Dhikr: The Anchor of Iman

What is Dhikr?

Dhikr is a form of worship that every Muslim should strive to implement into their life. The remembrance of Allah is highly rewarded, and serves to be an anchor for the heart. When we’re feeling down, it is vital that we ground ourselves and reorient for the future. 

The Connection Between Dhikr and Iman

Whenever my iman feels low and my worship begins to waver, I almost always notice a direct link to how much dhikr I’ve been engaging in. The more I neglect the remembrance of Allah, the heavier my heart feels, and the more distant I become from the peace that faith brings. It’s no exaggeration to say that dhikr is the key to a tranquil soul and a clear mind—reviving the heart, centering the thoughts, and rekindling the connection between myself and my Creator. In those moments of heedlessness, returning to consistent dhikr feels like coming home, filling the gaps in my heart with the light of Allah’s remembrance.

A Lesson from Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah

Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah wrote a highly beneficial book about dhikr and its benefits titled ‘Remembrance of the Most Merciful’ , and among them were many key insights that helped me transform my relationship with my remembrance of Allah and my relationship with the Quran. Within Surah Taha, Allah speaks about His remembrance and how being neglectful of it will lead to a miserable life. Within dhikr, we find blessings that may otherwise be deprived from us. 

وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَن ذِكْرِى فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضَنكًا وَنَحْشُرُهُ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ أَعْمَىٰ
But whoever turns away from My Reminder will certainly have a miserable life, then We will raise them up blind on the Day of Judgment." (Quran 20:124)

The Quran as the Ultimate Dhikr

In Surah Sad and Surah Hijr, Allah mentions to us that the Quran itself is a reminder for us to ponder upon. The Quran will always hold the position as being the best form of dhikr, as reading it will cause us to ponder on the words of our Creator and upon His excellence. The simplicity of dhikr is a blessing upon all Muslims; there is a story recounted within the book by Ibn Qayyim, and it really emphasized to me how small yet significant of an action it  is. 

The Power of Small, Consistent Acts

One story recounted by Ibn Qayyim beautifully illustrates how even the smallest acts of dhikr can carry great reward:

A man hosted a guest who spent the night praying but felt distracted, unable to focus. Meanwhile, the host lay in bed, fully immersed in the remembrance of Allah. In the morning, the guest said, “The ride has gone ahead of you!” implying that the host had missed out on an opportunity for worship.

The host replied, “It is not important that one spends the night traveling and still wakes up in the midst of the convoy. What is better is that one spends the night in bed and wakes up having crossed a great distance.”

Ibn Qayyim explains that this story doesn’t suggest that dhikr is superior to prayer. Rather, it highlights that sincere worship—no matter how small—carries immense weight when done with a focused heart.

The Prophet’s ﷺ Advice on Consistency

Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah goes on to explain this story [pg.135] and expands on the recounting. The story does not tell us that the one who does dhikr will surpass the one who prays at night in devotion. Rather, this story tells us that the one who layed in bed and devoted himself to the remembrance of Allah did more good for himself than the one who prayed at night while his heart was not committed to the action. 

Subhanallah, what I learned from this story is that the worship that seems to be little can surely carry me a long way. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ told us in multiple ahadith that the most beloved of acts to Allah are the ones that are done most consistently, even if they are small.  

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately and know that your deeds will not make you enter Paradise, and that the most beloved deed to Allah is the most regular and constant even if it were little."
Sahih al-Bukhari 6464

The Prophet (ﷺ) was asked, "What deeds are loved most by Allah?" He said, "The most regular constant deeds even though they may be few." He added, 'Don't take upon yourselves, except the deeds which are within your ability."
Sahih al-Bukhari 6465

The ‘Next Best Thing’ Principle

What stands out to me about these ahadith is that I relate to this principle plenty. It is common knowledge within the communities of self-help and psychology that the way to make large changes in our lives is to start small and consistent. I follow my own personal principle called ‘the next best thing’. In essence, if I am not feeling up to tackling a task, I will choose to do the next best thing. If I can't get myself to read a full juz, I'll read a hizb. If I can't get myself to read a hizb, I'll read half a hizb. If not that, then a single page.

At times, I find myself so busy and so low on energy that I feel as though I begin to float away from being firm and consistent in my worship. This is where my anchor comes in. If I can not get myself to recite even half a page, then I will commit myself to dhikr. I find that committing to dhikr while I’m falling asleep in my bed helps me get better sleep and wake up with a more firm heart.

It leaves a profound effect, truly. With every saying of ‘Alhamdulillah’, I think of the blessings in my life that have led me to where I am today. Repeating words of  istighfar helps me reflect upon my sins and where I go wrong in my life. Within istighfar and dhikr we find forgiveness and expiation of sins, and these have an undeniable impact on our iman and the barakah we see within our lives. 

A Lifelong Commitment to Dhikr

Following this principle of ‘the next best thing’ has helped me remain consistent, and throughout all of it, I have found dhikr to be the most profound yet simple way for me to get back on track. My mind goes quiet and I find my life to be more peaceful the more I engage in it; and when my life becomes chaotic and I start to slip, I know that my commitment to remembrance will bring me closer to my Lord again.

Let the anchor of dhikr be your lesson that consistency in your moments of solitude and hardship is what builds not only your relationship with Allah, but your character and attitude towards life. If you’re feeling lost and struggling with your faith, let it be your guiding light. Surely, with your calling to your Lord, you’ll find your path again. It starts with “Alhamdulillah”. 

By Qasim Mustafa