ILM-O-ZIKR |
The third point of Program is the Ilm and Zikr i.e. to acquire and propagate the knowledge of the religion and to remember Allah as much
as possible. Knowledge and Remembrance of Allah are two such basic virtues on which the real
Islamic idealism is based. Remembrance of Allah purifies our heart and polishes
it, while knowledge of the religion enlightens the right way for us
and enables us to follow the right path. The Holy Quran and the Hadith
have laid great stress on these two qualities. The Holy Prophet says. Cursed is this world and cursed is all that is in this word except the Remembrance of Allah and that which aideth thereto and the seeker of the religious knowledge. ILM: Knowledge is one of the most essential requirement of human being. It raises him to the heights of goodness and gives a noble position and real happiness in the two worlds, and above all it helps to attain the Divine Approbation. Allah likes only that knowledge which helps a man in becoming a true obedient servant of Him. He has promised great rewards for those who seek after knowledge. The Holy Prophet says: He who leaveth home in search of knowledge walketh in the path of Allah. He also says: For him who goes out in search of religious knowledge, Allah shall make easy the way to Heaven. To acquire an amount of knowledge that enables a man to perform his religious duties correctly is incumbent upon all Muslims, men and women. The Holy Prophet says: The acquisition of knowledge is incumbent on every Muslim When we have affirmed faith in the Lordship of Allah we became bound to follow His Commandments in every walk of our life. This naturally can only be done when we have necessary knowledge of His Laws. If we do not know what deeds please Allah and what deeds displease Him we are most likely to fall into the abyss of error and commit great sins. We have therefore to acquire sufficient knowledge of Allah's Commandments relating to our Salat, Saum, Zakaat, Hajj and all other prayers and affairs of our daily transactions. It may be borne in mind that to exert oneself for the sake of obtaining an adequate knowledge of the Faith is also an act of worship that very often supersedes the Nafil (supererogatory prayers). The Holy Prophet says: It is better to spend an hour in learning and teaching knowledge than to pray (supererogatory) Salaat the whole night. Hence, it is our duty to acquire knowledge and instill it into others in order to earn our title to the Divine Rewards. The Holy Prophet says: Whoever seeketh, knowledge and findeth it will have two rewards: one of them the reward for desiring it and the other for obtaining it: therefore even if he who doth not attain it. For him is one reward. He also said That person who shall die while he is in search of knowledge in order to receive the knowledge of the religion will be only one degree inferior to the Prophets. The cultivation of religious knowledge is binding on all Muslims, rich and poor, educated and uneducated, male and female, old and young. We must take every opportunity to learn the religion and to teach it to others. It must, however, be remembered that only reading of books cannot suffice at all. We have to practice whatever we learn... Hazrat Umar (Radiallahu Taala Anho) was once asked who were the learned and he replied: Those who practice(Amal) what they know A man who is favored by Allah and acquires knowledge of the religion is discarded if he does not practice it. The Holy Prophet says The best of human being is a good learned man and the worst of them is bad learned man (i.e. one who does not practice what he knows). We should therefore make up our minds that we will strive earnestly to equip ourselves with adequate knowledge of the Faith and with its proper execution. In a Tablighi tour special attention should be paid to create an inner urge for acquiring sufficient knowledge and practicing it in actual life. To achieve this purpose, virtues of the prayers and moral behavior should be explained in detail. The second part of this point is Zikr (Remembrance of Allah). Zikr is the greatest thing in our life and a well-tried excellent method for purification of our heart. It eradicates all diseases from heart, produces in it the love of Allah and creates the consciousness of His Greatness. It bring us divine peace and satisfaction. Allah the Almighty Himself asked us to remember Him as much as possible. Says the Holy Quran O, ye who believes remember Allah very often and glorify Him morning and evening. Another verse says And when Salaat is finished then ye may disperse through the land and seek of the Bounty of Allah and celebrate the Praises of Allah much and often: the ye may prosper (here as well as in the next world) (LXII--10) In another verse the Holy Quran says that Zikr imparts tranquility and peace to the mind and the soul.Behold, in the Remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction. (XIII-28) In a verse, men of Faith have specifically been warned not to forget Zikr by getting absorbed in the wealth and the family. O, ye who believe let not your riches or your children divert you from the Remembrance of Allah. If any act thus, the loss is their own. (LXII-9) Allah the Almighty shows His kindness to those who remember Him. He said: Then do ye remember Me I will remember you. (II-152) The Holy Prophet says. Allah says when anyone remembers Me and his lips move in Zikr I am by his side. In a verse of the Holy Quran mentioning the qualities of pious servants and their reward, Allah says: Men whom neither traffic nor merchandise can divert from Remembrance of Allah nor from regular Salaat, nor from regular practice of Zakaat. (XXIV - 39) To quote a few Hadith about Zikr. The Holy Prophet says: There is a polish for everything for the hearts, it is Zikr of Allah. He has also said: Those who remember Allah and those who do not are like those who are alive and those who are dead (i.e. who remember Allah and celebrate. His Praises are alive and those who do not are dead. The Holy Prophet was once asked who would be the most exalted among the servants of Allah on the Last Day. Prophet replied Those who remember Allah. be they men or women The Holy Prophet once advised one of his companions. Keep your tongue always employed in repeating the name of Allah Negligence towards Zikr causes more and more retrogression. Those who close their hearts and tongues to Allah are deprived of all divine virtues, their hearts get hardened and they become close associates of the devils. Look what the Holy Quran says: He who turns away from the remembrance of His Lord He will cause him to undergo a severe Penalty. (LXXII-17) Another verse says: If anyone withdraws himself from the Remembrance of Allah Who is Most Gracious. He will appoint for him an evil one to be an intimate companion to him. (XLIII-36) In another verse it has been said: Woe to those whose hearts are hardened against remembering of Allah, they are manifestly wandering (May Allah save us all from wandering) The highest and the required degree of Zikr is to acquire such a solemn spiritual state of mind and heart in which we remain continuously full of remembrance of Allah and be never without His thought. This state of permanent and all pervading God's consciousness is achieved only through continuously engaging the tongue and heart in Zikr and the devout servants of Allah, no doubt, achieve this stage. The daily five Salaats are no doubt the remembrance of Allah but Zikr has got a wider sense. It includes all sorts of the praises, be they with tongue or heart i.e. Salaats, the recitation of the Holy Quran, the other prayers, the repetition of His sacred names and devoted contemplation on the signs of Allah and the like come under Zikr. We are surrounded by evil forces that are trying to deviate us from the right path. To save ourselves from their grips we must remember Allah in every possible way. The more we remember Him the more benefited we are. Hence, in addition to all the obligatory prayers we must be particular about Zikr at least through Darood o Salaat Third Kalimah Istigfar These should be recited every day hundred times each preferably in the morning and evening both. These three things have got excellent virtues. The Holy Prophet says: The closest to me on the Day of Requital will be he who sends blessings on me oftener. Of all the spoken words the most excellent are Subhanallahi wal Hamdu lillahi wala llaha llallahu Wallahu Akbar. He is also reported to have said that this Kalimah is dearer to me that the entire world on which the sun shines. As for Istigfar ( to implore the forgiveness of Allah) the Holy Prophet says: One who seeks Divine forgiveness after sin becomes like one who has never been guilty of the sin. Here are the three along with their English translation. Darood -o- Salaat O'Allah Magnify Mohammed and his posterity and followers as Thou has magnified Abraham and hi posterity and followers: verily Thou art the Praiseworthy, the majestic: Third Kalimah Glory be to Allah, Praise be to Allah, and there is no had save Him, and Allah is Most Great and there is no power or virtue but in Allah, the High, the Great. Istigfar I beg the forgiveness of Allah save Whom here is no God, the Living the Eternal. Unto Him do I turn penitent. |
