Zikr with the heart

In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.

Answer

Qadi Thanaullah Pani Pati in his “Tafsir Mazhari” has written that there are three types of zikr:

1.      Oral, loudly

2.      Oral, silently

3.      Spiritual, within the heart known as Zikr Qalbi

Zikr Qalbi is that zikr which has nothing to do with words by the mouth and as such cannot even be detected by he Kiram Kaatibeen. Imam Abu Yala narrates quoting Saaidah Aaishah Radiallahu Anha that the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam said: Zikr Qalbi, which cannot be discerned by the Kiram Kaatibeen, is seventy times superior to other types. On the Day of Judgement mankind will be called to reckoning by Him and the Kiram Kaatibeen will be directed to produce the register of conduct of everybody. The angels will be commanded to re-examine the records to see if any of their good deeds remained unrecorded. They would submit that everything within their reach had been duly put down. Allah will inform them that a good deed, which they could not discern and hence were unable to record, was Zikr Qalbi… (Tafsir Mazhari p.41 v.3)

Moreover the superiority of silent zikr can be established through the Holy Qur’an and Hadith of the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam.

Allah (SWA) in the Holy Qur’an has said:

“And do then (O Muhammad) remember your Lord within yourself humbly and with awe, below your breath, at morning and evening. And do not be neglectful. (Surah Araf v.205)

Maulana Yusuf Binnori (RA) explains this verse in his Nafkhat al Amber Min Hadi ash Shaikh Anwar p135:

“Sheikh Anwar Shah Kashmiri said: “We confine ourselves strictly to the meaning of this verse. It pertains to Zikr and not to Salah, though the latter is also a form of zikr. It implies Zikr Qalbi whereas Salah is Zikr Lisani…”

Saaiduna Abu Saeed Radiallahu Anhu narrates that the Prophet of Allah the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam said, “The best zikr is Zikr Khafi” (Al Targhib wat Tarheeb p.160 v.4)

Saaiduna Saad Bin Abi Waqqas Radiallahu Anhu states that he heard the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam saying “The best zikr is Zikr Khafi.” (At Targhib wat Tarheeb p.537 v.2)

Only Allah Knows Best

Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham.