Al-Bukhārī narrated from Abū Mūsā al-Asharī—may Allah be pleased with him—that the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said: “The likeness of one who remembers his Lord and one who does not is that of the living and the dead.”1

The hadiths on this subject are numerous. Since our discussion concerns the virtue of remembrance, it may be appropriate here to summarize some of the benefits that scholars have mentioned—benefits that those who remember Allah Most High reap in this life and on the Day of Resurrection. One of the finest scholars I have seen discuss this subject, gather its various strands, and bring its scattered elements together is the eminent scholar Ibn al-Qayyim—may Allah have mercy on him—in his magnificent book al-Wābil al-Sayyib min al-Kalim al-Tayyib. It has appeared in many editions and circulates widely among scholars and students of knowledge. In that book,2 he said: “Remembrance has more than one hundred benefits…” He then proceeded to enumerate its benefits, mentioning more than seventy. Each one alone would suffice to stir souls and inspire resolve to engage in remembrance—how much more so when all these numerous benefits and abundant rewards are combined! Indeed, the matter surpasses all that those who describe can describe and those who count can enumerate:

“No soul knows what delights of the eyes have been kept hidden for them as a reward for what they used to do.” 3.