Hearts Granted Tranquillity and Purpose Recalled Through the Remembrance of the All-Mighty
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Allah, The Exalted, said:
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ
Those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah – Islamic Monotheism), and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah, Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest. [Al-Rad 28]
Allah said:
ٱللَّهُ نَزَّلَ أَحْسَنَ ٱلْحَدِيثِ كِتَٰبًا مُّتَشَٰبِهًا مَّثَانِىَ تَقْشَعِرُّ مِنْهُ جُلُودُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ ثُمَّ تَلِينُ جُلُودُهُمْ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ ذَٰلِكَ هُدَى ٱللَّهِ يَهْدِى بِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ وَمَن يُضْلِلِ ٱللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُۥ مِنْ هَادٍ
Allah has sent down the best statement, a Book (this Quran), its parts resembling each other in goodness and truth, oft-repeated. The skins of those who fear their Lord shiver from it (when they recite it or hear it). Then their skin and their heart soften to the remembrance of Allah. That is the guidance of Allah. He Guides therewith whom He pleases and whomever Allah sends astray, for him there is no guide. [Al-Zumar 23]
Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
The religion is based on two matters: remembrance of Allah, which necessitates having knowledge and awareness of Allah, and being grateful to Him, which necessitates obedience to Him through acts of worship and (refraining from disobedience). This is the purpose behind the creation of the Jinn, mankind, the heavens and the earth- the reason for which reward and punishment are determined, (the reason for which) Allah revealed the Books and sent the Messengers. It is the truth for which the heavens, the earth and what is between them were created, and what is in opposition to it is falsehood, such as the assumption held by the enemies of Allah that there is no purpose behind the creation [free is Allah from what they attribute to Him].
Allah, The Most High, said:
وَمَا خَلَقۡنَا ٱلسَّمَآءَ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَيۡنَہُمَا بَـٰطِلاً۬ۚ ذَٲلِكَ ظَنُّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْۚ
And We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between them without purpose! That is the assumption of those who disbelieve!]
Allah, The Most High, said:
وَمَا خَلَقۡنَا ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَيۡنَہُمَا لَـٰعِبِينَ
مَا خَلَقۡنَـٰهُمَآ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّ
And We created not the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, for mere play; We created them not except with truth (i.e. to examine and test those who are obedient and those who are disobedient and then reward the obedient ones and punish the disobedient ones).
Allah, The Most High, said:
وَمَا خَلَقۡنَا ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَيۡنَہُمَآ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ لَأَتِيَةٌ۬ۖ
And We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them except with truth, and the Hour is surely coming…
Allah, The Most High, said:
مَا خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ ذَٲلِكَ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّۚ
Allah did not create this but in truth.
Allah, The Most High, said:
أَيَحۡسَبُ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنُ أَن يُتۡرَكَ سُدًى
Does man think that he will be left Suda [neglected without being punished or rewarded for the obligatory duties enjoined by his Lord (Allah) on him]?”
Allah, The Most High, said:
أَفَحَسِبۡتُمۡ أَنَّمَا خَلَقۡنَـٰكُمۡ عَبَثً۬ا وَأَنَّكُمۡ إِلَيۡنَا لَا تُرۡجَعُونَ
Did you think that We had created you in play (without any purpose), and that you would not be brought back to Us?”
Allah, The Most High, said:
وَمَا خَلَقۡتُ ٱلۡجِنَّ وَٱلۡإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُونِ
And I (Allah) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone)
Allah, The Most High, said:
ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ سَبۡعَ سَمَـٰوَٲتٍ۬ وَمِنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مِثۡلَهُنَّ يَتَنَزَّلُ ٱلۡأَمۡرُ بَيۡنَہُنَّ لِتَعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ قَدِيرٌ۬ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَدۡ أَحَاطَ بِكُلِّ شَىۡءٍ عِلۡمَۢا
It is Allah Who has created seven heavens and of the earth the like thereof (i.e. seven). His Command descends between them (heavens and earth), that you may know that Allah has power over all things and that Allah surrounds (comprehends) all things in (His) Knowledge.
