Remembrance of Allah — Page 37
Characteristics of True Dhikr 37 The sending down of the Holy Quran has been called the descent of the Dhikr. From this we learn that where God Almighty has given this commandment َّٰ اُذْكُرُوا الل [‘remember Allah’], one mean- ing of this is that you should recite the Holy Quran as well. Then, God Almighty says: * S u rah al-Anbiy a ’, 21:51— َنْوُرِكْنُم ٗهَل ْمُتْنَاَفَا ُهٰنْلَزْنَا١ؕ ٌكَرٰبُّم ٌرْكِذ اَذٰه َو In this verse also, after presenting the Holy Quran, it is stated that We have sent down this Dhikr for you; will you even then reject it? The third form of dhikr consists of stating and repeating the attributes of Allah, and acknowledging their truthfulness. Some people think that it is sufficient just to recite the attributes of Allah mentioned during S al a t, but this is wrong. There is remem- brance of Allah in addition to S al a t and we find evidence of this in the Holy Quran. God Almighty says: S u rah an-Nis a ’, 4:104— ْمُكِبْوُنُج ىٰلَع َّو اًدْوُعُق َّو اًمٰيِق َهّٰللا اوُرُكْذاَف َةوٰلَّصلا ُمُتْيَضَق اَذِاَف Meaning that when you have finished the Prayer, remember Allah even while you are standing and while you are sitting, and when you are lying on your sides as well. From this it is clear that dhikr is in addition to S al a t. Had the mention of Allah’s attributes in S al a t been sufficient, then why would God Almighty have said that: * And this is the blessed Reminder that We have sent down; will you then reject it? [Publisher]