And exalt Him morning and afternoon. It is He who confers blessing upon you, and His angels [ask Him to do so] that He may bring you out from darkness into the light. And ever is He, to the believers, Merciful.”

[Al-Ahzab, 33: 41-43]

This mercy from Allāh, glory be to Him, and the supplications by His angels for those who frequently mention Him are the means by which they are brought out of darkness into the light, which entails the attainment of all goodness and the protection from all evil. Woe to those who are forgetful of their Lord, for being deprived of His graces! May Allāh grant us all success in mentioning Him.

9. The assemblies in which Allāh is mentioned are the only ones, anywhere, which the angels attend.

Abu Hurayrah (radiyallāhu`anhu) reported that Allāh's Messenger (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said:

“Allāh has mobile squads of angels who traverse the roads seeking those who mention Him. When they find people doing so, they call one another and say: 'Hasten to what you are looking for!' They then surround them with their wings until the space between them and the sky is full. Allāh the Exalted and Glorious then asks them (although He is best informed about everything): `What are My servants saying?` They reply: `They are glorifying You, celebrating Your praise, recognising Your Oneness, and uttering Your Greatness.` Allāh will say: `Have they ever seen Me?` They say: `No, we swear by Allāh that they have never seen You`. Allāh says: `How would it have been if they saw Me? ` The angels reply: `If they saw You, they would worship You more devoutly and celebrate Your Glory more deeply, and declare Your freedom from any resemblance to anything more often` …” until he said:  “… Then Allāh says: `I make you witnesses that I have forgiven them`. One of the angels then says: `There is someone amongst them, and he is not one of them, but came for some need`. Allāh would say: `These are people whose companions will not suffer from misery.'”

[This is recorded by Al-Bukhari; Muslim]

In this way, the assemblies that contain the mentioning of Allāh are the assemblies of the angels, while those of forgetfulness and heedlessness of Allāh are the assemblies of the devils. Everyone selects his counterpart, whether angelic or devilish. 

10. Allāh the Almighty boasts to the angels about those who remember Him.

Mu`awiyah narrated that the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) came to an assembly in the masjid and said to the people present:

“What makes you sit together?” They replied: “We sat to mention Allāh and praise Him for guiding us to Islam and bestowing His favours upon us.” He said: “I adjure you by Allāh, has anything else made you sit in this way?” They replied: “We swear by Allāh! Nothing made us sit here but that.” He said: “I did not adjure you because I suspected you (of lying), but (the angel) Jibreel came and told me that Allāh was boasting about you to the angels.”

[This is recorded by Muslim]

This boasting is an indication of the lofty rank that mentioning Allāh holds in His sight, and how much it is loved by Him.

11. All righteous deeds were legislated in order to establish the remembrance of Allāh.

As Allāh says: “…Establish prayer for My remembrance.” [Ta-Ha, 20:14], in order to establish My remembrance. Allāh also Says: “Recite, [O Muhammad], what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the mention of Allāh is greater…” [As-Sajdah, 32: 45]

Imam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullāh) said: “The correct way to understand this verse is that solah achieves two great objectives, the first of which is prohibiting immorality and the second being the mentioning of Allāh, which is the greater of the two objectives.”

‘Aishah (radhiallāhu`anha) narrated that the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam) said:

“Circumambulation around the Ka`abah, walking between mount Safa and mount Marwah, and the casting of the stones at the Pillars (during Hajj) was only legislated to establish the mentioning of Allāh.”

[This is recorded by Abu Dawud]

12. Continual remembrance of Allāh can be a substitute for optional acts of worship.

Abu Hurayrah (radiyallāhu`anhu) reported that some of the poor Emigrants came to the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) and said to him:

"The wealthy have obtained the highest ranks and everlasting bliss!" He asked: “How is that?” They replied: "They offer prayers as we do, and observe fasting as we do, but they give in charity and we do not, and they emancipate slaves and we cannot." He (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said: “Shall I not teach you something whereby you will catch up with those who have preceded you and be ahead of those who follow you; something in which no one can better you, unless he does as you do?” They said: "Indeed, O Messenger of Allāh!" He (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) said: "Say: 'Subhānallāh, Al-Hamdu lillah and Allāhu Akbar' (i.e. Glory be to Allāh, All praise is due to Allāh and Allāh is the Greatest) thirty-three times at the end of every solāh.”

[This is recorded by Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Abu Hurairah (radiyallāhu’anhu)  reported: The Messenger of Allah (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, "He who recites after every prayer: Subhān-Allāh (Allah is free from imperfection) thirty-three times; Al-hamdu lillāh (praise be to Allah) thirty-three times; Allāhu Akbar (Allah is Greatest) thirty-three times; and completes the hundred with: Lā ilāha illallāhu, wahdahu lā sharika lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu, wa Huwa ‘ala kulli shai'iñ Qadīr (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.'' [This is recorded by Muslim]

Thus, he made the mention of Allāh make up for whatever deeds they missed out on.

13. It assists one in performing more good deeds and in remaining obedient to Allāh.

`Abdullah bin Bishar (radiallāhu`anhu) reported that one of the Companions said:

"O Messenger of Allāh! There are many injunctions of Islam upon me, so tell me something to which I may hold fast." He (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) replied: “Keep your tongue moist with the remembrance of Allāh.”

[This is recorded by At-Tirmidzi]

The sahabi was not suggesting that the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) should exempt him from his religious obligations; rather, he needed something that would help him perform them all. Therefore, he guided him to what would assist him to perform them and cause him to be keen to adhere to them, thus facilitating their performance. The person who frequently mentions Allāh will love Him and whatever pleases Him, and nothing would then be dearer to him than endeavoring to please his Lord.

Moreover, it keeps one busy from engaging in falsehood, like backbiting, slandering, and idle talk, as when a person does not engage himself in acts of obedience, his soul [desires] will engage him in falsehood. Moreover, it helps prevents a person from being neglectful

And Allāh Almighty knows best.

[Excerpted from the Fatwa Center at Islam web Fatwa No. 84771, 26 Jamadil-Akhir 1423 / 04-09-2002]