"Dikhr" - remembering the names of god
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Salam All,
I have a question on the recitation of the names of Allah - the famous 99 (or so) names...Didn't find a thread on this subject. If I missed it, please redirect me. Thanks in advance,
ElkeBrother Elke,
Dikr is believing and seeking Allah's help in every aspect of our affairs with patience and steadfastness in the belief; and, once our affairs are set to our satisfaction we shall remain grateful to Him, by ever remembering and rehearsing Allah's name in our lives thereafter, forever. He has many many names to call. the names are not 99 but innumerable.
How to remember allah's name? Not by memorizing. Allah's name is there in your needs. So call HIM by your needs. For example
You need food = O Provider!
you need health = O Sustainer!
You need compassion = O Rahim!
You need knowledge = O Aalim!
You need Justice = O Hakim!
You need Patience = O Haleem!
Yoiu need Protection = O Protector!
you need Help = O Helper!
You need Guidance = O Guide!This is a sample to know how we can finish the whole prayer just by calling HIM/HIS NAME by our needs. This is dikr, prayer, straightpath etc. Never call by 99 names. Seek HIM/HIS NAME by your needs, in your own language solemnly and humbly without even moving your tongue, deep in your heart.
007.205 And do thou remember thy Lord in your soul humbly and with fear, below thy breath, at morn and evening. And be not thou of the neglectful.
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Salam drfazl, nabi,all
First of all, drfazl, it's not bro it's sis...even though I do not care that much to be called either - to me as a christian convert it sounds too much like a religious order to me ! lol
Now, nabi, about my question
It's not really a definite question. I do dikhr the "traditionnal" way, in arabic (but i know what i am saying!), just because i like it, not because i think it's obligatory or anything.
Just wanted to know the thoughts of free-minders about it. As there is a very interesting discussion going on about salat and ramadan, i thought that may be i missed the one on dikhr.Elke
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Peace be upon you Elke,
When you state that you do 'dhikr' in the traditional way what do you mean by 'because I like it'? The reason I ask is this
Does it make you feel good?
Do you feel more 'connected' with the God?
Does doing dhikr in the way that you roughly mention (I am assuming you recite the name over and over again) make you understand and put you on the path to comprehending the particular attribute as a partial definition of the God?
I personally see nothing wrong with remembering His glorious names in this fashion if that is the end result and motivation behind doing it. I agree wholeheartedly with drfazl - by reintegrating Him into our conciousness we never forget what He has provided us or kept us away from. Being mindful of Him is very important and ultimately every act we perform can be governed by His remembrance. I have personally found it a very gratifying method of 'staying on the right track'. It makes staying on the path a whole lot easier, because He will be guiding you constantly, you just have to let him. He will answer your calls, providing your need does not conflict with the straight path - you will find that you will begin remembering Him more and more.
Please note the above is just me rambling on - you wanted thoughts - you got em!Tata
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Salam darcus,
Yes, it makes me feel good. I don't think I use it to remember staying on the path...actually with each of my actions i wonder if they were the right thing to do - which is another way of remembering allah. And when i find i was wrong i try to amend myself. This is a "jihad" which actually never ends. But still, may be you're right. May be it helps remembering allah even more.
Even though i do "traditional salat" since nearly 20 years, i just started dikhr a few month ago after discovering it with a sufi congregation (which i am not a member of, by the way). The recitation of the gods names just touched me in a special way and this is what made me start - i must say without really thinking about eventual effects - this is why i opened the topic, to know what other people think about the notion of dikhr.
And thanks for your thoughts.
Elke