Central Sermon: “The Value That Saves Man – Zikr” (Video)

The Most High Allah has revealed: “The Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so – for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.” (The Allies, 35)

In this verse, the characteristics of sincere believers are listed, but only one characteristic is associated with the adverb “often”.

Indeed, Allah the Most High did not say: “To the men and women who give a lot of charity and fast a lot”, but: “To the men who remember (often) Allah and the women who remember (often) Allah.”

Allah, may His greatness be exalted, commanded and ordered Zachariah, peace be upon him, after announcing the birth of his son John, to remember Allah often, as indicated in the verse: “My Lord” – he implored – “give me a sign!” – “The sign will be” – said Allah – “that for three days you will not be able to speak to people except by signs. And remember often your Lord and glorify Him morning and evening!” (The Family of Imran, 41)

Moses, peace be upon him, was fully aware of the truth of this treasure when he said: “And appoint for me a minister from my family – Aaron, my brother. Increase through him my strength and let him share my task, that we may exalt You much and remember You much.” (Ta-Ha, 29-34)

Allah commands the believers to remember often and glorify Allah, according to the verse: “O you who have believed, remember Allah with much remembrance and exalt Him morning and afternoon.” (The Allies, 41-42)

On the contrary, one of the characteristics of the hypocrites is: “When they stand for prayer, they stand lazily, showing off to the people and not remembering Allah except a little.” (The Women, 142)

It is therefore not surprising that Satan’s first effort to seduce people is to divert them from the remembrance and glorification of Allah, and if Satan succeeds in “capturing” and holding back the tongue of man from remembrance, then the other organs submit without a fight.

The Most High Allah has revealed: “Satan has overcome them and made them forget the remembrance of Allah.” (The Debate, 19)

Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyya said: “The greatest punishment in this world is that Allah restrains your tongue from glorifying Him and mentioning Him.”

Whoever glorifies Allah often and remembers Him, Allah loves him, and whoever Allah loves, He guides him and grants him the ability to distinguish truth from falsehood in every situation.

Abdullah ibn Mubarak said: “Whoever ends his day with the remembrance and glorification of Allah, his whole day will be counted for him as remembrance.”

Amr ibn Shuayb reported from his grandfather that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Whoever, before sunrise and sunset, says a hundred times: ‘Glory be to Allah’, it is better for him than giving charity of a hundred camels, whoever, before sunrise and sunset, says a hundred times: ‘Praise be to Allah’, it is better for him than a hundred horses used in jihad, whoever, before sunrise and sunset, says a hundred times: ‘Allahu Akbar’, it is better for him than freeing a hundred slaves, and whoever, before sunrise and sunset, says: ‘There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, the One, without partner. To Him belongs sovereignty, and to Him belongs praise, and He is over all things competent’, on the Day of Judgment, no one will be better than him, except one who has said it as much as him or more than him. (Sahih al-Targhib, no. 658. – The hadith is good)

By remembering Allah in every situation, we find lasting protection and pride for ourselves!

(Central khutbah by religious leader Hafiz Hilmija Redžić on March 22, 2024, at the Gazi Isa-beg Islamic Center in Esch-sur-Alzette)