Advice to keep the tongue ever-busy in Zikr

A Sahabi once said, "0 Rasulullah, (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam), I know that the commandments of Shareeat
are many, but of these tell me the one that I may practise assiduously throughout my life." The Prophet,
(Sallallaho alaihe wasallam), replied, "Keep your tongue always moist (i.e. busy) with the zikr of Allah." (Ibn Abi Syaibah, Ahmad, and Tirmidzi)

According to another hadith, Harat Mu'aaz (Radhiyallaho anho) has said, "Once at the time of my departure
from Rasulullah [Sallallaho alaihe wasallam), I asked him to advise me of that action which is most pleasing
to Almighty Allah: whereupon he replied, "At the time of your death, your tongue should be busy with zikr of
Almighty Allah."(Ibn Abi Dunya, Al Bazaar, Ibn Hibban, and Thabrani)



Note: By "my departure", Hadhrat Mu'aaz (Radhiyallaho anho) refers to the occasion when he was appointed
by the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) as the Governor of Yemen and sent there for teaching and propagating Islam. It was at the time of that farewell that Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) had given him some parting instructions.


By saying that "the commandments of Sharee-at are many", the Sahabi had meant that although observance of
every commandment is imperative, to specialize and attain perfection in each and every one is difficult; and so he wanted that Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam), may recommend him something of over-riding importance which he might hold fast to, and practice at all times and in all conditions of sitting, standing or walking.
According to another hadith, a person who possesses the following four things is truly blessed, from
the worldly as well as spiritual point of view:
(i) A tongue ever absorbed in the zikr of Almighty Allah.
(ii) A heart filled with gratitude of Allah.
(iii) A body capable of undergoing hardships.
(iv) A wife who does not betray her husband's trust in respect of her chastity and his wealth.

Hadhrat Abu Darda (Radhiyallaho anho) said that  those who keep their tongues wet with the zikr of Allah,
will snter paradise smiling.