5 Steps to Perform Islamic Dhikr For Inner Peace
Feeling overwhelmed by your busy schedule but still longing to incorporate Dhikr into your day?
Or you’re unsure about where or how to begin your Dhikr practice?
No need to worry!
I am here to guide you every step of the way.
The Qur’an encourages us with verses in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:152), where Allah says:
This mutual remembrance is a promise of divine proximity and support.
Source: https://quran.com/2/152
فَٱذْكُرُونِىٓ أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَٱشْكُرُوا۟ لِى وَلَا تَكْفُر١٥٢
Transliteration: Fathkuroonee athkurkumwashkuroo lee wala takfuroon
Translation: remember Me; I will remember you. And thank Me, and never be ungrateful.
In this blogpost I have mentioned what you need to begin with individual Islamic dhikr, and complete the 5-step guide to perform dhikr such as setting an intention, opting method, choosing dhikr phrases & incorporating dhikr into daily life.
Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also emphasized the value of Dhikr, teaching us through his words recorded in the Hadith.
Ibn ‘Umar narrated that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said:
“Do not talk too much without remembrance of Allah. Indeed excessive talking without remembrance of Allah hardens the heart. And indeed the furthest of people from Allah is the harsh-hearted.”
Source: https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:2411
This shows that among all our actions, Dhikr holds a special place for its ease and its profound impact on our spiritual well-being.
This guide will help you with deepening your spiritual connection every day with Allah.
And indeed in Allah’s remembrance hearts find peace.
What Do You Need to Start Individual Islamic Dhikr?
Have you ever wondered how simple phrases can profoundly alter your state of mind and spirituality?
I’ll walk you through how setting a clear Niyyah, using prayer beads, or leveraging digital tools can transform your practice of Dhikr from an occasional activity into a fulfilling daily habit that enhances your connection with Allah.
Surah Ar-Ra’d (13:28) reminds us,
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ ٢٨
Transliteration: Allatheena amanoo watatma-innuquloobuhum bithikri Allahi ala bithikriAllahi tatma-innu alquloob
Translation: the ones who believe and their hearts are peaceful with the remembrance of Allah. Listen, the hearts find peace only in the remembrance of Allah.
Source: https://quran.com/13/28
They are key to building a consistent spiritual routine that not only fits into your daily schedule but also provides the emotional resilience to face life’s challenges with grace and patience.
Here’s what you really need:
1. Spiritual Readiness (Niyyah): The cornerstone of Dhikr, or any act of worship, is your intention.
It’s not about how long you engage in Dhikr, but how sincerely you do it. Even a few moments of heartfelt remembrance can profoundly impact your spiritual connection.
If you can, create a small dedicated space for Dhikr.
This doesn’t need to be elaborate – just a quiet corner where you can sit, reflect, and recite without interruptions, helping you maintain focus and establish a routine.
2. Prayer Beads (Misbah/Tasbih): While not mandatory, prayer beads can be a helpful tool to keep count of your Dhikr repetitions.
They add a tactile element to your practice, which many find meditative.
The Prophet (ﷺ) used to count the tasbih (SubhanAllah) and the takbir (Allahu Akbar) on his fingers.
As Abdullah bin Amr narrated: “I saw the Prophet counting the Tasbih on his hand.”
Source: https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:3486
3. Digital Counters/Apps: In our digital age, apps and digital counters can also support your Dhikr. They offer convenience with features like reminders and tracking repetitions, ensuring you stay consistent even during busy days.
Take a moment today to try these methods; even a few minutes can make a significant difference.
Incorporating Niyyah, prayer beads, and digital tools into your Dhikr not only deepens your spiritual practice but also bolsters your mental and emotional health.
Keep an eye out for our next piece, “Step-by-Step Guide to Performing Islamic Dhikr,” to explore further and enhance your practice.
Step-by-Step Guide to Performing Islamic Dhikr
In the rush of daily life, the calming rhythm of Dhikr offers a rare refuge for the soul. Why should you care about these steps?
I’ll take you step-by-step through the foundational practices of Dhikr, such as setting your intention, selecting dhikr phrases, opting for recitation method, counting techniques and incorporating dhikr into daily life enhancing both your spiritual and emotional landscape.
They provide practical tools to deepen your faith and improve your mental well-being, essential for navigating life’s challenges.
Step 1: Setting Your Intention — Initiate your Dhikr with a moment of reflection to clear your mind and focus solely on your intention to remember Allah.
Remember, as the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) taught us in a Hadith reported by both Bukhari and Muslim:
الْاَعْمَالُ بِالنِّیَّةِ
Source: https://sunnah.com/shahwaliullah40:33
Actions are through intentions.
Setting a sincere intention is crucial, as it determines the spiritual reward of your acts of worship.
Narrated ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab:
Source: https://sunnah.com/bukhari:1
I heard Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) saying, “The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was for what he emigrated for.”
Step 2: Selecting Dhikr Phrases — Equip yourself with these profound Dhikr phrases to enhance your spiritual practice:
SUBHANALLAH(سبحان الله) “Glory be to Allah.”
This phrase helps us acknowledge Allah’s absolute perfection, a theme frequently highlighted across the Qur’an, such as in Surah Al-Hashr (59:24), which describes Allah as the One “free from imperfection.”
Why is this phrase important?
هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْخَـٰلِقُ ٱلْبَارِئُ ٱلْمُصَوِّرُ ۖ لَهُ ٱلْأَسْمَآءُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ٢٤Transliteration: Huwa Allahu alkhaliqu albari-oalmusawwiru lahu al-asmao alhusnayusabbihu lahu ma fee assamawatiwal-ardi wahuwa alAAazeezu alhakeem
Translation: He is Allah: the Creator, the Inventor, the Shaper. He ˹alone˺ has the Most Beautiful Names. Whatever is in the heavens and the earth ˹constantly˺ glorifies Him. And He is the Almighty, All-Wise.
Source: https://quran.com/59/24
ALHAMDULILLAH (الحمد لله) “All praise is due to Allah.”
Why is this phrase important?
In Quran Allah says:
وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ۖ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِى لَشَدِيدٌۭ ٧Transliteration: Wa-ith taaththana rabbukumla-in shakartum laazeedannakum wala-in kafartum inna AAathabeelashadeed
Translation: (Recall the time) when your Lord declared, “If you express gratitude, I shall certainly give you more, and if you are ungrateful, then My punishment is severe.”
Source: https://quran.com/14/7
This expression of gratitude aligns with the essence of Surah Al-Fatihah and is a fundamental aspect of daily prayers, recognizing the countless blessings bestowed upon us.
ALLAHU AKBAR (الله أكبر) – “ALLAH IS THE GREATEST.”
وَقُلِ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ وَلَدًۭا وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ شَرِيكٌۭ فِى ٱلْمُلْكِ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ وَلِىٌّۭ مِّنَ ٱلذُّلِّ ۖ وَكَبِّرْهُ تَكْبِيرًۢا ١١١
Transliteration: Waquli alhamdu lillahi allatheelam yattakhith waladan walam yakun lahu shareekun feealmulki walam yakun lahu waliyyun mina aththulliwakabbirhu takbeera
Translation: Say, “Praise belongs to Allah who has neither had a son, nor is there any partner to Him in His kingdom, nor is anyone (needed) to protect Him from (any) weakness. And proclaim His greatness, an open proclamation.
Source: Surah Al-Isra – 111 – Quran.com
This phrase, integral to daily prayers, helps reaffirm Allah’s supremacy over everything in existence.
LA ILAHA ILLALLAH (لا إله إلا الله) – “THERE IS NO DEITY WORTHY OF WORSHIP EXCEPT ALLAH.”
Why is this phrase important?
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ لَيَجْمَعَنَّكُمْ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ ۗ وَمَنْ أَصْدَقُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ حَدِيثًۭا ٨٧Transliteration: Allahu la ilaha illahuwa layajmaAAannakum ila yawmi alqiyamati larayba feehi waman asdaqu mina Allahi hadeetha
Source: https://quran.com/4/87
Translation: Allah, there is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Him. He will certainly gather ˹all of˺ you together on the Day of Judgment—about which there is no doubt. And whose word is more truthful than Allah’s?
This declaration, the core of our faith, is emphasized repeatedly in Hadith literature, marking it as a key tenet of Islam.
Get complete list of dhikr phrases: [Link to Topic 2 – Essential Dhikr Phrases for Daily Recitation]
Step 3: Opting for a Recitation Method —These are a few recitaiton methods you can opt:
AUDIBLE RECITATION
Best performed in solitude, this method lets you engage fully by hearing your recitation, thereby deepening your focus and connection.
SILENT RECITATION
Suitable for public places, allowing you to continue your remembrance internally, ensuring that your heart remains engaged in Dhikr without external distraction.
HEART-FOCUSED DHIKR
Go beyond mere recitation; contemplate deeply on the meanings of the phrases to truly connect with the words and their implications on your faith and daily life.
وَٱذْكُر رَّبَّكَ فِى نَفْسِكَ تَضَرُّعًۭا وَخِيفَةًۭ وَدُونَ ٱلْجَهْرِ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْلِ بِٱلْغُدُوِّ وَٱلْـَٔاصَالِ وَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ ٱلْغَـٰفِلِينَ ٢٠٥
Transliteration: Wathkur rabbaka fee nafsikatadarruAAan wakheefatan wadoona aljahri mina alqawli bilghuduwwiwal-asali wala takun mina alghafileen
Translation: Remember your Lord inwardly with humility and reverence and in a moderate tone of voice, both morning and evening. And do not be one of the heedless.
