6.1 Introduction To Station Of Rememberance (Zhikr)

It is essentially needed for the beginner as well as those in advanced level of perfection in their journey towards Allah (SWT). It is both a means and a station. How can we remember Allah (SWT) when Shaytan is tempting? (in a sinful situation)

One cannot commit a sin unless they are God unconscious, the light of guidance is very dim. In the back of your mind your faith is still there – but this is weaker than the temptation. If we come across this magnetic field of shaytan how to control this?

To reduce the risk of falling into shaytan:

Stay in touch and in tuned with majalis al-Zhikr Prophet (S) said if you want to have remembrance of God, then attend places of spiritual gathering. The more you charge it the more it will stay with you. Over time it will become our second nature.

Hadith says – that don’t stay away from the Muslim community

Find the right companion, that if you find the right person or the right people. If you get the pressure from the right friends then this will save you years of studying. Over a period of time you begin to assimilate into the group’s collective spirituality. The group can either turn you away or towards Allah (SWT). The presence of the right people will help you out. 3You can create that angel of guidance for you by associating yourself with good people.

What happens that two people get friendly and others do not. When you meet some people you feel so comfortable with them for some reason. The opposite is also true.

Hadith says that:

“The souls of humans are like soldiers of an army, those whom know each other in the previous world once they come across each other today they find themselves compatible.”

Like when you meet your spouse – the right person, it feels as though you have known them for a very long time. Those that do not know each other they do not get along with each other.

Philosophers express this as follows:

Compatibility is the cause of association

If there is something in common than you will associate yourself with others.

One of the more renown Muslim Arifs and Poet said that:

If you want to sit with God, don’t you remember that Allah (SWT) told Prophet Mosa (‘a) that:

“I’m sitting with the one that remembers me.”

If you want to sit with God, let him sit with people of Urafa (people that remind you of Allah (SWT)), so it is just like that you are sitting with Allah (SWT).

Once upon a time there were two birds, a crow and a stalk.

One Arif noticed this and said how is that they are walking and flying with each other as friends they look and seem different birds. I came closer and found out that both of them are limping.

There is a reason why people stick together. The younger you are the more prone you are to peer pressure. You are to be very mindful of whom your friends are, it makes a big difference to your life.

Have you ever questioned yourself? – what are you doing to yourself. Why are we so influenced by others? Naturally we change based on our surroundings.

If you want to be with God you need to associate yourself with good and right people.

Surah Nisa – Ayah 140

He hath already revealed unto you in the Scripture that, when ye hear the revelations of Allah rejected and derided, (ye) sit not with them (who disbelieve and mock) until they engage in some other conversation. Lo! in that case (if ye stayed) ye would be like unto them. Lo! Allah will gather hypocrites and disbelievers, all together, into hell; (4:140)

----Aga pooya------

In verse 68 of al-An-am also the believers in Allah have been advised not to sit in the company of scoffers and blasphemers, otherwise they will be no different from them. As the guilt of the infidels and the hypocrites is the same, the punishment will also be the same-eternal burning in hell.

Aqa Mahdi Puya says:

If the aim is to understand the truth, a meaningful discussion can be made with the critics of Islam as has been enjoined in verse 125 of al-Nahl.

-----end of ag pooya commentary--------

Don’t hang around with a hypocrite – like those that pray and drink at the same time.

6.2 Principles Of Remembering Allah Swt

Second principle of remembering God in a provocative situation – is find the right people to hang around with. An associate guide.

Prophet Jesus (‘a) was approached by the disciples and said who should we hang around with? Sit with those that when you see them they remind you of God. Once he talks he encourages you to do better things. When you see his action it encourages you to do things of the hereafter.

Prophet Muhammad (‘a) make sure you don’t answer the call of the dead he advised to the companions. Avoid to be associated with the dead people. How can we hang around with the dead. I mean, those rich people who have luxurious house and once you go to their house and all they talk about is this and that worldly things.

