Practising Zikr to Promote Peace and Prevent Violence and Extremism

Zikr Is the Cause of Peace for the Hearts

Highlights

1.    The separation from God Almighty's remembrance causes the majority of problems (Zikr).

2.    Allah declares in the Qur'an that remembrance of Allah brings peace to the hearts.

3.    The Holy Prophet said, “Everything has a polish and the polish of the heart is the remembrance of Allah”.

4.    When a man is practising Zikr, it is normal to see that he avoids absurdities such as backbiting, insulting, and talking gibberish.

5.    It is better in every aspect to keep oneself occupied with God's remembrance [zikr] during times of concern.

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By Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam

23 November 2021

The Arabic term Zikr, often written Dhikr, means "reminding oneself," "mention," or "remembrance." This is a type of ritual prayer or litany used by Muslim mystics (Sufis) to glorify God and achieve spiritual perfection. According to the verses of the Quran, such as “Remind [Udhkur] your Lord when you forget” (18:24), and “O People Who Believe! Remember [Udhkuru] Allah as much as possible.” (33:41), the Zikr is also a “remembering” of God through the continuous recitation of his names. Zikr can be performed in two ways: through the tongue or through the heart. The tongue moves in Zikr with the tongue, however, in Zikr-e-Qalbi, the tongue does not move and only the heart is drawn to Allah's remembrance. The scholars of Islam regard Zikr-e-Qalbi to be preferable. Because the process of Zikr alleviates life's most serious issues, believers are encouraged to participate in it. Because the process of Zikr alleviates serious problems of life, believers are encouraged to participate in it.

Almost everyone in society appears to be in a foul mood. Household misfortunes have disrupted the calm and tranquilly. Tension and sadness have become nearly universal diseases. Whenever a business faces a crisis, the owner resorts to debt, and when he does, he is unsure how the loan will be repaid. When payment cannot be made, he destroys his spirituality with his own hands, using bribery and forbidden interest. As a result, the anxiety becomes even more intense. He prioritises drinking in his quest for serenity. This way, society after society sinks into sins. When the consequences of these sins invade the home, they rob everyone of peace and tranquilly, resulting in quarrels and conflicts. When a seeker of spiritual serenity fails to find it, he turns to the last resort, which is a suicide, a prohibited act in Islam. Suicide was thought to be frequent in Western countries, and that many were unaware of the condition they were afflicted with. However, even in Muslim countries, the suicide rate is rising. It is the outcome of restlessness, tension, and despair, all of which are caused by being separated from God Almighty’s remembrance (Zikr).

Allah declares in the Qur'an that remembrance of Allah brings peace to the heart. That is, man will not find peace in the entire globe if he seeks it by any means other than remembering Allah Almighty. Allah says,

“Those who accepted faith and whose hearts gain solace from the remembrance of Allah; pay heed! Only in the remembrance of Allah is the solace of hearts” (13:28)

The restless hearts gain determination and contentment by recalling Allah Almighty's mercy and favour, as well as His benevolence. Remembering Allah is a tremendous source of love and proximity to Allah, and these things are also the cause of peace for the hearts. Yes, when a distressed individual remembers Allah in his distress, his heart begins to settle. The Qur'an is also a reminder of Allah, and its proofs bring serenity to the heart by dispelling uncertainties and confusions. Similarly, Dua is Allah’s remembrance, and it brings tranquilly to the needy and the hearts of His devotees.

The Holy Prophet said, “Everything has a polish and the polish of the heart is the remembrance of Allah” (Ahmad (4/352). The heart is polished through constant remembrance and supplication of Allah. When a heart is completely polished, it reflects the reality that is before it, namely Allah Almighty, without the interference of the human ego. The classic Hadis-e-Qudsi alludes to this kind of pure heart when it says, “The heavens and the earth cannot hold Me, but the heart of My faithful servant may contain Me.”

“Is Allah nearby, so that we may supplicate to Him softly, or is He far away, so that we must shout out loudly to Him?” a person asked the Holy Prophet, according to a hadith. The Prophet remained silent and then the following verse was revealed:

 “And (O dear Prophet), when My servants question you concerning Me, then surely I am close; I answer the prayer of the supplicant when he calls on Me, so they must obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may attain guidance.” (2:186)

It is commonly observed that when a guy is engaged in Zikr, he avoids absurdities such as backbiting, insulting, and talking nonsense. A person whose tongue is not engaged in Zikr is easily caught up in the follies outlined above.

The cornerstone of good deeds is remembering Allah. We will become closer to Allah the more we remember Him. Our best example, Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him), can be seen always remembering Allah. So you've heard that Zikr is beneficial, but what do you get in exchange for remembering Allah?

A believer achieves peace by performing Zikr, as stated in the verse above, and as further stated in the verse below:

“Indeed the Muslim men and Muslim women, and the believing men and the believing women, and the men who obey and the women who obey, and the truthful men and the truthful women, and the patient men and the patient women, and the humble men and the humble women, and charitable men and the charitable women, and the fasting men and the fasting women, and the men who guard their chastity and the women who guard their chastity, and the men who profusely remember Allah and the women who profusely remember Allah – for all of them, Allah has kept prepared forgiveness and an immense reward.” (33:35)

According to Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari, the difference between those who make Zikr and those who don't is illustrated in a hadith in which the Prophet (PBUH) said, “The similitude of one who remembers his Lord and one who does not remember Him is like that of the living and the dead”. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim agree on this.)

There is an atmosphere of oppression everywhere in the era we live in today. The lie is portrayed as fact. Almost everyone has been troubled by extremism and violence. The adherents of one religion persist in humiliating and harassing the followers of other religions, and this is what they consider their religion, Aastha and Mazhab. Today, the tyranny of the weak has become a religion, as has the oppression of minorities and the use of force. People have become worshipers of power and oppression, rather than worshippers of God, in such a circumstance. When you witness the storey of injustice on social media, you will breathe a sense of anxiety. In such a tempting setting, it is better in every way to keep oneself occupied with God's remembrance [Zikr].

URL:   https://www.newageislam.com/islam-spiritualism/zikr-dhikr-peace-violence-extremism/d/125825

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