''Dhikr'' ( ar, ذِكْر}, , also spelled ''Zikr'', ''Thikr'', ''Zekr'',
or ''Zikar'',
literally meaning "remembrance, reminder"
or "mention")
is a form of
Islamic meditation in which phrases or prayers are repeatedly chanted in order to remember God.
It plays a central role in
Sufi Islam
Sufism ( ar, ''aṣ-ṣūfiyya''), also known as Tasawwuf ( ''at-taṣawwuf''), is a mystic body of religious practice, found mainly within Sunni Islam but also within Shia Islam, which is characterized by a focus on Islamic spirituality, r ...
, and each
Sufi order has usually adopted a specific dhikr, typically accompanied by specific posture, breathing, and movement.
In Sufi Islam, dhikr refers to both the act of this remembrance as well as the prayers used in these acts of remembrance.
Dhikr can be performed in solitude or as a collective group.
It can be counted on a set of
prayer beads
Prayer beads are a form of beadwork used to count the repetitions of prayers, chants, or mantras by members of various religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Shinto, Umbanda, Islam, Sikhism, the Baháʼí Faith, and some Christian denominati ...
(''
Misbaha
A ''Misbaha'' ( ar, مِسْبَحَة, misbaḥa), ''subḥa'' ( ar, سُبْحَة, links=no) (Arabic, Kurdish and Urdu), ''tasbīḥ'' ( ar, تَسْبِيح, links=no) (Iran, India, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan), or ''tesp ...
'' )
or through the fingers of the hand. A person who recites the Dhikr is called a ''Dhakir (, )'', literally "he who remembers."
The content of the prayers includes the
names of God
There are various names of God, many of which enumerate the various qualities of a Supreme Being. The English word '' god'' (and its equivalent in other languages) is used by multiple religions as a noun to refer to different deities, or spec ...
, or a ''
dua
In Islam, ( ar, دعاء , plural: ' ) is a prayer of invocation, supplication or request, even asking help or assistance from God.
Role in Islam
Muslims regard this as a profound act of worship. Muhammad is reported to have said ...
'' (prayer of supplication) taken from the
hadith
Ḥadīth ( or ; ar, حديث, , , , , , , literally "talk" or "discourse") or Athar ( ar, أثر, , literally "remnant"/"effect") refers to what the majority of Muslims believe to be a record of the words, actions, and the silent approva ...
s or the
Quran
The Quran (, ; Standard Arabic: , Quranic Arabic: , , 'the recitation'), also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation from God. It is organized in 114 chapters (pl.: , s ...
.
Importance
There are several verses in the Quran that emphasize the importance of remembering the will of God by saying phrases such as "God willing" "God knows best," and "If it is your will.' This is the basis for dhikr.
Surah al-Kahf (18),
Ayah 24 states a person who forgets to say, "God willing", should immediately remember God by saying, "Maybe my Lord will guide me to
omethingmore akin to rectitude than this." Other verses include
Surah al-Ahzab (33), Ayah 41, "O you who have faith! Remember Allah with frequent remembrance", and
Surah ar-Ra'd (13), Ayah 28, "those who have faith, and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah.' Look! The hearts find rest in Allah's remembrance!"
Muslims believe dhikr is one of the best ways to enter the higher level of
Heaven and to glorify the
Monotheistic Oneness of
God
In monotheistic thought, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator, and principal object of faith. Swinburne, R.G. "God" in Honderich, Ted. (ed)''The Oxford Companion to Philosophy'', Oxford University Press, 1995. God is typically ...
.
To Sufis, dhikr is seen as a way to gain spiritual enlightenment and achieve union (''visal'') or annihilation (''fana'') in God. All Muslim sects endorse individual rosaries as a method of meditation, the goal of which is to obtain a feeling of peace, separation from worldly values (
dunya
In Islam, ' ( ar, دُنْيا ) refers to the temporal world and its earthly concerns and possessions, as opposed to the hereafter ('' ʾākhirah''). In the Qur'an, ''dunyā'' and ''ākhira'' are sometimes used dichotomously, other times complem ...
), and, in general, strengthen
Iman (faith).
