March 31, 2024

As we were reciting through Juz 21 and part of Juz 22, there were several ayats that stood out to me but one particular theme I noticed was Allah throughout the Juz telling us to remember Him. Dhikr seemed to be a running theme through these ajza. Three ayats in particular that I stood out to me in this theme of remembrance were ayats 41-43 of Surah Al-Ahzab

O believers! Always remember Allah often,[41] and glorify Him morning and evening. [42] He is the One Who showers His blessings upon you—and His angels pray for you—so that He may bring you out of darkness and into light. For He is ever Merciful to the believers. [43] [Qur’an 33:41-43]

I was also reminded of the ayah in which Allah says that “those who believe and whose hearts find comfort in the remembrance of Allah. Surely in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find comfort.” [Qur’an 13:28]. In some translations, “surely in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.” May Allah grant our hearts comfort and rest through His remembrance. SubhanAllah, what came to my mind with regards to these ayats in surah Al-Ahzab with regards to remembering Allah was the fact that, when you think about it dhikr seemingly is the easiest form of worship we can engage in. You can be in remembrance of Allah anytime, whether it is while you are cleaning, while waiting in line in the store, while driving etc.

And as Allah is Ar-Rahman, He reminds us to remember Him often and glorify Him in the morning and evening. Allah in His Mercy makes the path to gaining closeness to Him and earning His blessings so easy for us. He is sayin remember Him often and what you get in return is He showers His blessings upon You SubhanAllah. But the part that blew mymind was the fact that, not only do we get Allah’s blessings but also His angels pray for us. Just imagining the angels making du’a for me, melts my heart. Why then would I not want to submit to Allah? To a Lord that is so Merciful.

But it doesn’t stop there, Allah adds what we also gain from remembering Him often, is that He brings us out of darkness and into light. Ya Allah - that in the remembrance of Allah is an increase in light. In a reflection on this ayah, ustadha Samia shares that it is the remebrance of Allah that saved prophet Yunus (Jonah) from the darkness of the belly of the whale [Qur’an 37:143-144]. SubhanAllah, Allah says that had he not glorified Him, he would have remained in the belly of the whale until the end of time.

I pray may Allah make me a person of dhikr, one who reminds Him often. May Allah allow dhikr to become a part of my mundane. Ya Rabb beautify my tongue with Your remebrance and grant me Your light through remembering You. Ya Rabb allow me to be among those who the angels pray for and those who earn Your Mercy. Amin ya Rabb

With Love, Ibtisam