Words That Nourish the Heart

Each Arabic line is a button. Press it to go through its words, then press a word for its meaning.

الذِّكْرُ فِي الإسْلَامِ لَيْسَ أَصْوَاتًا فَارِغَةً بَلْ مَعَانٍ مُكْتَمِلَةً تُنْطَقُ فِي جُمَلٍ تَامَّةٍ تُغَذِّي العَقْلَ وَالقَلْبَ

Remembrance in Islam is not empty sounds, but complete meanings articulated in complete sentences that nourish the mind and heart.

هَكَذَا تَشْهَدُ لُغَةُ العَرَبِ فَلَا يُحْكَى بِالْقَوْلِ إِلَّا كَلَامٌ تَامٌّ

Thus, the language of the Arabs testifies; only complete speech is spoken.

لِذَلِكَ جَاءَ الذِّكْرُ المَشْرُوعُ بِصِيَغٍ تَحْمِلُ المَعْنَى

Therefore, the prescribed remembrance comes in forms that carry meaning:

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّي العَظِيمِ فِي الرُّكُوعِ

"Glory be to my Lord, the Almighty" in bowing,

وَسُبْحَانَ رَبِّي الأَعْلَى فِي السُّجُودِ لِأَنَّهَا ثَنَاءٌ وَتَعْظِيمٌ وَإِقْرَارٌ بِالْعُبُودِيَّةِ

and "Glory be to my Lord, the Most High" in prostration, because it is praise, glorification, and an acknowledgment of servitude.

وَمِثْلُهَا بِسْمِ اللهِ عِنْدَ البَدْءِ

And similarly, "In the name of Allah" at the beginning;

فَهِيَ لَيْسَتْ لَفْظًا مُنْفَرِدًا بَلْ جُمْلَةٌ مُقَدَّرَةٌ مَعْنَاهَا أَبْدَأُ عَمَلِي بِاسْمِ اللهِ فَأَرْبِطُ الفِعْلَ بِالرَّبِّ

it is not an isolated utterance, but an implicit sentence meaning: I begin my action in the name of Allah, thus linking the act to the Lord.

أَمَّا الاقْتِصَارُ عَلَى ذِكْرِ الِاسْمِ المُفْرَدِ مُجَرَّدًا مِنْ جُمْلَةٍ وَمَعْنًى فَلَيْسَ مِنْ هَدْيِ الوَحْيِ

As for merely mentioning the single name detached from a sentence and meaning, it is not part of divine guidance,

وَلَا يَزِيدُ الإِيمَانَ عِلْمًا وَلَا يَقِينًا بَلْ قَدْ يَفْتَحُ بَابَ التَّخْيِيلِ وَالْبِدَعِ

and it neither increases faith in knowledge nor certainty; rather, it may open the door to delusion and innovations.

الذِّكْرُ النَّافِعُ يَجْمَعُ ثَلَاثَةَ أُمُورٍ

Beneficial remembrance encompasses three aspects:

تَوْحِيدًا يَنْفِي الشِّرْكَ وَيُثْبِتُ الأُلُوهِيَّةَ لِلَّهِ وَحْدَهُ

Monotheism that negates associating partners and affirms divinity solely for Allah,

وَتَعْظِيمًا يُورِثُ الخَشْيَةَ

and glorification that brings about awe,

وَاسْتِحْضَارًا لِلْعَمَلِ يَضْبِطُ الجَوَارِحَ

and mindfulness of action that controls the limbs.