"Surely, in the creation of the heavens and the earth are signs for those gifted with understanding hearts"
Qur'an 3:190
Remembrance of God: Dhikr
The shaykhs strive to remember their Lord with every breath, as the angels are always in the state of remembrance (dhikr), praising God. One of our shaykhs said, "I remembered You because I forgot You for a moment,, and the easiest way for me is to remember You on my tongue." If the disciple will mention his Lord in every moment, he will find peace and satisfaction in his heart, he will uplift his spirit and his soul, and he will sit in the Presence of his Lord. The Prophet (pbuh) said in an authentic Tradition mentioned in Ahmad's Musnad, "The people of dhikr are the people of My Presence." So the gnostic is the one who keeps the dhikr in his heart, and leaves behind the attachments of the world.
from...The Naqshbandi Sufi Way
Bukhari narrated in his book from Abu Huraira that the Prophet (s) said, "Allah, Almighty and Exalted, has angels who seek the people of Dhikr. If they find the people of Dhikr they encompass them until they reach the first heaven. And Allah asks his angels, 'What are my servants doing?' The angels say, 'O Allah, they are praising You and glorifying You and they are making Dhikr.' Allah says, 'Did they see Me?' The angels answer, 'No, they didn't see You.' Then Allah asks, 'How would it be if they were to see Me?' The angels reply, 'O Allah, if they were to see You, they would be making more praise of You and more glorification of You and more Dhikr of You.' And Allah asks 'What are they asking for?' The angels say, 'They are asking for Your Paradise.' Allah asks, 'Did they see My Paradise?' The angels answer, 'No, Our Lord.' Allah continues, 'How would it be if they saw My Paradise?' The angels reply, 'They would be more attracted and more eager to reach it.' Then Allah asks them, 'Of what are they afraid?' And the angels say, 'They are afraid of hellfire.' and Allah asks, 'How would it be if they saw my Hellfire?' and they reply, 'They would be running more and more away from it and asking more and more protection from it.' Then Allah said,' I am making you all My witnesses: that I am forgiving them of all their sins.' Then one angel asked, 'O our Lord, there is among these people one who is not from them, he came only to ask for something from one of them.' Allah said, 'Those are my beloved ones who are making My Dhikr. Anyone who comes into their circle will be forgiven, and I am forgiving him.'"
Another form of dhikr is Whirling and Music. This is a form of meditation which was founded by the followers of Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi in 1273 in Konya, (in Turkey at present). Known as the Whirling Dervishes due to their famous practice of whirling as a form of dhikr (remembrance of Allah), this tariqat, or path, is called the Mevlevi Order.
The Naqshbandis have recently initiated this form of dhikr into their practices in the U.S. and throughout many Naqshbandi Sufi centers throughout the world.
The Naqshbandi Tariqat has a silent dhikr practiced daily by the student with prayer beads (tasbih) , and group dhikr which is performed at least once a week, often more. This involves some recitation of Qur'an, praising God and reciting the Divine Attributes of Allah.
This page was last updated: January 20, 2008
Remembering God
External link about Dhikr
The Naqshbandi Sufi Way
