Remembrance of Allah

One of the most treasured practices of the Sufi path is zikr, the remembrance of Allah. To be in unity with Allah is to be in a constant state of remembrance of the source of all creation. In the sense that unity is the deepest state of surrender to Allah, this is the true zikr, and is the goal of the Sufi path. As a means to achieve that state, zikr as a ritualized practice was bequeathed to students of tasawwuf by Prophet Muhammad (saws).

There are two forms of ceremonial zikr: jahri, or outward zikr, in which one's voice can be heard by others, and khafi, or silent zikr, in which it can be heard only by oneself. The jahri style was taught by the Prophet (saws) to Hazrati Ali (ra). The following explanation of the origins of zikr is given by Pir Abdul Qadir al Geylani in Secret of Secrets:

Hazrati Ali (ra) was the first one to ask our Master the Prophet (saws) about the path of zikr. He asked him to teach him the closest, most precious, and the easiest way. Upon this, Our Master the Prophet (saws) waited for the angel Jibril [Gabriel] (saws) to come. Jibril (saws) came and he inculcated “La ilaha illa ‘llah” into the Prophet (saws) three times. Our Prophet (saws) repeated this the same way and then taught it to Ali (r.a.).

(This lamp is found) in houses which Allah has allowed to be exalted and that His Name will be remembered therein. In them He is praised in the mornings and evenings. (Qur'an 24:36)

The ritual ceremony of zikr is traditionally held in a Sufi gathering-place known as the dergah. In this setting the members of a Sufi tariqa together intone certain Names of Allah, thereby invoking the characteristics represented by those Names into the hearts of the congregation. There is a traditional order in which Allah’s Names are mentioned in zikr, and each one is repeated several, often hundreds of times in unison by the group. Certain movements, such as swaying back and forth or turning from right to left, are incorporated into the activity during the intonations, and are likewise performed in unison. In some tariqas a prayerful rotation of the whole body, arms extended while pivoting on one foot, is traditional.

Each of the Beautiful Names invoked during zikr is a key to a spiritual level within the heart. In the midst of such spiritual concentration, participants sometimes travel to profound dimensions of reality. This refreshment to the soul helps to provide encouragement to the murid in his sometimes difficult journey to Allah. The effect of zikr in the group is to enable each one present to benefit from the augmentation of spiritual energy that a unified effort achieves. In such an atmosphere of concentrated spiritual energy, it is not uncommon for unseen beings such as angels and walis [protecting friends] to attend the proceedings, thereby bringing additional blessings from Allah.

Excerpted from The Sun Will Rise In The West
By Shaykh Taner Ansari.

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