Notes ❋ on the Quran
Volume I · PART IV

Remembrance (of Allah)

فَٱذۡكُرُونِيٓ أَذۡكُرۡكُمۡ وَٱشۡكُرُواْ لِي وَلَا تَكۡفُرُونِ ١٥٢

Therefore remember Me. I will remember you and be grateful to Me and never be ungrateful to Me.

Surah 2 Al-Baqarah Verse 152

ٱلَّذِينَ يَذۡكُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ قِيَٰمٗا وَقُعُودٗا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمۡ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِي خَلۡقِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقۡتَ هَٰذَا بَٰطِلٗا سُبۡحَٰنَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ ١٩١

Those who remember Allah standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth (saying): ‘Our Lord! You have not created this without purpose, glory to You! Give us salvation from the torment of the Fire’.

Surah 3 Al-Imran Verse 191

وَٱذۡكُر رَّبَّكَ فِي نَفۡسِكَ تَضَرُّعٗا وَخِيفَةٗ وَدُونَ ٱلۡجَهۡرِ مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡلِ بِٱلۡغُدُوِّ وَٱلۡأٓصَالِ وَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ ٱلۡغَٰفِلِينَ ٢٠٥

And remember your Lord within yourself, humbly and with fear and without loudness in words, in the mornings and in the afternoons, and be not of those who are neglectful.

Surah 7 Al-A’raf Verse 205

ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَتَطۡمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِۗ أَلَا بِذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطۡمَئِنُّ ٱلۡقُلُوبُ ٢٨ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ طُوبَىٰ لَهُمۡ وَحُسۡنُ مَ‍َٔابٖ ٢٩

Those who believed, and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah, verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest. Those who believed, and work righteousness, Tuba is for them a beautiful place of (final) return.

Surah 13 Ar-Ra’d Verses 28-29

وَٱصۡبِرۡ نَفۡسَكَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدۡعُونَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلۡغَدَوٰةِ وَٱلۡعَشِيِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجۡهَهُۥۖ وَلَا تَعۡدُ عَيۡنَاكَ عَنۡهُمۡ تُرِيدُ زِينَةَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَاۖ وَلَا تُطِعۡ مَنۡ أَغۡفَلۡنَا قَلۡبَهُۥ عَن ذِكۡرِنَا وَٱتَّبَعَ هَوَىٰهُ وَكَانَ أَمۡرُهُۥ فُرُطٗا ٢٨

And keep yourself (O Muhammad, pbuh) patiently with those who call on their Lord morning and afternoon, seeking His Face; and let not your eyes overlook them, desiring the pomp and glitter of the life of the world; and obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance, and who follows his own lusts, and whose affairs (deeds) have been lost.

Surah 18 Al-Kahf Verse 28

إِنَّنِيٓ أَنَا ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱعۡبُدۡنِي وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِذِكۡرِيٓ ١٤ إِنَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ ءَاتِيَةٌ أَكَادُ أُخۡفِيهَا لِتُجۡزَىٰ كُلُّ نَفۡسِۢ بِمَا تَسۡعَىٰ ١٥ فَلَا يَصُدَّنَّكَ عَنۡهَا مَن لَّا يُؤۡمِنُ بِهَا وَٱتَّبَعَ هَوَىٰهُ فَتَرۡدَىٰ ١٦

‘Verily, I am Allah! La ilaha illa Ana (none has the right to be worshipped but I), so worship Me, and perform As-Salat for My remembrance. Verily, the Hour is coming – and I am almost hiding it – that every person may be rewarded for that which he strives. Therefore, let not the one who believes not therein but follows his own lusts, divert you there from, lest you perish’.

Surah 20 Ta-Ha Verses 14-16

  1. “Pray in order to remember Me” – this indicates the main purpose of the Prayer. Prayer is the most potent means of keeping this consciousness (that he is Allah’s servant and that he is not free to do as he pleases) fresh in man’s mind; it enables him to maintain a strong, vibrant relationship with Allah. Prayer weans man away, many times a day, from the ordinary hum-drum existence of daily life; it orients him towards Allah.
  2. “And establish the prayer whenever you remember Me” – there is a supporting evidence for this in a Hadith recorded by Imam Ahmad from Anas, who said that the Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘Whenever one of you sleeps past the prayer, or he forgets to pray, then let him pray when he remembers it. For verily, Allah said <and perform As-Salat for my My rememebrance>’. It is also recorded from Anas that the Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘Whoever slept past the prayer, or forgot it, then his expiation is that he prays it when he remembers it. There is no expiation for it other than that’. On similar lines, Abu-Qatadah reports that when the Prophet (pbuh) was asked by people what they should do if they overslept, the Prophet (pbuh) replied: ‘There is no sin if one is asleep. Sin is incurred when one does not pray while one is awake. If anyone of you forgets (to pray) or is asleep (at the time of prayers) you should offer prayers when you wake up or when you remember’

