Remembering Allah (s.w.t.) Frequently

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

The following us a transcript of discourse given by Mawlana Wafi’ Muhammad,. 

Highlighting the stages in God consciousness, we started out in a previous discussion by addressing the benefits of engaging in the remembrance of Allah (s.w.t.).  We spoke of the best time to remember Allah (s.w.t.).  Here, we address what Allah (s.w.t.) Mention in many places in the Qur’an: 

سُوۡرَةُ الاٴحزَاب

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱذۡكُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ ذِكۡرً۬ا كَثِيرً۬ا (٤١) 

O you who believe!  Celebrate the praises of Allah, and do this often; (Surah al-Ahzab:41) 

We must not only remember Allah (s.w.t.) when we are in a tranquil state of mind.  True, these times are more optimal but we must remember our Lord throughout the day and night.  How is this possible, especially when we are preoccupied with our job, family and the world?  Allah (s.w.t.) Gives us the answer in the Qur’an in the story of Zachariah (a.s.). 

سُوۡرَةُ آل عِمرَان

هُنَالِكَ دَعَا زَڪَرِيَّا رَبَّهُ ۥ‌ۖ قَالَ رَبِّ هَبۡ لِى مِن لَّدُنكَ ذُرِّيَّةً۬ طَيِّبَةً‌ۖ إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ ٱلدُّعَآءِ (٣٨) فَنَادَتۡهُ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةُ وَهُوَ قَآٮِٕمٌ۬ يُصَلِّى فِى ٱلۡمِحۡرَابِ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِيَحۡيَىٰ مُصَدِّقَۢا بِكَلِمَةٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَسَيِّدً۬ا وَحَصُورً۬ا وَنَبِيًّ۬ا مِّنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ (٣٩) قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِى غُلَـٰمٌ۬ وَقَدۡ بَلَغَنِىَ ٱلۡڪِبَرُ وَٱمۡرَأَتِى عَاقِرٌ۬‌ۖ قَالَ كَذَٲلِكَ ٱللَّهُ يَفۡعَلُ مَا يَشَآءُ (٤٠) قَالَ رَبِّ ٱجۡعَل لِّىٓ ءَايَةً۬‌ۖ قَالَ ءَايَتُكَ أَلَّا تُڪَلِّمَ ٱلنَّاسَ ثَلَـٰثَةَ أَيَّامٍ إِلَّا رَمۡزً۬ا‌ۗ وَٱذۡكُر رَّبَّكَ ڪَثِيرً۬ا وَسَبِّحۡ بِٱلۡعَشِىِّ وَٱلۡإِبۡڪَـٰرِ (٤١) 

There did Zakariya pray to his Lord saying, “O my Lord!  Grant unto me, from You, a progeny that is pure; for You are He that Hears prayer!”  While he was standing in prayer in the chamber, the angels called unto him, “Allah does Give you glad tidings of Yahya, witnessing the truth of a Word from Allah and (be besides) noble, chaste, and a prophet, ― of the (goodly) company of the righteous.”  He said, “O my Lord!  How shall I have a son, seeing I am very old, and my wife is barren?”  “Thus,” was the answer, “Does Allah Accomplish what He Wills.”  He said, “O my Lord!  Give me a Sign!”  “Your Sign,” was the Answer, “shall be that you shall speak to no man for three days but with signals.  Then celebrate the praises of your Lord again and again and glorify Him in the evening and in the morning.” (Surah Ali ‘Imran:38-41) 

Based on this, the scholars have concluded that we do not have to remember Allah (s.w.t.) only with our speech, but you can engage in God consciousness with our heart.  One way of achieving this is through dzikrullah, cultivating our heart and body to engage in the glorification of Allah (s.w.t.).  In relation to this, Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) is reported to have said, “The eyes of Allah’s Apostle sleep but his heart does not sleep”.  Regardless of what activity he was engaged in, his heart was glorifying Allah (s.w.t.). 

Allah (s.w.t.) loves all His servants and He wants us to love Him.  If we become overflowing in our love for our Lord, it is obvious that we will remember Him constantly.  And He will Look after us and Take Care of our affairs.  It goes hand in hand.  Once a man came to Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) and said, “O Rasulullah, the laws and conditions of Islam have become too many for me.  Tell me something that I can always keep.” 

Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) said, “Keep your tongue always moist with dzikrullah.” 

It cannot be that we make all this effort to remember Allah (s.w.t.) and He lets us down.  And what we are teaching in our weekly dzikr sessions is the technique to cultivate our entire personality to engage in the remembrance of Allah (s.w.t.).  We can actually reach a stage where we can sit and listen to your heart palpitations glorifying Allah (s.w.t.).  So no matter what you are doing, you can engage in some form of dzikr.  And this is what true success is; when our personality can remain in the remembrance of Allah (s.w.t.) regardless of the time and environment.  With this in mind, can we imagine the personality of our Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.)?  He reached such a stage where his physical countenance manifested light.  May Allah (s.w.t.) Enable us to cultivate our personalities to such an extent that we are capable of remembering Him constantly and continuously.