Zikrullah

"The comparison between one who remembers his Rabb and the one who does not remember, is like that of the living and the dead.”

 Explanation:

A living person is beneficial to himself and to others because he has the freedom to act and the freedom to carry out activities. A dead person does not have this liberty. Thus, he becomes a person who is not productive. Likewise, a person who remembers his Rabb, for a start, he is a cause of immense goodness to himself and he becomes a source of benefit to others. This is because a person who remembers his Rabb, has a very particular consideration, not only for Insaan like him, but also for the rights of animals. He is a person who knows his duty and responsibility before claiming his right. He fulfills his responsibility fully without transgressing the limit of his right and at times he may even stop well before his limits. That is, he forgoes his right without taking the right of others. Such a person is undoubtedly a great benefit for humanity. And in the light of this Hadith, a person reaches this stage and this degree by constantly engaging in the thought of his Rabb. 

Zikrullah is a fortress

"I command you to do Zikrullah, because the example of such a person is like a person, whom enemies pursued with full speed until he arrived at a very solid fortress (where he takes refuge) and he saved his life from them. In the same way, a servant cannot protect himself from Shaitaan without Zikrullah ...” (Tirmizi)

Explanation: 

This is a long Hadith which is reported in Tirmizi and is qualified as an authentic Hadith. It is a message that Hazrat Yahya (Alaihis Salaam) had received from Allah Ta’ala to convey to his people. According to this Hadith, Zikrullah is like a fortress. Just as a fortress is a guaranteed protection against the enemy, in the same way Zikrullah is not only a protection, but it is the only means to protect a person from Shaitaan. However, the effectiveness of this protection depends on the quality of Zikrullah. If it is a complete Zikrullah, then the protection also will be very complete. The amount of shortcomings that there will be in Zikrullah, this will reflect on the quality of protection. At every instant, a person is exposed to the attack of Shaitaan who has no other mission besides causing him harm. According to this Hadith, the means that will protect him against this attack is Zikrullah. 

Therefore, Insaan must engage in Zikrullah at every moment. Total obedience to Allah Ta’ala is the highest form of Zikrullah. Thus, total obedience to Allah Ta’ala is a solid, certain and a permanent protection for an Insaan against Shaitaan.

According to a Hadith which is reported in Saheeh Bukhari by Hazrat Abdullah Bin Abbaas (Radiyallahu Anhu), Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) says: 

"Shaitaan sticks to the heart of Insaan. When he does Zikr, he goes away and when he forgets (stops remembering Allah Ta’ala), he (Shaitaan) inspires bad thoughts."

Shaitaan influences people to commit sins by inspiring bad thoughts in their hearts. The way to prevent Shaitaan from causing this harm is Zikrullah. In this manner, Zikrullah is a means of preventing a person from disobeying Allah Ta’ala. This is because Shaitaan tempts people to commit sins by inspiring bad thoughts in their hearts. As long as a person is engaged in Zikrullah, he is in the protection of Allah Ta’ala and Shaitaan cannot influence him. It is a protection that a person always requires. That is why Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) had recommended a Sahaabi to engage his tongue in Zikrullah:

"… Let your tongue be constantly engaged in Zikrullah." (Tirmizi)

[English version of "Zikrullah" – Al Jamiat – Vol.5 No.6]