Shaikh-ul-Islam Maulana Abdul-Hameed began his latest Friday sermon in the Grand Makki mosque by recitation of the Holy verse: «فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُواْ لِي وَلاَ تَكْفُرُونِ» [بقره: 152] and presented some important points about the Remembrance (Dhikr) of Allah Almighty and sending blessings and peace on Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace & blessings be upon him.
He said at the beginning, ‘Allah Exalted mentioned some issues before the above-recited verse such as alteration of Qibla’s direction and prophecy of the Holy Prophet; then He addressed His servants: Remember Me, I will remember you and give thanks to my blessings.’
Khateeb of Ahl-us-Sunnah in Zahedan added more saying that Allah’s remembrance is one of the greatest wealth for mankind. Holy Qur’an emphasized so much on the importance of the great worship, Remembrance of Allah Almighty, stating to carry out it “always” and “repeatedly” in all conditions.
Shaikh Ismaeelzahi further said, ‘Tongue is one of the Sublime’s gifts that should remember Him; it is the duty of that. So we must meditate Allah’s blessings by tongue, heart and contemplation; He loves this deed very much. The best response comes to Dhaaker, who remembers Allah, as the Exalted remembers him/her. It is enough for that blest person; although there are many other rewards as well.’
Underlining the importance of Ikhlas, purity in deeds, Shaikh Abdul-Hameed pointed, ‘We must remember Allah Almighty sincerely just to get His pleasure. Showing off is a sin. It is regretful that we waste times without remembering Allah Exalted correctly. In many places in the Qur’an and Sunnah, it has been urged to remember Allah. For example, there is a saying of Holy Prophet, peace & blessings be upon him, that the one who says: «سبحان الله و بحمده» one hundred times each day; Allah will forgive his/her all sins even they equate sea foam, and the person will appear on the Resurrection Day with particular good deeds that others will not have.’
The eminent Islamic scholar further said that Remembrance of Allah saves people from calamities, sins, Divine punishments, the Hell and all sorts of crises; so in each and every work remember Allah. The sinful people neglect the remembrance of Allah Almighty when they commit sins. A companion of Holy Prophet asked him about a deed that has lots of rewards; he replied: aromatize your tongue with the remembrance of Allah all the time. Holy Qur’an also orders: «فإذا قضیتم الصلوة فاذکروا الله قیاما و قعودا و علی جنوبکم» (Once you have finished your Salah, then, remember Allah while standing, sitting and reclining.) the beloved prophet, peace & blessings be upon him, was all the time remembering Allah. Then Allah Almighty directs people to give thanks and avoid disloyalty.
Continuing his points, Khateeb of Ahl-us-Sunnah talked about the importance of sending peace upon the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, saying, ‘As we should beautify our tongues by remembering Allah, we must send blessings upon Prophet Muhammad, Alaihis-Salam. There is a Hadith that states the one who sends peace on the prophet one time, the Sublime Allah’s mercy will fall on him/her ten times, his/her ten sins would be forgiven and ten rewards would be given to that person.’
The rector of Darululoom Zahedan accentuated saying that this is the obvious direction of Holy Qur’an to send blessings to the Prophet: «إن الله و ملائکته یصلون علی النبی یا أیها الذین آمنوا صلوا علیه و سلموا تسلیما» (Surely, Allah and His angels send blessings to the Prophet. O you who believe do pray Allah to bless him, and send your Salaam (prayer for his being in peace) to him in abundance.) In another saying of Holy Prophet it has been mentioned that when some one says Holy Prophet Muhammad’s name and the audience remains silent without sending blessings, s/he is very woeful. So we must send blessings upon him always constantly.
Maulana Abdol-Hameed went on to say, ‘There are many benefits in sending blessings on the Prophet; such as Allah averts calamities and disasters by sending blessings and peace to the Prophet. Allah solves problems and crises; so we must strengthen our contacts with Allah Almighty by offering prayers sincerely, remembering Allah and sending blessings upon His last prophet Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him. All of such worships should be carried out by full attention. So embellish your meetings by Dhikr, remembrance of Allah, and sending blessings to His selected Prophet.’