At a time when the Ummah is going through great trials, placing it at a dangerous crossroads, there is a dire need to be closer to Allah and seek His help. This can only be achieved through acts of worship that awaken the Ummah, asking Allah to lift the affliction, guide it on the right path, and restore it to its former state.

Among these acts of worship, which are both simple yet greatly rewarding, is dhikr (remembrance of Allah). Allah says, “O you who have believed, remember Allah with much remembrance. And exalt Him morning and afternoon." (Al-Ahzab: 41-42) Abud Darda’ reported God's messenger as saying, “Would you like me to tell you the best and purest of your deeds in the estimation of your King, those which raise your degrees highest, those which are better for you than spending gold and silver, and are better for you than that you should meet your enemy and cut off one another's head?” On receiving a reply in the affirmative he said, “It is remembering God.” (Reported by At-Tirmidhi)

Dhikr is mentioned in the Quran in various forms and numerous ayahs, encouraging Muslims to perform it regularly. The Prophet (peace be upon him) also emphasized its importance in many instances. Allah says, “There is no blame upon you for seeking bounty from your Lord [during Hajj]. But when you depart from 'Arafat, remember Allah at Al-Mash'ar Al-Haram. And remember Him, as He has guided you, for indeed, you were before that among those astray.” (Al-Baqarah: 198) And He says, “He said, 'My Lord, make for me a sign.' He said, 'Your sign is that you will not [be able to] speak to the people for three days except by gesture. And remember your Lord much and exalt [Him with praise] in the evening and the morning.'” (Aal-Imran: 41) Also: “O you who have believed, when you encounter a company [from the enemy forces], stand firm and remember Allah much that you may be successful.” (Al-Anfal: 45) And: “O you who have believed, let not your wealth and your children divert you from remembrance of Allah. And whoever does that - then those are the losers.” (Al-Munafiqun: 9)

Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “The Mufarridun have gone ahead.” He was asked, “Who are the Mufarridun?” He (ﷺ) replied, “Those men and women who frequently celebrate the remembrance of Allah.” (Reported by Muslim). Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “The example of the one who celebrates the Praises of his Lord (Allah) in comparison to the one who does not celebrate the Praises of his Lord, is that of a living creature compared to a dead one.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari). Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Whoever sits in a place where he does not remember Allah (SWT), he will suffer loss and incur displeasure of Allah; and whoever lies down (to sleep) in a place where he does not remember Allah, he will suffer sorrow and incur displeasure of Allah.” (Reported by Abu Dawood)

Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri said God’s messenger was asked who would be most excellent and most exalted in degree in God’s estimation on the day of resurrection, and replied, “The men and women who make frequent mention of God.” (Reported by At-Tirmidhi) Abu Huraira reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Allah says, ‘I am as My slave thinks I am, and I am with him when he mentions Me. If he makes mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself; and if he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assembly better than it. And if he draws to Me a hand-span length, I draw near to him a forearm's length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him in a hurry.’” (Reported by Muslim)

Dhikr and Lifting Calamities

Allah says, “Is He [not best] who responds to the desperate one when he calls upon Him and removes evil and makes you inheritors of the earth? Is there a deity with Allah? Little do you remember.” (An-Naml: 62) The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The people who assemble in one of the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah, learning it and teaching, there descends upon them the tranquillity, and mercy covers them, the angels flock around them, and Allah mentions them in the presence of those near Him; and he who lags behind in doing good deeds, his noble lineage will not make him go ahead.” (Reported by Muslim)

This is one form of dhikr that Allah has guided us to in order to avoid the general calamities that befall the Ummah due to its shortcomings. Allah says, “And said, 'Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers. And give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers.” (Nuh: 10-12)

Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Should I not point you to one of the treasures of Paradise?” I said: “Yes, O Messenger of Allah.” He said: “Say: La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah (There is no power and no strength except with Allah).” (Agreed upon)

Dhikr for Day and Night

The dhikr for day and night includes the adhkar (remembrances) that are said after the five daily prayers, in the morning and evening, and during the daily activities of a Muslim such as eating, drinking, traveling, moving, and working. These adhkar have great virtue in protecting the Muslim from falling into calamities, easing the impact of such calamities if they occur, and hastening the lifting of the calamity by Allah. These adhkar are numerous and cannot be fully covered in a single article, but here are a few examples:

• The Muslim should recite in the morning “Syed-ul- Istighfar”: “Allahumma Anta Rabbi, la ilaha illa Anta, khalaqtani wa ana 'abduka, wa ana 'ala 'ahdika wa wa'dika mastata'tu, a'udhu bika min sharri ma sana'tu, abu'u laka bini'matika 'alayya, wa abu'u bidhanbi faghfir li, fa innahu la yaghfirudh-dhunuba illa Anta.” (O Allah! You are my Rubb. There is no true god except You. You have created me, and I am Your slave, and I hold to Your Covenant as far as I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge the favours that You have bestowed upon me, and I confess my sins. Pardon me, for none but You has the power to pardon). (Reported by Al-Bukhari)
• “Rabbi a'udhu bika minal- kasali, wa su'il-kibari; Rabbi a'udhu bika min 'adhabin fin-nari, wa 'adhabin fil-qabri.” (My Rubb! I seek refuge in You from lethargy and the misery of old age. O Allah! I seek Your Protection from the torment of Hell-fire and the punishment of the grave). (Reported by Muslim)
• A desert Arab came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said, “Teach me a word that I can say.” The Prophet told him to say: ‘Lā ilāha illallāh waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, Allāhu Akbaru kabīra, walḥamdu lillāhi kathīra, Subḥānallāhi Rabbil-`ālamīn, Lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāhi ‘l-`Azīzil-Hakīm.’ (There is none worthy of worship but Allah, Who has no partner, Allah is the Great, the Most Great, and praise is to Allah in abundance, glory is to Allah, Lord of the worlds. There is no power and no might but by Allah the Mighty, the Wise.) He said, “That is for my Lord, but what about me?” The Prophet (ﷺ) told him to say: ‘Allāhummaghfir lī, warḥamnī, waḥdinī warzuqnī.’ (O Allah forgive me, and have mercy on me and guide me, and provide for me.). (Reported by Muslim)

 The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The good deeds which endure are: “Subḥānallāh. Walḥamdu lillāh. Wa lā ilāha illallāh Wallāhu Akbar Wa lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh.” (Glorified is Allah, and The praise is for Allah, and There is none worthy of worship but Allah, and Allah is the Most Great, and There is no power and no might except by Allah). (Reported by Ibn Hibban)

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