THE HOLY QURAN & ITS IMPORTANCE - PART 1

QURAN AS AL-DHIKR:

As Muslims, it is our duty to perform Dhikr of Allah (SWT). The term Dhikr literally means to call back to memory, or to have something in concious mind. Therefore to perform Dhikr of Allah (SWT) actually implies that we ought to be God-concious OR concious of Allah (SWT) at all times. The term also means "to remember" or "a reminder".

Some of the ways of performing Dhikr are as follows:

Prayer: Saying of prayer is a greatest form of Dhikr. Allah (SWT) says:

"...and establish prayer. Verily prayer keeps you away from the obscene and detestable and verily the remebrance of Allah is the greatest". (29:45)

S V Mir Ahmad Ali states in his tafseer of this verse states:

Through the Holy Prophet (saww), the believers are addressed to pray "SALAT" regularly because it is the greatest remembrance of Allah (SWT).

Elsewhere, in the tafseer of verse 132 of Surah TA-HA (Chapter 20), he explains:

A faithful (Mumin) makes use of the SALAT as a ladder to reach the closest nearness of Allah (Mi'raj).

Contemplating on the creations, invoking Allah (SWT) and glorifying Him: These are also considered as Dhikr. Allah (SWT) says:

"Those who remember Allah, standing and sitting, and reclining, and reflect and contemplate on the creation of the heavens and the earth, (say): Our Lord! You have not created (all) these in vain! Glory be to You! Save us then from the torment of the fire". (3:191)

"...and remember your Lord much and glorify Him in the evening and morning". (3:41)

Verse 41 of Chapter 3 is addressing Prophet Zakariyya (as). When Zakariyya (as) was informed that his barren wife would give birth to a son, he (as) asked Allah (SWT) to appoint a sign for him. This was due to his curiosity to know as to when a son will be born in spite of their natural disability. The sign given to him was that he (as) will not speak to any people for three days and the command was to occupy himself in remembrance and glorification of Allah (SWT) at all time (evening & morning). Commenting on Dhikr mentioned in this verse, Aqa Mahdi Puya says:

Praise and glorification of Allah (SWT) takes man into the pure domain of spiritualism through which he overcomes physical disabilities and obstacles, and obtains grace and blessings of Allah. The laws of nature, known to man, can be controlled, modified or altered by the spiritual and divine agency. It is said that through the science of hypnosis the will of the living being can be controlled, then how can one deny the superior power of the spirit which can effect any change in any natural phenomenon?

Allah (SWT) refers to His book, the Glorious Quran, as al-Dhikr in numerous verses. Few examples have been given below:

"Verily We have sent down the DHIKR (reminder/Quran) and We will certainly be its Guardian". (15:9)

"...and We sent to you the DHIKR (reminder/Quran) so that you may make clear to mankind what has been sent down to them, so that they may reflect". (16:44)

"Verily those who disbelieve in the DHIKR (reminder/Quran) when it comes to them (should know) that, verily, it is an unassailable book.

Falsehood cannot come at it from before it nor from behind it; It is a revelation from the All-Wise, the Praised One".  (41:41/42)

So the Holy Quran is a Dhikr by itself hence it shares every benefit which other modes of Dhikr have and much more...

To be continued.......................................

______________________________________________________________________

Mulla Mujaheedali Sheriff

mulla@almahdi.org.uk