Common types
Phrases and expressions
There are numerous conventional phrases and expressions invoking God.
Quran as Dhikr
Reciting the Quran sincerely is also considered a kind of Dhikr. For example:
* Reciting
Surah al-Ikhlas (112) is equal to one-third of the Quran.
* Reciting Surah al-Ikhlas (112) 10 times gives a palace in Heaven.
* Reciting
Surah al-Kafirun (109) is equal to one-fourth of the Quran.
* Reciting
Surah an-Nasr (110) is equal to one-fourth of the Quran.
* Reciting
Surah az-Zalzalah (99) is equal to half of the Quran.
Hadiths mentioning virtues
It is mentioned in hadith that where people are oblivious to dhikir, remembrance of Allah is like being steadfast in jihad when others are running away (Targhib, p. 193, vol. 3 ref. Bazar and Tibrani).
The Islamic Prophet Muhammad is reported to have taught his daughter
Fatimah bint Rasul Allah a special manner of Dhikr which is known as the "
Tasbih of Fatimah
The Tasbih of Fatimah ( ar, تَسْبِيح فَاطِمَة), commonly known as "Tasbih Hadhrat Zahra" or "Tasbih al-Zahra" ( ar, تَسْبِيح ٱلزَّهْرَاء), is a special kind of Dhikr which is attributed to Fatimah bint Muhammad, ...
". This consists of:
# 33 repetitions of
subḥāna -llah (), meaning "Glorified is God". This saying is known as
Tasbih
''Tasbih'' ( ar, تَسْبِيح, ) is a form of ''dhikr'' that involves the glorification of Allah in Islam by saying: ''"Subhan Allah"'' (; lit. "Glory be to God").
It is often repeated a certain number of times, using either the phalanges ...
().
# 33 repetitions of
al-ḥamdu lillāh (), meaning "All Praise belongs to God". This saying is known as
Tahmid ().
# 34 repetitions of
ʾallāhu ʾakbar (ٱللَّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ), meaning "God is Greater
han everything
Han may refer to:
Ethnic groups
* Han Chinese, or Han People (): the name for the largest ethnic group in China, which also constitutes the world's largest ethnic group.
** Han Taiwanese (): the name for the ethnic group of the Taiwanese p ...
. This saying is known as
Takbir
The Takbir ( ar, تَكْبِير, , "magnification f God) is the name for the Arabic phrase ' (, ), meaning "God is the greatest".
It is a common Arabic expression, used in various contexts by Muslims and Arabs around the world: in formal Salah ...
().
The Shia way of doing the ''Tasbih of Fatimah'' is:
# 34 repetitions of
ʾallāhu ʾakbar (ٱللَّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ), meaning "God is Greater
han everything
Han may refer to:
Ethnic groups
* Han Chinese, or Han People (): the name for the largest ethnic group in China, which also constitutes the world's largest ethnic group.
** Han Taiwanese (): the name for the ethnic group of the Taiwanese p ...
. This saying is known as
Takbir
The Takbir ( ar, تَكْبِير, , "magnification f God) is the name for the Arabic phrase ' (, ), meaning "God is the greatest".
It is a common Arabic expression, used in various contexts by Muslims and Arabs around the world: in formal Salah ...
().
# 33 repetitions of
al-ḥamdu lillāh (), meaning "All Praise belongs to God". This saying is known as
Tahmid ().
# 33 repetitions of
subḥāna -llah (), meaning "Glorified is God". This saying is known as
Tasbih
''Tasbih'' ( ar, تَسْبِيح, ) is a form of ''dhikr'' that involves the glorification of Allah in Islam by saying: ''"Subhan Allah"'' (; lit. "Glory be to God").
It is often repeated a certain number of times, using either the phalanges ...
().
# Saying one time at the end: La ilaha il Allah (There is no god but Allah).
Prayer beads
Known also as ''
Tasbih
''Tasbih'' ( ar, تَسْبِيح, ) is a form of ''dhikr'' that involves the glorification of Allah in Islam by saying: ''"Subhan Allah"'' (; lit. "Glory be to God").
It is often repeated a certain number of times, using either the phalanges ...
'', these are usually ''
Misbaha
A ''Misbaha'' ( ar, مِسْبَحَة, misbaḥa), ''subḥa'' ( ar, سُبْحَة, links=no) (Arabic, Kurdish and Urdu), ''tasbīḥ'' ( ar, تَسْبِيح, links=no) (Iran, India, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan), or ''tesp ...
'' (
prayer beads
Prayer beads are a form of beadwork used to count the repetitions of prayers, chants, or mantras by members of various religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Shinto, Umbanda, Islam, Sikhism, the Baháʼí Faith, and some Christian denominati ...
) upon a string, 33, 99, or 100 in number, which correspond to the names of God in Islam and other recitations. The beads are used to keep track of the number of recitations that make up the dhikr.
When the dhikr involves the repetition of particular phrases a specific number of times, the beads are used to keep track so that the person performing dhikr can turn all of their focus on what is actually being said - as it can become difficult to concentrate simultaneously on the number and phrasing when one is doing so a substantial number of times.
In the United States, Muslim inmates are allowed to utilize
prayer beads
Prayer beads are a form of beadwork used to count the repetitions of prayers, chants, or mantras by members of various religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Shinto, Umbanda, Islam, Sikhism, the Baháʼí Faith, and some Christian denominati ...
for therapeutic effects. In Alameen v. Coughlin, 892 F. Supp. 440 (E.D.N.Y 1995), Imam Hamzah S. Alameen, a/k/a Gilbert Henry, and Robert Golden brought suit against Thomas A. Coughlin III, etc., et alia (Head of the Department of Corrections) in the
State of New York
New York, officially the State of New York, is a state in the Northeastern United States. It is often called New York State to distinguish it from its largest city, New York City. With a total area of , New York is the 27th-largest U.S. state ...
pursuant to 42
USC Section 1983. The plaintiffs argued that prisoners have a
First Amendment
First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1).
First or 1st may also refer to:
*World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement
Arts and media Music
* 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and reco ...
Constitutional right
A constitutional right can be a prerogative or a duty, a power or a restraint of power, recognized and established by a sovereign state or union of states. Constitutional rights may be expressly stipulated in a national constitution, or they may ...
to pursue Islamic healing therapy called KASM (قاسَمَهُ , qaasama , taking an oath ) which uses
prayer beads
Prayer beads are a form of beadwork used to count the repetitions of prayers, chants, or mantras by members of various religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Shinto, Umbanda, Islam, Sikhism, the Baháʼí Faith, and some Christian denominati ...
. The rosary of oaths, which Alameen developed, was used to successfully rehabilitate inmates suffering from co-occurring mental health challenges and substance abuse issues during the 1990s. All people, including Muslims and Catholics, were allowed to use
prayer beads
Prayer beads are a form of beadwork used to count the repetitions of prayers, chants, or mantras by members of various religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Shinto, Umbanda, Islam, Sikhism, the Baháʼí Faith, and some Christian denominati ...
inside prisons, lest their freedom of religion be violated when the prison administration forbade their possession as contraband in the penal system. The practice of carrying
prayer beads
Prayer beads are a form of beadwork used to count the repetitions of prayers, chants, or mantras by members of various religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Shinto, Umbanda, Islam, Sikhism, the Baháʼí Faith, and some Christian denominati ...
became controversial when gang-members began carrying specific colors of
prayer beads
Prayer beads are a form of beadwork used to count the repetitions of prayers, chants, or mantras by members of various religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Shinto, Umbanda, Islam, Sikhism, the Baháʼí Faith, and some Christian denominati ...
to identify themselves.
Dhakir
![Maddahs meeting Ali Khamenei (13951229 6736010)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5c/Maddahs_meeting_Ali_Khamenei_%2813951229_6736010%29.jpg)
A "dhakir" () or "Zaker" (literally "mentioner"' a speaker who refers to something briefly/incidentally), or reminder, is considered a maddah who reminds the remembering of
Allah (and His Dhikr) for people, and he himself should also be reciter of dhikhr; namely, not only he ought to be a recital of Dhikr, but also he should put the audience in the situation of dhikr reminding (of Allah and likewise
Ahl al-Bayt). Idiomatically the term means "praiser of God" or "professional narrator of the tragedies of
Karbala (and Ahl al-Bayt)". To some extent, it can mean Maddah/panegyrist too.
