Dhikr-Zikr-Remembrance | Istighfaar

Dhikr is better than giving in charity, jihad, and martyrdom

The Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Shall I not tell you the best of your deeds, the nicest to Your Owner, the highest in your ranks, better for you than spending gold and silver, and better for you than meeting your enemy whereupon you strike their necks and they strike your necks?” They said, “Yes, O Messenger of Allaah (ﷺ).” He said, “The remembrance of Allaah (dhikr).”1 (i.e. Dhikr is better than giving in charity, jihad and martyrdom)

Understand and Pay Attention to Dhikr

First, it is important to mention that it is not enough to say the phrases of dhikr on your tongue without understanding the meanings or paying attention to what you are saying. This will have little benefit and no affect. To reap the fruits and achieve the benefits of the remembrance you must understand what you are saying and pay attention to what your tongue is saying (i.e not repeat phrases automatically without thinking about them).

Two types of praise:

1. Praise for Allaah’s good treatment of His servants, which is shukr (thanks).

2. Praise for what Allaah deserves Himself due to His perfect Names and Attributes and Noble descriptions.

A servant’s having the correct knowledge of Allaah’s Names and Attributes is the best, most complete and greatest way of fulfilling the duty of praising Allaah.

“Praising Allaah for a blessing is a greater blessing than the blessing itself.”7 Allaah granting a person the ability to give thanks and praise Allaah for a blessing is greater than the blessings of health, wealth, children etc.