Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
Zikr is every saying, action, and thinking, which make a Muslim remember his Lord and staying away from forgetting Him. Therefore, Zikr in general covers all these things.
A. Remembering Allah (S.W.T.) by saying includes: Qur'anic recitation, La-illaha-ilaAllah, Allahu-Akbar, Alhamdu-lillah, Subhana-Allah, asking Allah (S.W.T) for forgiveness, and As-salatu upon the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.). Also all supplications, preaching and teaching the people their deen and what benefits them in their worldly life, and commanding people to do good and avoid evil.
B. Remembering Allah (S.W.T.) by action includes: Establishing all pillars of Islam (Prayer, Fasting, zakat, hajj), al-jihad in the sake of Allah, working hard to reestablish Islamic State. Also, visiting the sick, participating in Islamic funeral, and all other services to the Muslim community.
C. Remembering Allah (S.W.T.) by thinking includes:
1.Thinking about Allah (S.W.T.)'s creations, which leads to the increase of Iman. Thinking about Death and the hereafter. Also, understanding the immense difference between the Creator and Creation. This understanding leads us to obey the commands of Allah (swt) without questioning because the human mind is a creation and hence cannot be equal to the Creator. Hence we use the mind as a tool, not as a reference. On the contrary, in the Capitalist ideology sovereignty belongs to the people, and that the human being is the one who sets the system, the human mind is the source for solutions to life's problems, and the criterion and the standard of right/wrong is set by the human being. Such a foundation directly elevates human beings to the level of a Creator and thus ridiculing the immense demarcation of Creator and Creation.
It is clear from what was mentioned before, that Zikr-ul-Allah is a very general meaning, that will cover all aspects of a Muslims life, without any limitation in specific time, places, or situations.
This very general meaning of Zikr, can be understood from looking at the meaning of many Qura'nic verses and authentic sayings of the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.).
In a Qudsi hadith reported by Imam Bukhari and Muslim, that the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) that Allah (S.W.T.) said, ''I treat my servant according to his expectations from Me, and I am with him when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I remember him in Myself; if he remembers Me in a gathering, I remember him in a better and nobler gathering.''
Imam Muslim related that the prophet (S.A.W.) said, ''The Muffarridoon are ahead (will be rewarded more and first) ''. The companions then said Oh messenger of Allah, ''Who are the Muffarridoune?'' Then the prophet (S.A.W.) said, ''Men and Women who remember Allah (S. W. T) a lot.''
To bring up the importance of Zikr in the Muslim's life, the prophet (S.A.W.) compared the one who remembers Allah (S.W.T.) as the living one and the one who forgets Allah (S.W.T.) as the dead one. Imam Bukhari reported that the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) said, ''Who remembers Allah (S.W. T.), and who does not, are as different as one who is alive from who is dead '' According to this hadith how many Muslims, today, are really dead from this point of view.
Zikr of Allah (S.W.T) is a protection of the believer from Allah (S.W.T)'s punishment. Imam Ahmad reported that the prophet (S.A.W.) said, ''Nothing in what a human being does is more saving him from Allah (S. W. T)'s punishment then Zikr of Allah.''
Zikr of Allah (S.W.T) sets tranquillity in the heart of the believer, whereas forgets Allah (S.W.T) sets stress and disturbance. Allah (S.W.T) said in surat Rai'd, (verse 28),. what can be translated as, ''Those who believe (in the ones of Allah), and whose hearts find tranquillity in the remembrance of Allah. Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find tranquillity.''
Mujahid, one of the famous scholars among the tabi'een (the generation that came after the companions) said, ''The one will not be considered among those who remember Allah (S.W.T) much until he of she remembers Allah while standing, sitting or in any situation.'' He proved this by surat Al-Imaran, (Verse 9), what can be translated as, ''Those who remember Allah standing (e.g. working, shopping...etc), sitting (e.g. at the cafe, while surfing on the net...etc), and lying down on their sides.''(Meaning that we adhere to Ahkam Shariah while undertaking any action)
lbin Abbas (RA) said that whenever Allah (S.W.T) orders us to do something, He (S.W.T) legislates it into limits with the option of not to do it if certain specific circumstances occur. This is true for all Islamic legislation but the one of Zikr. In legislating Zikr, Allah (S.W.T) did not put any limit or leave any option and He (S.W.T) did not excuse anybody from doing it. ''Celebrate God's praises, standing, sitting down, or lying on your sides.'' (Verse 103) of surat An-Nissa'.
That is how the real Muslims who came before us understood Zikr and cared for it. The consequences of Zikr should be reflected in our thinking. The way we think determines our outlook, the culture we choose to adopt, the standards we adhere to, sources we refer to for solutions and answers, and the manner in which we deal with issues. Also, the correct thinking will lead us to refer to the correct sources for our actions and will lead us to adopt the correct methodology for changing our situation and resolving our issues.
He (S.W.T) says in warning us from forgetting Him in surat Az-Zukhrouf, (Verses 36 and 37), what can be translated as, ''And whosoever turns away from the remembrance of the Most Beneficent (Allah), We appoint for him Satan (devil) to be a Qarin (an intimate companion) to him. And verily, they (Satans/devils) hinder them from the path (of Allah), but they think that they are guided aright!''
And those who forget Allah (S.W.T) and do not remember Him, Allah (S.W.T) will let them forget themselves and therefore loose themselves. He (S.W.T.) says in surat Al-Hejr, (Verse 19), what can be translated as, ''And do not be like those who forgot Allah and He caused them to forget their own selves, those are the fasiqoon (rebellious, disobedient to Allah).''
As Islam is a practical system revealed by Allah to be implemented according to the specific method prescribed by Him (swt), the consequences of zikr should hasten us to implement Islam in all aspects of our lives.
AdduOnline.com
The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa'sallam said:
"The Muslim is a unique Ummah among the whole of mankind:
Their Land is ONE, their War is ONE, their Peace is ONE,
Their Honour is ONE and their Trust is ONE."
[Ahmad]
"The Muslim is a unique Ummah among the whole of mankind:
Their Land is ONE, their War is ONE, their Peace is ONE,
Their Honour is ONE and their Trust is ONE."
[Ahmad]
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