dhikr
Americannoun
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a meeting of dervishes at which a phrase containing a name of God is chanted rhythmically to induce a state of ecstasy.
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each set of passages from the Quran so chanted, with its accompanying ritual.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of dhikr
First recorded in 1780–90; ultimately from Arabic ḏikr “remembrance, mentioning,” from ḏakara “to remember, recall”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Sufis just do more dhikr and more variegated types of dhikr than non-sufi Muslims.
From New York Times • Sep. 23, 2016
The chanting built, the drumming grew more insistent — this was the Friday evening dhikr, the rhythmic repetition of God’s name designed to bring the supplicant closer to direct contact with the almighty.
From New York Times • Oct. 5, 2012
We prayed together and we practised dhikr, the recitation of the ninety-nine revealed names of God.
From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