وَلَقَدِ ٱسۡتُهۡزِئَ بِرُسُلٖ مِّن قَبۡلِكَ فَحَاقَ بِٱلَّذِينَ سَخِرُواْ مِنۡهُم مَّا كَانُواْ بِهِۦ يَسۡتَهۡزِءُونَ ٤١ قُلۡ مَن يَكۡلَؤُكُم بِٱلَّيۡلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ مِنَ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِۚ بَلۡ هُمۡ عَن ذِكۡرِ رَبِّهِم مُّعۡرِضُونَ ٤٢

Indeed (many) Messengers were mocked before you (O Muhammad, pbuh), but the scoffers were surrounded by that, whereat they used to mock. Say: “Who can guard and protect you in the night or in the day from the (punishment of the) Most Beneficent (Allah)?” Nay, but they turn away from the remembrance of their Lord.

Surah 21 Al-Anbiya Verses 41-42

إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ فَرِيقٞ مِّنۡ عِبَادِي يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَآ ءَامَنَّا فَٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَٱرۡحَمۡنَا وَأَنتَ خَيۡرُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ ١٠٩ فَٱتَّخَذۡتُمُوهُمۡ سِخۡرِيًّا حَتَّىٰٓ أَنسَوۡكُمۡ ذِكۡرِي وَكُنتُم مِّنۡهُمۡ تَضۡحَكُونَ ١١٠ إِنِّي جَزَيۡتُهُمُ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ بِمَا صَبَرُوٓاْ أَنَّهُمۡ هُمُ ٱلۡفَآئِزُونَ ١١١

Verily! There was a party of My slaves, who used to say: “Our Lord! We believe, so forgive us, and have mercy on us, for You are the Best of all who show mercy!” But you took them for a laughing stock, so much so that they made you forget My Remembrance while you used to laugh at them! Verily! I have rewarded them this Day for their patience, they are indeed the ones that are successful.

Surah 23 Al-Muminun Verses 109-111

رِجَالٞ لَّا تُلۡهِيهِمۡ تِجَٰرَةٞ وَلَا بَيۡعٌ عَن ذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ وَإِقَامِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَإِيتَآءِ ٱلزَّكَوٰةِ يَخَافُونَ يَوۡمٗا تَتَقَلَّبُ فِيهِ ٱلۡقُلُوبُ وَٱلۡأَبۡصَٰرُ ٣٧ لِيَجۡزِيَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ أَحۡسَنَ مَا عَمِلُواْ وَيَزِيدَهُم مِّن فَضۡلِهِۦۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَرۡزُقُ مَن يَشَآءُ بِغَيۡرِ حِسَابٖ ٣٨

Men whom neither trade nor sale diverts them from the Remembrance of Allah (with heart and tongue), nor from performing As-Salat (the prayers), nor from giving the Zakat (obligatory charity). They fear a Day when hearts and eyes will be overturned (from the horror of the torment of the Day of Resurrection). That Allah may reward them according to the best of their deeds, and add even more for them out of His Grace. And Allah provides without measure to whom He wills.

Surah 24 An-Nur Verses 37-38

ٱتۡلُ مَآ أُوحِيَ إِلَيۡكَ مِنَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَۖ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ تَنۡهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلۡفَحۡشَآءِ وَٱلۡمُنكَرِۗ وَلَذِكۡرُ ٱللَّهِ أَكۡبَرُۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُ مَا تَصۡنَعُونَ ٤٥

Recite (O Muhammad, pbuh) what has been revealed to you of the Book (the Quran), and perform As-Salat. Verily, As-Salat prevents from Al-Fahsha and Al-Munkar and the remembering of Allah is greater indeed. And Allah knows what you do.

Surah 29 Al-Ankabut Verse 45

  1. Being done purely and sincerely for Allah alone (Ikhlas);
  2. Fear of Allah; and
  3. Remembrance of Allah

Ikhlas makes a person do good deeds, fear prevents him from doing evil deeds, and the remembrance of Allah is the Quran which contains commands & prohibitions. Praying is part of the remembrance of Allah which is greater.

