Zekr

The word Zekr literally means Remembrance. Remembrance of the beloved ‘God’. It is a process of purification of the heart, cleaning and realizing.

Whilst concentrating on the heart the Zaker (person doing the Zekr) repeats a particular poem or phrase from a Sufi Master or the Holy Quran. He or she simultaneously moves from the left to right, creating the sign of infinity and representing the Zaker as the centre of existence. The Zaker also taps on both knees in order to activate the energy centres located there. Everything should be in harmony, the sound, the movement, the tapping of the palms on the knees. The action of all these presents oneness in existence.

Zekr is complimentary to Prayer, ‘while praying the performer is not outwardly involved in sin, it does no prevent him from inner evil, for a person may be in prayer but he may be thinking wicked thoughts.’ 1

In the Holy Quran (Ankabut; 29:45) it is stated that ‘Recite what is sent Of the Book by inspiration To Thee, and establish Regular Prayer: for Prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds; and remembrance of God is the greatest. Without doubt. And God knows the deeds that ye do’2. Zekr is a method by which one can attain inner wellbeing and purification of mind and heart.

1. Hazrat Shahmaghsoud Sadegh Angha, Al-Salat, p.3
2. Holy Quran, Text and Commentary by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, Takrike Tarsile Qu’ran Inc., 2002, p.1041