The Virtue of Dhikr and the Types of Voluntary Fasting
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
The Shaykh’s discourse on the saying of Allah the Exalted[Al-Ahzab 33:35] regarding the virtue of dhikr. O Shaykh, especially as we bid farewell to a great month, the month of Ramadan, should the Muslim fill his time with this great dhikr, which has a great fruit?
Answer:
Before mentioning the fasting men and fasting women, among the characteristics that Allah mentioned in this verse is fasting. Fasting includes obligatory fasting, such as the month of Ramadan, and fasting as expiation. It also includes voluntary fasting, for it is prescribed for the Muslim to fast voluntarily, in addition to the month of Ramadan, performing voluntary fasting. This is done by fasting six days of Shawwal, fasting Mondays and Thursdays of every week, fasting three days of every month, and fasting the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. He fasts the Day of 'Arafah if he is not among the pilgrims. He fasts the Day of 'Ashura, the day before it, and the day after it. If he fasts the entire month of Muharram, that is better. He fasts most of the month of Sha'ban. These are types of voluntary fasting that provide the Muslim with a wide scope in seeking good. If he wishes to fast one day and break the fast the next, that is the fasting of Dawud (peace be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “The best fasting is the fasting of Dawud”Sunan an-Nasa'i 2388Sahih (Darussalam).
All of this falls under the saying of Allah the Exalted, “and the fasting men and the fasting women.” As for dhikr, the remembrance of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is a fortress for the Muslim against Satan. The remembrance of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) gives life to the heart. Allah the Exalted said:[Ar-Ra'd 13:28] The remembrance of Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) earns the Muslim great reward. Allah the Exalted said, “So remember Me; I will remember you.” Whoever remembers Allah, Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) remembers him. In the hadith: Sahih Ibn Hibban 6:21 meaning the angels.
The remembrance of Allah is done through tasbih, tahlil, takbir, and tahmid. It is a work of the tongue that does not burden a person. He can remember Allah while walking, while sitting, and while lying on his bed.[An-Nisa 4:103] [Ali 'Imran 3:191] The remembrance of Allah does not burden a person. He remembers Allah while selling and buying, while practicing his trade and working, and he remembers Allah in all circumstances, just as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to remember Allah in all his states.
So a person should increase in the remembrance of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Ahzab 33:41-42] He the Exalted said: [Al-Jumu'ah 62:10] So the remembrance of Allah is easy, and the tongue does not tire from much dhikr. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan Ibn Majah 3793Hasan (Darussalam) This is unlike other deeds, for they tire the body, such as prayer, fasting, Hajj, and jihad, and other deeds in which the body experiences fatigue. But the tongue does not tire, no matter how much you increase in the remembrance of Allah (Mighty and Majestic); it does not tire. This is from the favor of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and His making things easy for His servants, along with the great favor that Allah has placed in dhikr. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh
The Shaykh’s discourse on the saying of Allah the Exalted
and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so
وَالذَّاكِرِينَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا وَالذَّاكِرَاتِAnswer:
Before mentioning the fasting men and fasting women, among the characteristics that Allah mentioned in this verse is fasting. Fasting includes obligatory fasting, such as the month of Ramadan, and fasting as expiation. It also includes voluntary fasting, for it is prescribed for the Muslim to fast voluntarily, in addition to the month of Ramadan, performing voluntary fasting. This is done by fasting six days of Shawwal, fasting Mondays and Thursdays of every week, fasting three days of every month, and fasting the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. He fasts the Day of 'Arafah if he is not among the pilgrims. He fasts the Day of 'Ashura, the day before it, and the day after it. If he fasts the entire month of Muharram, that is better. He fasts most of the month of Sha'ban. These are types of voluntary fasting that provide the Muslim with a wide scope in seeking good. If he wishes to fast one day and break the fast the next, that is the fasting of Dawud (peace be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “The best fasting is the fasting of Dawud”
He used to fast for one day and break his fast for one day.
كان يصوم يوما ويفطر يوماAll of this falls under the saying of Allah the Exalted, “and the fasting men and the fasting women.” As for dhikr, the remembrance of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is a fortress for the Muslim against Satan. The remembrance of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) gives life to the heart. Allah the Exalted said:
Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured."
الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُWhoever remembers Me in his heart, I will remember him in My heart, and whoever remembers Me in a gathering, I will remember him in a gathering better than them
من ذكرني في نفسه ذكرته في نفسي، ومن ذكرني في ملأ ذكرته في ملأ خير منهمThe remembrance of Allah is done through tasbih, tahlil, takbir, and tahmid. It is a work of the tongue that does not burden a person. He can remember Allah while walking, while sitting, and while lying on his bed.
remember Allah standing, sitting, or [lying] on your sides
فَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِكُمْremember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides
يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمْSo a person should increase in the remembrance of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Allah the Exalted said:
(41) O you who have believed, remember Allah with much remembrance (42) And exalt Him morning and afternoon.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيرًا وَسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًاAnd when the prayer has been concluded, disperse within the land and seek from the bounty of Allah, and remember Allah often that you may succeed.
فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَانتَشِرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَابْتَغُوا مِن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَAlways keep your tongue moist with the remembrance of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime.
لا يزال لسانك رطبا من ذكر الله عز وجلThe presenter:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، 27 من 27|وقفات مع آيات الصيام|والصائمين والصائمات|صالح الفوزان|فقه|كبار العلماء — youtube.com (2:29)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.