Rememberance of Allah - Thikr

Allah (SWT) has taught us that one of the way to strengthen our Iman is through his remembering Allah (SWT) in everything we do, at all times.

Allah (SWT) says in Al Baqara 2:152

فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُواْ لِي وَلاَ تَكْفُرُونِ

Remember me, and I remember you.. and thank me.. and do not hide the truth by denying me. Allah also said in the Quran in Al Thariyat (51:56), that he created mankind and jinn only to worship

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ


one of the best things a Muslim can do is constantly remember Allah. This thikr must be pure and sincere for Allah says in Al Bayina (98:5)

وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ حُنَفَاء وَيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَذَلِكَ دِينُ الْقَيِّمَةِ
They were ordered for nothing but to worship Allah, with sincerity towards the deen (way of life), worshipping only one Lord (Allah), and to establish the prayers and bring the zakat and this is the valuable and sound deen.

Rememberance comes in may forms. Saying athkar is one way, praising Allah, seekign forgiveness, being cognizant of Allah's presence and his bounties and blessings

In a hadith of the Prophet narrated by Abi Sayeed Al Khudri and Abi Horarariah that the Prophet (PBUH) said the meaning of "no group sits mentioning Allah and remembering him, except that the Angels will surrond them and they will be showered /covered with mercy and tranquility will be brought down upon them and Allah mentions them in the presence of those among him.

Rememberance could be by tongue or heart, and best is to mix, if not possible then heart is better. Fear or riya should not prohibit one from making thikr using his tongue.

Thkr means also other things in Islam it refers to the words of Allah "Thikr ellallah" meaning the Quran. It also could refer to prayer in some contexts.

In Al Israa (17:110) Allah (SWT) orders us to pray in both silence and voice.

قُلِ ادْعُواْ اللّهَ أَوِ ادْعُواْ الرَّحْمَـنَ أَيًّا مَّا تَدْعُواْ فَلَهُ الأَسْمَاء الْحُسْنَى وَلاَ تَجْهَرْ بِصَلاَتِكَ وَلاَ تُخَافِتْ بِهَا وَابْتَغِ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ سَبِيلاً

Thikr is as important as other acts of worship and good deeds as reflected in the Aya in Al Ahzab (33:35)

إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَالْقَانِتِينَ وَالْقَانِتَاتِ وَالصَّادِقِينَ وَالصَّادِقَاتِ وَالصَّابِرِينَ وَالصَّابِرَاتِ وَالْخَاشِعِينَ وَالْخَاشِعَاتِ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقَاتِ وَالصَّائِمِينَ وَالصَّائِمَاتِ وَالْحَافِظِينَ فُرُوجَهُمْ وَالْحَافِظَاتِ وَالذَّاكِرِينَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا وَالذَّاكِرَاتِ أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا

There is an opinion that those who fall in this categories must perform thikr while in different states such as standing, walking, sitting, resting, etc.. Another opinion is that to be part of this group of Thakerren and Thakerat one has to remember Allah after every prayer, in the mornings and evenings, while resting in bed, at time of waking up, when heading to one's job, coming back coming, etc.. Atta mentioned that whoever prays the five prayers he or she is from among this group of thakereen and thakerat.

In a hadith narrated by Abi Sayeed, he says the Prophet mentioned - the meaning of - "If a man wakes up his family or wife during the night, and they prayed 2 rakaas, they are recorded from among the Thakereen Allah Katheran and the Thakerat"

Allah also illustrates a beautiful state of those remembering him in Al Imran (3:190-191). Another form of Thikr is reading Quran and pondering on its meanings.

إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلاَفِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لآيَاتٍ لِّأُوْلِي الألْبَابِ

الَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىَ جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَذا بَاطِلاً سُبْحَانَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

Thikr requires critical thinking, the presence of the heart and mind, reflection, active listening to one's thoughts and comprehending what one is saying.

Thikr has many benefits...as mentioned earlier

Tranquility
Peace
Mercy
Allah's mentioning of one

Thikr also softens the heart..In Al Hadid (57:16)
أَلَمْ يَأْنِ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَن تَخْشَعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ لِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَمَا نَزَلَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ وَلَا يَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلُ فَطَالَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْأَمَدُ فَقَسَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ

Thikr also removes hardship.. reflecting on Prophet Yunus's story in Al Saffat (37:143-144)

فَلَوْلَا أَنَّهُ كَانَ مِنْ الْمُسَبِّحِينَ

لَلَبِثَ فِي بَطْنِهِ إِلَى يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ

The Prophet mentioned the meaning of, "Two words light on the tongue, heavy in the balance, dear to Ar Rahman, Subhana Allaho wa be Hamdo, Subhana Allah Al Atheem"

In another narration the Prophet told Aba Thar, "should i not tell you the words that Allah loves the most? Indeed the most lovable of words to Allah is "Subhan Allah wa behamdo".

In another hadith the Prophets mentioned that "The most lovable words to Allah are 4: Subhan Allah, Alhamed ellallah, La Illaha Illa Allah, Wa Allaho Akbar, and it does not matter which one you start with".

The Prophet contrasted the ones who praise and mention Allah to those who are alive, the one who do not to the ones who are dead. "The example of the one who mentions Allah and the one who does not mention Allah, is like the alive and the dead".

The Prophet once told Abu Musa Al Asheray, "Should I not tell you about a treasure of the treasures of Jannah? Say La Howl wala Qowa Illa belellah".