The Excellence of Dhikr [Remembrance of Allah]

One of the best and easy righteous deeds that draw a Muslim near his Lord (Glory be to Him) is the remembrance of Allah.

Allah (Exalted be He) mentioned in His Book those who remember Him in the most beautiful descriptions. Allah (Exalted be He) says: “Verily, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding. * Those who remember Allâh (always, and in prayers) standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth, (saying): “Our Lord! YGou have not created (all) this without purpose, glory to You! (Exalted are You above all that they associate with You as partners). Give us salvation from the torment of the Fire.” [Surat Al `Imran: 190-191].

Allah explained in another Ayah the Excellence of Dhikr and that Dhikr comforts the hearts of the believers. Allah (Exalted be He) says: "Those who believed (in the Oneness of Allâh? Islâmic Monotheism), and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allâh: verily, in the remembrance of Allâh do hearts find rest." [Surat Ar-Ra`d: 28].

Allah made the reward of those who remember Him frequently is to remember them as well. Is there anything better than Allah (Glory be to Him) when He remembers His Believing Servant? Allah (Exalted be He) says: "Therefore remember Me (by praying, glorifying), I will remember you, and be grateful to Me (for My countless Favors on you) and never be ungrateful to Me." [Surat Al Baqarah: 152].

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Allah (may He be Glorified and Exalted) says: "I am just as My slave thinks I am, (i.e. I am able to do for him what he thinks I can do for him) and I am with him if He remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I too, remember him in Myself; and if he remembers Me in a group of people, I remember him in a group that is better than they; and if he comes one span nearer to Me, I go one cubit nearer to him."[1]

Ibn Al Qayyim (may Allah be merciful with him) said: “If there is no benefit for Dhikr except that benefit which was mentioned in the Hadith, it will be sufficient and an honor.”[2]

Look at this amazing Hadith concerning the excellence of Dhikr and those who remember Allah frequently:

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Shall I inform you of the best of your actions which are the purest to your Rubb, which exalt you to the high ranks, which are more efficacious than spending gold and silver (in charity), and better for you than you should encounter your enemies whom you will smite their necks and they will smite your necks?'' They said, "Certainly.'' He (peace be upon him) said, "Remembrance of Allah the Exalted.”[3]

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was walking on his way to Makkah and passed by a mountain that was called Jamadan." He said: " Walk, this is Jamadan which exceeded the Mufridun." They said: "O Messenger of Allah, what is the Mufridun? He said: "Those who remember Allah frequently."[4]

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "That I sit in the company of the people who remember Allah the Exalted from morning prayer till the sun rises is clearer to me than that I emancipate four slaves from the children of Isra'il, and that I sit with the people who remember Allah from afternoon prayer till the sun sets is dearer to me than that I emancipate four slaves."[5]

Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Those who remember Allah frequently gained the whole reward."[6]

Abu Ad-Darda' (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Everything has something to clear it and the clearance of the hearts is the remembrance of Allah (Glory be to Him)."[7]

Ibn Taymiyah, the Shaykh of Islam said: "Dhikr for the heart is like water to fish. What would be the state of the fish if it misses water?"[8]

Ibn Al Qayyim said: "The best words of Dhikr and the most useful is when the heart and the tongue do together, match the Prophetic Dhikr, and the one who remembers Allah reflects in its meanings and purposes."[9]

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “He who uttered these words: There is no god but Allah, the One, having no partner with Him. Sovereignty belongs to Him and all the praise is due to Him, and He is Potent over everything" one hundred times every day there is a reward of emancipating ten slaves for him, and there are recorded hundred virtues to his credit, and hundred vices are blotted out from his scroll, and that is a safeguard for him against the Satan on that day till evening and no one brings anything more excellent than this, except one who has done more than this (who utters these words more than one hundred times and does more good acts) and he who utters: Glory be to Allah, and all praise is due to Him, one hundred times a day, his sins are obliterated even if they are equal to the extent of the foam of the ocean.”[10]

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that some poor people came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) 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 ‘Umrah; fight and struggle in Allah’s Cause and give in charity.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) 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 amongst whom you live except those who would do the same. Say “Sub-han-Al Lah”, “Alhamdu-lillah” and “Allahu Akbar” thirty three times each after every (compulsory) prayer.” We differed and some of us said that we should say, “Subhan-Al Lah” thirty three times and “Alhamdu lillah” thirty three times and “Allahu Akbar” thirty four times. I went to the Prophet (peace be upon him) who said, “Say, “Subhan-Al Lah” and “Alhamdu lillah” and “Allahu Akbar” all together for thirty three times.”[11]

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) as saying: “The uttering of (these words): Glory be to Allah; all praise is due to Allah, there is no god but Allah and Allah is the Greatest, is dearer to me than anything over which the sun rises.”[12]

Allah commanded His Believing Servants with remembering Allah frequently. Allah (Exalted be He) says: "O you who believe! Remember Allâh with much remembrance. * And glorify His Praises morning and afternoon [the early morning (Fajr) and ‘Asr prayers]." [Surat Al Ahzab: 41-42].

The Prophet (peace be upon him) legislated for his nation the Adhkar (invocations and Remembrances said at certain times on a regular basis) that fill all the times. So, for every case or time there is a special Dhikr: There is a special Dhikr in the morning, in the evening, at sleep, when waking up, at entering the house and going out, at his food and drink, and in other conditions. There is no doubt if a person keeps to these Adhkar, he will be of those who remember Allah frequently. Thereby, he will not be one of those whom Allah describes as hypocrites. Allah says: "Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allâh, but it is He Who deceives them. And when they stand up for As-Salât (the prayer), they stand with laziness and to be seen of men, and they do not remember Allâh but little." [Surat An-Nisa': 142].

Of the general Adhkar that are permissible to be said in all times are: Juwayriyah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) came out from (her apartment) in the morning as she was busy in observing her dawn prayer in her place of worship. He came back in the forenoon and she was still sitting there. He (the Holy Prophet) said to her: “You have been in the same seat since I left you. She said: Yes. Thereupon, Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: I recited four words three times after I left you and if these are to be weighed against what you have recited since morning these would outweigh them and (these words) are: "Hallowed be Allah and praise is due to Him according to the number of His creation and according to the pleasure of His Self and according to the weight of His Throne and according to the ink (used in recording) words (for His Praise)."[13]

Of the Adhkar that are to be said in the morning as well as in the evening and a person may say them whenever he feels his need to Allah's forgiveness is: Shaddad ibn Aws (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The most superior way of asking for forgiveness from Allah is: 'Allahumma anta Rabbi la ilaha illa anta, Anta Khalaqtani wa ana ‘abduka, wa ana 'ala ‘ahdika wa wa'dika mastata'tu, A'udhu bika min Sharri ma sana'tu, abu'u Laka bini'matika 'alaiya, wa Abu’u Laka bidhanbi faghfirli innahu la yaghfiru adhdhunuba illa anta."

The Prophet (peace be upon him) added. "If somebody recites it during the day with firm faith in it, and dies on the same day before the evening, he will be from the people of Paradise; and if somebody recites it at night with firm faith in it, and dies before the morning, he will be from the people of Paradise."[14]

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. May Allah send His peace and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.