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”