One Muslim’s Journey to Spirituality: How Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) Can Help You Achieve Inner Peace
During my downtime, I watched a famous Muslim YouTuber interview, and he shared his past addiction to porn and sex. He courageously revealed that he started at a young age (13 years or less) engaging in masturbation, and His mother caught him. They confronted each other via email due to the shame of facing each other in person since they were culturally modest from a Middle Eastern country. His mother advised him to return to Islam and engage in prayers and spirituality to ward off the temptation of sex, porn, or masturbation.
I couldn’t agree more with the YouTuber mum assessment because ever since I was consistent with doing more Dhikr, my vices which I am too ashamed to post here, have since vanished. I feel whole and more in touch spiritually with Allah, the universe, and myself. Are you in doubt? Be patient with me and read on for proof.
As a practicing Muslim, knowing that the highest viewership of porn online is in Muslim countries is a bit depressing. Violence and corruption are prevalent in Muslim countries.
My residence in the northern part of Nigeria, a Muslim society, has a high rate of kidnapping, banditry, and murder.
Some Muslims have become distracted and materialistic and moved away from practicing the religion. We see that consequence with more atrocities and sins in our communities. We can return to our spirituality to ward off this societal temptation and cancer.
What is Dhikr
Dhikr is a spiritual practice in Islam that involves the repetition of Arabic phrases or prayers to remember and glorify God or send blessings to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
The types of Dhikr
- Affirmation of oneness of Allah💡: The best remembrance is to declare there is no God but Allah and say this frequently every day, as much as 100 times a day
- Five times obligatory daily prayers 💡
- Reading the Classical Arabic Quran 💡: Learned Muslims have recommended that a person recite one–thirtieth of the Qur’an (juz) daily. Other options are to recite Sura Yāsīn (36) after the dawn prayer, Sura al-Wāqiʿah (56) after the sunset prayer, and Sura al-Mulk (68) after the evening prayer, which significantly benefits the soul. Or recite all three suras in the morning if you are busy or distracted during the day. Engaging in remembrance of God (dhikr) with one’s tongues or action, even if the heart is heedless, is better than abandoning it altogether. The actual sounds of the language of the Qur’an — the breathtaking rhythms and words — are medicine. I consider this act of spirituality one of the most critical forms of devotion. I highly recommend every Muslim strive to do it. Usually, from experience, I have observed that the best times to recite the Quran are during Fajr (dawn prayer), Asr (afternoon prayer), before sleep, and waking up during night prayer (Tahhajud). Muslims should aim for their best and try to complete the Quran once every month. That was the norm for the average Muslim at the height of Islamic civilization.
- Morning and Evening Dhikr or supplication💡 (usually after fajr and asr prayers, another I would highly recommend)
- Sending prayers to the Prophet at least 500 times a day
- The excellence of glorifying Allah and praising him by saying this frequently every day
- Dua and supplication for specific situations
- Waking up at the last 1/3 of the night for Tahhajud (Night prayer)💡. This night prayer is considered a very high spiritual practice with numerous benefits. It is a time reserved only for You and Allah.
Please note that there are many other types of Dhikr, but the ones mentioned above have had personal spiritual benefits. Best Times to make Dua check this website. If you prefer audio or video Dhikr, check out this YouTube playlist. If you want an app on your phone, try Dhikr & Dua.
The benefit of Dhikr, or the repetition of phrases or prayers to remember and glorify God, includes, among many:
1. Closer relationship with God: Regular practice of Dhikr can help cultivate a closer relationship with the divine and increase one’s faith and devotion.
2. Stress relief: The repetitive nature of Dhikr can also have a calming effect, reducing stress and promoting inner peace.
3. Purification of the heart: The repetition of Dhikr is believed to have a purifying effect on the heart, helping to remove negative thoughts and emotions.
4. Protection from evil: Dhikr is seen as a way to protect oneself from evil and negative influences while seeking refuge in God. It also helps with lowering the desires of the nafs (ego/lower soul).
You can read comments from Muslims worldwide on YouTube to testify that these spiritual practices work and that you can achieve the spiritual benefit above.
Conclusion
In summary, Dhikr is considered an essential part of a Muslim’s spiritual life and is believed to bring numerous spiritual, emotional, physical, and psychological benefits. It is seen as a way to deepen one’s relationship with God, cultivate inner peace, and improve one’s overall spiritual well-being.
May Allah guide us, and he alone knows the best guidance.
In future articles, I will discuss tips, techniques, and strategies for helping do more Dhikr.
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