Shaykh Ibn as-Sa’dee, may Allaah have mercy upon him, says:

One of the causes that procures eemaan is to increase the remembrance of Allaah (dhikr) at all times and to also supplicate much, which is the core of worship.
[Causes Behind the Increase and Decrease of Eemaan, by Shaykh ‘Abdur-Razzaak al-‘Abbaad (Hafidhahullah), al-Hidaayah Publications]

Shaykh Ibn as-Sa’dee, may Allaah have mercy upon him, says:

One of the causes that procures eemaan is to greater the remembrance of Allaah at all times and to also supplicate much, which is the core of worship.
[Causes Behind the Increase and Decrease of Eemaan, by Shaykh ‘Abdur-Razzaak al-‘Abbaad (Hafidhahullah), al-Hidaayah Publications]

The Morning and Evening Remembrances

Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullah) said:

The Morning and Evening remembrances are like a shield.

The thicker it is, the less affected its wearer is (from any harm).

In fact (indeed), the strength of the shield (of morning and evening remembrances) can be such that an arrow shot at (the person) returns and hits the (malicious) one who fired it.

[al-Wabil al-Sayyib, pg. 71, Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullah)]

Wear the coat of adhkar so it can protect you from the evils of humans and jinn. And cover your souls with istighfar so it can erase the sins of the night and day.

[Ibn Kathir (rahimahullah), al-Waabil al-Sayyib]

Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullah) said:

It is essential for one to have some time spent alone where he supplicates to Allah, makes His dhikr, prays, contemplates, reflects on himself, and rectifies his heart.

[Majmoo' al-Fataawa, 10/426]

Verily, those who keep their tongues moist with the remembrance of Allah (make dhikr continuously) would enter Jannah whilst laughing!

[Abu ad-Dardaa’ (rahimahullah), az-Zuhd of Imaam Ahmad (rahimahullah), 730]

“al-Baqiyaat as-Salihaat” — “Meaning: The Lasting, Enduring Good Deeds”

{الْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا}

Wealth and children are the adornment of the life of this world. BUT “al-Baqiyaat as-Salihaat” (good righteous, lasting and enduring deeds, that last: i.e., the compulsory/fard prayers, all deeds of Allah's obedience, good, nice and beneficial talk, remembrance/dhikr of Allah with glorification, praises and thanks, etc.), are better with your Lord for rewards and better in respect of hope. — Surah al-Kahf, 18:46

Commenting on this verse, ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas (radiyAllahu anhu) and (so did) Mujahid, Qatadah, al-Hasan al-Basri, Sa’eed Ibn al-Musayyib, Muhammad Ibn Ka’b al-Qurazi and others say (rahimahumullah):

**The “al-Baqiyaat as-Salihaat” (referred to in the verse are these words of Dhikr):

“SubhaanAllaah”

“Alhamdulillaah”

“wa Laa ilaaha ilAllaah”

“wa Allaahu Akbar”**
[Tafseer at-Tabari (rahimahullah), 18/32]

In one of his many writings, Imam as-Sa'di (rahimahullah) wrote:

الفقير الحقيقي هو الافلاس من الباقيات الصالحات

The one who is truly impoverished is one who is bankrupt of any lasting good deeds (al-Baaqiyaat as-Saalihaat).

[Majmoo' Mu'allafat al-Sa'di (rahimahullah), 6/178]

Hard Hearts Don’t Make Dhikr and Don’t Have Mercy

Allah says in surah az-Zumar [39]:

[فَوَيْلٌ لِّلْقَاسِيَةِ قُلُوبُهُم مِّن ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ فِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ]

"So woe to those whose hearts are hardened against remembrance of Allah (Dhikr)! They are in plain error!" [22]

Commenting on this in his famous book of tafsir, imam al-Baghawi (rahimahullah) wrote:

[ قال مالك بن دينار : ما ضرب عبد بعقوبة أعظم من قسوة قلب ، وما غضب الله - عز وجل - على قوم إلا نزع منهم الرحمة . ]

Malik ibn Dinar (rahimahullah) said: A slave is not afflicted with any punishment worse than hardness of the heart.

And whenever Allah is angry with a people, He removes mercy from them.

[Ma'alim al-Tanzil (Tafsir al-Baghawi - rahimahullah) 7/115]

Ahmed ibn Abi al-Hawaree (rahimahullah) said:

**A sign of love for Allah is to have love for obeying Allah.

And it was said that**

if one loves to make Dhikr (frequent remembrance of Allah),

then Allah loves him.

**And a servant cannot love Allah (on his own),

unless Allah loves him first.**

[Ahmed ibn Abi al-Hawaree in Shu’ab al-Iman of al-Bayhaqi (rahimahullah), 1/370]

Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullah) said:

One of the means of finding tranquillity is to always remember Him (do continuous Dhikr) in all situations and in all places, for Dhikr has an amazing impact in bringing tranquillity and a sense of joy (to the heart), and neglecting it has a great impact in causing a sense of distress, anxiety and pain.

[Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullah), al-Ma’aad, 2/22]