Bismillah.
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فَذَكِّرْ إِن نَّفَعَتِ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰ
So, remind, for reminding is indeed beneficial
(Sūrat Al-A‘lā No 87 Āyat 9)
It is not uncommon for a person to experience boredom or restlessness when listening to lectures that feel repetitive. When the content appears familiar, one may question the value of such talks. However, the Quran emphasizes that reminders hold great value and can have a profound effect on the soul. In Surat Al-A‘la, Allah ‘azza wajall says to the Prophet sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa-ālihi wasallam: So, remind, for reminding is indeed beneficial.
The word fadhakkir is derived from tadhkir which means to remind, and call to attention. This is a command to the Prophet (s) to continue to remind and admonish the people. The word “remind” is used instead of the word teach or educate, because human beings are already aware of the knowledge of right and wrong in their heart. The Almighty has ingrained the principles of Tawhīd and the core principles of Islam in the innate nature or fitrah of human beings. When these principles are presented to them, they feel as though they were aware of them but had simply become heedless. Therefore, reminding is not about teaching something new, rather it is about telling them of what is already known to them, so they think about it more.
Imam Ali ‘alayhis-salām, emphasizes the role of the prophets in reminding the people of the truths. In sermon One of Nahj al-Balāghah, Imam (a) says that Allah subhānahu wata‘ālā sent prophets, so that they may demand from them (the people) the covenant of [their] innate nature…and stir up for them the buried treasures of the intellect.
One may wonder whether reminders are necessary. Sometimes reminders are required because of forgetfulness. Often however, reminders are needed because of heedlessness (ghaflah). The Quran says:
يَعْلَمُونَ ظَاهِرًا مِّنَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ عَنِ الْآخِرَةِ هُمْ غَافِلُونَ
They only know the outer surface of this present life and are heedless of the life to come. (Q 30:7)
Shahid Murtadhā Mutahharī presents an insightful analogy to illustrate the true purpose of a reminder. He describes a scenario in which a pedestrian is walking down a street, deeply absorbed in his own thoughts and unaware of his surroundings. Suddenly, a car speeds toward him from the opposite direction. Oblivious to the danger, the pedestrian continues walking. At that critical moment, someone calls out, “Watch out!” This brief but alarming warning acts like an awakening. The pedestrian becomes instantly alert, as though his eyes have been opened. Realizing the danger, he quickly takes the necessary steps to avoid harm. This example reflects how a sincere reminder can jolt a person out of heedlessness (ghaflah) and guide them back to mindfulness and safety.
Heedlessness often arises from excessive attachment to the material world. Busy lifestyles that are filled with constant commitments and distractions can hinder spiritual growth. For this reason, divine reminders become necessary and effective. This is where the prophets of Allah play a crucial role. They are not just messengers, rather they are individuals sent by Allah (swt) to revive the fitrah through reminders and admonition.
We pray to the Almighty to enable our hearts to respond to divine reminders in a timely manner and not to include us amongst the heedless. We continue to pray for those suffering around the world. May the Almighty hasten the reappearance of Imam Al-Hujjah ‘ajjallāhu farajah.
Sources: Āyatullāh Nāsir Makārim Shirāzī (Ed.), Tafsīr-e Namūneh; Imam Ali bin Abū Tālib (a), Nahjul Balāghah; Shahīd Murtadā Mutahharī, Āshnā’i Bā Qur’ān, Sh. Mohammad Saeed Bahmanpour/Dr. Tahir Ridha Jaffer (Eds.), Tafsīr Tadabbur Al-Qur’an.