Source: https://quran.com/7/205
Step 4: Counting Techniques — The another step for performing individual dhikr is to keep an account of dhikr such as employing these techniques.
PRAYER BEADS/TASBIH
A traditional method that involves using beads to count each recitation, helping maintain focus and track the count without distraction.
FINGER COUNTING
This Sunnah method involves using the fingertips to keep track of Dhikr count, as the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) often did. Each finger segment can represent a count, which aligns with a tactile and direct form of worship.
DIGITAL COUNTERS OR APPS
Modern tools that can assist in keeping accurate count while providing reminders to engage in Dhikr, ideal for those who appreciate technological support in their spiritual practices.
Step 5: Incorporating Dhikr into Daily Life — It is a significant practice to incorporate dhikr into daily life.
AFTER SALAAH
Implement Dhikr following the prescribed prayers by reciting phrases like SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, and Allahu Akbar 33 times each, as recommended in numerous Hadiths for spiritual reinforcement.
Anas reported that a woman came to the Prophet, to complain to him of a need.
He said, ‘Shall I show you something better than that? You should say, ‘There is no god but Allah’ 33 times when you go to sleep and say ‘Glory be to Allah’ 33 times and say ‘Praise be to Allah’ 34 times and then that hundred is better than his world and all that it contains.'”
Source: https://sunnah.com/adab:635
WHILE DOING ROUTINE TASKS
Transform mundane activities into acts of worship by integrating Dhikr. This continuous remembrance can turn everyday routines into extraordinary acts of devotion.
MORNING & EVENING REMEMBRANCES (ADHKAR)
Strengthen your day’s start and end by adhering to the prophetic tradition of specific supplications at dawn and dusk, which serve as spiritual protection and bring blessings throughout the day.
By embracing the step-by-step approach to Dhikr outlined earlier, you’ll not only enrich your spiritual practices but also foster deeper emotional and mental resilience.
These steps connect directly to the broader goal of enhancing your individual Dhikr practice, making it more meaningful and integrated into your everyday life.
Now lets explore “Challenges You May Face While Performing Islamic Dhikr,” where we’ll explore common obstacles and provide strategies to overcome them, ensuring your Dhikr remains a powerful source of tranquility and spiritual growth.
Challenges You May Face While Performing Islamic Dhikr
Dhikr might seem simple, but its challenges are a complex battle of focus and intention.
I’ll show you how to overcome these typical hurdles, such as losing focus, inconsistency and overcomplicating it ensuring your Dhikr becomes a powerful tool for personal and spiritual growth.
Tackling them head-on is essential for achieving the true peace and spiritual connection that Dhikr promises.
1. Losing Focus or Getting Distracted: It’s completely natural to find your mind wandering during Dhikr.
Remember, the path to spiritual focus isn’t about perfection but progression.
If you find yourself distracted, take a short mindfulness break. Focus on your breathing or simply pause in silence; this can help reset your concentration.
2. Inconsistency: Consistency in Dhikr, like any spiritual practice, can be challenging, especially when life gets busy.
To build a consistent routine, start with small, manageable goals. For instance, try reciting each Dhikr phrase 10 times per day.
Setting up daily reminders or using phone alarms can also be incredibly helpful to prompt you for these short but powerful sessions.
3. Overcomplicating or Forcing It: Sometimes, in our zeal to do well, we might pressure ourselves into making our Dhikr practice more structured or intense than necessary.
Remember, Dhikr is meant to be a source of peace and connection with Allah, not a cause for stress.
Focus on the sincerity and quality of your recitation rather than the quantity.
A few heartfelt repetitions, done with full awareness and devotion, are far more valuable than many rushed ones.
Let your Dhikr flow naturally, and find comfort in the simplicity and profound beauty of remembering Allah.
Overcoming these hurdles not only improves your ability to focus during Dhikr but also enriches your overall sense of spiritual fulfillment and mental peace.
By mastering these challenges, you pave the way for a more focused and serene engagement with your faith.
Conclusion
We’ve explored the essential steps to embracing individual Dhikr: setting your intention, selecting phrases, choosing a recitation method, finding a counting technique, and integrating Dhikr seamlessly into your daily life.
Each element plays a crucial role in enriching your spiritual practice.
The Qur’an and Hadith are replete with promises about the immense virtues of remembering Allah.
Dhikr not only fosters a deeper connection with our Creator but also instills a profound sense of peace that permeates our everyday routines.
It’s a simple practice with profound effects, enhancing our spiritual well-being and grounding us in our faith.
Why not start this transformative journey today?
Let the beauty of Dhikr become a constant source of comfort and strength in your life.
