Praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. May the peace and blessings of Allaah be upon Muhammad, His last Messenger, his household, his companions and all those who follow him till the Last Day.
Virtue Of Dhikr
Narrated Uqbah ibn Aamir (RA): Rasulullah (salallaahu alayhi wa sallam) once came to us while we were sitting on the Suffah and asked, "Would any of you like to go to the market of But-haan or Aqeeq (two market places that sold camels near Madinah) and fetch from there two she-camels of the finest breed without committing any sin or severing a tie of kinship?" We replied, "Everyone of us would love to do so." Rasulullah (salallaahu alayhi wa sallam) then said, "Going to the masjid and reciting or teaching two ayaat of the Quran is more precious than two she-camels: three ayaat are most precious than three she-camels. And that similarly reciting or teaching of four ayaat is better than four she-camels and an equal number of camels." ( Muslim )
Perform Dhikr As It Is No New Ways
Here are four guidelines to follow in order to hope for the best reward from your dhikr:
1. Performing dhikr is an action of worship, as such it is to be done in the manner enjoined by the Sharee ah and it is not allowed to invent new methods of performing it. Shaykh al-Islaam ibn Taymiyyah (RAH) said, "there is no doubt that the adhkaar and supplications are from the best forms of worship. Worship is built upon tawqeef [sticking to what the texts state] and ittibaa [following] ...
2. The general course with dhikr is that it be said quietly. The least meaning of quietness is that one says the dhikr such that the words reach his ears as stated by Imaam an-Nawawee and others. It is also allowed to perform dhikr in an audible voice but not a loud voice. The proof for this lies in Allaahs words: "And perform the dhikr of your Lord in your very soul with humility and without loudness in words in the mornings and evenings and do not be of those who are unheedful." (Q7[Araaf]:205 ) Ibn Katheer (RAH) said, "this is how it is recommended to perform dhikr that it not be like a call or very loud."
3. However on some occasions it is allowed to say some adhkaar loudly such as those that openly manifest a sign from the signs of Islaam. Examples of these include the talbiyyah for hajj and the takbeer after completing the salaah. In this way, lmaam at-Tahaawee (RAH) reconciles the ahaadeeth commanding one to be silent when performing dhikr and those that say that one should say the talbiyyah for Hajj loudly in Sharh Mushkil al-Aathaar [141491-501]
4. Narrated Abu Musaa (RA): We were in the company of the Prophet on a journey, and whenever we ascended a high place, we used to say takbeer (in a loud voice). The Prophet said. "O people! Be kind to yourselves, for you are not calling upon a deaf or an absent one, but You are calling an All-Hearer, and an All-Seer; " Then he came to me as I was reciting silently, "Laa hawla walaa quwwata illaa billaah." He said, "O Abdullah bin Qais! Shall I tell you a word which is one of the treasures of Paradise? It is: Laa hawla walaa quwwata illaa billaah." Imaam Ibn Hajr al-Asqalaanee (RAH) quoted that Imaam at-Tabaree explained; this hadeeth constitutes evidence that it is disliked to raise ones voice when supplicating and performing dhikr and this was the opinion of the generality of the salaf from the Sahaabah and Taabi" een. ( Fath al-Baaree [6/166] ) May Allaah guide us to that which is best and reward us with the good of this world and the best of the hereafter. (Amin)
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited