| Answer: Dhikr, in religious
parlance, means remembering the Almighty. A believer's day should be spent as
much as is possible in his Creator's remembrance. There are a number of forms of
doing dhikr: Some of the important forms include saying the prayer, reading the
Qur'ān, making supplications, asking Allah's forgiveness, expressing gratitude
at his favours and blessings, remembering the attributes and established laws
and practices of Allah, reciting certain phrases and sentences mentioned in the
Ahādīth.
Congregational dhikr, which is so
popular these days is something which was not found in the time of the Prophet (sws).
The only congregational dhikr which the Prophet (sws) seems to have undertaken
was the collective prayer offered in the mosque. All other forms are generally
more suited to be done when a person is alone. In seclusion, a person's emotions
and feelings are very pure and flow naturally out of him; dhikr in such
circumstances is also more free from false pretense.
I would recommend you to adopt
the above mentioned forms and avoid all those which are not prescribed by the
Prophet (sws). All other forms lead to innovation (bid'at) and take a person
away from his Allah. |