Allah Almighty is unparalleled in His essence, attributes, and perfections. He tore through the veils of nonexistence to inscribe the magnificent story of existence. He expanded the voids of creation and infused silence with melodious harmony.
With just a single word, “كُن” (Be), He adorned the universe with the garment of creation.
He is the matchless Artist who decorated the azure skies with the jewels of galaxies. He adorned the stars with the ornaments of light, made the moon the chandelier of the night, and spread the velvety carpets of flowers to double the beauty of the earth. He adorned the depths of the oceans with aquatic marvels and pearls, and infused sweetness into the breezes. And He made all of this subservient for the sake of humankind.
وَسَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا مِّنْهُ (الجاثیة)
“And He has made whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth subservient to you all.”
He fashioned man, created from clay, into the masterpiece of His creation, bestowed upon him life, granted him the light of intellect and consciousness, and illuminated the innermost chambers of his heart with the lamp of Divine knowledge.
Man, who in the vast ocean of the universe is no more than a tiny particle, was elevated to the status of Ashraf-ul-Makhlooqat (the noblest of creation) and entrusted with Allah’s blessings.
وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِیْۤ اٰدَمَ وَ حَمَلْنٰهُمْ فِی الْبَرِّ وَ الْبَحْرِ وَ رَزَقْنٰهُمْ مِّنَ الطَّیِّبٰتِ وَ فَضَّلْنٰهُمْ عَلٰى كَثِیْرٍ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا تَفْضِیْلًا (الإسراء)
“And indeed We have honored the children of Adam, carried them on land and sea, provided them with pure and good sustenance, and preferred them over many of those We created, with distinction.”
He is the Lord, the Most Merciful, Whose mercy extends over humans, animals, trees, plants, and even inanimate stones.
وَرَحْمَتِي وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ (الأعراف)
“And My mercy encompasses all things.”
He is the Most Forgiving, the Most Compassionate, who showers the rain of forgiveness over the mountains of sins, casts His gaze of mercy upon transgressions, and grants honor to every sincere excuse.
نَبِّئْ عِبَادِي أَنِّي أَنَا الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيم (الحجر)
“Inform My servants that I am indeed the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
He is All-Knowing, All-Aware, fully cognizant of the beats of the heart, the secrets of intentions, and even the moisture in one’s eyes.
وَأَنَّ اللَّـهَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ (المائدة)
“And indeed, Allah is All-Knowing of everything.”
He is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing, who observes the tears shed in the solitude of the night and listens to the silent sighs of the heart.
إِنَّ اللَّـهَ لاَ يَخْفَىٰ عَلَيْهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ (آل عمران)
“Indeed, nothing in the earth or the heavens is hidden from Allah.”
إِنَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ بَصِيرٌ (الملك)
“Indeed, He is All-Seeing of everything.”
Just imagine!
When a mother’s heart leaps at the slightest cry of her tiny child, then surely the Sustainer—who is infinitely more compassionate than countless mothers, whose treasures never diminish, and who is self-sufficient and rich beyond measure—can never remain heedless of His servant’s plea.
Can He ignore the cries and laments of His servant?
Absolutely not!
He Himself says:
أدْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ (الغافر)
“Call upon Me; I will respond to you.”
This Generous Lord repeatedly introduces Himself in the Qur’an, so that His servants may recognize the greatness and majesty of their Sustainer. He invites them to present their needs, desires, pains, sorrows, and troubles before the One who relieves difficulties and fulfills every need.
Thus He commands:
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ٭ اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ ٭ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ ٭ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ (الإخلاص)
“Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent.”
اللَّـهُ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَكِيلٌ (الزمر)
“Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is Guardian over everything.”
أن اللّٰهُ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزقَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ وَيَقْدِرُ (الزمر)
“Allah expands provision for whom He wills and restricts it as He wills.”
يُدَبِّرُ الْأَمْرَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ (السجدۃ)
“He manages all affairs from the heavens to the earth.”
وَمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّـهِ رِزْقُهَا (هود)
“There is no creature on earth whose provision is not upon Allah.”
With Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them except Him. (الأنعام)
“The keys of the unseen are with Allah; none knows them except Him.”
وَكَفَىٰ بِرَبِّكَ هَادِيًا وَنَصِيرًا (الفرقان)
“And sufficient is your Lord as a guide and helper.”
لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ ۚ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ (الحدید)
“To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth; He gives life and causes death, and He has power over all things.”
لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ ۖ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ (الشورى)
“There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing.”
وَرَبُّكَ الْغَنِيُّ ذُو الرَّحْمَةِ ۚ إِن يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ وَيَسْتَخْلِفْ مِن بَعْدِكُم مَّا يَشَاءُ (الأنعام)
“And your Lord is the Rich, Full of Mercy. If He wills, He can destroy you and replace you with whomever He wills.”
أَمَّنْ يُجِيبُ الْمُضْطَرَّ إِذَا دَعَاهُ وَيَكْشِفُ السُّوءَ (النمل)
“Or who responds to the distressed one when he calls upon Him and removes adversity?”
قُل لَّا أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِي نَفْعًا وَلَا ضَرًّا إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ اللَّـهُ (الأعراف)
“Say, O Prophet ﷺ: I do not possess any benefit or harm for myself except what Allah wills.”
Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abbas (رضی اللہ عنہ) narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said:
وَإِذَا سَأَلْتَ فَاسْأَلِ ٱللَّهَ، وَإِذَا ٱسْتَعَنْتَ فَٱسْتَعِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ، وَٱعْلَمْ أَنَّ ٱلْأُمَّةَ لَوِ ٱجْتَمَعَتْ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يَنفَعُوكَ بِشَىْءٍۢ لَمْ يَنْفَعُوكَ إِلَّا بِشَىْءٍۢ قَدْ كَتَبَهُ ٱللَّهُ لَكَ، وَإِنِ ٱجْتَمَعُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يَضُرُّوكَ بِشَىْءٍۢ لَمْ يَضُرُّوكَ إِلَّا بِشَىْءٍۢ قَدْ كَتَبَهُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ، رُفِعَتِ ٱلْأَقْلَٰمُ وَجَفَّتِ ٱلصُّحُفُ (ترمذی)
“And when you ask, ask Allah; and when you seek help, seek it from Allah. Know that if the entire community were to gather to benefit you with something, they could not benefit you except with what Allah has already decreed for you. And if they were to gather to harm you with something, they could not harm you except with what Allah has already decreed against you. The pens have been lifted, and the pages have dried.”
Understanding and Reflecting on the Attributes of the Incomparable, Unique Lord: The Essence of Dhikr
To understand and contemplate the qualities and perfections of such an unparalleled and matchless Sustainer, to remember His blessings and favors, to supplicate and seek forgiveness from Him, and to remain mindful of His pleasure in every moment of life—that is the true meaning of Dhikr Allah.
Dhikr is essentially a complete state filled with the inclinations of the heart, the tremors of the soul, the moisture of the eyes, and the emotions of servitude.
Dhikr awakens in a person the consciousness of servitude and gives life its true purpose.
Dhikr brings peace to the heart and elevates the soul towards spiritual heights.
With the awareness of Allah’s grandeur and majesty, dhikr is the trembling voice of the heart rising in awe and reverence, connecting the servant to his Creator.
The Literal Meaning of Dhikr:
To remember, to recall, to mention.
الذِّكْرُ نقيضُ النسيانِ، وهو الحِفْظُ للشيء. (لسان العرب)
Dhikr is the opposite of forgetfulness; it is the preservation and remembrance of something.
In essence, dhikr is the conscious act of keeping something in mind, opposing forgetfulness.
Technical Definition:
In terminology, “Dhikr Allah” refers to remembering Allah with the heart, glorifying Him with the tongue, and obeying Him in actions.