Nothing is mentioned of Allah (SWT), it’s all about the share market. If you mix with these guys much you become absent minded.

You don’t need to spend much time with these people.

Imam Ali (‘a) he would cease any opportunity to talk about the death.

He said don’t you need an adviser and guide always helping you, then remember the dead. How can you not remember death.

How can you afford it not to forget death when death doesn’t forget you?

If at that moment of committing sin you think of death you naturally conclude that you cannot afford dying like this.

Remembering death prohibited me (Imam Ali as) from committing death

Reduce your wishes, the long wishes accordingly to Imam Ali (‘a) prohibits you from doing good. What is our priority.

We are not like that and that Arif is because the priority in life is different to their priorities. Change your system of priority in your mind. Give more chance to yourself to be more associated with Allah (SWT). So that Allah (SWT) can be with you more.

Allama Tabatabai:

In terms of socialisation he used to say – some brothers or sisters say that they find it difficult to fast for example. Is there any alternative to fasting. There is an alternative that is mentioned in the Quran. Whenever you are ready do it over three days – it is called the fasting of silence. Talk only for prayers and very necessary things that you need to do in your daily transactions and life. Make a nadhir (vow) between you and Allah (SWT). Every three days you extend it for another three days.

Maryam and Zakariah (‘a) made the same fasting, the spiritual fasting.

It is possible to fast by not talking. It trains the mind and tongue not to divert in your ways and talking. It stops you from swearing and other things.

Prophet Muhammad (S)

If it was not for your idle talk, you would see what I see, and hear what I hear

Surah A’raf

There are certain group that when shaytan tries to touch them they remember Allah (SWT).

Prophet Yusuf was in that provocative situation, and he remembered Allah (SWT)

The opposite of which is being absent minded, and God unconscious

Ayat in Surah Kafir come after previous stations:

No-one can come to remembering Allah (SWT) except those that have done Inaba

Surah Baqarah:

If you want to achieve station of thinkr you need to be of people that think and reflect

6.3 Benefits Of Remembering Allah Swt

Before the benefits of this station is detailed, a key point to remember is that it is impossible for us get to this station unless the traveler has studied and learnt about and applied the things learnt in previous stations.

The root of all our sins is due to the fact that I go absent minded, what happens that as soon as I step out of the masjid I find that I cannot control my eyes etc, the shaytan is so tempting in this situation. The difference is are we God conscious or not? The more we are mindful of Allah (SWT) the more we are able to control ourselves

For example if we know for sure that Allah (SWT) is watching us then there is no way that we would commit a sin. Sometimes we forget about this and it leads us to committing a sin.

For those whom have reached this stage – it is important for them because we are in need of this remembrance especially when we are lonely. It is so easy for Imam Husayn (‘a) to give away his baby for the sake of Allah (SWT) because it is all happening in the vision of Allah. Because he believed that to be mindful and God conscious it amounts to a tranquil heart. Even if the whole world backs on me I can never give up Allah (SWT).

There is no room to even think about committing suicide,

Allah (SWT) advises us in the Quran that:

Therefore remember Me, I will remember you. Give thanks to Me, and reject not Me. (Quran 2:152)

----commentary with Aga pooya----

If you remember Allah, avoiding other than He, you are in the midst of reality. Allah, reality, will reflect the remembrance - if the sincere seeker remembers Allah, Allah remembers him.

Forgetfulness can never be attributed to the all-perfect. His remembrance refers to His special favours and bounties bestowed on those who remember Him.

To be grateful (shukr) is the key to the fulfilment and application of remembrance which neutralises desires and generates joy of inner contentment - deep and peaceful.

The opposite of this condition is Kufr-the falling over hurdles on the road of disobedience.

----end of commentary with Aga pooya----

In this ayah, Allah (SWT) is not saying Remember me, THEN (in light of what you have done) I will remember you. The moment that you remember Allah (SWT) Allah (SWT) remembers you – the element of time does not come into play here at all. The structure of the ayah in arabic is so well put that there is no mention of time through the word ‘THEN’.

