and drinks wine and fears that he will be punished?” He replied, “No, O daughter of al-Siddīq. Rather, it is the man who prays, fasts, and gives charity, yet fears that his deeds will not be accepted from him.”1.

Fourth: It should be done without raising one’s voice, for this is more conducive to thoughtful reflection. Ibn Kathīr—may Allah have mercy on him—said: “Hence He says, ‘and without raising one’s voice.’ This is how remembrance should preferably be performed: it should not take the form of calling out or speaking exceedingly loudly.”2. It is reported in the two Sahih collections from Abū Mūsā al-Asharī—may Allah be pleased with him—who said: During one of their journeys, the people raised their voices in supplication, so the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said to them, “O people, be gentle with yourselves. You are not calling upon One who is deaf or absent. The One upon whom you call is All-Hearing and near—closer to each of you than the neck of his mount.”3.

Fifth: Remembrance should be performed with the tongue, not with the heart alone. This is understood from His words, “and without raising one’s voice,” for they mean: while speaking in a voice that is not raised. Thus, the verse is understood as commanding that remembrance combine the tongue and the heart. It may also be said that it means remembering Him in one’s heart without using one’s tongue, given His subsequent words: “and without raising one’s voice.” The first interpretation, however, is more correct, as Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyya—may Allah have mercy on him—and other scholars have established.

He—may Allah have mercy on him—also drew a parallel with the words of the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—in the report from his Lord, who said: “Whoever remembers Me to himself, I remember him to Myself; and whoever remembers Me in a gathering, I remember him in a gathering better than theirs.”4. He said: This includes remembering Him with one’s tongue to oneself, for He