Turning the Spiral: The Names of Allah and the Heart of Dhuhur
Unlocking Divine Alignment and Spiritual Transformation through the Sacred Practice of Remembrance
In every age, seekers rise—reaching toward light, yearning for dhuhur—true emergence. The heart of the seeker longs for the Divine, for clarity, for transformation. But too often, the ascent is short-lived. Why?
Because many rise without anchoring the heart. They seek the shift in reality without activating its core axis. And the axis... is the heart.
“Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.”
(Surah Ar-Ra’d 13:28)
This is the missing link.
The Names of Allah are not mere adornments of praise. They are turning agents—they turn the heart, and the heart turns the spiral. The Arabic word for heart, qalb, shares its root with taqallub—to turn, to transform. It is through the turning of the heart that we find true alignment with the Divine.
So, what turns the heart back toward Divine alignment?
“And to Allah belong the Most Beautiful Names, so call upon Him by them.”
(Surah Al-A’raf 7:180)
To recite the Names is to realign your breath with Divine rhythm. It is to synchronize your existence with the eternal, to breathe with the pulse of the cosmos. To write them is to impress Divine reality upon the clay of your self—creating sacred, divine impressions that reshape your inner world.
When this happens, the inward spiral begins to move:
Those who were beneath in humility begin to rise.
Those who were high in arrogance begin to descend.
Because now, the turning is not powered by ego—it is moved by remembrance.
“Indeed, it is We who will inherit the earth and whoever is on it.”
(Surah Maryam 19:40)
Allah is Al-Warith—The Inheritor. When we invoke His Names, we begin to inherit our portion of spiritual reality. This inheritance is not abstract; it is real, it is transformative. Through the Names, we align with the deepest truths of existence.
This is not metaphor. This is Qur’anic law.
“And We wished to favor those who were oppressed in the land and make them leaders and inheritors.”
(Surah Al-Qasas 28:5)
The Names of Allah do not only balance the world outside; they balance the world within. They restore the heart to its throne and the servant to their Source. When you connect with the Names, you align yourself with divine law, and your heart begins to recognize its rightful place in the universe.
🌀 Foundational Practice: The Spiral-Turning Program through the 99 Names
This is not a spiritual hobby. This is a sacred reconfiguration.
To turn the spiral, you must commit to the complete remembrance cycle. Not a few Names, but all 99. Each Name holds its own frequency, its own transformative power. When recited, written, and reflected upon, these Names work together to reshape your spiritual structure, aligning you with Divine reality.
🔁 The Method
Set aside 15 minutes per prayer—or as your schedule allows. In that time, recite each of the 99 Names of Allah 33 times, until the 99 cycle is complete, this will take several sessions. Then begin from the beginning again. Allow the energy to be released and focus on pronunciation because this practice forms us. Pay attention to the thoughts that come up and make mental or written note of them. They are the healing that is taking place, the corrections, perhaps the forgiveness.
This is how the spiral is not just touched, but turned and sustained. This is how the Names begin to reshape your spiritual structure from within. It is the neuroplastic dhikr your heart has been waiting for.
🌀 For a deeper understanding of the significance and impact of the 99 Names, Ahmed Hulusi’s works offer profound insights. In his book The Beautiful Names (Al-Asma Ul-Husna), he emphasizes that:
"Everything derives its existence and originates from the meanings and qualities that are denoted by the Names of Allah; hence, the Names and their manifestations are our only means of knowing the reality of Allah."
This perspective underscores the transformative power of engaging with the Names, not just as a practice, but as a means to align oneself with the very essence of existence.
✍️ Writing Practice: Turning the Spiral with the Pen
Writing is not an afterthought. It is a session of its own.
Where the voice calls out, the pen impresses.
Where the tongue vibrates the Names, the hand etches them into the self.
This is not about writing for repetition.
This is about writing to receive.
🔁 Structured Writing Sessions:
In a separate session, ideally after or in harmony with your vocal remembrance:
-
Choose One Name of Allah.
Begin with the first and move in order through the 99. -
Write it once, in Arabic.
Beneath it, write its core meaning in your own language (not the full description—just the essence, e.g., Ar-Rahman: The Infinitely Compassionate). -
Sit with the meaning for a moment.
Let it open a door in you. Ask: What does this Name seek to awaken in me today? -
Then write the Name again 11 or 33 times, slowly, with presence.
Let each repetition be a movement of intention—not mechanical, but meditative.
🧠 Why This Works:
Writing activates neural encoding. It builds enduring memory pathways, anchoring the Names into your cognitive and emotional structure. This process helps you internalize their essence and allows them to shape your being in real-time.