In the Qur’an, dhikr is used in various senses:
- To remember, to call upon
وَ اذْكُرْ رَّبَّكَ فِیْ نَفْسِكَ تَضَرُّعًا وَّ خِیْفَةً وَّ دُوْنَ الْجَهْرِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ بِالْغُدُوِّ وَ الْاٰصَالِ وَ لَا تَكُنْ مِّنَ الْغٰفِلِیْنَ (الأعراف)
“And remember your Lord within yourself with humility and fear, without loudness, in the morning and evening; and do not be among the heedless.”
In a Hadith Qudsi:
وأنا معه إذا ذكرني (صحیح بخاری)
“I am with My servant when he remembers Me.”
ChatGPT said:
فَاذۡكُرُوۡنِىۡٓ اَذۡكُرۡكُمۡ وَاشۡكُرُوۡا لِىۡ وَلَا تَكۡفُرُوۡنِ (البقرہ)
“So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not be ungrateful to Me.”
This means: When you keep My command in mind during your actions, I will acknowledge you with the reward of that action. When you remember Me through worship and obedience, I will reward you in return. When you call upon Me in supplication with the voice of your heart full of pain and need, I will shower My blessings and mercy upon you.
Remember, dhikr is not merely counting the beads of tasbih; it is the sincerity of the heart, the truthfulness of action, and the purity of intention. Similarly, gratitude is not just verbal praise—it is the humility of the heart, the loyalty of action, and the acknowledgment of blessings.
Advice from the Qur’an:
۞ اِنَّا نَحۡنُ نَزَّلۡنَا الذِّكۡرَ وَاِنَّا لَهٗ لَحٰـفِظُوۡنَ
“Indeed, it is We who sent down the Dhikr (the Qur’an), and indeed, We will be its guardian.”
وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَن ذِكْرِى فَإِنَّ لَهُۥ مَعِيشَةًۭ ضَنكًۭا (طٰہٰ)
“And whoever turns away from My remembrance (the Qur’an), indeed, he will have a constrained life.”
(And “turning away from My remembrance” means disobeying My commands and what I have revealed to My Messenger – Ibn Kathir)
Mentioning and Recounting:
ذِكْرُ رَحْمَتِ رَبِّكَ عَبْدَهٗ زَكَرِیَّا (مريم)
“This recounts the mercy of your Lord upon His servant Zakariya.”
Our ideal, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, lived a life entirely immersed in the remembrance of Allah.
And why should it not be so?
When the greatest reality and supreme treasure in existence is none other than the remembrance of Allah Himself.
Allah’s Reminder is the Greatest
وَلِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ (العنكبوت)
“And the remembrance of Allah is the greatest.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
أَلَا أُنَبِّئُكم بِخَيْرِ أعمالِكُم ، وأَزْكاها عِندَ مَلِيكِكُم وأَرفعِها في دَرَجاتِكُم … قال : ذِكْرُ اللهِ (ترمذی، ابن ماجہ)
“Shall I not inform you of your best deeds, the purest in the sight of your Lord, and the highest in your ranks? … It is the remembrance of Allah.”
The remembrance of Allah is the most effective means to guide life onto the righteous path. When a person attains knowledge of Allah’s attributes and perfections, and truly recognizes their Benefactor, the heart and mind are repeatedly reminded: Beware! Do not commit any act that may incur the displeasure of your Sustainer.
Because…
- Your Lord is always watching you.
- Every action of yours is being recorded in His register.
- You will stand before Him on the Day of Judgment and answer for every deed.
Allah Almighty says:
وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ وَنَهَى النَّفْسَ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ فَإِنَّ الْجَنَّةَ هِيَ الْمَأْوَى (النازعات)
“As for those who fear standing before their Lord and restrain themselves from their desires, Paradise will be their final abode.”
Hassan Basri (رحمۃ اللہ علیہ) explains that dhikr of Allah is when a person intends to commit a sin, then remembers standing before Allah, and abandons it out of fear of Him.
هو الرجل يُهمّ بالذنب، ثم يذكر مقام الله عليه فيتركه (ابن کثیر)
“A person contemplates a sin, then recalls his standing before Allah, and refrains from it out of fear of Allah.”
