Remembrance of Allah

IN the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

The Qur’an says: “So remember Allah’s bounties so that you may be felicitous.” (Qur’an – 7:69)

“O you who have faith! When you meet a host [in battle], then stand firm, and remember Allah greatly so that you may be felicitous.” (Qur’an – 8:45)

Almighty Allah SWT has prescribed His remembrance (known as dhikr) and other acts of worship for our own benefit. He is the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the Sovereign, and the Lord of all the worlds. He does not need our praise and worship to flourish. Surely, a few people remembering Him on a small planet in the vast expanse of space, filled with billions of galaxies, does not benefit Him in any way, nor does it increase His Kingdom even by an atom’s weight.

All forms of remembrance and worship serve to remind us of Allah SWT and keep us mindful of Him. This consciousness of Allah SWT restrains us from sin, injustice, and oppression, and motivates us to fulfill His rights and the rights of creation. By following the path laid out by Allah SWT, we are, in fact, doing ourselves a favor, for it is the best possible course of action and leads us to contentment, peace, and happiness.

As humankind is prone to laziness and injustice, not having set ways to remember or worship Allah SWT would render people heedless, causing them to sink deeper into transgression and darkness until they completely forget Allah SWT and their responsibilities in life.

The Qur’an says: “Woe to those whose hearts are hardened against the remembrance of God!” (Qur’an – 39:22)

“O you who have faith! Let not your possessions, neither your children, divert you from God’s remembrance. Whoso does that—they are the losers.” (Qur’an – 63:9)

Dhikr is divided into two branches: dhikr with the tongue and dhikr in the heart—when the heart contemplates Allah’s beauty and majesty.

Just as forgetting Allah SWT leads to the pain of being forgotten by Him, remembering Allah brings the joy of being remembered by Him. Almighty Allah says: “Remember Me, and I will remember you.” (Qur’an 2:152)

The result of remembering Allah SWT is not only to be remembered by Him in the next world but also to achieve peace of heart in this world:

“Listen, the hearts find peace only in the remembrance of Allah.” (Qur’an – 13:28)

To call upon Allah SWT in times of despair offers comfort and solace, for you are calling upon the One who is All-Powerful and the only One who can deliver you from hardship. The Prophet (SAW) said: Shall I tell you something that is the best of all deeds, constitutes the best act of piety in the eyes of your Lord, elevates your rank in the Hereafter, and carries more virtue than the spending of gold and silver in the service of God, or taking part in Jihad and slaying or being slain in the path of Allah?”

They said, “Yes!”

He said, “Remembrance of Allah.”

The Qur’an says: “O you who believe! Bow down and prostrate and worship your Creator and Nurturer and do deeds of charity so that you attain salvation.” (Qur’an – 22:77)

The concept of worship is commonly understood to mean performing ritual acts such as prayer, fasting, and charity. However, this limited understanding captures only one part of the broader meaning of worship in Islam. The traditional definition of worship in Islam is comprehensive and includes almost every aspect of an individual’s activities. Worship in Islam is an all-encompassing term for everything Allah SWT loves, whether external or internal, spoken or acted. In other words, anything done for the pleasure of Allah is worship.

This definition includes rituals, beliefs, social activities, and personal contributions to the welfare of others. Islam requires the individual to submit fully to Almighty Allah, as the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was commanded: “Say (O Muhammad), my prayer, my sacrifice, my life, and my death belong to Allah; He has no partner, and I am ordered to be among those who submit.” (Qur’an – 6:162–163)

According to Islamic teachings, Almighty Allah looks at the heart, not merely at outward deeds. He judges based on intention, not appearance. For an action to be regarded as worship, it must be performed with the sincere intention of pleasing Allah SWT. Thus, the concept of worship in Islam encourages individuals to connect with Allah SWT in every action, strengthening their bond with the Creator. In doing so, one finds the true peace that comes with fulfilling the purpose of life.

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For behavior to be considered worship, in addition to pure intention, it must align with divine guidance. Though Allah SWT has endowed every individual with a moral compass, people do not always act justly or ethically. Our ability to judge right from wrong can be clouded by external influences, appearances, or hidden motives. Therefore, relying solely on personal intuition does not necessarily lead to righteousness or nearness to Allah SWT.

To guide humanity in worship and moral clarity, Allah Almighty sent prophets as teachers and role models. He also revealed Holy Scriptures, which provide knowledge directly from Him and serve as manuals for virtuous living. The combination of prophetic example and divine revelation strengthens our moral sense and equips us to distinguish between right and wrong. It provides the criterion by which to assess our intentions and actions. Above all, it teaches us how to worship Allah SWT and live a life that pleases Him.

Worship holds a unique place in Islam. Through it, a person becomes a true Muslim, dedicating their entire life to the Will of Allah. The importance of worship is also seen in the fact that it was prescribed in all previous religions. Almighty Allah says in the Qur’an: “Certainly We raised an apostle in every nation [to preach:] ‘Worship Allah, and keep away from the Rebels.’…” (Qur’an – 16:36)

In Islam, worship is the very purpose of our existence. Allah SWT declares: “I did not create jinn and humans except to worship Me.” (Qur’an – 51:56)

Islam calls on believers to worship Allah alone, The One, The Merciful, The Sacred, The Peace, The Supreme, The Noble, The Powerful, The Creator, The Wise, who is Unique, and to do so out of love and submission.

It is clear from this discussion that the concept of worship in Islam is comprehensive, encompassing all positive actions of an individual. This aligns with Islam’s nature as a complete way of life, offering guidance on every level, individual, social, economic, political and spiritual. Islam offers direction down to the smallest details of life at all these levels.

It is deeply encouraging to know that Allah SWT considers all our activities acts of worship, so long as they are done with the right intention and in accordance with His guidance. This motivates the individual to seek His pleasure in all actions and to strive for excellence whether in public or in private, knowing that the All-Seeing and All-Knowing is always aware. This understanding inspires one to act solely for Allah SWT, and to worship none but Him, and this, indeed, is the path to felicity.