Religious education has not yet become widespread. Only a few parents pay due attention to matters of faith when talking with their children. That is why even Muslims get confused when they are asked what is dhikr. We are somehow more accustomed to hearing and speaking the word “prayer”. It turns out that the appeal to Allah is different. Let's take a closer look at what dhikr is, when and how it is read. Why was such a strange prayer invented at all.
A few words about faith
As you already understood, we will talk about Islam. In order for the reader to understand some subtle points, it is necessary to turn to the essence of the Muslim worldview. According to tradition, everything in the world happens according to the will of Allah. People brought up in a strict religious tradition cannot even think of indignation. They accept the will of the Almighty with humility and gratitude. This must be mastered by modern man, otherwise it will not be clear what dhikr is. Look into the depths of your soul: often do you thank the Lord for troubles and failures? In the Slavic tradition there is no such comprehensive humility as in Islam. This is why we sometimes misunderstand each other. Muslims live simply: what is now, Allah has given. Needthank you and ask for more. The Almighty is constantly watching over His children. It will certainly give you the opportunity to somehow change your life if you manage to sin less. The point is to constantly keep the image of the Almighty in the soul, not to lose touch with him. When you follow the path of Allah, you remain sinless. You just need to hold on to the thread that connects your soul with him. Dhikr, read daily, allows you to be close to Allah, constantly hear his commands and advice. This kind of praise of the Almighty, aimed at ensuring that his image is always in the soul, is not erased by everyday fuss. If we analyze deeper what dhikr is, we will find out: this is one of the ways of meditation or self-hypnosis.
Why do believers need to read dhikr?
We all dream about something, believing that the fulfillment of our cherished desire will bring happiness. Someone dreams of money, others need earthly love, others strive for career growth. Everyone has their own fix idea. Having received what we want, we suddenly realize that the feeling of joy is fleeting. A new goal is already looming ahead. And the habitual disappointment again takes root in the soul, the fear of not achieving something and the like. And this can go on for the rest of your life. It turns into a constant discontent caused by a feeling of dissatisfaction. Years run, and happiness is still as far away as in youth. But we come to this world for something completely different. The Almighty created it for people, and in their pride they do not even have time to thank, to enjoy this perfection. To see and understand it, one should do a little - calm the soul,push ever-changing desires to the far corner. For this, dhikr is used in Islam. A short prayer helps to return to real reality, to keep the thought of gratitude to Heaven for the planet and everything that is here. It calms the soul, pacifies, allows you to look at everything that happens philosophically, accept events as they are, and even evaluate them correctly. Dhikr, read regularly, structures thoughts, relieves vanity and anxiety.
Types of dhikr
In Islam, they believe that it is always necessary to remember the beautiful names of Allah. There are three types of dhikr. It can be done with the tongue, the heart and the whole body. What is meant? When a believer reads sacred words or simply calls the names of the Almighty, this is the dhikr of the tongue. As a rule, the day of a Muslim begins with it. There is a line in the Quran: “O you who believe! Remember Allah many times. Therefore, the Almighty must always be present in thoughts. So, a person can feel a connection with him continuously. The dhikr of the heart is a prayer without words. It is necessary to learn this method, the very feeling of the movements of the soul does not come to a person. At first, believers speak with their mouths, following their feelings. Only after a long time do they understand what the dhikr of the heart is. The last kind is the praise of Allah with all parts of the body. These short prayers are aimed at being constantly with the soul next to the Almighty, hearing his will, not sinning, not succumbing to temptations. Different branches of Islam developed their own traditions. They are supposed to be read in Arabic. But nations also use their own languages for prayer. And dhikrthe heart does not require words at all. Let's talk about the traditions of different nations.
