What is Dhikr?
Dhikr (also spelled Zikr) is an Islamic term designating the remembrance of Allah, either inwardly in the heart or outwardly with the tongue. Dhikr is a fundamental act of Islamic worship that is enjoined upon Muslims in the Quran. The word ‘dhikr’ literally means ‘remembering’ or ‘remembrance’. When done with the tongue, dhikr may be whispered silently or raised to any volume. Verbal dhikr is often done with prayer beads (tashbih).
Dhikr may consist of the names of Allah, or of phrases relating to him such as “Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs.” Often the recitation of blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad (salawat) is included in the term dhikr. Dhikr may be done spontaneously, or based on formulas contained in prophetic narrations or litanies (awrad) received from a spiritual guide.
Dhikr may be done alone or in unison with others in a group. Group dhikr is particularly characteristic of Sufism, but it is also found among other branches of Islam. Some Muslims who do not usually recite group dhikr will do so on special occasions such as the Eid and Mawlid celebrations.
Dhikr may also be done silently. When done silently and with concentration, it may closely resemble other forms of meditation.
The primary purpose of dhikr is to draw closer to Allah. It also serves to inwardly purify the person and help them become a better person. Muslims are encourged to do dhikr as much as possible.
Sufi Dhikr
Sufism involves a number of distinct forms of dhikr that are not part of mainstream practice: daily recitation of a litany (wird), group guided recitation of a litany (individually or in unison), the hadra which involves swaying or dancing while reciting dhikr, and various forms of musical performance and audition known as sema.
The litanies recited are assigned by a Sufi shaykh, sometimes on an individual basis but often with the same litany for the entire tariqa (sufi group). Often there is a basic litany for the whole group, then individuals are given additional litanies to recite based on their individual needs. The recitation of the daily litanies may be prescribed at various times throughout the day and takes from minutes up to hours; in cases of intense spiritual practice, a shaykh may prescribe doing verbal dhikr all day long.
The elements of the litany are principally ordinary dhikrs such as the names of Allah, common religious phrases, supplications, and blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad. Other elements may include songs, poems, and writings of the Sufi shaykhs.
Group dhikr organized by Sufi tariqas usually takes place at least weekly. Hadras may be less frequent. The hadra often involves men standing in a circle, linking their arms, and swaying side to side or rocking back and forth, while loudly reciting names of Allah. Hadras and sema may also involve whirling, a practice that was originated by Rumi. Sema is especially associated with the Mevlevi and Chishti Sufi orders.
Special forms of dhikr such as sema and hadra were not prevalent or nonexistent in the first generations of Muslims. Sufis have been criticized for introducing undesirable innovations to Islam through new forms of dhikr, and they respond that the principle behind the dhikrs is orthodox even though the forms are original. Other branches of Islam often limit dhikr to the forms and litanies that were clearly practiced by the first generation of Muslims, on the basis that innovation is undesirable or forbidden.
References
Vision of Islam (Visions of Reality), by Sachiko Murata and William Chittick
A Sufi Saint of the Twentieth Century, by Martin Lings
https://abdurrahman.org/dhikr/
https://www.britannica.com/topic/dhikr
https://www.revolvy.com/topic/Sema&item_type=topic
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