Revive a Sunnah

In the name of Allah

Revive a Sunnah: Keeping the Tongue Moist with the Dhikr of Allah

Anas (radi Allahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (sallaAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam) passed by a tree whose leaves were dry. He hit the tree with his stick and the leaves of the tree scattered. He (sallaAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam) (then) said: 

عَنْ أَنَسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَرَّ بِشَجَرَةٍ يَابِسَةِ الْوَرَقِ فَضَرَبَهَا بِعَصَاهُ فَتَنَاثَرَ الْوَرَقُ فَقَالَ “إِنَّ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَتُسَاقِطُ مِنْ ذُنُوبِ الْعَبْدِ كَمَا تَسَاقَطَ وَرَقُ هَذِهِ الشَّجَرَةِ”

“Al Hamdulillahi wa Subhaan Allaah wa La ilaha ilallaahu wa-Allaahu Akbar - (this statement) removes sins from the slave of Allaah like the (falling) leaves of this tree.”

Collected by at-Tirmidhi 5/544; classed as hasan by al-Albani (rahimahullah)

1. The Prophet (sallaAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam) used the most perfect example to illustrate a point, which was simple, concise and easy to remember. This is the kind of (practical) examples we should employ when trying to communicate points effectively.

2. Dhikr is the lifeline of a Muslim that leads to salvation. Allaah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) says: "…and the men and the women who remember Allaah much with their hearts and tongues. Allaah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward." [translation of al-Ahzab:35]

3. Allaah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) has provided infinite ways and means to attain His Mercy and Forgiveness - through speech and action. An example amongst countless others:

- The Prophet (sallaAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, “Whoever says Subhan Allaahi wa bi-Hamdihi one hundred times a day, will be forgiven all his sins even if they are like the foam of the sea." [Saheeh Bukhari, 8/414]

- The Prophet (sallaAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam) is reported to have said, "Verily, when the worshipper stands to perform salah, all of his sins are placed on his head and shoulders, so whenever he bows or prostrates his sins fall off from him." * [Saheeh al-Jaami, no. 1671]

* This is from amongst the reasons why a Muslim should prolong his/her rukoo' and sujood.

4. As Muslims, we need to learn and seek the ways that lead to removal of sins and increase of good deeds - thus leading to Allaah's Pleasure.