[Chapter 17] Dhikr and Du’a

Published By Categorised as STILL WORKING FOR ALLAH in the West: Theory and Methodology (Book)

Chapter 17
Still Working for Allah in the West: Theory and Methodology

Dhikr and Du’a

DHIKR

Remembrance of Allah! Calling out his glorious name a million different ways! Chanting all the beautiful chants that Muslims have been taught in the Qur’an and Hadith! That is what Dhikr is.

I do want to make some fuss about Dhikr in this seminar or camp, or whatever it is we have going here. I will tell you why.

It is with good reason. For one thing, it is a most important thing in a Muslim’s life – Dhikr of Allah. Nothing is more important.

Allah’s Dhikr is bigger than anything you can think of or do in your life – Wa La-Dhikrullahi Akbar. Qur’an (29:45)

For another, it is also one of the easiest things to do. Its benefits, in both Dunya (this world) and Aakhirah (next world), are limitless. Allah asks the believers to do a great deal of Dhikr. Allah also says that those who turn away from his Dhikr, Allah imposes a most painful life on them.

One of the characteristics of Munafiqs is that they don’t do much Dhikr of Allah.

As a result, I am trying to create in this camp a serious consciousness and concern on the part of all participants and organizers – not the least in myself – about such things as Dhikr, Dua, Sabr, Ihsan, Taubah and Istighfar, Ikhlas and Taqwa. If we succeed in this, it will be a significant achievement with the help of Allah, Subhanahu wa Ta’ala.

I hope and pray to Allah that our efforts in this respect will be successful.

Therefore, get in the habit of making a great deal of Dhikr of Allah before you come to the seminar; keep doing it throughout the seminar; and commit yourself to keep on doing it as you begin to leave the seminar.

May Allah make me and you – and those we love – of those who engage in his Dhikr a great deal.

DU’A

We all know what Du’a is – but do we really? If we did, many of us wouldn’t be the way we are. And many of us will not be doing anything else in life.

Du’a is one of the strongest bonds there is between us and Almighty Allah – our master. It is our lifeline to him. It is, if you want to call it that, our hotline to him. It is Allah’s I-Owe-You to his slaves.

When my slaves ask you about me, Allah says in the Qur’an addressing his Rasul, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam, tell them that I am indeed close – I respond to their call the moment they call me. Paraphrase from (2:186).

Did you ever wonder, did you ever ask yourself, what kind of slaves are we, and who is this master, that we have such direct, immediate and unlimited access to him – all the time and everywhere?

This is such a common heritage of humanity that even many non-Muslims can see it clearly – not the least among them the People of the Book. Does anybody read Tennyson anymore? Remember the long poem in which he says “Many a thing are wrought by prayer”? Or do you think this is a good place to start what you might want to call an Islamic debate on the topic of whether it is Halal or Haram or Mubah or Makruh to read Tennyson – or having read him 20 or 30 years ago to remember or cite him?

Do you still want to hedge on the application of the word slave to yourself and your fellow human beings? What is your substitute expression? How does servant of Allah sound? Or, Ma’adhallah, what do you think of Allah’s valet, butler, chauffeur, sanitary engineer or custodial officer?

Keep all these beautiful expressions of the beautiful English language to yourself. Rejoice and revel in them as much as you please. I am perfectly happy being a slave of Allah – all I want is to be one of the better ones among his slaves – the kind that the moment he calls his master, his call is answered promptly, instantaneously.

Nothing but a slave, that is what I am and that is all I want to be – In Huwa Illa 'Abd Qur’an (43:59).

END OF CHAPTER 18
Still Working for Allah in the West: Theory and Methodology

© 2003 Syed Husain Pasha

Dr. Pasha is an educator and scholar of exceptional 
talent, training and experience. He can be reached at DrSyedPasha [at] 
AOL [dot] com or www.IslamicSolutions.com.

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  2. [Chapter 2] Preparation
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  6. [Still Working for Allah - Book] Contents Page
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