Remembrance of the Most Merciful
by Imam ibn Qayyim al-jawziyyah (d.751H)
Allah, the Most High, Says: “Remember Me, and I shall remember you” Qur’an 2:152
Abu Hurayrah (radiy Allahu ‘anhu), said that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Allah the Almighty said:’ “I am as My servant thinks of Me. I am with him when he makes mention of Me. If he makes mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself; and if he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assembly better than it. And if he draws near to Me an arm’s length, I draw near to him a cubit, and if he draws near to Me a cubit, I draw near to him a fathom, if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed. (al-Buhkari and Muslim)
Remembrance in Islam has a lofty position, its great virtue and excellence is crystal clear in the Book of Allah and the Noble Sunnah. Allah, the Most High commands the believers to remember Him. Through this the servant will attain the pleasure of His Lord, His Mercy and forgiveness. Those who are devoted to the remembrance of Allah, their heart will be at peace and tranquillity - full of joy and will find themselves in safety and security.
For in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest. In this very valuable and useful text the author - may Allah have mercy on him – mentions 78 benefits of remembrance. Ibn Qayyim commences the book with chapters related to the path of happiness, how to rectify the heart and cleanse it. He also talks about the different stages of the prayer, charity and fasting. He then goes through 78 benefits of remembrance of Allah. This gripping text will keep the reader in awe and quench the thirst of every reader that seeks for the closeness to their Lord, a book that you will read over and over again.
It will up-lift your heart, give you a much lacking spiritual connection to the remembrance of Allah and the sincere servant of Allah will shed many tears at the lost opportunity that life has passed him by, but this masterpiece will awaken your soul to make up for the lost time. After reading it you will see every new dawn as a new opportunity to get closer to Allah, the Most High.
You will never see remembrance in the same light again, a delight to read and learn. Strive! O reader and wear the robes of remembrance, equip yourself for you will not be disappointed, through it you will fi nd strength, meaning to your life and a path to eternal salvation. A text every devoted believer cannot afford to be without!