Once a person starts repeating the words of remembrance, he will make progress to remember Allah at all times. It may be hard in the beginning, yet a person must not give up the dhikr. It is a method of training. It starts with repeating the words, and then it leads to the true remembrance.

The formal prayer, salat, is a form of dhikr, too. From the time one starts the prayer saying "Allàhu akbar" until he ends the prayer saying "As-salamu alaikum wa rahmatullah," everything he says is dhikr. "Allàhu akbar" is dhikr, so is "Subhànaka." "Alhamdulillah" is dhikr, so are the other words recited while bowed down and in prostration. "Tahiyyat" is dhikr, so is the "salât-u salâm." All of this qualifies the formal prayer as "world of dhikr."

In addition to the formal prayer, reciting the Qur'an is dhikr, too because it is the word of Allah. Every line of the Qur'an is dhikr. Since it is recited in the formal prayer, too. The best way of reciting the Qur'an is reciting it in the prayer at night. The best way of performing the prayer is reciting long surahs in it. Some of the companions of the Prophet have informed Muslims that the Prophet used to recite the Surah Baqara, Surah Al-i Imran and the following surah at once during the night prayer.

The best way of the dhikr is reciting the Qur'an; still, a person can offer two or four units of tahajjud prayer in the last part of the night and get his rosary to repeat the words "Allah, Allah, Allah, ... Lâ ilâha il-lal-lah..." This would earn him great rewards and great feelings (fayz).

Fayz means a flow of good feelings and joy. There will be an abundance of such great feelings surrounding the person. As the person continues on the dhikr, he gains inner vision. The "dirt" and "rust" in his heart disappear. As the poet put it:

Once the Sufî purifies
The mirror in his heart
A gate will be opened
The beauty of Allah becomes visible.

Throughout the month of Ramadan, you have got up in the last part of the night. May Allah be pleased with you. If you have neglected the prayers and dhikr in the last part of the night, try not to miss them from now on.

In the remaining part of this Ramadan, there will be a special night, the Night of Power. It could be tonight, tomorrow night or the next night. Try not to miss this special night. Offer prayers during the Night of Power. Be aware that when you start the the prayer saying "Allahu akbar," you are immediately admitted to Allah's presence.

Imagine that you are before Almighty Allah. There are angels on both sides. If you pull yourself together, concentrate on your prayer, ponder about the meanings of the words you utter in the prayer, shed tears, and offer the prayer the way it should be, then you become like a walî i.e., a close friend of Allah.

May Almighty Allah give you the joy of offering prayers, reciting Qur'an and doing dhikr. You could offer two or four units of prayer the way you usually do, and then you could get your rosary and do dhikr. I recommend you recite 100 times Astaghfirullah, 100 times Lâ ilâha il-lal-lah, 1000 times Allah, 100 times salâtu salâm on our beloved Prophet, and 100 times the Surah Ihlas (Qul huwallah-u ahad) everyday. Before getting up After completing other prayers, recite 10 times Surah Ihlas.

May Almighty Allah give you large portions of the rewards of Ramadan. As you offer your prayers and supplications, please remember me, as your brother. This will be my share of the benefits.

May Almighty Allah be pleased with you all.

As-salâmu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakâtuhû.

December 22, 2000 -- SWEDEN