The root of the word "Dhakir" () is "Dhikr" () which means remembering/praising; and the word "Dhakiri" () is the act which is done by Dhakir, i.e. mentioning the Dhikr (of Allah, the Ahl al-Bayt, etc.) by observing its specific principles/manners.
Sufi view
Followers of
Sufism often engage in ritualized dhikr ceremonies, the details of which vary between Sufi orders or ''
tariqah
A tariqa (or ''tariqah''; ar, طريقة ') is a school or order of Sufism, or specifically a concept for the mystical teaching and spiritual practices of such an order with the aim of seeking '' haqiqa'', which translates as "ultimate truth".
...
''. Each order, or lineage within an order, has one or more forms for group dhikr, the
liturgy of which may include
recitation
A recitation in a general sense is the act of reciting from memory, or a formal reading of verse or other writing before an audience.
Public recitation is the act of reciting a work of writing before an audience.
Academic recitation
In a ...
,
singing
Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or with ...
,
music
Music is generally defined as the art of arranging sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise expressive content. Exact definitions of music vary considerably around the world, though it is an aspe ...
,
dance,
costume
Costume is the distinctive style of dress or cosmetic of an individual or group that reflects class, gender, profession, ethnicity, nationality, activity or epoch. In short costume is a cultural visual of the people.
The term also was tradition ...
s,
incense
Incense is aromatic biotic material that releases fragrant smoke when burnt. The term is used for either the material or the aroma. Incense is used for aesthetic reasons, religious worship, aromatherapy, meditation, and ceremony. It may also b ...
, ''
muraqaba
''Murāqabah'' ( ar, مراقبة, : "to observe") is an Islamic methodology, whose aim is a transcendental union with God. Through , a person watches over their heart and soul, to gain insight into one's relation with their creator and their ...
'' (meditation),
ecstasy, and
trance
Trance is a state of semi-consciousness in which a person is not self-aware and is either altogether unresponsive to external stimuli (but nevertheless capable of pursuing and realizing an aim) or is selectively responsive in following the dir ...
. Common terms for the forms of litany employed include "hizb" (''pl.'' "ahzab"), "wird" (''pl.'' "awrad") and
durood
''Salawat'' ( ar, صَلَوَات, ' ''salat''; also referred to as ''divine blessings on Muhammad'', ''durood shareef'' or ''durood-e-Ibrahim'') is an Islamic complimentary Arabic phrase, which contains the salutation upon Muhammad. This ph ...
. An example of a popular work of litany is
Dala'il al-Khayrat
''Dalāil al-khayrāt wa-shawāriq al-anwār fī dhikr al-ṣalāt alá al-Nabī al-mukhtār'' ( ar, دلائل الخيرات وشوارق الأنوار في ذكر الصلاة على النبي المختار, translation=Waymarks of Benefit ...
. Another type of group dhikr ceremony that is most commonly performed in
Arab countries
The Arab world ( ar, اَلْعَالَمُ الْعَرَبِيُّ '), formally the Arab homeland ( '), also known as the Arab nation ( '), the Arabsphere, or the Arab states, refers to a vast group of countries, mainly located in Western As ...
is called the
haḍra
Haḍra ( ar, حضرة, Ḥaḍrah) is a collective supererogatory ritual performed by Sufi orders. It is often held on Thursday evenings after the night prayer, on Fridays after jumu'ah prayer or on Sunday evenings, and can also be celebrated o ...
(''lit''. presence).
[In earlier orders, the "presence" referred to was that of God, but since the 18th century it has been considered to be the spiritual presence of Muhammad (John L. Esposito, "Hadrah." The Oxford Dictionary of Islam. Oxford Islamic Studies Online. Web. 3 Apr. 2010.) The shifting focus, however, is not shared by all and is a result of the Sufi reforms which sought to mitigate the heretical belief of ]theopanism
Theopanism (from Greek: Θεός ''Theos'', "God" and πᾶν ''pan'', "all") was first used as a technical term by the Jesuits in elucidating Hinduism.
