Dhikr

Dhikr (Arabic: ذكر) is a term meaning "remembrance" or "mention". In Islam, it refers to a devotional practice based on the repeated recitation of the names of God and phrases of praise, performed either aloud or inwardly. Common phrases include "Subhanallah" (Glory be to God), "Alhamdulillah" (Praise be to God), "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest), and "La ilaha illallah" (There is no god but God).

Dhikr is an open act of worship not bound to fixed times like formal prayer. It may be performed individually or in groups, at any time and in any place. Islamic scholars base the practice on Quranic verses and hadith (reports of the Prophet Muhammad) that encourage the remembrance of God.

Forms

Dhikr takes two main forms: audible recitation (jahri) and silent contemplation of the heart (khafi or qalbi). Some forms are tied to specific times—for example, dhikr performed after formal prayers and phrases recited in the early morning and evening. There are also supplications and phrases counted on prayer beads (misbaha), though the counting may also be done with the fingers.

Sufism

In Sufi orders (tariqa), dhikr is a central spiritual practice. Each order has a wird—a set of phrases and prescribed repetitions that followers recite daily, typically given by the order's master. Some orders practice collective dhikr sessions, which may include chanting (nashid) and bodily movement. In Somalia, the Qadiri, Ahmadi, and Salhi orders have long histories of these practices.

Legal debate

The fundamental legitimacy of dhikr is accepted across Islamic scholarly opinion. Disagreement concerns specific practices: collective recitation, the use of music or movement, and dhikr performed at gravesites. Reformist and Salafi scholars object to some of these customs on the grounds that they have no basis in early Islamic practice, while supporters argue they are permissible means of strengthening remembrance.