Allah says in Quran:
اَلَا بِذِکْرِ اللّٰهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوْبُ
Meaning: Surely in the invocation (zikr) of (Ism-e-Allah Zaat) do hearts find peace. (Al-Rad-28)
وَاذْکُرُو اللّٰهَ کَثِیرََا لَّعَلَّکُمْ تُفْلِحُوْنَ
Meaning: And invoke (Ism-e-Allah Zaat) frequently so that you may prosper (spiritually). (Al-Juma-10)
حٰفِظُوْا عَلَی الصَّلَوِتِ وَالصَّلٰواتِ الْوُسْطٰی
Meaning: Guard all your prayers strictly, especially the middle (central) prayer (the inward prayer i.e. invocation of Ism-e-Allah Zaat). (Al-Baqarah-238)
The invocation of the name creates Noor of faith in the heart. Therefore, one who is ignorant of its invocation is declared as depraved
Abu Musa al-Ashari razi Allah anhu narrates that the Holy Prophet said, “He who invokes and he who does not, are like the living and the dead respectively.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
It is narrated by Abu Saeed al-Khudri razi Allah anhu that the Holy Prophet was asked, “Who among men will be superior in rank near Allah on Doomsday?” The Holy Prophet said, “Those men and women who excessively invoke ”. He (the narrator) submitted, “O’ Messenger of Allah, even above those who fight in the way of Allah?” The Holy Prophet said, “Yes! If they were to strike with their sword among the disbelievers and the idolators, until it breaks and gets dyed in blood, those who invoke much would still be superior in rank.” (Ahmad and Al-Tirmidhi)
اَلاَنْفَاسُ مَعْدُوْدَتٌ وَ کُلُّ نَفْسِِ یَّخْرُجُ بِغَیِْرِ ذِکْرِ اللّٰهِ تَعَالیٰ فَھُوَ مَیِّتُ
Meaning: Every person has counted breaths; every breath which leaves the body without invocation of (اللّٰه) is lifeless.
جو دَم غافل سو دَم کافر ، سانوں مُرشد ایہہ پڑھایا ھُو
سُنیا سُخن گیاں کُھل اَکِھیں ، اساں چِت مولا وَل لایا ھُو
کیتی جان حوالے ربّ دے ، اساں ایسا عشق کمایا ھُو
مرن توں اَگے مر گئے بَاھُو ، تاں مطلب نوں پایا ھُو
Sultan Bahoo explains this Hadith as follows:
Meaning: Sultan Bahoo says that the spiritual guide has taught me the lesson that a breath without the invocation and contemplation of Ism-e-Allah Zaat is paganish. Since I have heard this saying, I have made my heart oblige to it. I have done such a trade for Divine love in which I have devoted my whole life to submit to Allah‟s will. I have given up my will and intentions. The union with Allah is blessed upon one who dies before death.
One way of invocation is to remember Allah by tongue. It includes the recitation of Quranic verses, kalma, darood (blessings upon the Holy Prophet) and all other prayers done physically. Such invocation is a source of getting reward and a better place in heaven. The invocation which actually opens the doors of spiritual world is the invocation of „pas infaas‟ in which invocation of Ism-e-Allah Zaat is done through inhale and exhale of breath. It is called the Sultan-ul-Azkar (the king of invocations).
The salat Muslims say five times a day is the second pillar of Islam. Our Holy Prophet has declared meaning: “No salat without the presence of heart.” He also said meaning: “Salat is the Meraj (Ascension) for a true believer”. Apparently salat is a collection of few verses which are recited in a particular manner but actually it means having the closeness and vision of Allah. When one attains the closeness and vision of Allah, only then his salat becomes Meraj. One can acquire this status only through Sultan-ul-Azkar().
Allah created this world only because He wanted to be recognized. He desired to manifest His Beauty and Magnificence and longed to have someone who would love Him ardently after seeing His beauty. So the main purpose of man‟s creation is the recognition and vision of Allah. The power of sight is the best source of recognizing anything, other senses cannot give complete recognition of things. So, the contemplation of Ism-e-Allah Zaat with sight and its invocation with breath are the best sources of getting blessed with the vision and recognition of Allah. By imprinting the Ism-e-Allah Zaat (اللّٰه) on our soul through contemplation and meditation, it leaves its impressions on our inner being and influences it with its great powers, hence, giving life to the soul. This method focuses invocation and contemplation on the soul. By other methods of invocation, the invoker cannot achieve his objective which is to enlighten the inner eyes and enliven the soul. When the eyes of the soul get enlightened by the Noor of Allah, this powerful enlightened insight confers the Divine vision and recognition upon the soul. Then the seeker ever remains engrossed in beholding the Divine Self.
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