What is Sufism? A formal Explanation Part 19: The two types of Dhikr | Mufti Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf

If you purchased a deserted uncultivated piece of land and wanted to plant some trees there and make a nice garden. Would you exert your effort in clearing out the entire land before planting the trees or would you decide to make a small clearing and start planting first, then clear it? This lecture discusses and highlights the differences between the dhikr of the heart and dhikr with the tongue and the type of dhikr advised for the iniate on the Path.

Notes: Friday 15th May 2019.

Two types of dhikr, discussion stemming from the 10th principle of the Path: The Dhikr of Allah and Reflection upon His Creation.
How to do dhikr?Broadly speaking there are 2 main ways of doing dhikr:
Dhikr by using the tongue (repeating certain words such as la ilaha illallah, salawat, istighfar, e.t.c)
Dhikr of the heart (no movement of the tounge is involved, rather the heart takes the name of Allah)
Both of these approaches have the same goal, to ultimately purify ones heart, though the methodologies differ.
Its example, as given by Shaykh Abdur-Rahman, is a person who buys a deserted uncultivated piece of land and wishes to plant some trees there and make a nice garden. Some may choose to clear out the entire land before planting whilst others may decide to make a small clearing and start planting atraight away.

The method of the first is like doing dhikr with the tongue and the latter is dhikr with the heart.
Which approach is best? Those who are new to the path of spirituality are advised to start with dhikr with the tounge as it is easier to do so. Despite an absence of focus and a distracted mind a person still benefits by repeating and listening to the words of the dhikr.

Dhikr of the heart, despite it being more affective, a person will generally loose focus quicker until he or she learns focus. Most tariqas start with dhikr of the tongue. When the person remains consistent with their dhikr and it becomes their second nature they are then moved to the dhikr of the heart.

One key advise: – Dhikr should never be abandoned, even if one cannot get themselves to focus. Despite this distraction a person is still being rewarded. With persistence and effort a time will come when a person will gain this attentiveness and focus to such an extent that he or she will find all other distractions dissipate and their attention and focus will just be on Allah.

“All other desires have finally departed from the heart. Come now, for now there is solitude”
(Khawaja Aziz al-Rahman Majdhub, Khalifa of Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi)

Building a routine for your dhikr:

– The first step for the one who has no dhikr routine is to force themselves to do it atleast 10-20 mins daily.
– Understand how much time is being wasted on social media. There are apps now showing how much time a person has spent on their phone. Some shockingly spend several hours a day.

– Incorporate your selected dhikr around your daily routine and tasks. Whilst travelling to work a person can easily read their surah Yasin on the bus or car. Whilst going to and fro from the masjid additional adhkar can be incorporated.

– The most effective dhikr for the beginner is the formula “la ilaha illallah”.

You can also like us on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zamzamacademy
or Follow us on twitter: https://www.twitter.com/zamzamacademy
Our Youtube channel is: https://www.youtube.com/ZamZamAcademy