what is dhikr in islam

Dhikr is a form of Islamic prayer that involves the repetition of phrases or prayers to remember God. It is a ritual prayer or litany practiced by Muslim mystics (Sufis) for the purpose of glorifying God and achieving spiritual perfection. The Qurʾānic injunctions “Remind thyself [udhkur] of thy Lord when thou forgettest” (18:24) and “O ye who believe! Remember [udhkurū] God with much remembrance” (33:41) form the basis of dhikr, which is essentially a “remembering” of God by the frequent repetition of His names. Dhikr can be performed in solitude or as a collective group, and it can be counted on a set of prayer beads (Misbaha مِسْبَحَة) or through the fingers of the hand. The purpose of dhikr is to remember Allah with the presence of the heart, and it is extremely important that every person aims for this and strives to achieve it. Some common phrases used in dhikr include “Subhanallah” (Glory be to God), “Alhamdulillah” (Praise be to God), and “Allahu akbar” (God is the greatest) . Dhikr is a form of worship that can be performed any time, any place, and it is one of the easiest to perform and heaviest on the scales on the Day of Judgment.