Story: Someone at the time of Sayyid At-Tabatabai wanted to go to

Hajj: He said I went to him (Tabatabai was a leader of practical Irfan) and said: “give me some advice I am going to Hajj. Just remember this ayah Remember God, God remembers you, remember this ayah and you will be taken care of. Whichever situation you are in.

6.4 Thinking (Fikr) Is Different To Remembering (Fikr)

Zhikr has a difference to Fikr:

Zhikr – doesn’t mean that we do not know it, in fact we know it. Urafa say that the mirror of the heart collates dust over time. The heart is still there like the knowledge. Its just sometimes we have to rub the heart from the dust to allow it to reflect the reality more and more. The more you remember the story and knowledge of Allah (SWT) (for example moral issues we don’t need a degree to work out whether something is good or bad – we just need to remember, learning and remembering are two different realms. Once we are reminded we should have suficient knowledge of it.

Fikr - Thinking means that there is something we do not know and by the means of the things we do know we endeavour to turn the unknown to the known

There are plenty of ahadith when it comes to the chapter of Zhikr. The ahadith is so abudnatly rich.

One of the best known maraje’ and Urafa, if you remmeber this hadith it will be sufficient, just think about this:

Hadith tells us that there was a communication Allah (SWT) has had with Prophet Moses (‘a):

Oh Moses, I am the companion for anyone whom remembers me

You will be in safe hands, you just need to have faith.

Allah (SWT) says:

There is a group of people that when the Shayateen come and touch them there is one means that are safeguarded, and they are the ones whom remember Allah (SWT). The Quran says:

Those that are pious that when a group of Shayateen they attack them and touch them, in that situation they remember God. Then the eyes of their hearts will open

Prophet Yusuf (‘a):

As prophet Yusuf (‘a) did when he was in that difficult situation. By remembering Allah (SWT) the eyes of your heart will be open in terms of the true reality of this situation is and you will stay away from it.

Hadith from Imam Al-Sadiq (‘a):

Whoever remembers Allah (SWT) in reality he is the one that is obeying God,

6.5 Different Levels Of Remembrance Zhikr

Zhikr starts from the very low level and progresses through to a more advanced level:

6.5.1 Verbal Zhikr

The verbal Zhikr is the lowest level on the tip of my tonuge, this is like the words that we are expressing:

Zhikr Khafeh – are the words that do not require our lips much (like la ilaha illalah) people that are around you do not see the vibrations of the lips. This is better because there is less chance of Riya; or showing off.

Zhikr al-jaleh – are the verbal thinkr like subhanallah, s,s, s, it is very sharp on the ears. It attracts attention, try to avoid it as much as possible. If you are in public try to do Zhikr khafeh instead of Zhikr al-jaleh. The proper Zhikr should be close to the heart.

It requires a prescription and even the dosage is relative to the person. An example of this verbal Zhikr is found below:

Ya hayyo ya qayyom ya la illa ha illa ant

Anther Zhikr that is very important

La illaha illa ant subhanaka inni kontom minal dhtalameen

(Zhikr Yunusiyyi, say it especially in prostration, you intend when you say this that you have been unfair to yourself and the whole glory belongs to Allah (SWT))

Repeat this as much as possible

6.5.2 Zhikr Of The Heart (Zhikr Al-Qolby)

Zhikr al-Qolby (Zhikr of the heart), when we say one has to be God conscious and mindful it means that one has to have Zhikr in the heart. This station belongs in the heart. Imam Khoemeini shahabadi (his teacher in practical and theoretical Irfan) the example of remembering Allah (SWT) in the heart is like a mother that wants to teach the child how to talk, you repeat it so many times that the child will eventually say it without much effort. This is so that we can open up the tongue of the heart to say ‘ya Allah’. You practice it that much that you begin to hear it from the heart. Then after the child has learnt how to speak the mother can respond back to the child.

