DIKR. – In Arabic, “mention”; it is the glorification of Allâh carried out through the litanical repetition of certain words or phrases. The repetition may be performed aloud or internally and may or may not be accompanied by movements of the body and by breath control.
The use of d. is based on the Qurʾān (33:52) and is particularly practiced by the various religious confraternities (v. DERVISCI). The phrases and words most commonly used in the d. are “there is no god but God,” “glory be to God,” “praise be to God,” “God is great,” “I ask God’s forgiveness,” and the various names attributed to God. The rite, which is often accompanied by songs of mystical love, consists not only in the repetition of the aforementioned phrases but also in the reading of more or less extensive passages from the Qurʾān and other prayers. Alessandro Bausani