User:Its hard to make a username on this/Dhikr

Importance

Current: To Sufis, dhikr is seen as a way to gain spiritual enlightenment and achieve annihilation of self (fana) in order to seek permanence in God. All Muslim sects endorse individual rosaries as a method dhikr and meditation, the goal of which is to obtain a feeling of peace, separation from worldly values (dunya), and, in general, strengthen Iman (faith). The main purpose of dhikr is to fill the heart with spiritual meaning and not simply chant the invocations with an empty heart and absent mind. When performed with awareness, the heart then becomes receptive to the activity of the tongue and is aware of God's presence.

Original: To Sufis, dhikr is seen as a way to gain spiritual enlightenment and achieve union (visal) or annihilation (fana) in God. All Muslim sects endorse individual rosaries as a method of meditation, the goal of which is to obtain a feeling of peace, separation from worldly values (dunya), and, in general, strengthen Iman (faith).^{[citation needed]}

Sufi Practice

Current: Followers of Sufism have two main ways of engaging in dhikr: silent and vocal dhikr. Silent dhikr has been considered by many Sufi practitioners to be the best form of dhikr, where dhikr is done silently and in one position without moving the body. This method of dhikr allowed it to be done whenever one could, and it avoided showing off as it was privately done. Among the biggest advocates for silent dhikr was Baha' al-Dïn Naqshband, and his form of dhikr "...required the practitioners to force internal energy into different parts within the body through concentrating the mind and regulating the breath. This was to be undertaken while repeating the verbal formula that constitutes the Islamic profession of faith: 'there is no god but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God'". Each word in the verbal statement was for a specific part of the body, such as the navel or the upper chest.

The other form of Sufi dhikr is vocal dhikr performed using the tongue and body, where showing off was not considered a primary concern. This dhikr could be done privately or within a group and like the Naqshband dhikr, it placed emphasis on having the verbal invocations ripple throughout the body. Similar to the Naqshband practice of dhikr, where specific words were for specific locations of the body, exists the 'four-beat' (chahar iarb) dhikr that is attributed the Kubravï master 'Alï Hamadanï.

Sufis often engage in ritualized dhikr ceremonies that have stemmed from these two types of dhikr, the details of which vary between the different Sufi paths or tariqah. An example of this is the initiation of an applicant, where the repetition of dhikr is a necessary component in the ceremony. Each order, or lineage within an order, has one or more forms for group dhikr, the liturgy of which may include recitation, singing, music, dance, costumes, incense, muraqaba (meditation), ecstasy, and trance. Common terms for the forms of litany employed include "hizb" (pl. "ahzab"), "wird" (pl. "awrad") and durood. An example of a popular work of litany is Dala'il al-Khayrat. Another type of group dhikr ceremony that is most commonly performed in Arab countries is called the haḍra (lit. presence). A haḍra can draw upon secular Arab genres and typically last for hours. Finally, sama` (lit. audition) is a type of group ceremony that consist mostly of recited spiritual poetry and Quranic recitation.

Original: Followers of Sufism often engage in ritualized dhikr ceremonies, the details of which vary between Sufi orders or tariqah. Each order, or lineage within an order, has one or more forms for group dhikr, the liturgy of which may include recitation, singing, music, dance, costumes, incense, muraqaba (meditation), ecstasy, and trance. Common terms for the forms of litany employed include "hizb" (pl. "ahzab"), "wird" (pl. "awrad") and durood. An example of a popular work of litany is Dala'il al-Khayrat. Another type of group dhikr ceremony that is most commonly performed in Arab countries is called the haḍra (lit. presence). A haḍra can draw upon secular Arab genres and typically last for hours. Finally, sama` (lit. audition) is a type of group ceremony that consist mostly of recited spiritual poetry and Quranic recitation.

Recitation of Quran As Dhikr

Current: Added footnotes for the Hadith where this information is taken from.

• Reciting Surah al-Ikhlas (112) is equal to one-third of the Quran.
• Reciting Surah al-Ikhlas (112) 10 times gives a palace in Heaven, and 20 times grants two palaces.
• Reciting Surah al-Kafirun (109) is equal to one-fourth of the Quran.
• Reciting Surah an-Nasr (110) is equal to one-fourth of the Quran.
• Reciting Surah az-Zalzalah (99) is equal to half of the Quran.

Quranic Ayat and Hadiths Relating to The Importance of Dhikr

Quranic Ayat

Current: added citations for the Suwar and Ayat where the verse is taken from.

