Gatherings of Remembrance & Heedlessness

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The following is taken from Imam Shams ad-Din Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah’s (r.a.) al-Wabil asw-Swayyib min al-Kalim ath-Thayyib. 

The gatherings where Allah (s.w.t.) is mentioned are the gatherings of angels, whereas those full of chatter and heedlessness are the gatherings of devils.  Let the servant decide which of these two gatherings is more pleasing and important to him, for he will belong to it in this world and the next. 

An invoker is made joyful by his invocation and makes those around him joyful, for he is Blessed where ever he may be.  But someone who is heedless of Allah’s (s.w.t.) mention, someone who just chatters, is made sorrowful by his heedlessness and empty talk, and makes those around him sorrowful as well.  Dzikr saves the servant from regret on the Day of Judgement.  Every gathering is which the servant does not mention his Lord will be a source of regret for him on that Day. 

The dzikr of Allah (s.w.t.) and the tears shed in private are the way to the shade that Allah (s.w.t.) will Grant His servant on the Day of the Greatest Heat in the shelter of His Throne.  As people stand in a melting sun, he who remembered his Lord will find shade beneath the Throne of the Most Merciful, the Almighty.  To be busy with dzikr is how Allah (s.w.t.) Grants something better to the invoker than those who supplicate Him.  As the Messenger of Allah (s.w.t.) said, “Allah Says, ‘To one too occupied in My dzikr to supplicate to Me, I Give better than what I Give to those who ask.’” 

The easiest form of worship, dzikr is also the strongest and the best.  Moving the tongue is easier than moving the limbs of the body and simpler.  If someone could move his muscles day and night as much as his tongue, he would be completely exhausted - in fact, it is quite impossible.