Dhikr: Its Virtues and Manners

Allah says: “Therefore remember me, I will remember you and be grateful to me and do not reject faith.” [Surah Al-Baqarah: 152] My Muslim brother, you should know that Allah gives success and reciprocates the reward of those who engage themselves regularly in His remembrance.

And that by staying absorbed in this noble act of Dhikr, one replaces engaging in talk in which there is no benefit with that which is much greater and more rewarding in this world and the next.

And certainly the narrations and the ayah concerning the greatness of Dhikr are many. Allah says: “O you who believe remember Allah with much remembrance, and glorify His praises in the morning and the afternoon.” [Surah Al-Ahzaab: 41-42]

And Allah says: “Those who believe and whose hearts find tranquility in the remembrance of Allah, verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find tranquility.” [Surah Ar-Radd: 28]

And from the Ahadith, on the authority of Abu Hurairah (rady Allaahu anhu), the Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h.) said that Allah said: “Indeed I Am as My servant presumes Me to be. And I Am with him when he remembers Me, so if he remembers Me to himself then I remember him to Myself. And if he remembers Me amongst a company, I remember him amongst a company greater than it and if he draws close to Me a span of a hand I draw near to him the span of an arm. And if he draws near Me the span of an arm, I draw near him the span of two outstretched arms. And if he takes a step towards Me, I quickly step towards him.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

In another Hadith on the authority of Abu Musa al-Ash’aree (radyAllaahu ‘anhu), the Messenger of Allah said: “The comparison of the one who remembers Allah and the one who doesn’t is like that of the living and the dead.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari]

From the mannerisms of Dhikr: It is essential that the one performing Dhikr rectify his heart in that Dhikr, along with his tongue. There is no benefit for the one who makes Dhikr upon the tongue only, while his heart is not in cooperation, reciprocating what is being uttered by the tongue. It is also essential that the one performing the Dhikr knows and understands what he is saying in his supplication and what he is asking for

Allah says: “And remember your Lord with your tongue and within yourself, humbly and with fear and without loud words, in the morning and afternoon and be not of those who are neglectful.” [Surah Al-A’araaf: 205]

By: Shaikh Abdullah Bin Abdur Rahmaan al Jibreen
Source: al-manhaj.com