In this materialistic world we are prone to do everything to achieve our own goals. But we show considerable negligence towards remembrance of Allah , who has created us only for His worship and adoration. We all know well that this world is transitory and the main abode is the Hereafter. Despite this genuine fact we pay scant attention to the remembrance of Allah and the Hereafter. This is nothing but mere our madness and un-forgetfulness. The truth is that all our success, progress and prosperity lie in the remembrance of Allah and His adoration. It strengthens our faith and accords unprecedented power and perennial inspiration to attain real success in this world and the Day of Judgement.
The Holy Qur’ān says,
“Whatever is in the heavens and on earth glorifies Allah: for He is Exalted in Might, the Wise.”(al-Hashr – 59:1)
The above mentioned ayah of the Holy Qur’ān indicates that all the creations of Allah are engaged in His remembrance and praise. Only human beings are given the freedom of choice to submit to the Will of Allah and remember Him or follow their own desires. Those who submit to the will of Allah and always remember Him are called Muslims. Accordingly, Muslims always find satisfaction of their hearts only in the remembrance of Allah. The Holy Qur’ān says, “Those who believe, and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah: for without doubt in remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction.” (al-Ra’d – 13:28)
The following ayaat of the Holy Qur’ān vividly show how Allah Himself lays immense stress on the importance of His remembrance: “O you who believe! Celebrate the praises of Allah, and do so often.”(al-Ahzab – 33:41) “And celebrate the praises of Allah often (and without stint) that you may prosper.” (al-Juma – 62:10)
“O you who believe! When you meet a force, be firm, and call Allah in remembrance much (and often); that you may prosper.”(al-Anfal – 8:45)
“O you who believe! let not your riches and children divert you from the remembrance of Allah. If any act thus, the loss is their own.”(al-Munafiqoon – 63:9)
It is the remembrance of Allah through which we can establish our firm relationship with Him. Besides, we may remember death which we see every day and Akhirah (the Day of Judgement) through the remembrance of Allah. Recitation of the Holy Qur’ān is also an important mode of remembrance of Allah. Moreover, it creates fear of Allah in us. We see around us carnage, massacre, anarchy, theft, loot, cybercrime, and other anti-social activities only because of lack of fear of Allah.
Hence, remembrance of Allah is the best way to infuse fear of Him in us. The Prophet ﷺ says, “I am leaving behind two guides for you. One that talks and the other that is silent. The one that talks is the Qur’ān and the one that is silent is death.”
In a Hadith Qudsi related by Abu Hurairah, the Prophet ﷺ said: Allah says, I am as My servant expects Me to be. I am with him when he makes mention of Me. If he makes mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself; and if he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assembly better than it. And if he draws near to Me a hand’s span, I draw near to him an arm’s length; and if he draws near to me an arm’s length, I draw near to him a fathom’s length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
Allah says, “Then you do remember Me, I will remember you. Be grateful to Me, and reject not faith.”(al-Baqarah – 2:152)
The best form of remembrance of Allah is Salah. Allah Himself says, “And establish Salah for My remembrance.” (Ta Ha 20:14) That is why Allah made Salah obligatory for every man and woman. It is the only way of direct talking to Allah. A Hadith enjoins us: worship Allah as if you see Him and if you don’t reach at this state, you believe that Allah looks at you.
The most striking aspect of the remembrance of Allah is that it brings about impetus and makes us crazy for contemplation, meditation and thoughtfulness about the creation of the world and other wonders of nature. The Holy Qur’ān states, “Behold! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alteration of night and day, there are indeed Signs for men of understanding. Men who remember Allah standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and contemplate the wonders of creation in the heavens and the earth, with the saying: our Lord not for naught hast Thou created all this ! Glory to Thee! Give us salvation from the chastisement of the fire.” (Ale Imran – 190-192)
It is clear that it is those who always remember Allah may think and bring about revolution and changes in the world. The Holy Qur’ān describes them as “ulil albab” (men of understanding). Hence, to become the men of understanding one should first make the habit of remembrance of Allah and lead life according to His will.
In short, it is incumbent that we must remember Allah every moment and seek everything from Him. The Qur’ān reminds us: “And be not among those who are forgetful.”(al-Araf – 7:205) It further says, “And be ye not like those who forgot Allah, and He made them forget themselves! such are the rebellious transgressors!”(59:19)
In fact, the remembrance of Allah stops us from committing sins and other host of inhuman acts. May Allah keep us from the temptations of this world and lead us to the path of righteousness and salvation!
[The writer if Faculty Member, Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh]