Dhikr or Zikr
Dhikr or zikr, literally meaning remembrance. It is a form of Islamic meditation in which phrases or prayers are chanted repeatedly to remember Allah. It plays a central role in Sufi Islam, and each Sufi order usually adopts a specific dhikr, usually accompanied by specific postures, breathing, and movements. In Sufi Islam, dhikr refers to both these acts of remembrance as well as the prayers used in these acts of remembrance. Zikr can be done individually or as a collective group. It can be counted on a set of prayer beads or with the fingers of the hand. A person who recites dhikr is called dhakir or Zakir, literally called "one who remembers." The content of the prayer includes the name of Allah or a dua (prayer of supplication) taken from the hadith or the Qur'an. Regarding worship and dhikr, Allah says in the Qur'an-
فَاذۡکُرُوۡنِیۡۤ اَذۡکُرۡکُمۡ وَ اشۡکُرُوۡا لِیۡ وَ لَا تَکۡفُرُوۡنِ
That is, remember me and I will remember you and express my gratitude. So Allah says, If you remember, I will also remember you. In fact, it is a great benefit of the remembrance of Allah. If Allah remembers me, what can be more fortunate than that?
The Messenger of Allah, peace, and blessings be upon him, said: The likeness of the one who remembers and the one who does not remember is like the living and the dead. (Bukhari: 208)
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On the authority of Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA), the Prophet (S.A.W.) said, “Allah says, “I am in accord with the feelings of my servant toward Me. When he remembers Me, I remember him. If he remembers me on an occasion, I also remember him on a better occasion. If he remembers me in my heart, I remember him in my heart. If he comes to me half a hand, I go forward one hand. If he comes one hand, I go two hands. If he walks towards me, I run.'' (Bukhari, Muslim)
In another hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: Shall I inform you of a good deed that is more holy to your Lord, more helpful in raising your status, better for you than spending gold and silver, better than dealing with enemy giving and receiving necks? They said, yes you must. He said, Zikrullah. (Tirmidhi: 5/459)
Those who will go to paradise smiling
Those whose tongues are refreshed by the remembrance of Allah, will go to Paradise smiling, said Prophet (saw). How great is the dignity and virtue of the dhakir or Zakir? Zikr is such special nafl worship that there is no fixed time for it. A believer can recite zikr whenever he wants. And in exchange for this dhikr, he will go to paradise with a smile.
It should be remembered that the heart in which there is the dhikr of Allah is a living heart, and a heart without dhikr is equal to a dead heart. If the tongue is fresh in dhikr, only the slave can go to paradise with a smile.
Not only that, the dhikr cannot be easily led by Shaytaan to evil deeds. As the dhakir or Zakir keeps on dhikr, the fun of sinning in his heart is gradually lost. He became interested in good work. The joy of goodness in the heart of the devotee slowly increased.
Types of Dhikr
This Dhikr or Zikr can be done at any time. There are generally three types of Zikir or Dhikr.
i. Zikir Lisani or Verbal Zikir.
ii. Zikir Kalbi or sincere Zikir.
iii. Zikir Amali or Zikir in practice.
Practical Dhikr is the remembrance of Allah through real actions. Implementation of Allah's commands and prohibitions is also the dhikr of Allah. Allah Ta'ala has said to remember him 40 times in the Qur'an. Allah Ta'ala says, O believers, remember Allah more and more.’
Istegfar is the best form of remembrance of Allah. Through this, the servant becomes ashamed of Allah, seeks forgiveness, repents, and turns from wrongdoing to the right path. As a result, Allah Ta'ala increases the sustenance of the servant of the world. Regarding Istegfar, Allah Ta'ala says, 'Ask forgiveness from your Lord, surely He is forgiving. Istegfar should be done to forgive one's sins. If someone makes an integral for the purpose of increasing sustenance, his istegfar will not be accepted. The servant will beg for forgiveness in the court of Allah Ta'ala, being ashamed of his sins and his disobedience. Then Allah will forgive him and increase his sustenance.
Among the best dhikr of Allah, another dhikr is the Kalema dhikr of words. That is, the dhikr of 'La ilaha illallah'. It has been mentioned in the hadith-
i. On the authority of Hazrat Jabir Ibn Abdullah, the Messenger of Allah, May God bless him and grant him peace, said, The best dhikr is 'La ilaha illallah' and the best supplication is 'Al-Hamdulillah'. (Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, Nasa'i, Ibn Hibban)
ii. On the authority of Hazrat Mu'adh (RA), the Messenger of Allah, may God bless him and grant him peace, said, "Whoever says 'La ilaha illallah' with sincerity in his heart will enter Paradise. (Musnode Ahmad)
iii. On the authority of Hazrat Itban bin Malik (RA), the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Whoever says 'La ilaha illallah' to please Allah alone, he will appear on the Day of Resurrection in such a way that Hell has become haram for him. (Bukhari-Muslim, Musnad Ahmad)
iv. Narrated by Hazrat Anas (RA), Prophet(saw) said, On the Day of Resurrection, Allah Ta'ala will say, O Muhammad! Admit to Paradise a person from among your ummah among the creation who testifies sincerely that there is no god but Allah and dies on it. (Musnad Ahmad)
'La hawla wala kuwayata illa billah also this is dhikr. It is in Hadith Sharif, it is one of the treasures of Paradise. It should be read 100 times daily. All this is the remembrance of Allah Almighty. The great Lord declared-
'Remember me, I will remember you.'
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