QUESTIONS ON DHIKR (REMEMBRANCE OF ALLAH)

"Salafis" accuse us of deviation and heresy because we sit and recite dhikr -- loud or silently -- together: the kalima al-tayyiba, and astaghfirullah, and the Fatiha and other Suras, and salawat on the Prophet, and la ilaha illallah, and Allah's beautiful Names. Some of them object because it is loud and they claim it should be silent; object because it is silent and they claim it should be loud; others object because it is in a group and it should be individual; others because they claim our emphasis on dhikr is excessive and we should raise funds or study or hold conferences or make jihad instead; others object because some people are affected by the dhikr so as to sway or move this way or that instead of sitting still, so they want everyone to sit absolutely still; others because we sometimes perform dhikr in dim surroundings rather than in a glaring light; others yet object to reciting the name ALLAH by itself and claim it is an innovation, so that we should only say: YA Allah. Finally, they also accuse us of innovation and misguidance because we use dhikr-beads which we carry in our hands. What is the position of Ahl al-Sunna on all these points?

Table of Content

Dikhr is the greatest obligation and a perpetual divine order

Meanings of Dhikr

Loudness in dhikr

Gatherings of Collective, Loud Dhikr

Types and frequency of Dhikr

The required amount of dhikr is as much as possible

The importance of silent dhikr

On Seclusion (khalwa, `uzla)

Dhikr with the name "ALLAH"

Dhikr "hu", "hayy", "haqq"

Dhikr in Dim Surroundings

Movement during dhikr

Hadiths on the Virtues of Dhikr

Istighfar

Use of prayer-beads (masbaha, sibha, tasbih)

Invoking blessings on the Prophet (salawat)

Excerpts on the remembrance of Allah

On the Dhikr of Inanimate Objects

Six Benefits of Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah)

Allah's Similes For the Phrase of Oneness