CELEBRATING THE PRAISES OF ALLAH

There are hundreds of benefits associated with the Dhikr, the act of rehearsing and celebrating the praises of Allah. The well-Known medieval scholar Ibn al-Qaiyyim mentioned more than seventy of these in his book Kitabul Adhkar. Among the benefits hour mentioned were tha Dhikr drives away Satan, pleases Allah, the All Merciful, and replaces pain and sorrow of the heart with peace, happiness and contentment. 

According to Ibn al-Qaiyyam, Dhikr strenghtens the heart and body, illuminates the countenance and the heart, leads one to prosperity, and is itself a raiment of awe, splendor and glory. Dhikr nurtures the love of Allah in the heart of the believer and draws the worshipper near to Him. Allah through open the doors of understanding for the worshipper engaged in Dhikr. 

Dhikr engenders awe of Allah, the Glorious and the Mighty, invigorates the heart, cleanses it, washes away its transgrations, and it also closes the gulf between the worshipper and the Creator -- Dhikr strengthens the spirit. By rehearsing the praises of Allah, the worshipper comes to know Allah's comfort in times of hardship, and hope of redemption from His wrath. Dhikr causes a feeling of assurance and well-being, or Sakinah, to descend upon the heart enveloped in the warm glow of Allah's mercy. The angles sit with those who quietly recite the praises of Allah; these, Allah will protect from grief on the Day of Resurrection. 

The Prophet (s.a.w) said: 

“One who remembers Allah in seclusion and weeps will remain in the shadow of Allah on the day when there is no shade but His.” 

Of all who call upon Allah, He will give the best to those who recite His praises.

Of all forms of worship or Ibadah, Dhikr is the easiest and one of the most highly prized. A simple recitation of Allah's praise is a seedling planted in the garden of Paradise. The rewards and benefits it brings, are unlike those of any other deed. Constant celebration of Allah's praise will protect the heart of the believer from forgetfulness of Allah. For those who remember Him, Allah makes Dhikr easy. It is a light in this world and the next. The covenant of the heart may not be honored without the celebration of the praises of Allah the Most High. 

There is a want and a need in the heart that can not be statisfied except with Dhikr. It brings order out of chaos, relieves the believer of the twin burdens of anxiety and wrong-doing, revive the indolent heart, and restrains the tongue from gossip and idle chatter. As you recite and celebrate the praises of Allah, you draw nearer to Him. Your act of celebration I equal to the merit of freeing a slave, spending in the way of Allah, and joining the rank of His defenders. Praise is heaped upon the Faithful whenever their tongues are moist with the remembrance of Allah.

Dhikr is a mighty barrier between the believer and the fire of Hell. The angels seek forgiveness on behalf of those who rehearse the praises of Allah. Hypocriys can not enter the heart filled with the constant celebration of Allah's praises. Dhikr is a mighty fortress against the trails and tribulations of this world and the next.*

Therefore, it is a MOST for every Muslim to learn and memorise the samples of Dhikr made by Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) during his life in times of comport, in times of difficulties, and those he did to cast of anxiety. Such sample are the best dua when ever one of us is to make dua he/she should select from the numerous that were reported from the best of people that is the companions of Rasulillah (may Allah be please with them all) because nothing that we needed to ask Allah which the Rasulillah didn't teach his companions. It is only when one has not learn any of such du'aa then the Ulams gave him an option.

Furtheremore, when ever you call on Allah, there is need you either ask or praised Him but just saying 'Ya Allah!' is incomplet praise, because it didn't contain the full attribute of Allah. Here are some few example of how we should praise Allah: Ya Allahu! Ya Rahmaanu! (Oh Allah! Oh Gracious!), Ya Allahu! Ya Rahiymu! (Oh Allah! Oh Merciful!), Ya Allahu! Ya Maaliku! (Oh Allah! Oh Sovereign!), etc.

Examples of how we should ask from Allah is: Allahummah-dina fiy man hadayta. (Oh Allah! Guide us among those You have guided), Rabbana alayKa tawakkalanaa wa ilayKa anabnaa wa ilayKal masiyru. (Oh Lord! Upon You we rely and from You is our beginning and to You is our return), Rabbana laKa aslamnaa wa biKa aamannaa. (Oh Lord! We have submitted ourselves to You, we are faithful to You), Asbahna wa asbahal..., Allahummah Anta Rabbi..., Allahummah alimal

May Allah, the Guardian of faith guide us to the right path. Ameen!

*Adapted from Al-Wabil As-Saiyib by Ibn Al-Qaiyyim, pp., 84-189