114 - The importance of God’s remembrance

1. The Prophet (peace be upon him) mentions that frequent remembrance of God gives life to souls and places. A home in which God is frequently mentioned and glorified enjoys comfort, reassurance, delight and happiness. It is visited by angels who impart serenity to it. It is like a living person who is in comfort, friendly to others and whose company is enjoyed by people. A home in which God is not mentioned and glorified is desolate, having no life. People stay away from it, like they stay away from the dead. It is deserted by angels. 

Dhikr, i.e. remembrance of God, means mental awareness of God’s greatness and the vocalization of phrases of praise and glorification of God. In a more general meaning, it includes all good deeds such as prayer, supplication, God’s glorification, recitation of the Qur’an, imparting religious knowledge, etc. 

2. The other version related by al-Bukhari describes the person who remembers God as alive and the one who ignores this as dead. Indeed, God’s remembrance makes souls alive and gives hearts reassurance.

Indeed, God’s remembrance is the nourishment of souls in the same way that food and drink are the nourishment of bodies. Therefore, a person who takes care of his physical nourishment and ignores soul nourishment is akin to animals that are useless or like the dead.

1. The use of similes and metaphors is one of the most effective ways to teach as they ensure the listeners’ understanding. An idea is amplified and made clear when it is presented in a physical way so that it is understood by all.

2. It is not a condition for the validity of God’s remembrance that one pays full attention and thinks of the meaning of what is being said. A Muslim may remember God when he is free or busy, saying whatever comes easy of God’s glorifications. However, the best way of God’s remembrance which earns the greatest reward is the one in which both mind and tongue take part.  

3. Do not let your home be desolate, unfrequented by angels. Make it alive with God’s remembrance and recitation of the Qur’an.

4. The one who remembers God often is alive and his home is full of goodness and blessings. The one who is careless of it is like a dead person in a grave. 

5. God’s remembrance gives life to hearts. No Muslim should allow his heart to be dead by abandoning it. 

6. Nothing gives more enjoyment than God’s remembrance. No deed is easier and no pleasure felt by heart and soul is greater.

7. It is important to keep up your remembrance of God, as it pleases the Lord and expels Satan. It also removes worry and brings happiness. It increases one’s provisions and imparts dignity to one’s appearance and earns God’s love. 

8. Dhikr, i.e. remembrance of God, is of different types. One type is general and may be said at any time and place, such as glorifying God, praising Him, declaring His oneness, supplication and recitation of the Qur’an. Another type is linked to situation and occasion, such as the glorifications and supplications said in the morning, evening and before going to sleep; and those said when leaving or entering one’s home, or going to the toilet and leaving it, or putting one’s clothes on or off, entering a mosque and leaving it, etc. 

9. It is important to keep remembering God and glorifying Him. The one who does this is happy and content, while the one who neglects this is unhappy, hard-hearted.