Qur'anic Verses on Remembrance of Allah (Dhikr)
Remembrance of Allah in the Qur'an
The following are Qur'anic verses that speak about remembrance of Allah (Dhikr) and its importance in the life of a believer.
The Power of Remembrance
Surah Al-Ankabut (29:45)
إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ ۚ وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ
"Indeed, prayer prevents immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. And Allah knows that which you do."
Surah Ar-Ra'd (13:28)
الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ
"Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah, hearts are assured."
Surah Al-A'raf (7:205)
وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ فِي نَفْسِكَ تَضَرُّعًا وَخِيفَةً وَدُونَ الْجَهْرِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ وَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ الْغَافِلِينَ
"And remember your Lord within yourself, humbly and in fear, without loudness in words, in the mornings and evenings, and do not be among the heedless."
Allah's Remembrance of Those Who Remember Him
Surah Al-Baqarah (2:152)
فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِي وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ
"So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me."
Surah Taha (20:14)
فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِي وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ
"So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me."
The Virtues of Constant Remembrance
Surah Al-Ahzab (33:41-42)
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيرًا وَسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا
"O you who have believed, remember Allah with much remembrance. And exalt Him morning and afternoon."
Surah Ar-Ra'd (13:26-28)
اللَّهُ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ وَيَقْدِرُ ۚ وَفَرِحُوا بِالْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا فِي الْآخِرَةِ إِلَّا مَتَاعٌ ۞ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ
"Allah extends provision for whom He wills and restricts it. And they rejoice in the worldly life, while the worldly life compared to the Hereafter is but [temporary] enjoyment. Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah, hearts are assured."
Hearts Find Peace in Remembrance
Surah Ar-Ra'd (13:28)
الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ
"Whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah, hearts are assured."
Remembrance of Allah's Signs
Surah Ali-'Imran (3:190-191)
إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لَآيَاتٍ لِّأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ ✯ الَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَٰذَا بَاطِلًا سُبْحَانَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
"Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and day are signs for those of understanding. Those who remember Allah while standing or sitting or lying on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], 'Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire.'"
The Remembrance in Times of Difficulty
Surah Al-Anfal (8:45)
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا لَقِيتُمْ فِئَةً فَاثْبُتُوا وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
"O you who have believed, when you encounter a company [from the enemy forces], stand firm and remember Allah much that you might be successful."
Remembrance Before Sleep and Waking
Surah Ash-Shura (42:24-25)
أَمْ يَقُولُونَ افْتَرَىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا ۚ فَإِن يَشَأِ اللَّهُ يَخْتِمْ عَلَىٰ قَلْبِكَ ۗ وَيَمْحُ اللَّهُ الْبَاطِلَ وَيُحِقُّ الْحَقُّ بِكَلِمَاتِهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ
"Or do they say, 'He has invented about Allah a lie'? But if Allah willed, He could seal over your heart. And Allah obliterates falsehood and confirms the truth by His words. Indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts."
The Benefits of Remembrance
Through these verses, the Qur'an emphasizes that:
- Hearts find peace through the remembrance of Allah
- Allah remembers those who remember Him
- Prayer and remembrance prevent immorality
- Constant remembrance should be maintained morning, evening, and at all times
- Protection and guidance come through remembrance
- Every action should be accompanied by consciousness of Allah
The practice of Dhikr (remembrance) is central to Islamic spirituality and forms the foundation of a believer's connection with Allah.