Journal · 3 min read
What is dhikr? A beginner’s guide
By Nūr Morocco ·
In short
Dhikr (ذِكْر) means remembrance: the remembrance of God, in the heart and on the tongue. Every Muslim practises it, through phrases such as subḥān Allāh and lā ilāha illā Allāh, often counted on prayer beads. In the Sufi paths it is also a shared discipline: disciples recite a daily litany (wird) and meet for gatherings of dhikr in their zawiya.
The meaning of dhikr
The Arabic word dhikr means both to remember and to mention. In Islam it names the remembrance of God, which the Qur’an asks of believers again and again. “Remember Me, and I will remember you,” says one verse (2:152); another says that “in the remembrance of God hearts find rest” (13:28). The ritual prayer itself is called a remembrance (20:14).
Scholars speak of dhikr of the heart, which is awareness of God, and dhikr of the tongue, which is the words spoken; the two are meant to go together.
Common words of dhikr
Many Muslims say the first three phrases thirty-three times each after the ritual prayers, counting on their fingers or on a string of beads, called a sebḥa in Morocco.
- Subḥān Allāh: glory be to God.
- Al-ḥamdu li-llāh: praise be to God.
- Allāhu akbar: God is greater.
- Lā ilāha illā Allāh: there is no god but God.
- Astaghfiru Allāh: I ask God’s forgiveness.
- Blessings on the Prophet ﷺ (ṣalawāt), such as Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā sayyidinā Muḥammad.
Dhikr in the Sufi paths
In a Sufi order, dhikr becomes a discipline. Each disciple receives a daily litany, the wird: set formulas recited morning and evening. Orders also keep longer litanies, called ḥizb, such as the Ḥizb al-Baḥr of Abu al-Hasan al-Shadhili, and prayers on the Prophet ﷺ such as the Ṣalāt al-Mashīshiyya.
The Shadhili path is known for keeping dhikr inside ordinary life: no special dress and no withdrawal from family and work, but remembrance woven through the day.
The gathering of dhikr in a zawiya
In Moroccan zawiyas, members meet regularly, often on Thursday or Friday evening, for a collective dhikr. Gatherings differ from one order to another. Most include the recitation of the order’s litany, sung poetry in praise of the Prophet ﷺ (madīḥ) and of the path (samāʿ), and repeated formulas, sometimes standing and in rhythm, led by the muqaddam of the zawiya. A gathering can last an hour or much of the night, and usually ends with a supplication.
Attending a dhikr as a guest
On our retreats, every day keeps time and space for dhikr and ṣalawāt, and gatherings with a zawiya are arranged for each date where the zawiya agrees. Guests on the devotional track take part; guests on the open track attend as quiet guests where visitors are welcomed.
- Ask first. A gathering is not a performance; the zawiya decides who may attend, and when.
- Dress modestly. Women cover their hair, and in many zawiyas men and women sit apart or women gather separately.
- Sit where you are shown, keep still and quiet, and do not record or photograph unless invited.
- If you are not Muslim, you are not expected to recite. Listening attentively is respectful.
- Arrive before the gathering starts, and leave quietly if you need to.
Starting your own practice
Begin with a little, said with attention, rather than much said absent-mindedly: the morning and evening remembrances, the formulas after prayer, a few quiet minutes of lā ilāha illā Allāh. Learn what the words mean. Many people find it easier to persevere with others, which is what a zawiya, and the guidance of a teacher in the Sufi paths, are for.
Questions
What does dhikr mean?
Remembrance: the remembrance of God, in the heart and on the tongue. The Arabic word means both to remember and to mention.
What do you say in dhikr?
Short phrases such as subḥān Allāh, al-ḥamdu li-llāh, Allāhu akbar, lā ilāha illā Allāh, astaghfiru Allāh, and blessings on the Prophet ﷺ. Sufi orders add their own litanies.
Can non-Muslims attend a dhikr?
Many zawiyas welcome respectful guests at their gatherings, but not all, and not every time. Ask first, dress modestly and attend quietly.
What is the difference between dhikr and duʿāʾ?
Dhikr is remembrance and praise of God; duʿāʾ is asking Him. The two are often joined, and a gathering of dhikr usually ends with a duʿāʾ.
