Intent behind Dhikr...

"Therefore, remember Me (by praying, glorifying, etc.). I will remember you, and be grateful to Me (for My countless Favours on you) and never be ungrateful to Me." [2:152]

The intent behind Dhikr is not merely to remember (Allah) with one’s tongue, rather it is remembrance with the heart and the tongue. Remembrance of Allah includes remembering Him by His Names and Attributes, His commandments, His prohibitions and His speech. This necessitates that a person should have knowledge and awareness of Allah, belief in Allah, belief in Allah’s Perfect and Lofty Attributes, as well as (constantly) praising Allah with various types of praise (i.e. based on what Allah has legislated in the authentic texts of the Shari’ah and not by way of biddah). And this cannot be accomplished except through Tawheed. True Remembrance of Allah necessitates all of this, as well as remembering the blessings and favours, which Allah has bestowed upon His creatures and His kindness towards them.

 

As for Shukr, it is to act in obedience to Allah and seeking to draw close to Him through those apparent (actions of the limbs) and (deeds of the heart) that are beloved to Him. The religion is based on these two – remembrance of Allah, which necessitates having knowledge and awareness of Allah, and being grateful to Him, which necessitates obedience to Him through acts of worship and (refraining from disobedience). This is the purpose behind the creation of the Jinn, mankind, the heavens and the earth. It is the reason for which reward and punishment are determined; (the reason for which) Allah revealed the Books and sent the Messengers. It is the truth for which the heavens, the earth and what is between them were created, and what is in opposition to it is falsehood, such as the assumption held by the enemies of Allah that there is no purpose behind the creation (free is Allah from what they attribute to Him). Allah said: "And We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between them without purpose! That is the assumption of those who disbelieve!"

Allah said: "And We created not the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, for mere play; We created them not except with truth (i.e. to examine and test those who are obedient and those who are disobedient and then reward the obedient ones and punish the disobedient ones)."

 

Allah said: "And We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them except with truth, and the Hour is surely coming…"

Allah said: "Allah did not create this but in truth."

Allah said: "Does man think that he will be left Suda (neglected without being punished or rewarded for the obligatory duties enjoined by his Lord (Allah) on him)?"

Allah said: "Did you think that We had created you in play (without any purpose), and that you would not be brought back to Us?"

Allah said: "And I (Allah) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone)"

Allah said: "It is Allah Who has created seven heavens and of the earth the like thereof (i.e. seven). His Command descends between them (heavens and earth), that you may know that Allah has power over all things, and that Allah surrounds (comprehends) all things in (His) Knowledge."

Allah said: "Allah has made the Ka’bah, the Sacred House, an asylum of security and Hajj and ‘Umrah (pilgrimage) for mankind, and also the Sacred Month and the animals of offerings and the garlanded (people or animals, etc. marked with the garlands on their necks made from the outer part of the stem of the Makkah trees for their security), that you may know that Allah has knowledge of all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth, and that Allah is the All-Knower of each and everything."

Therefore, based on what has (already) been mentioned it has been established that the purpose behind the creation and command is so that Allah is remembered and thanked. Allah is to be remembered and not forgotten, and He should be thanked and one should not be ungrateful to Him. Allah remembers the one who remembers Him, and He is Ready to appreciate good deeds and to recompense the one who is grateful to Him. Remembrance of Allah is the reason Allah remembers the one who does so. And being grateful to Allah is the reason behind which a person is given an increase in blessings and favours.

Remembrance of Allah is to be carried out with the heart and tongue; gratefulness is to be carried out with one’s heart- out of love for Allah and constantly turning to Him in repentance and obedience with true faith . Extolling and praising Him is to be carried out with one’s tongue and being obedient to Him (by performing acts of obedience).

[An Excerpt from Ibnul Qayyim's Al-Fawa’id page 192-194]