What do muslims mean by dhikr, or ‘remembering’ allah? Do we stay married in heaven? What happens in cases of polygamy, or where people have married more than once because of death

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wicked would be punished. That this is incorrect seems so obvious now, but the editors in question intruded those opinions throughout the books of the Torah, misleading people).

So we must expect both heaven and hell – but we have no idea how long resurrected people will remain in these states. Some people think the final states will be for ever – but not everyone agrees. all muslims do agree that it will be for as long as God wills22; all a sinful person can do is to hope for the mercy of the compassionate one.

What do Muslims mean by dhikr, or ‘remembering’ Allah? muslims strive to remain conscious of God all the time, morning and evening, day and night, through all the normal activities of life. at the same time, they do not wish to withdraw from normal life, except in certain circumstances. muslims wish every action and thought to be permeated with the remembrance of allah. Dhikr is the practice of bringing God to remembrance.

Some muslims practise remembrance in a ritual way, perhaps by chanting phrases, or adopting certain positions, or by setting aside specific time for prayer and contemplation. For example, everyone has heard of the whirling dance of certain muslims called ‘dervishes’, a dance which is supposed to bring about trance-like states. others opt for the rhythmic chanting of phrases, sometimes accompanied by

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WHAT EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ISLAM

drumbeats or physical swaying, all of which induces a kind of self-hypnosis. most muslims are very wary of any practice in which a person loses normal consciousness, becomes subject to powerful emotionalism, seeks to experience psychic phenomena, or tries to ‘become one’ with anything. There is nothing wrong with the desire to draw closer to allah, and to love, praise and worship him – and many of the Sufi teachers were muslims par excellence, models of true spirituality, devotion, and compassionate living. The danger lies in being misled by Satan into paths of a rather selfish spiritual pleasure, a feeling of gratitude and contentment at having arrived at such a superior state of piety – and most insidious of all – the desire for closeness to God the Beloved one resulting in the chipping of the dividing line between creator and created.

True Islam is always based on the study of that which God specifically revealed, reasoning in keeping with it, plus noble conduct and loving kindness; it is not based on emotion or all-too-fallible intuitions or ‘psychic skills’. however, there are four principles, or states of consciousness, that can enable any person to remember allah in a deep and meaningful way, and these are true Islamic dhikr.

The first is to be aware that we are always in the presence of allah. muslims believe that even if we cannot see him, he can see us. There is no evading

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his presence. he is with everyone, no matter where they are (Surah 58:7). he is nearer to you than your own jugular vein (Surah 50:16–17). he sees everything you do, and hears everything you say. If we remember that God is with us, wherever we are, whatever we are doing, we are on the right path.

Secondly, we should reflect on the barakah or blessing of allah, and be thankful to him for all that he has given us. a sense of gratitude is called hamd, or thankfulness. The name muhammad is derived from this root. everything we have is thanks to the grace of God. If your heart beats 72 times each minute, it does so only with the permission and blessing of allah. The moment he withdraws that permission, the heart stops beating and your life comes to an end.

Thirdly, we should remember that nothing in this world can happen without his permission. everything is within his power. no harm can befall you unless allah has wished it; no benefit can reach you unless allah has wished it (Surah 6:17). one of the Prophet’s prayers was: ‘o allah, whatever you want to give me, no-one can stop it from coming to me, and whatever you want to prevent from coming to me, nobody can give it to me.’ This awareness brings serenity, courage and consolation, for your death may not come to you until allah wills it; and when he wills it, nothing can prevent it.

Fourthly, muslims remember that they will return to allah when their time-span is complete, and