Dhikr Beyond Words

When we hear the word Dhikr, we often think of repeating phrases: La ilaha illallah, SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar. These are beautiful, powerful, and full of reward. But Dhikr is far more than words on our tongue. It is the presence of Allah in the heart, the quiet awareness of Him in every moment of our lives.

Dhikr is noticing Allah in the little things. When you cook and feel the aroma of food, let your heart say, “Ya Allah, You are the One who provided this. You gave me hands to prepare, and You gave me a family to care for.” When the sun warms your face or a gentle breeze touches your skin, feel Him there and whisper, “Ya Allah, You are Al-Lateef, The Subtle and Gentle, sending me Your comfort.”

Dhikr is also present in our struggles. When your heart feels heavy, when a test comes, when fear or worry surrounds you, the quiet thought, “Ya Allah, I know You are with me. I know You are Al-Hakeem, and there is goodness hidden here for me,” is Dhikr.

And it is especially present in the moments of unseen blessing. When Allah answers a du’ā you made—or even one you didn’t—and gives you exactly what you need, when He protects you from harm you could not see, when He opens a door you never expected, recognizing, “This is Allah,” in your heart is Dhikr. It is acknowledging His hand in every blessing, every answer, every subtle protection.

Dhikr is in the love you feel for your child, the awe at the sky, the quiet patience in the face of injustice. It is the constant, gentle turning of your heart toward Him, until remembering Allah becomes as natural as breathing.

Our Prophet ﷺ said,

“The example of the one who remembers his Lord and the one who does not remember his Lord is like the living and the dead.”

(Bukhari)

Dhikr brings life to the heart. Words are only the doorway; presence is the destination. Do not limit Dhikr to tasbīh beads or a few minutes after Salah. Let it flow into your cooking, your work, your walking, your parenting, your joys, and even your worries. Let your heart turn toward Him, again and again, until you feel Him in every corner of your life.

Because Dhikr is not only what your tongue says, but how often your heart remembers Him—softly, continuously, intimately.