Today’s Quranic Word is Dhikr = ذِكْر
Dhikr means to remember or mention. Its plural form is adhkaar = أذكار
As we have seen in the video, dhikr literally means ‘to remember’ or ‘to mention’. This word is often used to describe the daily supplications a Muslim says, such as Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah, and others.
By saying these words of dhikr, we are remembering Allah’s greatness in our hearts and mentioning it with our tongues. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The best remembrance is to declare there is no God but Allah. The best supplication is to declare all praise is due to Allah”
[At Tirmidhi]
The dhikr for “no God but Allah” is “(laa illaaha illa Allah” while “all praise is due to Allah” is “alhamdu li-llaah”.
But dhikr in a sense is more encompassing than this. One of the meanings of dhikr is salah for verily the salah itself is a remembrance of Allah. Allah says in the Quran:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِن يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَذَرُوا الْبَيْعَ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
[Quran 62:9]
O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu’ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew.
The message of the Quran is also a form of dhikr as it contains important reminders for us to reflect upon. Allah says:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِالذِّكْرِ لَمَّا جَاءَهُمْ ۖ وَإِنَّهُ لَكِتَابٌ عَزِيزٌ
[Quran 41:41]
Indeed, those who disbelieve in the message after it has come to them… And indeed, it is a mighty Book.
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The Promised Rewards of Remembrance
Allah SWT wants us to remember Him a lot and be grateful to Him. This remembrance is all for our benefit. The more a person remembers Allah, the higher the level they will attain in front of Allah. Allah says:
فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِي وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ
[Quran 2:152]
So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me.