Even the purpose of Salah (prayer) has been defined as the remembrance of Allah:
إِنَّنِي أَنَا اللَّـهُ لَا إِلَـهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدْنِي وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ لِذِكْرِي (طه)
“Indeed, I am Allah; there is no deity except Me, so worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance.”
Similarly, the Prophet ﷺ taught us to:
- Begin every action with the name of Allah (Bismillah).
- Express gratitude for every blessing by saying Alhamdulillah.
The Prophet ﷺ remained immersed in the remembrance of his Lord at all times.
Remembrances (Adhkar) in Daily Life
- When leaving the house:
بسم اللّٰه توکلت علی الله
“In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah.” - When entering the house:
اَللّٰھُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَسْئَلُكَ خَیْرَ الْمَوْلَجِ وَخَیْرَ الْمَخْرَجِ بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ وَلَجْنَا، وَعَلَی اللّٰهِ رَبِّنَا تَوَکَّلْنَا
“O Allah! I ask You for the goodness of entering and exiting. In the name of Allah we enter, and upon Allah our Lord we place our trust.” - Before eating:
بِسْمِ اللّٰه وَعَلٰی بَرَكَةِ اللّٰه
“In the name of Allah and with the blessings of Allah, I eat.” - After eating (to express gratitude):
الْحَمْدُ لِلّٰه الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنَا وَسَقَانَا وَجَعَلَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
“All praise is due to Allah who fed us, gave us drink, and made us among the Muslims.” - Before sleeping:
اللَّهُمَّ بِاسْمِكَ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا
“O Allah! I die and live by Your name.” - Upon waking:
الْحَمْدُ لِلّٰه الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ
“All praise is due to Allah who gave us life after causing us to die, and to Him is the resurrection.” - Upon entering the mosque:
اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
“O Allah! Open for me the doors of Your mercy.” - Upon leaving the mosque or going in search of livelihood:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ
“O Allah! I ask You for Your bounty and grace.”
These daily adhkar cultivate mindfulness of Allah in every aspect of life, turning ordinary actions into acts of worship and remembrance.
The Comprehensive Remembrance of Allah in the Life of the Prophet ﷺ
In short, there was no moment in the life of the Prophet ﷺ—whether sitting or standing—that was devoid of the remembrance of Allah.
It is important to note that the Prophet ﷺ used the terms “saying” and “speaking” for the words of dhikr, not merely “reading.” Saying and speaking involve the tongue, heart, mind, and comprehension.
This makes it clear that true dhikr is achieved only when the words are spoken with understanding. Mindlessly repeating phrases like children, without comprehension, does not fall within the desired scope of dhikr.
The Prophet ﷺ even attached the condition of comprehension for the rewards of the words of Salah (prayer).
As stated:
إن العبد ليصلي الصلاة لا يكتب له سدسها ولا عشرها وانما يكتب للعبد من صلاته ما عقل منها
(Musnad Ahmad, Abu Dawood, Nasai, Ibn Hibban)
“A servant may perform the prayer, but only what he understands from it will be recorded for him; neither a sixth nor a tenth of it will be written without comprehension.”
This hadith emphasizes that the reward of Salah is only proportionate to the understanding of the worshipper.
Similar statements are reported:
Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abbas (رضی اللہ عنہ) said:
“You will receive from your prayer only as much as you have understood of it.”
Imam Ghazali (رحمۃ اللہ علیہ) in Ihya Ulum al-Din writes:
“Abd al-Wahid ibn Zaid stated that scholars have unanimously agreed that a servant receives from his Salah only as much reward as he has understood. This consensus has been transmitted widely among pious jurists and scholars of the Hereafter, in terms that cannot be fully enumerated.”
He further explains:
If a person performs Salah without understanding, the prayer is still valid, and there is no obligation to repeat it. However, in this case, there is no reward; it is similar to a fasting person who abstains from false speech and actions—his reward is only the physical hunger and thirst. Most scholars, including the four Imams, concur on this point. The correct position, inshaAllah, is that the reward and blessings are conditional on attentiveness and understanding, and there is no textual evidence requiring repetition of the prayer. Allah knows best.