To understand this better, consider the following story from Allamah Mutahari (there was a genious Arif Sayiid Hashim Haddar)

He met him and I got some prescription from him, one day he approached him and said that how do you pray, he said (mutaharri) I am so mindful of the pronunciation of the words. Mutahari thought that he was doing a good job of concentrating on the meanings. His response was so when do you pray to God if you are just careful of the meanings of things.

It means that still the tongue of your heart has not yet activated. You need to reach the stage where the heart is communicating with Allah (SWT) and tongue is just repeating.

Story of two brothers:

There were two brother great scholars – Ahmad Gazali, and Abu hamd Gazali (were known for their practical Irfan)

Abu Hamd asked his brother why don’t you come down to pray with us in the masjid one day (being the Imam of the masjid and prayers) his brother kept to himself until finally he agreed and said that inshalah he will come down. In the middle of the prayer people noticed that he left the prayers. Some of the students of Abu Hamd said that look your brother should not attend prayers in future being your brother his act of leaving prayers in the middle is disrespectful. He said let me ask him what you have done. Did you do this to defame me? You forced me to come and I came the brother said. But the moment that you lead the prayers all of the sudden I found myself lost. He said, remember that second that you thought of the hay that you should be feeding your horse, you were not with Allah (SWT) any more, at that second I felt as though the spaceship that we went aboard all of a sudden had no captain. How can I let him drive and lead me in prayer, so I left.

This is the Zhikr of the heart.

One of the Urafa said:

Something happens to me that I woke up, I was thinking that I was doing a perfect job in my salat. Hadith say that if one pray is accepting its good. We have to keep praying hoping that there is only one prayer that is accepted.

6.5.3 Practical Zhikr

Practical Zhikr: this type of Zhikr ‘Zhikr kathir’ mentioned in the qur’aan, there is one type of people that will not be effected by Shaytan and they are the ones that do Zhikr kathir.

Imam sadiq (‘a) said

One of the more difficult duty that Allah (SWT) has made to people is three:

a. To share your wealth with others (health, wisdom etc)

b. To be fair and just to others (treat them as you are treated)

c. Not talking about subhannalla walhamdolilah wa la illha illalaho allaho akbar, to remember Allah (SWT) in whatever he has made compulsory to us and avoid those things that Allah (SWT) has made not good for us.

For example – it is pointless doing Zhikr while watching a dirty movie saying allaho akbar, allaho akbar. If one really wants to practice Zhikr they would switch the television off completely.

Urafa say that the best Zhikr amari is to do practical Zhikr, in terms of when you are in a situation where you are thinking of doing sharr, they abstain from progressing through to actioning it.

6.6 Deeper Meaning Of Remembrance - Zhikr

Deeper meaning of Zhikr is to remain God conscious in preventing one from committing wrong and sharr.

Unless you know yourself and your soul you cannot find treatment for the problem. In this spiritual journey you need to know enough information about the spiritually anatomy of the self. The background lies in the life of the Prophet (S):

Allah (SWT) has created angels and has made them with intellect (they are absolute spirituality and nothing else), and Allah (SWT) has created the animals with whim and desires (shahwah) and no spirituality. And Allah (SWT) has created mankind and he is the intellect between soul and body (both spirituality and desire). Whoever overcomes his whims and desires will go to a higher level than angels. On the other hand whomever gives the positive response to his whim and desire they will become less than any animal.

This is the diagnosis - these two forces exist in the self, one force is leaning towards the ‘its seems and feels good’ whilst the other force is leaning towards the ‘it is bad for the self’. There is an obvious conflict of interest, and because of this when one attends a spiritual gathering they feel better.

Urafa say that unless you combat these two forces in terms of controlling yourself, one will not rest and be a God conscious person.

6.7 Significance Of Stories In History In Your Journey Towards Allah Swt

Urafa benefit from stories that for centuries people have been reading them as fairytales, they use them as parables of describing divine examples.

