13 - The sequence of remembering God (Tartībal-Dhikr)
Summary
In the Name of Allāh, All Compassionate, All Mercifuland through Him alone do we seek help. All praisebelongs to Allāh, Lord of the worlds – a praise thatis abundant, good and meritorious. A praise in a waythat our Lord loves and with which He is pleased.And I bear testimony that there is no deity exceptAllāh, the One, the Absolute, the Self-Sufficient,upon Whom everything in creation throughout itslength and breadth is dependent. And I testify thatour master, Muhammad, is His Servant and Messenger,the Opening and the Seal, who has been sent with thereligion of Truth so that it prevails over allreligions, in terms of both the voluntary andobligatory dimensions set forth by a religion. MayAllāh send salutations and greetings upon him, hisFamily, his Companions and those who follow him inexcellence; upon him be abundant blessings that fillthe heavens and the earth.
Allāh has said: “O you who believe, remember Allāhabundantly and glorify Him morning and evenings.”And Allāh has said: “Remember your Lord inwardly; inhumility and in fear; without loud speech, morningand evening, and do not be among those who arenegligent.”
This last phrase means being negligent between thesetwo times. Such remembrance is achieved throughpresence in the company of Allāh in all of one'smovements, in all the phases of one's activity andin all one's tasks. The lowest rank in suchremembrance is that one brings to mind, when oneperforms a compulsory (farḍ) or recommended (sunnah) action, that it isAllāh Who has ordained this as obligatory orrecommended. And that when one leaves off thedetested (makrūh) orprohibited (ḥarām),one brings to mind that it is Allāh Who hasforbidden such. And that when one performs somethingallowable (mubāḥ),one brings to mind that it is Allāh who has made itpermissible and that had He not done so, one wouldnot have been allowed to do it. And if one had toadd a pious intention beyond this minimum rank thenthat would be even better.
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- Spiritual Path, Spiritual RealitySelected Writings of Shaykh Yusuf ofMacassar, pp. 131 - 140Publisher: University of South AfricaPrint publication year: 2020