6 Mindblowing & Exceptional Reasons To Make Dhikr This Ramadan
What does DHIKR really mean? How can we implement and make it a habit to be in a constant state of dhikr to achieve closeness? You claim to love ALLAH (subhanahu wa taala) more than anything in this world. But the more you love someone, the more you would remember! How often do you remember ALLAH subhanahu wa taala?
DHIKR of ALLAH can be translated as remembrance/to be able to recall/ to mention about ALLAH.
Dhikr isn’t just limited to certain duas you recite. Anything that reminds your mind and heart about ALLAH subhanahu wa taala, (in turn making you mention His name and showering Praises and gratitude on Him) is also considered Dhikr.
The rewards and immense benefits Dhikr can have in your life in Duniya and Aakhira.
1. Want forgiveness? Do dhikr
The Prophet ﷺ said that ALLAH has angels roaming the roads to find the gatherings of dhikr. When they find a group of people reciting dhikr, they call each other and encompass them in layers reaching up to the first heaven. ALLAH asks His angels, and He knows already, “What are My servants saying?” The angels say, “They are praising You (tasbeeh) and magnifying Your Name (takbeer), and glorifying You (tahmid), and giving You the best Attributes (tamjid).
ALLAH asks, “Have they seen Me?” The angels answer, “O our Lord! They did not see You.” He asks, “What if they saw Me?” The angels answer, “O our Lord, if they saw You, they would be even more fervent in their worship, tamjid, and tasbeeh. He asks, “What are they asking?” The angels say, “They are asking for Your paradise!” He asks, “Have they seen paradise?”
They say, “O our Lord, no, they have not seen it.”
He says, “And how would they be if they saw it?” They say, “If they saw paradise, they would be more attached and attracted to it!” He asked, “What do they fear and run away from?” They say, “They fear and run away from hellfire.” He asks, “And have they seen hellfire?” They say, “O our Lord, no, they did not see hellfire.” He asks, “And how will they be if they see hellfire?” They say, “If they see Your fire, they will run from it more and more, and be even more afraid of it.”
And ALLAH says, “I am making you witness that I have forgiven them.” One of the angels says, “O my Lord, someone was there who did not belong to that group, but came for some other need.” ALLAH says, “These groups are such that anyone who sits with them will also have his sins forgiven.”
This mind blowing hadeeth talks about how ALLAH would forgive you if you could just recite SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah and ALLAHU AKBAR.
So, before moving on to read the rest of the note, recite these words sincerely from the depths of your heart right now.
2. Want something very, very, very badly? Do dhikr
“…If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]…”
[Surah Ibrahim 14: Verse 7]
When you are given what you like, say Alhamdulilllah.
When a calamity befalls you, say Alhamdulillah.
Why you may ask, read on.
ALLAH (subhanahu wa taala) says in this beautiful verse that when you remember Allah’s blessings and thank Him by being grateful, He will increase for you. It could be an increase in your wealth, your barakah in life, increase in love between you and your family members, increase in sustenance, it could be anything. But what are you required to do? Be grateful! (ALHAMDULILLAH)
Thank Him (ALLAH subhanahu wa taala) for whatever He’s blessed you with.
Be grateful for being saved from whatever hardship or disaster that might have befallen you.
And most importantly, thank Him even for those “calamities” or “disasters” that have struck your life. They may be a means of your sins being cleansed or a means of He drawing you closer to Him!
And so, ALLAH (subhanahu wa taala) says “If you are grateful, He will give you more.” Isn’t that awesome! To get more favors from your Lord, make it a habit to do dhikr by saying *ALHAMDULILLAH* for all you have and all that you don’t. Sit right now and take a deep breath and thank ALLAH for everything.
3. Want a peaceful mind and heart? Do dhikr.
You might be struggling with emotional battles and could be hurt immensely by those you love. You may have had heartbreaks or just felt that this dunya is too overwhelming for you to move on. And no matter what you do, you may not feel any kind of contentment or peace.
You’re not alone. Everyone at some point or another in their lives go through the exact same thing in varying degrees. The pain could be emotional or physical. It could be tangible or intangible. The fastest way to heal a heart that is bruised is to do DHIKR. Remember ALLAH (subhanahu wa taala), talk to Him, engage Him in whatever you do, because ALLAH subhanahu wa taala says,
I am close to my slave.
If my slave comes to walking, I go to Him running,
I’m closer to you than your jugular vein [Surah Qaf, 50:16] Remember me and I will remember you [Surah Baqarah: 152]
When you create something, (it could be a painting, a piece of art, or just about anything) you look at the finished product with a sense of admiration, pride and love. Similarly, ALLAH (subhanahu wa taala) created you! So what does that mean? He adores you and loves you. Turn to the One who created your heart to fill it with peace. By remembering your Lord, your difficulties would simply vanish.
A heart that is mindful of ALLAH (subhanahu wa taala) will never spend its time harboring ill feelings of jealousy, malice or sadness about this dunya, because its drowning in glorying the Lord, who is close to the caller.
4. Heavy on scale, Light on tongue
SubhanAllah or SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi (“I praise Allah (or All praise if to Allah) above all attributes that do not suit His Majesty.”)
This hadith relates that whoever says this 100 times a day, his/her sins will be forgiven even if they were as much as the foam of the sea [Bukhari].
5. Make your own special entry into Jannah
*LA HAWLA WA LA QUWWATA ILLA BILLAH* (“There is no power or might except (by) ALLAH.”)
You will enter through a special door in Paradise if you use this remembrance often. So, make it a habit to say this as much as you can, whenever you can.
6. Repentance = A Great Form of Dhikr
*ASTAGHFIRULLAH*
Want to remove the difficulties facing in your life? Repent!
Want to have increase in rizk? [Surah Nuh, 71: 10-11] Repent
Want your duas answered? Repent
Sins form a barrier between you and your duas. The fastest way to break this barrier is to repent. Our Prophet MUHAMMAD (sallallahu alayihi wa sallam) used to repent more than 100 times a day! What about slaves like you and me who falter so often and yet don’t utter one word of ASTAGHFIRULLAH with a sincere heart!
Be sincere!
How would you feel when a person thanks you (for a favor you did for them) while she is browsing or messaging her friend and not even paying attention to what she said to you? Would you accept that as a sincere token of gratitude? No! So, how do you feel you are doing justice when you engage in DHIKR when your heart and mind is not even paying attention to what your tongue is uttering to our Lord?
Therefore, always remember to engage your mind, tongue and heart while remembering your Lord. May ALLAH (subhanahu wa taala) make us of those who can busy ourselves in remembering Him in every breath of our lives.
Aameen
