Dhikr and Supplication

Even utterance is something that sustains dhikr.

The ninth book in the "Acts of Worship" (Rubʿ al-ʿIbādāt) section of Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn is a special part that, in the Islamic intellectual tradition, is read again and again for blessing (teberruk) and is regarded almost as a litany (vird). The source content defines dhikr not merely as an act of worship but as "religion itself" and "the purpose of human existence." Dhikr is the greatest act that frees the human soul from the effect of worldly preoccupations (masīva), establishes inner peace, and carries the person directly into Allah's presence. Throughout the text, it is emphasized that dhikr is the ultimate goal of all other acts of worship (prayer, fasting, pilgrimage) and the sole path to the heart's deliverance from heedlessness.

A. Dhikr and Existential Purpose

Dhikr is a compass that gives meaning to a person's "exile" on earth and turns him toward the source from which he came. According to the source text, the ultimate purpose of human creation is to remember Allah.

The Interaction of Dhikr and Reflection: Reflection (tafakkur) is fruitful only when it remains in continuous connection with dhikr. Remembering something often (uttering it) gradually causes it to settle in the heart and memory.

The Blessing of Speech: When the capacity for expression given to man is made a means of remembering Allah, it reaches its highest purpose.

B. The Merit and Degrees of Dhikr

Dhikr is described as the greatest deed in Allah's sight. Some of the degrees mentioned in the source are:

1. The Highest Deed: Dhikr may be regarded as more meritorious than sacrificing one's life on the battlefield or spending wealth generously (with certain exceptions), because it is the act that elevates the soul most swiftly.

2. A Shield Against Heedlessness: In life there are only two states: the state of dhikr or the state of heedlessness. There is no third option. Where there is no dhikr, time and soul are being wasted.

3. Dhikr at the Moment of the Forbidden: One of the most meritorious forms of dhikr is to remember Allah when about to commit a forbidden act or error and thereby abandon it.

C. Psychological and Spiritual Effects

Dhikr is a source of inner happiness independent of external conditions.

Inner Peace: Happiness does not come from outside; it wells up from within. Dhikr connects a person to a divine tranquility, lifting him out of the gloom of his environment (whether palace or prison).

Purification of the Soul: Like a green tree among withered grass, the soul engaged in dhikr is purified, clarified, and cleansed of evil.

The Distinction Between the Living and the Dead: Those whose hearts are occupied with dhikr are truly alive among heedless people (moving corpses).

D. The Importance of Dhikr Gatherings

Dhikr performed collectively has cosmic and social effects:

The Encirclement of Angels: Angels surround dhikr gatherings, and mercy descends upon them.

Divine Forgiveness: Those who gather purely for Allah's pleasure are told at the end of the assembly, "Rise forgiven." Even those present without that intention still receive a share of that mercy.

Cosmic Visibility: Just as people on earth see stars shining, when angels look upon the earth they see houses in which dhikr is performed glowing with light.

Key concepts

Dhikr as the Essence of Religion: Dhikr is religion itself. The most fundamental task in a person's earthly journey is to remember Allah and to reflect.
The Relationship Between Dhikr and Reflection: Remembering something often (*dhikr*) leads one to think about it (*fikr*). Utterance with the tongue is a first step that strengthens remembrance in the heart.
The Concept of Masīva: "Masīva," meaning everything besides Allah, consists in reality of Allah's works. The aim of dhikr is to see Allah's hand of power behind every event and every thing.
Inner Peace and Independence from Place: Dhikr connects a person directly to the Creator. However gloomy or difficult the external environment, through dhikr one builds happiness and peace within.
Masīva: Everything besides Allah; the world and what it contains.
Heedlessness: Being far from remembering Allah; inattention and spiritual torpor.
Tahlīl: Repeating the phrase "Lā ilāha illā Allāh" (There is no god but Allah).
Harwala: Walking swiftly; a term used in a ḥadīth qudsī for the speed of Allah's turning toward the servant.
Teberruk: Reading or doing something hoping for blessing and spiritual benefit.
The People of Unveiling: Those whose inner sight is open and who can directly witness spiritual realities.
The Sacred Precincts: The holy sites during pilgrimage where abundant remembrance of Allah is commanded.
Rubʿ al-ʿIbādāt: The first quarter of *Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn* devoted to acts of worship.

Study questions

What is the ultimate purpose of human creation?

To remember Allah (dhikr) and to reflect.

What is the attitude of the hypocrites regarding dhikr?

They do not fail to remember Allah entirely, but they remember Him very little.

What is the sole path to deliverance from heedlessness?

Remembering Allah; every moment outside the state of dhikr is defined as heedlessness.

What act is described as the Prophet's "inheritance"?

Reading the Qur'an in mosques, performing dhikr, and glorifying Allah.

What is the characteristic of those devoted to dhikr among the seven classes shaded beneath the Throne?

A person who remembers Allah in solitude and weeps.

Why may dhikr be regarded as more meritorious than other arduous acts of worship?

Because dhikr is the process of engraving something upon the soul, and it is the ultimate aim of all acts of worship. ---