(6.1) Explanation Of Hisn Al-Muslim: Merits Of Dhikr

 بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Ithaaf al-Muslim bi Sharh Hisn al-Muslim

(Gifting A Muslim With Explanation Of Fortress Of The Muslim)

By: Shaikh Sa`eed Ibn `Alee Ibn Wahf al-Qahtaanee رحمه الله

The Merits Of Dhikr (Remembering Allaah) (Part 1):

First: Allaah تعالى said:

﴿فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِي وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ﴾
{Therefore, remember Me, I will remember you. And be grateful to Me, and do not be ungrateful} [1]

Explanation:

1. The Prophet ﷺ related these words from his Lord: ❝{Whoever mentions Me within himself, I shall mention him within Myself; whoever mentions Me in a gathering, I shall mention him in a better gathering}❞ [2]

2. al-Haafidh al-Baghawee رحمه الله reported that Sa`eed Ibn Jubair رحمه الله said: “Remember Me in times of blessing and ease, I will remember you in time of difficulty and trials.” [3]

3. al-Haafidh Ibn Katheer رحمه الله mentioned the following narrations in his Tafseer:

A. Al-Hasan al-Basree, Abu al-`Aaliyah, al-Suddee, al-Rabee`ah Ibn Anas رحمهم الله (all of them) said: “Allaah remembers those who remember Him, He increases for those who thank Him, and He punishes those who are ungrateful to Him.”

B. Al-Hasan al-Basree رحمه الله said: “Remember Me regarding what I have commanded you and I will remember you regarding what I have compelled Myself to do for your benefit (i.e., His rewards and forgiveness).”

C. Sa`eed Ibn Jubair رحمه الله said: “Remember Me by obeying Me, I will remember you by forgiving you.” And in another narration: “…I will remember you by having mercy on you.” [4]

4. Shaikh al-Sa`dee رحمه الله said: “The Dhikr of Allaah (remembrance of Him), the best is that which occurs simultaneously in the heart and on the lips. This is the Dhikr that leads to increased knowledge about Allaah and love for Him, and brings a greater reward. Dhikr is the essence of gratitude, hence He enjoins it in particular, then follows that with the command to show gratitude in general, as He says: {Give thanks to Me}.” [5] 

5. Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said: “From this Aayah we learn the following benefits:

A. The obligation of Remembering Allaah, because He تعالى has Commanded it. It is obligatory to remember Allaah unrestrictedly and unconditionally; every person must remember His Lord. Rather, every gathering in which a person sits but does not mention Allaah nor sends prayers and blessing upon the Prophet ﷺ, will be a cause of distress, i.e., a loss and regret on the Day of Resurrection. Every servant is commanded to remember Allaah, but remembrance of Allaah is divided into categories: i) one of the obligations of Islaam, ii) compulsory as one of the duties, iii) and a Sunnah from the Sunnan (of the Prophet ﷺ) - depending upon what the (Textual) proof leads to. But the absolute ruling is that it is obligatory.

B. Also, (we learn from this) that anyone who remembers Allaah, Allaah also remembers him, due to the saying of Allaah تعالى: {I will remember you}. The fact that Allaah remembers you is greater than you remembering Allaah, as Allaah تعالى said in Hadeeth al-Qudsi: ❝{Whoever mentions Me within himself, I shall mention him within Myself; whoever mentions Me in a gathering, I shall mention him in a better gathering}❞ [6] The remembrance of Allaah can be done with the heart, the tongue, and the limbs. The real remembrance is that of the heart, as the Prophet ﷺ said: ❝Verily, there is a piece of flesh in the body, if it is healthy, the whole body is healthy, and if it is corrupt, the whole body is corrupt. Verily, it is the heart.❞ [7]. The heart is foundation of Allaah’s remembrance, as Allaah تعالى said:

﴿وَلَا تُطِعْ مَنْ أَغْفَلْنَا قَلْبَهُ عَن ذِكْرِنَا وَاتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ﴾

{and obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our Remembrance, one who follows his own desires} [8]

The remembrance of Allaah with the tongue or the limbs without remembering Allaah with the heart is extremely insufficient and lacking, like a body without a soul. The characteristic of Allaah’s remembrance with the heart is: pondering over the Aayaat (from the Book) of Allaah, loving Him, revering Him, turning towards Him, fearing Him, trusting and relying upon Him, and doing other things that are from the actions of the heart. As for the remembrance of the tongue, then it is articulating every word or phrase that brings one closer to Allaah, and the highest the best is saying: لا إله إلا الله (There is no one worthy of being worshiped except Allaah). As for the actions of the limbs, then it is every action that brings one closer to Allaah, establishing the prayer, bowing, prostration, Jihaad, giving in charity, all these are from the remembrance of Allaah, because when you do these, you are being obedient to Allaah, therefore, making you the one who remembers Allaah through these actions. This is why Allaah تعالى said:

﴿وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ ۖ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ ۗ وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ﴾

{and establish prayer. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allaah is greater} [9]

C. Another benefit we learn from this Aayah is: the virtue of remembering Allaah, because it is an action through which Allaah تعالى remembers His servant in return. And Allaah remembering and mentioning His slave (with goodness) is a matter of the highest status and importance. It is not about you remembering Allaah or you loving Allaah, but what is important is that Allaah عز وجل remembers you, and Allaah عز وجل loves you. This is why Allaah تعالى said:

﴿قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ﴾

{Say (O Muhammad ﷺ): “If you (really) love Allaah then follow me, Allaah will love you…} [10]

The saying of Allaah تعالى: {Allaah will love you}, this should be the objective (of all our actions). [11]

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[1] Surah al-Baqarah (2): 152

[2] Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (7405) and Saheeh Muslim (2675)

[3] Tafseer al-Baghawee (Ma`aalim al-Tanzeel (1/167))

[4] Tafseer Ibn Katheer (1/465)

[5] Tafseer al-Sa`dee (1/74)

[6] Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (7405) and Saheeh Muslim (2675)

[7] Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (52) and Saheeh Muslim (1599)

[8] Surah al-Kahf (18): 28

[9] Surah al-`Ankaboot (29):45

[10] Surah aal-`Imraan (3): 31

[11] Tafseer Ibn al-`Uthaymeen (2/167-168)