In a hadith qudsi (a Tradition whose meaning God inspired in the heart of the Messenger) the Messenger narrated: "God says: 'I am to My servant as he expects of Me, I am with him when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me in his heart, I remember him to Myself; if he remembers Me in an assembly, I mention him in an assembly better than his; if he draws nearer to Me a hand's span, I draw nearer to him an arm's length; if he draws nearer to Me an arm's length, I draw nearer to him a fathom length; and if he comes to me walking, I rush to him with [great] speed'" (Bukhari, "Tevhid," 50; Muslim, "Dhikr," 2).

God has bestowed a special distinction upon those who remember Him. The Messenger, upon him be peace and blessings, said: "The devotees have surpassed all." They asked: "Who are these exceptional people, O Messenger of God?" He replied: "Those men and women who remember God unceasingly" (Muslim). These are the people who are really alive. Abu Musa reported from the Messenger: "The likeness of the house where God is mentioned and the one where He is not is like that of a living to a dead person." (Bukhari, Da'awat," 66)

How Much Dhikr Is Required? God, the Exalted, ordered that He should be remembered a great deal. Describing the wise men and women who ponder His signs, the Qur'an mentions: those who remember God standing, sitting, and on their sides (3:191) and: those men and women who engage much in God's praise. For them has God prepared forgiveness and a great reward (33:35). Mujahid, one of the earliest interpreters of the Qur'an, explained: "A person cannot be one of 'those men and women who remember God much' as mentioned in the above verse of the Qur'an, unless he or she remembers God at all times, standing, sitting, or lying in bed."

The Excellence of Dhikr Assemblies. Joining the assemblies or circles of dhikr is commendable, as shown by the following hadith: Ibn 'Umar reported: "The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: 'When you pass by a garden of Paradise, avail yourselves of it.' The Companions asked: 'What are the gardens of Paradise, O Messenger of God?' The Prophet, upon him be peace and blessings, replied: 'The assemblies or circles of dhikr. There are some angels of God who go about looking for such assemblies of dhikr, and when they find them they surround them.'" (Muslim, "Dhikr," 39)

The Excellence of Istighfar. Asking God's forgiveness for one's sins is also of great importance. Said Nursi says that we should take prayer in one of our hands and seeking God's forgiveness in the other. Prayer urges and reinforces one to do good deeds, while seeking His forgiveness discourages one to commit sins. 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas said: "If one asks without fail for forgiveness from God, He shows him (her) a way out to get out of every distress and difficulty, and gives him (her) sustenance through ways utterly unthought of."

Supplicating at the Most Opportune Times and Locations. These are, for instance, the day of 'Arafat, Ramadan, Friday, the last part of the night, dawn, after the prescribed prayers, while prostration, while it is raining, between the adhan and the iqama, when armies meet each other, times of strain and great need, and when one's heart is soft and tender.

Praying for a Fellow Muslim in His or Her Absence. Safwan ibn 'Abdullah reported: "I visited Abu Darda's house in Syria. I did not find him there, but Umm Darda (his wife) was home. She asked: 'Do you intend to perform Hajj this year?' I replied: 'Yes.' She said: 'Please supplicate to God for us, for God's Messenger, upon him be peace and blessings, used to say: A Muslim's supplication for his or her fellow Muslim in his (her) absence is accepted. When he (she) asks for blessings for his (her) brother (sister), the commissioned angel says: Amen, may it be for you too!'"

Beginning a Supplication. It is highly recommended that one should begin the prayer and supplication with praises of God, seeking His forgiveness for sins, calling God's blessings and peace upon His Messenger, as well as on his Family and Companions, and reciting some of His Names.