The Reward of Salah is Conditional on Understanding
A person who performs Salah without comprehension will receive no spiritual reward. Such a person is like a fasting individual who does not abstain from lying or other sins while fasting—just as the fasting person only experiences hunger and thirst, the unaware worshipper gains nothing from his prayer except the physical exertion and effort of standing.
This view is widely held by scholars, including the four Imams (رحمہم اللہ), as the texts and traditions indicate that reward and blessings in Salah are conditional upon mindfulness and presence of heart (husn al-khulu). However, there is no evidence requiring the repetition of such a prayer.
Ibn Qayyim (رحمۃ اللہ علیہ) writes:
ولهذا لا يقبلها الله تعالى منه، وإن أسقطت الفرض في أحكام الدنيا، ولا يثيبه عليها؛ فإنه ليس للعبد من صلاته إلا ما عقل منها .. (الوابل الصيب)
“Thus Allah does not accept it from him, though the obligation may be lifted in worldly terms, and He does not reward him for it; for a servant receives from his prayer only what he has understood of it.”
The prayer of a person who does not understand the words of dhikr or the recitations will not be accepted, and no reward will be granted. Worldly obligations, however, remain fulfilled; the person is not considered negligent in worldly terms.
As stated:
ليس للعبد من صلوته الا ما عقل منھا
“A servant receives from his prayer only as much reward as he has comprehended.”
Bukhari and Muslim report:
المصلي يناجي ربه
“The one performing Salah communicates secretly with his Lord.”
And indeed, who would use words in conversation whose meaning they do not know?
The Prophet ﷺ said:
كَمْ مِنْ قَائِمٍ حَظُّهُ مِنْ قِيَامِهِ التَّعَبُ وَالنَّصَبُ (نسائی عن ابی ھریرہ)
“How many are those standing in prayer whose only share from it is fatigue and exhaustion.”
This emphasizes that the true value of Salah comes not from mere physical performance, but from awareness, understanding, and heartfelt connection with Allah.
Qur’anic Methods of Divine Remembrance (Dhikr Allah)
- Reflecting on the Creation of the Universe:
إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لَآيَاتٍ لِّأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ (آل عمران)
“Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of night and day are signs for those of understanding.”
الَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّـهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَى جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَـذَا بَاطِلًا (آل عمران)
“Those who remember Allah standing, sitting, and lying on their sides, and reflect upon the creation of the heavens and the earth, saying, ‘Our Lord, You did not create this in vain.’”
- Recalling Allah’s Attributes, Perfections, and Blessings:
َاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَذِكْرِكُمْ آبَاءَكُمْ أَوْ أَشَدَّ ذِكْرًا (البقرہ)
“Remember Allah as you remember your ancestors, or with even greater remembrance.”
Note: The way we remember our ancestors is often by recalling their favors or praising their qualities; similarly, remembering Allah involves acknowledging His blessings, attributes, and favors.
- Private Remembrance with Humility and Seeking Forgiveness:
وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ فِي نَفْسِكَ تَضَرُّعًا وَخِيفَةً (الأعراف)
“Remember your Lord within yourself, humbly and with fear.”
- Attending Gatherings where Allah is Reminded:
This includes sessions for the understanding and explanation of the Qur’an and Hadith, or any assembly in which Allah’s remembrance is the focus.
Allah Almighty says:
وَذَكِّرْ بِالْقُرْآنِ مَن يَخَافُ وَعِيدِ
“And remind, by the Qur’an, those who fear My warning.”
Hadith Qudsi:
يَذْكُرُنِي فِي مَلَإٍ، أَذْكُرْهُ فِي مَلَإٍ خَيْرٍ مِنْهُمْ (بخاري)
“When My servant remembers Me in a gathering, I remember him in a gathering better than theirs (of the angels).”
Someone rightly said:
“Angels envy the land where even for a few moments, the remembrance of Allah takes place.”
The Companions’ Way of Remembrance:
Narrated by Mu’awiyah (رضی اللہ عنہ):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to a circle of his companions and asked:
“What has brought you here?”