The meaning grounds the Name. Without the meaning, the Name may remain abstract. With it, the Name begins to germinate. When you understand what the Name seeks to awaken in you, it allows deeper resonance, bringing the Name into your lived experience.
The slow pace of writing lets the heart turn with the hand. This is your qalam (pen) turning your qalb (heart).
You may wish to create a special notebook or sacred journal for this practice. This becomes your personal Kitab an-Nafs—the Book of the Self turning back to its Source.
Through writing, the spiral of transformation intensifies. It’s not just about recalling the Names but about allowing them to leave their mark on the heart and soul. Let the pen turn you just as the Names turn the spiral within you. 🌿🖋️
The art ) practice of writing Names of Allah can still continue even when u have no access to pen and ur sacred journal at times (..depending on ...circumstances) , by using ur imaginary hand/ to still indelibly engrave the Names of Allah in your heart walls or within, simultaneously, even while u r engaged in other day to day activities
ReplyDeleteIn addition to the act of writing by hand, we cannot forget the difference between the eye seeing the words, the ear hearing them, and the voice producing the vibrations. Each sense has its own profound effect on our consciousness and on the body. When we see the words, we visually process them, allowing the meaning to imprint on our minds. Hearing the words, especially when recited aloud, allows us to connect with the vibrations and rhythms of the sound, which can deeply affect the heart and soul. The act of speaking the names of Allah with our own voice brings another layer of connection, as the sound of our voice resonates within us, creating a personal and spiritual reverberation. Each of these sensory interactions—sight, sound, and touch—works together to shape our internal state in different ways, elevating the experience and impact of the divine words on our hearts and bodies.
DeleteFurther, Imam Zaynul Abideen (as) beautifully highlights the distinction between the ear and the eye. He (as) said that the ear is the channel through which various concepts and ideas reach the heart, while the eye serves as the pathway for acquiring knowledge. This distinction illuminates how each sense plays a different, yet complementary, role in our intellectual and spiritual growth.
DeleteThe ear, as the portal to hearing, allows us to absorb information and wisdom that directly influences our heart, shaping our inner state. This is why hearing the names of Allah, for instance, has such a powerful impact—because it directly engages the heart and soul.
On the other hand, the eye plays its role by allowing us to visually perceive and learn, opening the pathway to knowledge. But, the voice, which is often seen as a tool of creation, carries an even deeper function. It not only communicates but also manifests, transforming thoughts into tangible expressions. Through the act of speaking, particularly when reciting or invoking the divine, our voice creates a physical and spiritual vibration, further imprinting the words and their meaning into our consciousness.
Thus, each sense—hearing, seeing, and speaking—holds a unique role in shaping how we receive, process, and internalize sacred knowledge, each adding a layer to the richness of our spiritual experience.
The act of writing serves as a bridge between the brain and the animal self, a connection that elevates the mere mechanical action of the hand into a higher function. Unlike the voice, which is a direct channel between the ear and the animal self, writing allows us to externalize and internalize knowledge simultaneously. It is through the physical act of writing that the brain, the seat of human consciousness, communicates with the animal self—the body—imbuing it with intellect and intention.
DeleteThis process is transformative. While speaking conveys vibration, writing distills the essence of thought and intention, turning it into a physical manifestation that can be revisited and reflected upon. In essence, the act of writing is a way of elevating our animal instincts and impulses into a higher form of consciousness. It is a way of transcending the physical realm and connecting with the spiritual and intellectual dimensions of our being.
In this light, writing the names of Allah, or any sacred text, becomes not just an act of recitation or memorization. It becomes an act of personal elevation, as the brain transmits divine words into the body through the hand, transforming them from mere concepts into living, breathing spiritual truths that resonate deeply within us.
In case we can multitask mentally and. Physically as well .... , while still reflecting on meaning ....and trying to imbibe the positive attribute within us, in sha. Allah Taala, as the Blogger had beautifully put it ...
ReplyDeleteI thank you for your comment and appreciate your perspective, but I personally disagree. In my understanding, the act of writing by hand has a profound significance that cannot be replaced by any other method. The way the hand interacts with the pen, the physical motion of writing, is a deeply human and spiritual act. In Islam, Allah swears by the pen in the Quran, which underscores its importance. Writing with a pen isn't just about putting ink on paper; it's a physical act that aligns our intentions, focuses our energy, and connects us to the divine. The hand, as an instrument of action, carries an inherent sacredness that is integral to this process. This is why the act of writing the names of Allah can have such a powerful impact on the soul—it’s not just the written word, but the physical, mindful act of writing that carries spiritual weight.
DeleteI invite readers to post your comments in the hope of continuing discussion and expanding our understanding In sha Allah.
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