We have been looking at ways to strive and think on the path to reach Jannah.
One of the most fundamental aspects that we need to try to be more focused on is to remember Allah in our striving. Of course, that may be a very obvious thing for most, but let’s consider this in more depth. What effect does it have on us? We will take a look at some of the spiritual benefits in this input…
Surah Taa-Haa 20:114
and say: My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.
As I wrote in the input Life and striving: “We may believe in a Creator…. but it is important to remember that the intentions we have should be based on that ground… it changes our focus. Otherwise it will just be empty and pointless acts, things we do in the blind.”
When we lose sight of the fact that we are striving for a cause… then we are simply striving for no other purpose than to satisfy our personal needs. In that sense, we lose our way more easily…
سورة المنافقون ٩
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تُلۡهِكُمۡ أَمۡوَٰلُكُمۡ وَلَآ أَوۡلَٰدُكُمۡ عَن ذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِۚ وَمَن يَفۡعَلۡ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡخَٰسِرُونَ
سورة الأعراف ١٨٦
مَن يُضۡلِلِ ٱللَّهُ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُۥۚ وَيَذَرُهُمۡ فِي طُغۡيَٰنِهِمۡ يَعۡمَهُونَ
سورة العنكبوت ٦٩
وَٱلَّذِينَ جَٰهَدُواْ فِينَا لَنَهۡدِيَنَّهُمۡ سُبُلَنَاۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَمَعَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ
سورة البقرة ١٥٢
فَٱذۡكُرُونِيٓ أَذۡكُرۡكُمۡ وَٱشۡكُرُواْ لِي وَلَا تَكۡفُرُونِ
Surah Al-Munaafiqoon 63:9
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.
Surah Al-A’raaf 7:186
To such as Allah rejects from His guidance, there can be no guide: He will leave them in their trespasses, wandering in distraction.
Surah Al-Ankaboot 29:69
And those who strive in Our (cause),- We will certainly guide them to our Paths: For verily Allah is with those who do right.
Surah Al-Baqara 2:152
Then do ye remember Me; I will remember you. Be grateful to Me, and reject not Faith.
The practice of Dhikr, or the remembrance of Allah, offers a lot of spiritual, psychological, and physical benefits inshallah. We will briefly take a look at some of the spiritual benefits here. Think deeply on the aspects when you read about them. While many of these points can be discussed in greater length, (I am considering to write separate inputs about some of them later on, inshallah), I will only briefly mention them at this point. Consider how they are connected, in the same sense as many aspects were connected to humility and gratitude when I described those earlier.
* Strengthened Faith. This comes as no surprise. Dhikr helps to increase a believer’s faith and trust in Allah. It strengthens the believer’s connection with the Creator and reminds us of His presence and qualities. It makes us more focused on our striving, and that is helpful for us to improve ourselves. Our hearts are affected…
* Purification of the Heart (تزكية). Dhikr purifies the heart by clearing it of worldly distractions and negative emotions such as envy, anger, and greed. It brings a state of inner peace and spiritual purity.
* Increased Taqwa (تقوى). Taqwa involves being mindful and aware of Allah’s presence and guidance. It means living with the understanding that Allah is always watching and that one’s actions, intentions, and thoughts should stay close to His will. When the heart is affected and faith is strengthened… Taqwa also increases. All these aspects are tied. They affect each other. Who is the One providing that kind of spiritual guidance?
سورة آل عمران ١٦٠
إِن يَنصُرۡكُمُ ٱللَّهُ فَلَا غَالِبَ لَكُمۡۖ
سورة البقرة ١٩٧
وَمَا تَفۡعَلُواْ مِنۡ خَيۡرٖ يَعۡلَمۡهُ ٱللَّهُۗ وَتَزَوَّدُواْ فَإِنَّ خَيۡرَ ٱلزَّادِ ٱلتَّقۡوَىٰۖ وَٱتَّقُونِ يَٰٓأُوْلِي ٱلۡأَلۡبَٰبِ
Surah Aal-i-Imraan 3:160
If Allah helps you, none can overcome you
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:197
And whatever good ye do, (be sure) Allah knoweth it. And take a provision (With you) for the journey, but the best of provisions is right conduct (*Taqwa). So fear Me, o ye that are wise.
These were just some of the benefits of Dhikr but it doesn’t stop with just this. It also has psychological, physical and moral benefits as well. We will continue to look at them in the next input, inshallah, so be sure to not miss it. For now, I hope you found this input inspiring and I would like to take this opportunity to wish a beautiful and blessed Friday. Djumma Mubarak everyone, and a day full of safety and comfort inshallah. All my well wishes, from the heart.
The best of times to you all inshallah.
Peace, happiness, and stay faithful.
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