Zikrullah

A person asked Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) to show him a practice that he can hold firm to. In response, Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) told him:

"Let your tongue be engaged in the Zikr of Allah."

Let the tongue be engaged in Zikrullah means making Zikr continuously. According to this Hadith, we understand that making Zikr with the tongue is not less essential, although making Zikr with the heart is more essential. According to a Hadith found in Ibn Majah and An-Nasaai, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) qualified لا اله الا الله as the best Zikr. Thus, it will be a very commendable practice to recite this Zikr continuously. This will be a means to strengthen our Imaan, to illuminate our heart and to acquire the will to remain in the obedience of Allah Ta’ala always.

In order to facilitate this task, set a target of 40 days for example. In this interval, try one’s best to protect the gaze, mouth and ears. And besides that, keep the tongue engaged in the Zikr of لا اله الا الله. On every 7 or 8 times, add  محمد رسول الله صلى الله تعالى عليه وسلم. 

In the beginning, it is possible that one may keep forgetting, but one must not be discouraged. Every time that one remembers it, one should start again. In few days, Insha-Allah, one will notice that this tendency to forget will be decreasing and the frequency of Zikr will be increasing.

Shaitan remains in a heart that has been darkened due to lack of Zikrullah. When light and Nur enter the heart by making Zikrullah in abundance, Shaitan will no longer have the control that he had previously. So, making Zikrullah in abundance is a very effective means to be liberated from the grip of Shaitan.

According to a Hadith found in Musnad Ahmad and Tabraani, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) has recommended us to renew the Imaan by reciting لا اله الا الله in abundance. The word "renew" shows that Imaan is something that is spoilt and weakened due to lack of Zikrullah. Therefore, according to this recommendation, لا اله الا الله is a means to renew the Imaan. It is a way of doing maintenance and servicing of the machinery of Imaan. Thus, making Zikr of لا اله الا الله abundantly is a guarantee in a certain sense to leave this world with Imaan. When a person leaves this Dunya in a state of Imaan, this is real and complete success. Thus, making Zikrullah abundantly, especially reciting لا اله الا الله in abundance, solves the greatest problem of humanity and honours it with the greatest success. 

[English version of "Zikrullah" – Al Jamiat – Vol.3 No.3]