Perpetual dhikr (divine remembrance) defines our state of being.
We are commanded to be in constant remembrance of Allah (swt):
"O you who have attained to faith! Remember God with unceasing remembrance," (33:41)
"He is successful who purifies himself, and remembers the name of his Lord..." (87:14-15)
"Those who believe, and their hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah: By remembering Allah, truly satisfaction comes to the heart" (13:28).
How odd then that we put off this dhikr when the times are tough. We convince ourselves that we have more important worries to attend to. 'When things settle down, I will return to my dhikr.' 'My mind is too stressed right now for any worship.'
How strange that when we need dhikr the most, it’s the first thing to go. After all, its not wajib (obligatory), its only 'extra credit', no?
Medicine is of no use to the healthy individual. Only when he is sick and in pain is the medicine to be administered. How strange that we have the cure to our ills and are only willing to utilize it when we are healthy?!
The need for constancy in dhikr cannot be overstated. Through the good times and the bad. Through busy times and down time. Through spiritual highs and worldly lows. From before engaging in the most profane of acts (copulation) to after the completion of one of the most sacred (Hajj).
How else can we explain Allah's command to perform dhikr even in the most dire of situations – on the battlefield:
O ye who believe! When ye meet a force, be firm, and call Allah in remembrance much (and often); that ye may prosper (8:45)
Having never been in the line of fire, I can only imagine the tension and gravity of the moment. Bullets flying, bombs exploding, death ominously hanging overhead. And yet, we are expected, nay commanded, to remember Allah in those difficult circumstances.
What then of our daily lives when we are in the safety of our homes?
When I ponder over that verse it becomes evident that no excuse is acceptable for passing a single moment without the remembrance of the Divine.
Let us redefine ourselves with constant, unconditional Dhikr of our Creator.
Just don’t call it genocide
1 week ago
3 comments:
Salaam Naeem
I always find that I become lazy with my dhikr when things are going well. When things are hard it is easier for me to remember Allah... it's a hidden blessing in difficulties, really.
But like you say, it should be unconditional.
SALAM Brother,
very well and true. i have personally experienced the effect of dhikr during hard times. its a sure shot cure from the disease called anxiety and worry depression
subhanallah
AA-
@Amy, good point. It does go both ways. Sometimes when things are going really nice, I'm the same way. And when the going gets tough, only then I turn to Allah. When I realize what I did, I feel sooo very guilty.
@Anon, "its a sure shot cure from the disease called anxiety and worry depression"
Well said! Thanks.
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