Group praise of Allah
They say that neither the village, then its own temper. Dhikrs are used by all nations professing Islam. But each has its own characteristics. Chechen dhikr is a special dance accompanied by choral "singing". Men in multitudes move in a circle, pronouncing the names of Allah. As the participants of the event say, the Chechen dhikr fills everyone with strength, allows you to forget about fatigue, fear, anger. Such peculiar prayers became widely known during the war. People were surprised by male round dances. However, they have a very ancient tradition. So the representatives of this nationality are charged with courage in order to defend the rights of their community. Dhikr said together brings people together. Everyone has an incredible sense of community in their souls that allows them to take risks. Dhikr is used as a special kind of unifying psychological practice. Prayer is necessary for people who have lived from time immemorial in very difficult conditions. They need confidence that the Almighty has not forgotten about their people, looks after the weak, and will help in a difficult situation. Warriors take part in the dhikr dance. They defend the community, risking their lives. In such circumstances, it is very important to be sure that there is a true friend nearby who will not leave you to the mercy of fate. Ingush dhikr looks a little different. Only men participate in that ritual dance, but its movements are not so expansive. The goals are the same - to get closer to the Almighty together.
Sufi practice - dhikr
Singing, accompanied by dance movements, is used to educate the spirit, filling the body with divine vibrations. Sufi dhikrs are individual and group. The latter attract special attention with their beauty and effectiveness. Sufis believe that sounds help to purify the body, mind and soul of a person. This practice is used for healing purposes. Dhikr in Islam is a way to get closer to God. Sufi practice has a slightly different focus. By singing dhikr, a person fills his space with divinity, creates a temple. It is recommended to engage in the technique under the guidance of a spiritual mentor. He will explain how to prepare for the event in order to get the right effect. Sufis consider the preparatory stage important. Only people who have managed to adopt an ascetic lifestyle and have a sincere intention to follow the path of enlightenment are allowed to group dhikr. It is recommended to use aromatic oils, dress up in ritual attire. Sufi zikrs are a holiday for the initiates. Together they create a special space. It is not recommended to allow unprepared people to such creativity. Members create a single space that anyone can overstress or defuse.
What is the essence of Sufi dhikr
The philosophical meaning of the practice is that the whole essence of man opens up to the divine. The Sufis also distinguish three types of dhikr. Prayer is said daily. The most common text is: “Laa ilaahaill Allah." This combination of sounds means: "There is no God but God." The dhikr, the words of which are given, is recommended to be recited as often as possible. It is both a separate practice and preparation for a group event. It is important for a Sufi to grow up to the dhikr of the heart. This is the state when words are no longer needed. I thought about the Almighty - a light immediately appears in the soul, speaking of a connection with him. Group dhikr is already the third level, the most difficult. The mind, body and spirit participate in unity with Allah. It is conducted under the guidance of a mentor. Dressed in ritual attire, people gather in a special room where the event is held. Its purpose is to create an atmosphere of unity with the Almighty, a special space filled with divine energies. It is believed, and confirmed by practice, that it has a healing effect on the participants. In the process of prayer, the names of Allah, taken from the Koran, are mentioned. There are ninety-nine of them in this book. Zikr is aimed at ensuring that the participants fully focus on God, open themselves to him. The dance-prayer is performed for a long time. This is necessary to achieve concentration by all members of the group.
How to read dhikr
Let's tell for those who do not have a spiritual mentor how this prayer is conducted. Dhikr begins with the pronunciation of the phrase "la ilaha illa-Alahu." This is the beginning of the "shahad" (Muslim creed). If you are praying alone, sit on a mat with your legs crossed. Group dhikrs are accompanied by whirling dervishes or other rhythmic exercises. The first phrase is followed by the names of Allah. They are pronounced rhythmically, with concentration, until they reach the penetration of words into every cell of the body. It's hard to describe it. But you must completely detach yourself from ordinary thoughts. This is only the first stage. Continue your prayer. Singing will lead to the fact that the body will begin to be filled with tangible light. As a rule, they read dhikr an odd number of times, for example, 201, 2001, and the like. Group meditation must be led by a sheikh (teacher). He lines up or seats the participants and sets the rhythm and order of the movements. It is believed that the energy should spread from the heart throughout the body. For this, exercises are selected. In dhikr, the truncated name of the Almighty "lahu" and its forms are sometimes used. One should be careful with it, and beginner Sufis are advised to avoid using such formulas. Sometimes during group meditation, participants will go into a trance. Mentors monitor their condition, helping to recover, if necessary.
