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Dhikr: the Remembrance of God
The Prophet
peace be upon him said: “Shall I tell you something that
is the best of all deeds, constitutes the best act of piety
in the eyes of your Lord, elevates your rank in the hereafter,
and carries more virtue than the spending of gold and silver
in the service of Allah, or taking part in Jihad and slaying
or being slain in the path of Allah?” They said: “Yes!”
He said: “Remembrance of Allah.”21
Thus one
finds the principles of the spiritual Jihad are based on eliminating
the ugly, selfish and ferocious characteristics of the ego
through spiritual training and mastery of dhikr, the Remembrance
of God.
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This remembrance takes many forms: each school of Sufism focuses
on a different form of ritual dhikr to enable the seeker to
approach the Divine Presence, varying from individual silent
recitation and chanting to vocal group sessions. It is this
spiritual struggle that raises humankind and instills in him
the sense of relationship with His Creator, and the proper perspective
in relating to all creation, always calling for love between
humanity and striving in Allah’s Way for better understanding
between various communities of all faiths. Through this spiritual
Jihad the effect of the selfish ego on the soul of the seeker
will be removed, uplifting his state from depression, anxiety
and loneliness to one of joy, satisfaction and companionship
with the Most High. |