"It is truly I. I am Allah! There is no god [worthy of worship] except Me. So worship Me [alone], and establish prayer for My remembrance" — Surah Taha, Ayah 14

"O believers! Always remember Allah often" — Surah Al- Ahzab, Ayah 41

"Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the day and night there are signs for people of reason. [They are] those who remember Allah while standing, sitting, and lying on their sides, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth [and pray], 'Our Lord! You have not created [all of] this without purpose. Glory be to You! Protect us from the torment of the Fire'" — Surah Al 'Imran, Ayat 190-191

Hadiths

Current: added narrators, the Hadith books, and the Hadith number where it appear in its respective book.

Narrated by Abu Al-Darda that the Messenger of Allah said:

"Shall I tell you about the best of deeds, the most pure in the Sight of your Lord, about the one that is of the highest order and is far better for you than spending gold and silver, even better for you than meeting your enemies in the battlefield where you strike at their necks and they at yours?" The companions replied, "Yes, O Messenger of Allah!" He replied, 'Remembrance of Allah."

—Jami Al-Tirmidhi 3337

Narrated by Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah said:

"People will not sit in an assembly in which they remember Allah without the angels surrounding them, mercy covering them, and Allah Mentioning them among those who are with Him."

— Bulugh Al-Maram: Book 16, Hadith 1540

Narrated by Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah said:

"Lo! Indeed the world is cursed. What is in it is cursed, except for remembrance of Allah, what is conducive to that, the knowledgeable person and the learning person."

—Jami Al-Tirmidhi 2322

Narrated by Abdullah bin Busr that the Messenger of Allah said:

"'Always keep your tongue moist with the remembrance of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime.'"

—Sunan Ibn Majah 3793

Original:

"Shall I tell you about the best of deeds, the most pure in the Sight of your Lord, about the one that is of the highest order and is far better for you than spending gold and silver, even better for you than meeting your enemies in the battlefield where you strike at their necks and they at yours?" The companions replied, "Yes, O Messenger of Allah!" He replied, "Remembrance of Allah".

— at-Tirmidhi

"People will not sit in an assembly in which they remember Allah without the angels surrounding them, mercy covering them, and Allah Mentioning them among those who are with Him"

—     narrated by Abu Hurairah, Sahih Muslim

“There is nothing that is a greater cause of salvation from the punishment of Allah than the remembrance of Allah"

—    Narrated by Mu’adh ibn Jabal, Sunan At-Tirmidhi, Book of Supplications                

Mu`adh ibn Jabal said that the Prophet also said: "The People of Paradise will not regret except one thing alone: the hour that passed them by and in which they made no remembrance of Allah."

— Narrated by Bayhaqi, Shu`ab al-iman

Tasbih of Fatimah

Current: added citation to the entire tasbih

The Islamic Prophet Muhammad is reported to have taught his daughter Fatimah bint Rasul Allah a special manner of Dhikr which is known as the "Tasbih of Fatimah". This consists of:

1. 33 repetitions of subḥāna -llahⁱ (سُبْحَانَ ٱللَّٰهِ), meaning "Glorified is God". This saying is known as Tasbih (تَسْبِيح).
2. 33 repetitions of al-ḥamdu lillāhⁱ (ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ), meaning "All Praise belongs to God". This saying is known as Tahmid (تَحْمِيد).
3. 34 repetitions of ʾallāhu ʾakbar^u (ٱللَّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ), meaning "God is Greater [than everything]". This saying is known as Takbir (تَكْبِير).

The Shia way of doing the Tasbih of Fatimah is:

1. 34 repetitions of ʾallāhu ʾakbar^u (ٱللَّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ), meaning "God is Greater [than everything]". This saying is known as Takbir (تَكْبِير).
2. 33 repetitions of al-ḥamdu lillāhⁱ (ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ), meaning "All Praise belongs to God". This saying is known as Tahmid (تَحْمِيد).
3. 33 repetitions of subḥāna -llahⁱ (سُبْحَانَ ٱللَّٰهِ), meaning "Glorified is God". This saying is known as Tasbih (تَسْبِيح).
4. Saying one time at the end: La ilaha il Allah (There is no god but Allah).

Prayer Beads

Current: Like many other religions, the use of rosaries is also recommended when remembering God. Since it can get difficult to keep track of the counting of the prayers, the beads are used to keep track so that the person performing dhikr reciting the prayer can turn all of their focus on what is actually being said - as it can become difficult to concentrate simultaneously on the number and phrasing when one is doing so a substantial number of times. Similarly, as dhikr involves the repetition of particular phrases a specific number of times, prayer beads are used to keep track of the count.

Original: When the dhikr involves the repetition of particular phrases a specific number of times, the beads are used to keep track so that the person performing dhikr can turn all of their focus on what is actually being said - as it can become difficult to concentrate simultaneously on the number and phrasing when one is doing so a substantial number of times.

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