RLG204H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Dhikr, Pietism, Supererogation
Document Summary
One of the most important of feature of islamic pietism is dhikr (dh is pronounced like the in english). The qur"an is always telling muslims to remember god (see for example sura 33 verse 41, among many many examples). This vague order in the qur"an was seen to mean a specific way of doing things: you repeat certain phrases, from the qur"an or from the hadith. Thus you can recite certain suras many many times (like sura 112 for example). Or you can say thank be to god or glorious is. Another form of piety that developed in early islam was living with little. Zuhd is the name given to those who lived modestly and did not seek wealth and luxury as a way of life. This movement stressed that god sees what is in your heart and not what you look like.
