Thus, this boasting by the Lord is evidence of the honored status remembrance enjoys with Allah, His love for it, and its superiority to other deeds.1

Gatherings of remembrance also cause tranquility to descend, mercy to envelop those present, and the angels to surround those who remember Allah. Muslim narrated in his Sahih from Abū Muslim al-Agharr, who said: I bear witness that Abū Hurayra and Abū Saʿīd both testified that the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—said: “No people sit in a gathering in which they remember Allah without the angels surrounding them, mercy enveloping them, tranquility descending upon them, and Allah mentioning them among those who are with Him.”2

Gatherings of remembrance are also a major means of safeguarding the tongue and protecting it from backbiting, tale-bearing, lying, obscenity, and falsehood. A servant cannot but speak; if he does not speak of the remembrance of Allah Most High and His commands, and of what is good and beneficial, he will inevitably speak of some or all of these forbidden things. Whoever trains his tongue to remember Allah guards it against false and idle speech; but whoever’s tongue remains dry of Allah’s remembrance will utter every kind of false, idle, and obscene speech.3

Allah is the One whom we ask to fill our times and yours with obedience to Him; to keep us occupied, in our gatherings and yours, with remembering Him, thanking Him, and worshipping Him well; and to protect us from gatherings of heedlessness, amusement, and falsehood. He is the best One to be asked, and He alone is the One whose help is sought. There is no might or power except through Him.