One of these stories is between Layla and Majnoon:

One famous arabic poet Ibn Hawzan, Molana mashabi in Farsi.

Majnoon was in love with Layla and was trying to do his best to reach her. One day he said that enough is enough I will go to ride to her house (what is going to happen are they going to kill me?) early in the morning he rides his she camel to Layla. The she camel has just given birth to a baby camel – her heart was naturally with the baby. The further they were from the baby the more the camel was at rest. Majnoon hit the camel to get the camel to go forward. However, when Majnoon stops and has a rest on the camel – it takes steps backwards. Why? Because there are two forces here that are in conflict of interest. Naturally the camels heart is with its newly born whereas the heart of Majnoon is beating towards Layla. Rider on one hand is forcing the camel to go forward and the camel is trying to go towards the child. Majnoon after waking up decides that look – what am I doing all these hours I haven’t moved much in my travel to Layla. In the end he says your heart is with your baby and my heart is with your lady he said you go your way and will go my way.

Urafa say if you want to be God conscious then one day you have to get off the camel of the tempting Nafs. Until you decide to get off the camel then you wouldn’t know whther you will respond to your Nafs or your Intellect.

6.8 Advise From The Prophet (S)

Hadith from the Prophet (S):

The example of your heart is the example of the feather in a windy day

Hadith:

One day you come to the masjid (Irfan lessons of the Prophet (S) used to happen after morning prayer) a student came to the Prophet (S) and told him that when we are around you we feel so spiritual but when we go out of this magnetic field onto our own lives we go back to our ways. The Prophet (S) told them that:

Hurry up towards the gardens of paradise

Where is the address for the gardens of paradise ya Rasool? He said – yes attend the majalis al-Zhikr

The more you are staying in touch the more you will seek closeness and nearness to Allah (SWT).

We are the combination of soul and spirituality.

6.9 Final Three (3) Tips For Remembering Allah Swt

6.9.1 Seize Any Opportunity To Remember Allah Swt

Seize any opportunity you have of majlis, Allah (SWT) says that:

I am with the companion of anyone whom accompanies me (attending the majalis of Zhikr, to remind you of the Hellfire and the Heaven)

To look at the face of the Alim is an act of worship

The more you stay in touch the more you can concrete the spiritiuality

Hadith:

When deciding on a friend choose one that reminds you more of Allah (SWT).

6.9.2 Never Say You Cannot Attend A Majlis Of Al-Zhikr

Never say that you cannot attend the Majalis al-Zhikr, I know it all, because that way you have put an obstacle in front of you. Be humbled in attending the majalis.

Imam Ali (‘a) used to sit around his companions and ask them: Give me a piece of advise, what us advise you? He said yes, there is a benefit in listening that is not in knowing. We are sitting around between sunrise and have the best opportunity from Dawn to Sunset to gain from the best topic.

People spend all day and all night playing or watching football, but when it comes down to attending a session of Zhikr-Allah they say oh I don’t have time, I cant be bothered.

6.9.3 There Is A Duty To Listen

There is a duty for the listeners as Imam Ali (‘a) states:

Listen to what is said, not whom has said it

You can benefit from the knowledge that you attain

As for the adviser there is a duty:

Any lecture if it comes from the heart it goes to the heart of the listeners (Urafa say)

Hadith;

If it comes from the tongues then it doesn’t penetrate through the heart.

Sometimes we come across certain people that have this power.

Imam Khomeini was given this ability of being influential. Look at the sermons of Imam Ali (‘a) describes attitudes of the pious man, just fainted and lost his life it affected him that much. Others may try to read the same words in the sermon but they will not necessarily have the same effect on the audience why?

Ibn Abi Hadid one of the best commentators of Nahjul Balagha says:

There is one sermon in NB sermon 221, Allah, Allah – I swear to whatever all the nations swear to, it has been more than 50 years of my life, that I have been reading this sermon more than 1,000 times and with no fail every time I read it again it gets to me more and more. I feel more spiritual every time, it encourages me of paradise and fearful of the hellfire. He said

– I have no doubt that it is the spiritual influence of Imam Ali (‘a) even though he is not around.

