Alhamdu lillahi nahmaduhu wa nasta’eenuhu wa nastagh firuhu ir i’minu bihi ir i tawakalu alayhi ir i’oodhu billahi min shururi an fusina wa min sayyi aati a’malina mai’yah dihil lahu fala mudhilla lahu wa mayy yudh lil hu fala ha diya lahu wa nah haduan-llaah ilaha illalahu wah dahu la sharika lahu ir ii hadu anna sayyedina wa maulana Muhammadan abduhu wa rasulu.  Ammabad. 

Every person in this world wishes to spend a life of ease and luxury, and works hard throughout his existence to attain this goal, thinking that attaining this will determine his success or failure in life. 
  
Today’s fast technological advancements have made physical discomfort and hardship largely a thing of the past.  Today we enjoy many more comforts because of technology that our ancestors did not.  However, this same technology has also robbed us of attaining spiritual happiness and well being of the soul. 
  
It is mandatory to engage in the remembrance of Allah u, to attain the ultimate blessing of peace of mind and soul, otherwise and from now on known as dhikrAllah u says,”….Know that hearts attain peace with the remembrance of Allah u.”  The following is a poem by a famed poet: 
What peace is associated with Your Glorious Name.

Possible is the soundest sleep even on the sharpest thorns. 

The word dhikr incorporates vast meanings, and is also used for the remembrance of Allah u, which is the meaning that this booklet uses.  Its importance has further been highlighted and explained in the Holy Quran and hadith.  Following are a few examples of the great benefits achieved through performing dhikr. 

1. If someone remembers Allah u with humility, Allah u looks at him with graciousness and forgiveness.  Allah u says, “Remember Me and I will remember you.”  Allah u gives more and more opportunity for doing good deeds to someone who is regular in dhikr.
2. The ultimate purpose of salat is remembrance of Allah u.  Allah u says, “Establish the salat for My remembrance.”  That salat does not remain salat in which there is no remembrance of Allah u.  The Messenger of Allah a said, “There is no salat without the presence of the soul.”  This is why both physical and spiritual presence and focus is essential for salat.
3. Dhikr is that which works from beginning to end in calling people to Allah u.  Allah u gave some important advice when dispatching Hadrat Musa e and Hadrat Harun e to Pharoah, among which was, “Do not be forgetful from My remembrance.”  Allah u says in the Holy Quran, “You and your brother, take My signs but do not become forgetful from My Remembrance.” The superlative form of dawah is jihad, and Allah u has commanded the believers against forgetfulness even in the grave circumstances of jihad:  “Remember Me and you will be successful.”  Allah u says, “O Believers, remain steadfast when facing the unbelievers.  Remember Me with intensity and success will follow in your footsteps.”
4. A universal principle of war is that a soldier strips his prisoner of those weapons that pose the greatest threat.  Likewise, when Shaytan overpowers a soul, he strips it of the remembrance of Allah u, the weapon that poses the biggest threat to him.  Allah u says, “Shaytan overpowered them and made them forgetful of Allah’s remembrance.”
5. Dhikr is the believer’s weapon, and hence we find that it is indeed possible to be protected against Shaytan’s attacks.  Allah u says, “Indeed when Shaytan’s jamaat attacks the God-fearing, they engage in dhikr and escape.” 
6. The Holy Quran has told us the signs of intelligent people.  They remember their Creator while standing, sitting, and while lying down.  Allah u says, “..Those who remember Allah while standing, sitting, and lying down.”
7. Islamic Law (shariah) has set the limits for every act, but could not set any such limits on dhikr.  Allah u says, “O Believers, Remember Allah with intensity.”  We should put as much effort in dhikr as humanly possible.
8. Allah u commands the believers to remember Him in their hearts.  Allah u says, “Remember your Creator in your Nafs…”   To remember our Creator in our innermost being, to remember Him in our thoughts has been called muraqaba by the elders of tasawwuf.
9. Shaytan first and foremost stops us from the road of dhikr, and then slowly distracts us from salat.  Allah u says, “…And he stops you from dhikr and salat.”
10. As mankind becomes forgetful of dhikr, he becomes one of those in great loss.  Allah u says, “O believers, don’t let your wealth and children make you forgetful of the remembrance of Allah u…whoever does this will be in great loss.” 

The above ten proofs from the Holy Quran make it plain that we should excel in dhikr. 

This booklet lists dhikr and acts to be performed daily; the actions and habits of the mashaikh, and the rules and regulations regarding manners for the seekers.  The asbak (lessons) of the Silsala Naqshabandia have been included from the book Umdut-us-Suluk.  In conclusion, the Shajrah (chain) of the Mashaikh-e-Naqshaband has been given, so that it becomes clear that we and what we are following is not something new, but our spiritual relationship reaches up to the Messenger of Allah a, and this is our way.

The writer acknowledges and prays for all those who contributed to this book day and night.   

With alternating seasons and days, this field never remains stable. This time will never return anew.  Pick the flowers now, for spring may not come again.