How Does a Muslim Remember Allah Almighty and Glorify Him?
كيف يذكر المسلم ربه، عز وجل، ويسبحه؟
How does a Muslim remember Allah Almighty and how does he glorify Him?
Remembering Allah (Dhikr) is a comprehensive act of worship involving both the heart and the tongue. It includes verbal glorification, deep reflection on His magnificent creation, and constant internal gratitude for His endless blessings.
In Islam, glorifying the Creator is not limited to specific times; it is a continuous state of mindfulness that shapes a believer's entire life.
Is Dhikr only done by speaking?
No, Dhikr is not just verbal. It is also done profoundly by the heart. It involves reflecting on Allah's greatness, observing His creations, and feeling deep gratitude for His continuous provisions and blessings.
How can I remember Allah throughout my busy day?
You can remember Allah by uttering simple phrases like Subhanallah (Glory be to Allah), Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah), and Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest) with your tongue, while keeping your heart conscious of His presence in everything you do, whether standing, sitting, or lying down.
What does reflecting on the heavens and the earth have to do with Dhikr?
Reflecting on the complexity and beauty of the universe is a high form of worship. It leads a person to recognize the Creator's perfection and purpose, prompting them to naturally glorify Him and seek His protection, as beautifully detailed in Surah Ali 'Imran.
The Practice of Remembrance
1. Remembrance by Tongue and Heart
Remembrance of Allah Almighty is done by the tongue, such as through glorification (Tasbeeh), declaring His oneness (Tahleel), and exalting Him (Takbeer). It is also done by the heart, where a Muslim recalls the greatness of his Lord, the beauty of His gifts, and His generous bounty. Thus, his heart is filled with praise for Allah's immense blessings, and his tongue constantly utters this gratitude and praise to Allah.
2. The Divine Command
Allah Almighty says: "O believers! Always remember Allah often, and glorify Him morning and evening." (Al-Ahzab 33:41-42) (This divine command establishes Dhikr as a regular daily practice, ensuring the believer's connection with their Creator remains vibrant from dawn until dusk).
3. Reflecting on Creation
("Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the day and night there are signs for people of reason. ˹They are˺ those who remember Allah while standing, sitting, and lying on their sides, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth ˹and pray˺, “Our Lord! You have not created ˹all of˺ this without purpose. Glory be to You! Protect us from the torment of the Fire. Our Lord! Indeed, those You commit to the Fire will be ˹completely˺ disgraced! And the wrongdoers will have no helpers. Our Lord! We have heard the caller to ˹true˺ belief, ˹proclaiming,˺ ‘Believe in your Lord ˹alone˺,’ so we believed. Our Lord! Forgive our sins, absolve us of our misdeeds, and allow us ˹each˺ to die as one of the virtuous. Our Lord! Grant us what You have promised us through Your messengers and do not put us to shame on Judgment Day, for certainly You never fail in Your promise." [Ali 'Imran 3:190-194]) (This profound passage highlights that true remembrance goes beyond words; it requires intellectual reflection on the universe, leading to heartfelt supplication).
Scholarly Insight: In Islamic spirituality (Tazkiyah), remembrance (Dhikr) is considered the polish of the heart. Scholars categorize Dhikr into three levels: remembrance with the tongue, remembrance with the heart, and the highest level, which is the complete synchronization of both. When a Muslim deeply reflects on the precise alternation of day and night and the vastness of the heavens, it naturally evokes a state of awe (Khushu'), transitioning their Dhikr from mere verbal repetition to a profound realization of Allah's ultimate power, wisdom, and mercy. This active reflection protects the believer from heedlessness (Ghaflah).
كيف يذكر المسلم ربه عز وجل ويسبحه؟
ذكر الله (الذكر) هو عبادة شاملة تشمل القلب واللسان. وتتضمن التسبيح اللفظي، والتفكر العميق في خلقه العظيم، والامتنان الداخلي المستمر لنعمه التي لا تحصى.
في الإسلام، لا يقتصر تسبيح الخالق على أوقات محددة؛ بل هو حالة مستمرة من الوعي تشكل حياة المؤمن بأكملها.
أداء الذكر
1. الذكر باللسان والقلب
ذكر الله عز وجل يكون باللسان، كالتسبيح والتهليل والتكبير. كما يكون ذكر الله بالقلب فيستحضر المسلم عظمة ربه وحسن عطائه وكريم فضله بقلبه فيكون في قلبه حمد الله على آلائه العظيمة، وعلى لسانه اللهج بهذه النعمة والثناء على الله بها.
2. الأمر الإلهي
قال الله تعالى: (يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا اللَّـهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيرًا وَسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا) [الأحزاب 33:41-42]. (هذا الأمر الإلهي يؤسس للذكر كممارسة يومية مستمرة، مما يضمن بقاء صلة المؤمن بخالقه حية من الفجر حتى الغسق).