Sermon 221 from Imam Ali (‘a) is found below:

Amir al-mu'minin recited the verse:

O' thou man! what hath beguild thee from thy Lord, the Most Gracious One. (Quran, 82:6)

Then he said:

The addressee (in this verse) is devoid of argument and his excuse is most deceptive. He is detaining himself in ignorance. O' man! what has emboldened you to (commit) sins, what had deceived you about your Allah and what has made you satisfied with the destruction of yourself. Is there no cure for your ailment or no awakening from your sleep? Do you not have pity on yourself as you have on others? Generally, when you see anyone exposed to the heat of the sun you cover him with shade, or if you see anyone afflicted with grief that pains his body you weep out of pity for him. What has then made you patient over your own disease, what has made you firm in your own afflictions, and what has consoled you from weeping over yourself although your life is the most precious of all lives to you, and why does not the fear of an ailment that may befall you in the night keep you wakeful although you lie on the way to Allah's wrath due to your sins?

You should cure the disease of languor in your heart by determination, and the sleep of neglectfulness in your eyes by wakefulness. Be obedient to Allah, and love His remembrance, and picture to yourself that you are running away while He is approaching you. He is calling you to His forgiveness and concealing your faults with His kindness,

while you are fleeing away from Him towards others. Certainly, Great is Allah the powerful, Who is so generous, and how humble and weak are you and still so bold to commit His disobedience although you live in His protection and undergo changes of life in the expanse of His kindness. He does not refuse you His kindness and does not remove His protection from you. In fact,, you have not been without His kindness even for a moment, whether it be a favour that He conferred upon you or a sin of yours that He has concealed or a calamity that He has warded off from you. What is your idea about Him if you had obeyed Him? By Allah, if this had been the case with two persons equal in power and matching in might (one being inattentive and the other showering favours upon you) then you would have been the first to adjudge yourself to be of bad behaviour and evil deeds.

I truthfully say that the world has not deceived you but you have had yourself deceived by it. The world had opened to you the curtains and divulged to you (everything) equally. And in all that it foretold you about the troubles befalling your bodies and the decay in your power, it has been too true and faithful in promise, and did not speak a lie to you or deceive you. There are many who advise you about it but they are blamed, and speak the truth about it but they are opposed. If you understand the world by means of dilapidated houses and forlorn abodes, then with your good understanding and far reaching power of drawing lessons you will find it like one who is kind over you and cautious about you. It is good abode for him who does not like it as an abode, and a good place of stay for him who does not regard it a permanent home for stay.

Only those who run away from this world today will be regarded virtuous tomorrow. When the earthquake occurs, the Day of Resurrection approaches with all its severities, the people of every worshipping place cling to it, all the devotees cling to the object of their devotion and all the followers cling to their leader. Then on that day even the opening of an eye in the air and the sound of a footstep on the ground will be assigned its due through His Justice and His Equity. On that day many an argument will prove void and a contention for excuses will stand rejected.

Therefore, you should now adopt for yourself the course with which your excuse may hold good and your plea may be proved. Take from the transient things of this world that which will stay for you (in the next world), provide for your journey, keep (your) gaze on the brightness of deliverance and keep ready the saddles (for setting off).

One of the methods of gaining effective spirituality is when you are face to face with the speaker as opposed to indirect method of listening. The words go to your ears but the effects are different.

6.9.4 Make More Time In Your Life For Learning

Make a plan in your life to keep learning and studying. We are always in need of advise and wisdom. It is a fraud if we believe we do not need advice.

Prophet (S) said:

Didn’t you want that armour when you are out, to make sure that Shaytan doesn’t touch you, whomever creates that atmosphere of staying in touch the more you will be protected from Allah (SWT).