dhikr

[ dik-er ]

noun

, Islam.

, plural dhikrs, dhikr.

1. a meeting of dervishes at which a phrase containing a name of God is chanted rhythmically to induce a state of ecstasy.
2. each set of passages from the Quran so chanted, with its accompanying ritual.

Word History and Origins

Origin of dhikr¹

First recorded in 1780–90; ultimately from Arabic ḏikr “remembrance, mentioning,” from ḏakara “to remember, recall”

Example Sentences

Most Thursday evenings the scholars go to Cape Town's ganglands for an open-air form of devotion known as "dhikr".

From BBC

There is currently a ceasefire in Manenberg between the gangs, which followed an intense period of gang fights - though a few hours before this dhikr took place there was a shooting at these flats, and over the weekend four men died in an apparent gangland shooting in nearby Mitchells Plain.

From BBC

Dhikr is recited by Muslims across the world and has a specific tune to the recitations.

From BBC

Sheikh Sameeg Norodien, another of the founders of Manenberg's dhikr sessions, prepares a pot of food for the devotees.

From BBC

"There was a specific period between 2018 and 2019 where crime in Manenberg decreased during the time we were having the dhikr programmes," he says.

From BBC