What does dhikr mean?
Dhikr is an Arabic word meaning 'remembrance' or 'mention,' used in English primarily to describe the Islamic spiritual practice of keeping God constantly in one's mind and heart. Most commonly, dhikr takes the form of repeating short phrases — such as names of God or declarations like 'Subhan Allah' — either silently in personal devotion or aloud in group settings. Among Sufi orders, dhikr can become a rich communal ritual involving chanting, rhythmic breathing, music, and even whirling movement, while more austere traditions emphasize quiet, inward repetition. The practice draws directly on Quranic encouragement to remember God frequently, making dhikr one of the most central forms of devotion in Muslim life. In English usage, the word appears in discussions of religion, spirituality, and mysticism, and it is sometimes spelled zikr depending on transliteration conventions.
An Islamic devotional practice of remembering God, especially through the repeated recitation of His names or sacred phrases.
"She ended each day with a period of silent dhikr before sleep."
Often used with verbs like perform, practice, or engage in rather than simply do.
A particular phrase or formula, such as one of the names of God, recited as part of this remembrance.
"His teacher gave him a specific dhikr to repeat a hundred times each morning."
Rarely pluralized in practice; dhikr is usually treated as an uncountable noun referring to the overall activity or discipline of remembrance.
"Different Sufi lineages preserve distinct dhikrs passed down from their founders."
Dhikr literally means 'remembering' — Sufis believe that by endlessly repeating God's names, you don't just think about the divine, you keep it permanently alive in the heart.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dhikr
Dhikr comes from the Arabic root dh-k-r, meaning 'to mention, remember, or commemorate.' The word entered European languages through scholarship on Islam and Sufism, becoming established in English during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries as Western writers described Islamic devotional life. The same Arabic root gives rise to related words within Arabic itself, including zakat-adjacent terms of commemoration, though its closest everyday relative is the ordinary Arabic verb meaning 'to remember.'
Related word forms
How dhikr is actually used
Dhikr is a religious term rooted in Islamic practice, so it carries reverent connotations for Muslims. In English writing it is typically left unitalicized as an established loanword. Plural forms are rare since dhikr is usually treated as an uncountable practice or activity.
Easily confused with dhikr
Zikr is simply a variant transliteration of the same Arabic word as dhikr; they refer to identical practices and differ only in spelling convention.