  1. Its essential characteristic, whereby it prevents man from indecency and evil. What could be more effective than summoning man five times a day to remember Allah and to refresh in him the fact that he has no right to act with unfettered freedom for he is the servant of an All-Knowing Allah, One who is aware even of the desires and intentions that lie hidden in his heart
  2. Its required characteristic, whereby he who observes Prayer should actually desist from all acts of indecency and evil. Naarated Ibn Abbas that the Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘Anyone whose Prayer does not forbid him from indecency and evil (is a prayer that) further removes from Allah’. Several traditions of similar import say: ‘If one wants to ascertain whether one’s prayer has been accepted by Allah or not, one should assess how far one has abstained from indecency and evil. If one has stopped committing evil under the influence of Prayer, one’s Prayer has been accepted’

لَّقَدۡ كَانَ لَكُمۡ فِي رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُسۡوَةٌ حَسَنَةٞ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرۡجُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلۡيَوۡمَ ٱلۡأٓخِرَ وَذَكَرَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرٗا ٢١

Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad, pbuh) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much.

Surah 33 Al-Ahzab Verse 21

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱذۡكُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ ذِكۡرٗا كَثِيرٗا ٤١ وَسَبِّحُوهُ بُكۡرَةٗ وَأَصِيلًا ٤٢ هُوَ ٱلَّذِي يُصَلِّي عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَمَلَٰٓئِكَتُهُۥ لِيُخۡرِجَكُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِۚ وَكَانَ بِٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ رَحِيمٗا ٤٣

O you who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance. And glorify His Praises morning and Asila. He it is who sends Salat (His blessings) on you and His Angels too, that He may bring you out from darkness into light. And He is Ever Most Merciful to the believers.

Surah 33 Al-Ahzab Verses 41-43

أَفَمَن شَرَحَ ٱللَّهُ صَدۡرَهُۥ لِلۡإِسۡلَٰمِ فَهُوَ عَلَىٰ نُورٖ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦۚ فَوَيۡلٞ لِّلۡقَٰسِيَةِ قُلُوبُهُم مِّن ذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِۚ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ فِي ضَلَٰلٖ مُّبِينٍ ٢٢

Is he whose breast Allah has opened to Islam, so that he is in light from His Lord (as he who is a non-Muslim)? So, woe to those whose hearts are hardened against remembrance of Allah! They are in plain error!

Surah 39 Az-Zumar Verse 22

ٱللَّهُ نَزَّلَ أَحۡسَنَ ٱلۡحَدِيثِ كِتَٰبٗا مُّتَشَٰبِهٗا مَّثَانِيَ تَقۡشَعِرُّ مِنۡهُ جُلُودُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخۡشَوۡنَ رَبَّهُمۡ ثُمَّ تَلِينُ جُلُودُهُمۡ وَقُلُوبُهُمۡ إِلَىٰ ذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُدَى ٱللَّهِ يَهۡدِي بِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُۚ وَمَن يُضۡلِلِ ٱللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُۥ مِنۡ هَادٍ ٢٣

Allah has sent down the best statement, a Book (this Quran), its parts resembling each other in goodness and truth, oft-repeated. The skins of those who fear their Lord shiver from it (when they recite it or hear it). Then their skin and their heart soften to the remembrance of Allah. That is the guidance of Allah. He Guides therewith whom He pleases and whomever Allah sends astray, for him there is no guide.

Surah 39 Az-Zumar Verse 23

هُوَ ٱلَّذِي يُرِيكُمۡ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ وَيُنَزِّلُ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ رِزۡقٗاۚ وَمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ إِلَّا مَن يُنِيبُ ١٣

It is He, Who shows you His Ayat (proofs, evidences, signs) and sends down provision for you from the sky. And none remembers but those who turn (to Allah) in obedience and in repentance (by begging His Pardon and by worshipping and obeying Him Alone and none else).

Surah 40 Ghafir Verse 13

وَمَن يَعۡشُ عَن ذِكۡرِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ نُقَيِّضۡ لَهُۥ شَيۡطَٰنٗا فَهُوَ لَهُۥ قَرِينٞ ٣٦ وَإِنَّهُمۡ لَيَصُدُّونَهُمۡ عَنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَيَحۡسَبُونَ أَنَّهُم مُّهۡتَدُونَ ٣٧

And whosoever turns blindly from the remembrance of the Most Gracious (Allah), We appoint for him Shaitan to be a Qarin to him. And verily, they (Satan) hinder them from the path (of Allah) but they think that they are guided aright!