How to pray every day
The road to spiritual enlightenment is hard and bumpy. But you need to start somewhere. Zikrs for every day are recommended, as a rule, by mentors. If you have not acquired one, then do not be wiser, but refer to the Koran. All Islamic practices are based on his texts. Because you can not invent a gag. You should read the words from the holy book. One of the formulas: “la ilaha illa-Alahu”, has already been mentioned. Then list all the names of Allah that you remember. Of course, it will be necessary to learn all ninety-nine over time. Remember that dhikr is a spiritual exercise. It is supposed to be pronounced in solitude, sitting onprayer rug. Nothing should distract from this important activity. The phrase "La haula wa la quwwata illa billah" is also suitable for daily prayer, like any other from the Qur'an. (It means: "Strength and power belong only to Allah"). It is important to understand why you are doing this. And there can be only one goal - to feel unity with the Almighty. It is necessary to read the prayer an odd number of times. Get rid of fussiness in these moments, think about God, strive for him. This is the first step: Zikr of the tongue. After a certain time, you will have a feeling of light in your chest. Then one can try the dhikr of the heart. But it is not recommended to rush. This path requires concentration, to some extent self-denial. As the sheikhs say, one must renounce everything earthly, completely dissolve in the Divine.
Dhikr times
The Quran says that you can always praise Allah. There is no need to wait for a certain time for this. That is why dhikr is good for a believer. Namaz is performed at the allotted hours. But it happens that the soul requires communication with the Almighty. Then retire and recite dhikr. However, there are requirements for this action. It is not good to address Allah in an untidy state. In Islam, special attention is paid to the cleanliness of the body and premises. Every believer should be neat, not to be confused with we alth or luxury. Any poor person can be neat in dress and behavior. Lack of funds for new things is not a vice. Envy or anger, resentment at a bitter lot is considered a sin. Anythe state of the pocket does not eliminate the need to wash and wash clothes. Keep this in mind when you are about to recite dhikr. Carelessness in the room and attire leads to the inability to focus on what you are doing. And this makes it possible to feel divinity, to come closer to Allah. The requirements described are natural for people brought up in the faith. Parents of childhood tell about them. But for those who came to Islam in adulthood, such advice may come in handy. It is also important to be persistent and responsible. Prayer should become part of your life. That is, in reading dhikr, accuracy and consistency are needed. It is not good to do it sometimes, according to the mood. This approach is tantamount to a careless spirit.
Conclusion
Sometimes a modern person, spoiled by civilization, perceives religion as a kind of magic wand. If I want to, I’ll take it in my hands, and the world will shine, and if I get tired, I’ll put it in the chest again. Of course, this approach will not bring results. The only thing that awaits a person is disappointment. Any faith requires the work of the spirit. Dhikr is an effort to achieve union with the Almighty. Not everyone immediately manages to feel at least a drop of light. It takes hard work, perseverance, desire and striving for results. You will have to strain both the body, and the mind, and the spirit, and the will. Goodness rarely falls on its own head. Maybe only if the saints were born and managed to maintain this state, which is unlikely. The path to unity with God is thorny. You will meet many temptations, bumps, and bumps on this road. But the results will be much more serious than those that the imagination can dare. But abouteveryone should find out for themselves. No one will walk this path for you, which is great! The Almighty endowed each with his own destiny, and it cannot be taken away from us, unless you yourself refuse. We all face a choice: to stay in the vain worldly bustle or try to rise above it, get closer to the divine.
