VIRTUES OF REMEMBRANCE OF ALLAAH

excerpt from a dars by Shaykh 'Abdur-Rahmaan as-Sudays, Rabee'uth-thaanee 1426 (13, May 2005)

Every pain has its cause. The cause of our disease of heedlessness and forgetfulness that had polluted our pure spiritual well-being can be attributed to the painful tragedies the Ummah is presently suffering from. Our tongues therefore need some moistening as our hearts need what can bring tranquility. Dear brethren! By Allaah! Hearts cannot be reformed, paths cannot be illuminated and made clear, and it is not possible to get relief from sorrows and hardship except through continuous remembrance of Allaah and glorifying Him. Allaah says,"O you who believe! Remember Allaah with much remembrance.(AlAhzaab 33:41)Allaah also says, "And remember Allaah much: that you may be successful."(Al-Jumu'ah 62:41) There are many verses that encourage remembrance of Allaah and enumerate the rewards and benefits of doing so. There are also many hadeeths in which the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alayihi wa sallam) encouraged remembrance of Allaah and explained the rewards of doing so.To mention just a few, the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alayihi wa sallam) said, "The example of someone who remembers Allaah and someone who does not remember Allaah is like that of a living and dead person." Allaahu Akbar! Remembrance of Allaah is the spirit and life, as forgetting Him is annihilation and death. 'Abdullaah ibn Bishr narrated that a man said, "O Allaah's Messenger, the injunctions of Islaam are much on me. Tell me something I can cling on." The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alayihi wa sallam) responded, "Keep your tongue always moistened with remembrance of Allaah." (At-Tirmidhee) The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alayihi wa sallam), out of his strong devotion and dedication to his Lord, would remember Him every moment and in every situation. He would do so with his heart and with his tongue, shedding tears and holding his hands up in helplessness to Allaah. He was certainly the one who asked his companions, "Shall I not inform you of the best of your deeds, the purest of your actions in the sight of your Lord, the one that elevates your ranks the most, and that is better for your than spending gold and silver [in the way of Allaah] and better for you than meeting your enemies who strike your necks and whose necks you strike?" They answered in the affirmative. The Prophet then said, "Remembrance of Allaah." (At-Tirmidhee)Allaahu Akbar! Brethren in faith! Constant remembrance of Allaah with appropriate words and goals, and while reflecting upon its wordings and meanings drive the hearts to the land of joy. Remembrance of Allaah is the glory that can never be attained with power or wealth. It is only success from Allaah that makes one attain perfection and glory. Guard your tongue against unlawful utterances, and keep it always occupied with remembrance of Allaah, O my dear friend;Show unto Allaah your helplessness, and do so with a repenting soul; ask Him of whatever you want, it will be given to you and you will be happy. Imaam ibn al-Qayyim beautifully illustrates the virtue of remembrance of Allaah and those who perform it when he wrote, "Remembrance of Allaah is a position of a people, who, without it, their bodies become like graves and their dwellings become dilapidated. It is through remembrance of Allaah that they prevent calamities and remove afflictions. When they are touched with afflictions they seek refuge in remembrance of Allaah and when hardships come to them they look for succour in it. It is the gardens of Paradise in which they live. It is the cure of the hearts during sickness.

Dear brethren! The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alayihi wa sallam) informed us that Allaah said in a qudsee hadeeth, "I am as My servant think I am. I am with him [with My knowledge] when he remembers Me. When he remembers Me within himself [while he is alone], I will also remember him [in My mercy and reward]. If he mentions Me among a group, I mention him among a better group."

(Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)It is enough a glory for a servant that he is in the mention and praise of the Lord of all the worlds. Laa ilaaha illaa Allaah, Allaahu Akbar!"And the remembering (praising) of (you by) Allaah (in front of the angels) is greater indeed. Dear Muslims who remember Allaah! Continuous remembrance of Allaah is the foundation for the Abode of the Pious. Can anybody then be negligent in laying the foundation of his Paradise but the bankrupt?! Allaah says,"O you who believe! Let not your properties or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allaah. And whosoever does that, then they are the losers." (Al-Munaafiqoon 63:9)Yes, when the remembrance of Allaah enters the heart and settles there, and when it mixes with a return to Allaah in repentance at all times, it becomes purification and source of happiness for the heart. It purifies and cleanses the soul. You will then find it easy to see the light of that great act of worship shinning on the devotee in all aspects of his life. For, it will mirror on his perceptions and the angels will surround him while he is crowned with a light from Allaah that will increase him in beauty. His heart is full of love for Allaah, so he is rewarded with grandeur and tranquillity. Allaah says,"Those who believed (in the Oneness of Allaah - Islaamic Monotheism), and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allaah: Verily, in the remembrance of Allaah do hearts find rest."(Ar-Ra'd 13:28)The hearts find rest with remembrance of Allaah whenever they are affected by ease or hardship. They will not be weakened if affected with calamities. Whenever the heart is lacking in purification, its refuge will be in remembrance of Allaah so that it can find tranquillity. This will in turn lead it to the promise of Allaah Who never fails in His promise. Allaah says,"And the men and the women who guard their chastity (from illegal sexual acts) and the men and the women who remember Allaah much with their hearts and tongues Allaah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise )."(Al-Ahzaab 33:35Laa ilaaha illaa Allaah, subhaanaka innee kuntu minaz-zaalimeen. Mu'aadh ibn Jabal said, "Nothing saves from Allaah's punishment more than remembrance of Allaah." It has to be so because the supplication that emanates from the spring of praising Allaah and glorifying Him is nothing but an affirmation of the reality of submission to Allaah, truthfulness of obedience to Him and seeking nearness to the One Who knows all that is hidden. If a believer frequently remembers Allaah with his tongue, it will be his paradise in this world and the peak of his closeness to his Lord. How happy will such a Muslim be!Brethren in faith! It is shocking to see some Muslims who are so heedless and forgetful that their tongues have become dumb to remembrance of Allaah and their hearts are filled with darkness. They are wallowing in error and misguidance. You see them wasting their days and nights in nonsense talks, gossip, slandering and attacking the honours of Muslims. The remembrance of Allaah never crosses their minds. Allaah says,"And whosoever turns away blindly from the remembrance of the Most Gracious (Allaah) (i.e. this Qur'aan and worship of Allaah), We appoint for him Satan to be a Qarn (a companion) to him."(Az-Zukhruf 43:36) There are others who spent hours in pastime and false talks but fail to utter few words of remembrance of Allaah that are weighty on the scale, beloved to Allaah and full of abundant rewards like, 'Subhaanallaah wabihamdihee, subhaanallaahil-'azeem.