Rembering Allah through Zikr

[salaam2011]

Here is an artice that i wrote some times back.

Glory be to Allah with all kinds of praises, I stand witness that there is no one to be worshipped except You. I seek your forgiveness and for mercy to You,”.

Zikr is the remembrance of Allah. Zikr is of 2 kinds, one is done by word of mouth and the other is in form of deep meditation. Zikr is the fundamental form of thanksgiving to Almighty Allah. One who does not do zikr cannot thank Him. The purpose of Zikr, which is to purify ones heart and soul and to awaken the human conscience.
Allah Tala says in the holy Quran, “ Lo, the zikr of Allah provides satisfaction to the hearts”, Almighty Allah has also  ordered in the Holy Quran:“ Uz kurul Lahi zikran kashiran” – which means “practice the zikr of Allah excessively”.
Allah Tala says in the Holy Quran, “ Therefore remember me, I will remember you, Give thanks to me and not reject me:
The importance of zikr has emphasised on in many verses of the Holy Quran .Almighty Allah says” If my slave remembers me in his heart, I remember him in my heart, if he remembers me in a gathering, I remember him in a better and nobler gathering  of angels. If he comes closer to me by one span, I go towards him a cubits length, if he comes towards me by a cubits length, I go towards him an arm’s length and if he walks towards me, I run into him”
This verse is clearly states the importance of zikr and how Allah Tala responds to zikr, what better way to please our real benefactor than remembering Him through zikr. If we increase our devotion to Almighty Allah, the increase in His mercy and kindness on us is far greater. Getting near and running signifies His immediate increase in His blessings and mercy.
Zikr has innumerable benefits:
1.Zikr keeps away the Satan and weakens his strength.
2) It is the cause of Almighty Allah's pleasure.
3) It relieves the mind of anxieties and worries.
4) It produces joy and happiness in the heart.
5) it strengthens the body and mind.
6) It brightens the face and heart.
7) It attracts one's sustinance.
9) It induces love for Allah, which in fact is the spirit of Islam and the pivot of "Deen", and the source of success and salvation in the Hereafter.
10) Zikr involves Muraqaba (deep meditation), through which one reaches the stage of "Ehsan", wherein a person worships Almighty Allah as if he is actually seeing Him
11) It is the key to nearness to Almighty Allah; the greater the Zikr, the greater the nearness to Allah, and greater the indifference to Zikr,  the greater the distance from him.
12) It opens the door of Ma'arfat (realization)of Allah.
13) It makes one realize the greatness and grandeur of Almighty Allah, and strengthens the consciousness of His Omni presence.
14) Zikr of Allah causes one's mention in the Court of Allah, as said in the Holy Book.
15) It gives life to the heart. Hafiz Ibn Tamimia says that Zikr is as necessary for the heart as water for the fish. Imagine the condition of  a fish out of water.
16) It is food for the heart and the soul; depriving them of Zikr is like depriving the body of its food.
17) It cleanses the heart of its rust. It has been mentioned in an earlier Hadith; everything rusts according to its nature; and heart ruts with worldly desires and indifference, to purify which Zikr is necessary.
18) It safeguards against pitfalls and lapses.
19) The heart of a neglectful person is tormented by a feeling of remoteness from Allah, and nothing other than Zikr can rid the heart of this feeling.
20) If one remembers Allah in happiness, Almighty Allah remembers him in his afflictions.
21) It is a means to deliverance from Allah's punishment.
22) It causes Allah's peace and Mercy to descend while angels surround the person engaged in Zikr.
23) It saves the tongue from indulging in backbiting, loose talk, lies and abuses. It is a common experience that a man  whose tongue remains engaged in Zikr does not commit these absurdities. 24) the gatherings of Zikr are gathering of angels, and gatherings without Zikr are gatherings of  Satan.
May Allah give us the true guidance and keep us save from the satan and inspire us to please him to the best of or ability.