They replied:
“We are sitting to remember Allah and praise Him for guiding us to Islam and bestowing His blessings upon us.”
The Prophet ﷺ asked:
“By Allah! Is that the only reason you are sitting here?”
They replied:
“By Allah! We are sitting here for nothing else.”
He ﷺ said:
“I did not take an oath on suspicion, but Jibreel (علیہ السلام) came to me and informed me that Allah is boasting of you before the angels.”
(Muslim, Tirmidhi, Nasai)
In the era of the Companions, the form of dhikr differed from the contemporary practice of awrad and wazifas. Their daily remembrance included:
- Intending righteous actions
- Reciting the Qur’an
- Seeking Allah’s help in every matter
- Expressing gratitude upon completion of tasks
- Crying and supplicating in the solitude of the night
Their true wazifa was sincere love for Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, devotion, and sacrifice for the cause of Islam.
- Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (رضی اللہ عنہ), when troubled, would immediately prostrate and pray:
“O my Allah! Do not leave me to my own desires.” - Hazrat Umar Farooq (رضی اللہ عنہ) would frequently pray:
“O Allah! Make all my actions righteous and purely for Your pleasure.” - Hazrat Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (رضی اللہ عنہ) would recite the Qur’an daily and make the supplications taught by the Prophet ﷺ a part of his life.
Effects and Benefits of Dhikr Allah:
Allah Almighty says:
إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَعَلَى رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ
“The true believers are those whose hearts tremble at the mention of Allah; and when His verses are recited to them, their faith increases; and they put their trust in their Lord.”
Arabadh bin Sariyah (رضی اللہ عنہ) narrates:
عَن أَبي نَجِيحٍ العربَاضِ بنِ سَاريَةَ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: وَعَظَنا رَسُولُ اللهِ مَوعِظَةً وَجِلَت مِنهَا القُلُوبُ وَذَرَفَت مِنهَا العُيون (أبو داود، ترمذی)
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave us a sermon that made our hearts tremble with fear and brought tears to our eyes.”
In the vastness of life, the one thing that anchors a person is the remembrance of Allah. Amidst worldly distractions, the storms of time, and the twists of destiny, the steadfast are those whose hearts center on Allah alone.
A person who keeps Allah in their heart is, though physically on earth, spiritually connected to the Divine Throne. They are never truly alone, for the Almighty, whose proclamation is supreme, accompanies them.
“So remember Me; I will remember you”
(فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ – Al-Baqarah)
This promise, this relationship, this intimate connection elevates a servant to the pinnacle of worship.
A heart that attains the certainty that its Lord sees it, hears it, knows its sorrows, and listens to its silent prayers never despairs, never becomes restless. Such a heart masters the art of patience, adorns life with gratitude, and makes seeking Allah’s pleasure its very nature.
This person knows that even if the world abandons them, their Lord is always with them. Even if all doors are closed, the door of the heavens remains open. Even if the earth feels confined, the remembrance of Allah blooms like flowers in the heart’s field.
Divine remembrance is not confined to prostration; it is the constant orientation of the heart toward Allah in every state, every moment, every action. This is the eternal dhikr that binds a human being to the Lord.
Now, in joy, they are not heedless; in grief, they are not complaining. Success does not make them arrogant, and failure does not make them despondent, for they know:
“And He is with you wherever you are”
(وَهُوَ مَعَكُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ – Al-Hadid)
The fleeting successes of this world may bring moments of happiness, but the remembrance of Allah grants the heart everlasting peace in this world and the Hereafter.
This connection is a treasure that dispels all deficiencies, becomes light in darkness, and energy in fatigue. Such a servant walks in the world, yet their heart flows toward the Hereafter. They relate to creation but love their Creator. They remain busy but not heedless. They may weep, yet do not complain. They smile, yet do not boast.
This is the station where a servant truly becomes ‘Abd’—where worship is no longer mere obedience but transforms into love.
أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ
(Ar-Ra’d)
“Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.”
Come, let us fragrance our lives with the remembrance of Allah, so that even our breaths become acts of worship, and we too may reach the pinnacle of true servitude.