3. التفكر في الخلق
قال الله تعالى: "إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لَآيَاتٍ لِأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ (١٩٠) الَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَى جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَذَا بَاطِلًا سُبْحَانَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ (١٩١) رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ مَنْ تُدْخِلِ النَّارَ فَقَدْ أَخْزَيْتَهُ وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ أَنْصَارٍ (١٩٢) رَبَّنَا إِنَّنَا سَمِعْنَا مُنَادِيًا يُنَادِي لِلْإِيمَانِ أَنْ آمِنُوا بِرَبِّكُمْ فَآمَنَّا رَبَّنَا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَكَفِّرْ عَنَّا سَيِّئَاتِنَا وَتَوَفَّنَا مَعَ الْأَبْرَارِ (١٩٣) رَبَّنَا وَآتِنَا مَا وَعَدْتَنَا عَلَى رُسُلِكَ وَلَا تُخْزِنَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّكَ لَا تُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ" [آل عمران 3:190-194]. (يبرز هذا المقطع القرآني العميق أن الذكر الحقيقي يتجاوز الكلمات؛ فهو يتطلب تفكراً عقلياً في الكون، مما يؤدي إلى دعاء نابع من القلب).
1. Verbal Glorification: The Four Beloved Phrases | الذكر باللسان والكلمات الأربع الأحب إلى الله
Verbal remembrance is the most accessible gate of devotion. The Prophet revealed that the most beloved phrases to Allah are four: "SubhanAllah" (Glory be to Allah), "Alhamdulillah" (All praise is due to Allah), "La ilaha illa Allah" (There is no deity but Allah), and "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is the Greatest), as narrated in Sahih Muslim 2137. Five surahs of the Quran open with Alhamdulillah, as explained in which surahs begin with Al-Hamdulillah.
أَحَبُّ الْكَلاَمِ إِلَى اللَّـهِ أَرْبَعٌ (صحيح مسلم 2137)
الذكر باللسان هو أيسر العبادات وأعظمها أجرا؛ وقد بين النبي ﷺ أن أحب الكلام إلى الله أربع كلمات: (سبحان الله، والحمد لله، ولا إله إلا الله، والله أكبر)، رواه مسلم 2137؛ فهذه الكلمات الباقيات الصالحات تغرس لقائلها أشجارا في الجنة، كما في الترمذي 3462 وحسنه الألباني؛ ويثقل التسبيح والتحميد الميزان كما في مسلم 223.
2. Heart Remembrance: Deep Contemplation and Awe | ذكر القلب بالتفكر واستشعار العظمة والمراقبة
Tongue movement without heart engagement remains incomplete. True Dhikr engages the heart in perpetual awe: pondering the precision of planetary orbits, reflecting upon bodily biology, acknowledging unseen divine protections, and feeling loving humility toward the Sustainer of all existence.
الَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّـهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَٰذَا بَاطِلًا سُبْحَانَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ (سورة آل عمران: 191)
ذكر القلب هو روح الذكر؛ بأن يستحضر المؤمن عظمة ربه وجلاله، ويتفكر في آياته الكونية المبثوثة في الآفاق وفي خلق نفسه، مستشعرا نعمه المتدفقة التي لا تعد ولا تحصى، ومراقبا لربه في خلواته وجلواته حياء ومحبة.
3. Remembrance Through Bodily Obedience | ذكر الجوارح بالامتثال العملي لأوامر الله
Classical scholars note that every obedient action is an act of remembrance: walking to the mosque, lowering the gaze, telling the truth, and refusing unlawful financial gain. When limbs act in accordance with divine law, the servant is actively remembering their Maker.
فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِي وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ (سورة البقرة: 152)
قرر أئمة الإسلام أن كل مطيع لله فهو ذاكر له بجوارحه؛ فالقدم التي تمشي إلى المسجد تذكر الله، والعين التي تغض عن الحرام تذكر الله، واليد التي تنفق في سبيل الله تذكر الله؛ فالعمل بالشريعة هو الترجمة العملية الصادقة لذكر اللسان.
4. Cultivating the Prophetic Fortress of Adhkar | التحصن بالأذكار الراتبة في تقلبات اليوم
A Muslim weaves Dhikr into the continuous fabric of daily life through the prescribed morning and evening Adhkar, prayers upon waking, eating, leaving home, boarding transportation, and retiring to sleep, seeking Allah's protection through remembrance and cultivating daily gratitude and obedience to Him.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا اللَّـهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيرًا (سورة الأحزاب: 41)
يحيط المسلم نفسه بسياج منيع من أذكار الصباح والمساء، وأذكار الأحوال عند الاستيقاظ، والنوم، والطعام، ودخول البيت، وركوب الدابة؛ فيظل لسانه رطبا بذكر الله، متصلا بالحي القيوم في كل خطوة وحركة وسكون.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
What are the four most beloved words of remembrance to Allah?
SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illa Allah, and Allahu Akbar (Sahih Muslim 2137).
Does remembering Allah involve only verbal speech?
No, it encompasses verbal praise, heart contemplation, and physical obedience of bodily limbs.
What are the two phrases described as "light on the tongue, heavy in the scale"?
"SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi, SubhanAllahil-Adheem" (Sahih al-Bukhari 6682).
What is the promised divine response in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:152) when we remember Allah?
Allah promises: "So remember Me; I will remember you."