Theopanism has also been more broadly stated as inclusive of any theological theory by whic ...
committed by some Sufi claimants through a greater focus on the spirit and active life of Muhammad instead of a metaphorical union with God.(Ira Lapidus, A History of Islamic Societies, p. 210) A haḍra can draw upon secular
Arab genres and typically last for hours.
[Touma, p.165.] Finally,
sama` (''lit''. audition) is a type of group ceremony that consist mostly of recited spiritual poetry and Quranic recitation.
See also
*
Tasbih of Fatimah
The Tasbih of Fatimah ( ar, تَسْبِيح فَاطِمَة), commonly known as "Tasbih Hadhrat Zahra" or "Tasbih al-Zahra" ( ar, تَسْبِيح ٱلزَّهْرَاء), is a special kind of Dhikr which is attributed to Fatimah bint Muhammad, ...
*
As-salamu alaykum
As-salamu alaykum ( ar, ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ, , ), also ''Salamun Alaykum'' is a greeting in Arabic that means 'Peace be upon you'. The (, meaning 'peace') has become a religious salutation for Muslims worldwide when greet ...
*
Peace be upon him
Islam uses a number of conventionally complimentary phrases praising Allah (e.g., ), or wishing good things upon Muhammad or other prophets (e.g., ). These phrases are encompassed by a number of terms: Prayers upon Muhammad may be referred to s ...
*
Salawat
*
Durood
''Salawat'' ( ar, صَلَوَات, ' ''salat''; also referred to as ''divine blessings on Muhammad'', ''durood shareef'' or ''durood-e-Ibrahim'') is an Islamic complimentary Arabic phrase, which contains the salutation upon Muhammad. This ph ...
*
Dua
In Islam, ( ar, دعاء , plural: ' ) is a prayer of invocation, supplication or request, even asking help or assistance from God.
Role in Islam
Muslims regard this as a profound act of worship. Muhammad is reported to have said ...
*
Salat
*
Sabr
The Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) is a membership organization dedicated to fostering the research and dissemination of the history and record of baseball primarily through the use of statistics. Established in Cooperstown, New ...
*
Adhan
*
Tashahhud
The ''Tashahhud'' ( ar, تَشَهُّد, meaning "testimony faith]"), also known as at-Tahiyyat ( ar, ٱلتَّحِيَّات, lit=greetings, link=no), is the portion of the Salah, Muslim prayer where the person Sitting in salah, kneels or sits ...
*
Japa
''Japa'' ( sa, जप) is the meditative repetition of a mantra or a divine name. It is a practice found in Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Buddhism, with parallels found in other religions.
''Japa'' may be performed while sitting in a medit ...
References
Citations
Sources
*
*
Touma, Habib Hassan (1996). ''The Music of the Arabs'', trans. Laurie Schwartz. Portland, Oregon: Amadeus Press. .
Further reading
*Al-Ameen, Hamzah.Dhikr (Islamic Mindfulness): Using Neuro-lingual Programming In Cognitive Spiritual Therapy
Upublish.info* Brodersen, Angelika. ''Remembrance,'' in Muhammad in History, Thought, and Culture: An Encyclopedia of the Prophet of God (2 vols.), Edited by C. Fitzpatrick and A. Walker, Santa Barbara, ABC-CLIO, 2014, Vol. II, pp. 520–523.
*
Algar, Hamid, trans. ''The Path of God's Bondsmen: From Origin to Return''. North Haledon, NJ: Islamic Publication International, 1980.
*
Schimmel, Annemarie. ''Mystical Dimensions of Islam''. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina P, 1975.
*Gardet, L. ''Dhikr''. ''
Encyclopaedia of Islam'', Second Edition. Edited by: P. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs. Brill, 2009.
*Jawadi Amuli, Abdullah.
Dhikr and the Wisdom Behind It''
*Privratsky, Bruce.
Muslim Turkistan: Kazak Religion and Collective Memory'', p. 104.
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Sufism
Spiritual practice
Language and mysticism
Arabic words and phrases
Islamic belief and doctrine
Islamic terminology