Therefore, based on what has (already) been mentioned, it has been established that the purpose behind the creation and the Command is so that Allah is remembered and thanked. Allah is to be remembered and not forgotten, and He should be thanked and not shown ingratitude. Allah [Glorified be He and free is He from all imperfections] acknowledges the one who remembers Him, and He is Ready to appreciate good deeds and to recompense the one who is grateful to Him. Remembrance of Allah is the reason Allah acknowledges the one who does so. Being grateful to Allah is the reason why a person is given an increase in blessings and favours. Remembrance of Allah is to be carried out with the heart and tongue; gratitude is to be carried out with one’s heart- out of love for Allah and constantly turning to Him in repentance and obedience with true faith [Islamic Monotheism]. Extolling and praising Him is to be carried out with one’s tongue and being obedient to Him (by performing acts of obedience). [An Excerpt from Al-Fawa’id 192-194]
One of the benefits of Dhikr is that it is a reason behind one being declared truthful by Allah, because indeed the one who remembers Allah [is in reality] speaking about Allah’s Perfect Attributes and Exalted Characteristics. So, when a person speaks about [Allah’s Perfect Attributes and Exalted Characteristics], Allah declares that what he [i.e. the person] says is true, and whoever is declared truthful by Allah will not be resurrected with the liars; instead, is hoped that he will be resurrected with the truthful ones. Abee Ishaq narrated from Al-Aghar Bin Muslim who bore witness that Abu Hurairah and Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudree, may Allah be pleased with them, said that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
“When the servant says, ‘Laa ilaaha illal-laah Wa Allahu Akbar “None has the right to be worshipped except Allah and Allah is the Most Great”, Allah says, ‘My servant has spoken the truth; none has the right to be worshipped except I, and I am the Most Great.’ When he says, “Laa ilaaha Illal laahu Wahdahu “None has the right to be worshipped except Allah alone”, Allah says, ‘My servant has spoken the truth; none has the right to be worshipped except I, alone.’ When he says, “Laa ilaha Ilal laah, laa Shareekalahu “None has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, He has no partner or (associate)”, Allah says, ‘My servant has spoken the truth; none has the right to be worshipped except I, and I have no partner (or associate).’ When he says, “Laa ilaaha illal laah, lahul Mulku Wa lahul Hamdu “None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, all dominion is His and all praise is to Him”,’ Allah says, ‘My servant has spoken the truth; none has the right to be worshipped except I, all dominion is Mine and all praise is due to Me.’ When he says: “Laa ilaaha illal laa, laa hawla wa la quwwata illaa billah “None has the right to be worshipped except Allah and there is no power and nor strength (given to anything to move or alternate from one state to another except by the will of) Allah”, Allah says, ‘My servant has spoken the truth; none has the right to be worshipped except I, and there is no power and nor strength (given to anything to move or alternate from one state to another except by My Will).’ One of the narrators Abu Ishaq said: “Then Agharr said something that I did not understand. I said to Abu Jafar: ‘What did he say?’ He said: ‘Whoever is blessed with (the ability to say) them [i.e. these words] at the time of death, the Fire will not touch him.'” [Sunan Ibn Maajah. Number 3794. Sunan Tirmidhee 3430. As-Sahihah. Number 1390]
From the benefits of Dhikr is that profuse remembrance of Allah is a safeguard against hypocrisy, for indeed the hypocrites remember Allah very little. Allah said about the hypocrites: [وَلَا يَذۡكُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ إِلَّا قَلِيلاً۬ – And they do not remember Allah but little]. [An-Nisaa 142]
Ka’b said: “Whoever remembers Allah, The Mighty and Majestic, a lot, he will be free from hypocrisy.’’ And perhaps this is why Allah ended Surah Al-Munaafiqoon with the statement:
يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تُلۡهِكُمۡ أَمۡوَٲلُكُمۡ وَلَآ أَوۡلَـٰدُڪُمۡ عَن ذِڪۡرِ ٱللَّهِۚ وَمَن يَفۡعَلۡ ذَٲلِكَ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡخَـٰسِرُونَ
O you who believe! Let not your properties or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah. And whosoever does that, then they are the losers]. [Al-Munaafiqoon. 9]
This is because (the Ayah) contains a warning against the Fitna of the hypocrites, who are heedless of Allah’s remembrance, thus fall into hypocrisy. Little remembrance of Allah is one of the signs of hypocrisy, therefore profuse remembrance of Allah is a safeguard against hypocrisy.
From the benefits of Dhikr is that it is a healing for the hearts and a remedy for its diseases. Mak’hool Bin Abdillah said, “Mentioning Allah is a remedy [i.e. it purifies the heart] and mentioning the people [i.e. by way of impermissible speech] is a disease”. Also Dhikr removes hardness of the heart, for there is a hardness in the heart that cannot go away except through Dhikr. A man came to Hasan Al-Basri and said, “O Abu Sa’eed! I complain to you about the hardness of my heart”, he said, “Expel it through remembrance of Allah.”
From the benefits of Dhikr is that Allah will be a close ally of the one who remembers Him. Allah will love, support and grant him Tawfeeq [i.e. guide him and enable him to act upon that guidance], just as Allah said:
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَواْ وَّٱلَّذِينَ هُم مُّحۡسِنُونَ
Truly, Allah is with those who fear Him (i.e. He grants them aid and assistance (1), and those who are Muhsinoon (good-doers). [An-Nahl. 128]
Allah said:
وَٱللَّهُ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
And Allah is with the patient ones (i.e. He grants them aid and assistance. (2) [Al-Baqarah. 249]
Allah said: [وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَمَعَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ – And verily, Allah is with the good doers (i.e. He grants them aid and assistance (3). [Al-Ankabut. 69]
The one who remembers Allah has a great share of this, just as it has been reported in a Hadith Qudsee: “Allah says: ‘I am with My slave when he remembers Me and his lips move while mentioning Me. [i.e. I grant him aid, assistance, help, guide and grant him the ability to act upon that guidance”. (4) [Ibn Maajah 3792]
From the benefits of Dhikr is that it brings about blessings [or bounties] and repels vengeance. There’s nothing that earns a person blessing and repels vengeance in a manner [more effective] than remembrance of Allah. Allaah said: [إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُدَٲفِعُ عَنِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْۗ – Truly, Allah defends those who believe]. [Al-Hajj 38]
Allah’s defence for a person is based on the strength of the person’s Iman and its perfection, and the essence of Iman and its strength is remembrance of Allah. So whoever’s Iman is more perfect and his remembrance (of Allah) is more, his share will be greater [i.e. he’ll receive more protection from Allah].
An Excerpt from “Fiqh Al-Ad’iyah Wal Ad’kar 1/ 22-24. By Shaikh Abdur Razzaq Al-Badr, may Allah preserve him
Refs 1, 2 & 3: Zad Al-Maseer Fee Ilm at-Tafsir
Ref 4: Shurooh Sunan Ibn Majah Ad-Dehlawiy…Page1376. Kitab Al-Adab