Surah 43 Az-Zukhruf Verses 36-37

يَوۡمَ يَبۡعَثُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ جَمِيعٗا فَيَحۡلِفُونَ لَهُۥ كَمَا يَحۡلِفُونَ لَكُمۡ وَيَحۡسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمۡ عَلَىٰ شَيۡءٍۚ أَلَآ إِنَّهُمۡ هُمُ ٱلۡكَٰذِبُونَ ١٨ ٱسۡتَحۡوَذَ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ فَأَنسَىٰهُمۡ ذِكۡرَ ٱللَّهِۚ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ حِزۡبُ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنِۚ أَلَآ إِنَّ حِزۡبَ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنِ هُمُ ٱلۡخَٰسِرُونَ ١٩

On the Day when Allah will resurrect them all together (for their account), then they will swear to Him as they swear to you (O Muslims). And they think that they have something (to stand upon). Verily, they are liars! Shaitan (Satan) has overtaken them. So, he has made them forget the remembrance of Allah. They are the party of Shaitan (Satan). Verily, it is the party of Shaitan (Satan) that will be the losers!

Surah 58 Al-Mujadilah Verses 18-19

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَوٰةِ مِن يَوۡمِ ٱلۡجُمُعَةِ فَٱسۡعَوۡاْ إِلَىٰ ذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ وَذَرُواْ ٱلۡبَيۡعَۚ ذَٰلِكُمۡ خَيۡرٞ لَّكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ ٩

O you who believe (Muslims)! When the call is proclaimed for the Salat (prayer) on the day of Friday (Jumuah prayer), come to the remembrance of Allah [Jumuah religious talk (Khutbah) and Salat (prayer)] and leave off business (and every other thing), that is better for you if you did but know!

Surah 62 Al-Jumuah Verse 9

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تُلۡهِكُمۡ أَمۡوَٰلُكُمۡ وَلَآ أَوۡلَٰدُكُمۡ عَن ذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِۚ وَمَن يَفۡعَلۡ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡخَٰسِرُونَ ٩

O you who believe! Let not your properties or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah. And whosoever does that, then they are the losers.

Surah 63 Al-Munafiqun Verse 9

قَدۡ أَفۡلَحَ مَن تَزَكَّىٰ ١٤ وَذَكَرَ ٱسۡمَ رَبِّهِۦ فَصَلَّىٰ ١٥

Indeed, whosoever purifies himself shall achieve success; And remembers (glorifies) the Name of his Lord, and prays.

Surah 87 Al-A’la Verses 14-15

كَلَّآۖ إِذَا دُكَّتِ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ دَكّٗا دَكّٗا ٢١ وَجَآءَ رَبُّكَ وَٱلۡمَلَكُ صَفّٗا صَفّٗا ٢٢ وَجِاْيٓءَ يَوۡمَئِذِۢ بِجَهَنَّمَۚ يَوۡمَئِذٖ يَتَذَكَّرُ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ وَأَنَّىٰ لَهُ ٱلذِّكۡرَىٰ ٢٣ يَقُولُ يَٰلَيۡتَنِي قَدَّمۡتُ لِحَيَاتِي ٢٤ فَيَوۡمَئِذٖ لَّا يُعَذِّبُ عَذَابَهُۥٓ أَحَدٞ ٢٥ وَلَا يُوثِقُ وَثَاقَهُۥٓ أَحَدٞ ٢٦

Nay! When the earth is ground to powder; And your Lord comes with the angels in rows; And Hell will be brought near that Day. On that Day will man remember, but how will that remembrance (then) avail him? He will say: “Alas! Would that I had sent forth (good deeds) for (this) my life!” So, on that Day, none will punish as He will punish. And none will bind as He will bind.

Surah 89 Al-Fajr Verses 21-26

(1) That on that Day man will remember whatever he had done in the world and will regret, but what will remembrance and regretting avail him then.

(2) That on that Day man will take heed and accept admonition: he will realize that whatever he had been told by the Prophets was true and he committed a folly when he did not listen to them; but what will taking heed and accepting the admonition and realizing one’s errors avail then.

END OF CHAPTER