Where does the Qur’an command dhikr, and why is it necessary?

The answer to where the Shariah says to perform dhikr, and why it is necessary, is in the Qur'an: "And remember Allah often so you may be successful." [Qur'an, al-Jumu'ah 62:10] This verse is a command, not a request.

The Qur'an underlines the importance of invocation in words such as "Remember Allah standing and sitting…" [Qur'an, Al Imran 3:191], and in another verse, "Those who believe and do good deeds, and remember Allah much…" [Qur'an, ash-Shu'ara 26:227].

"And remember your Lord within yourself in humility and in reverence, without loudness in words, in the mornings and evenings. And do not be among the heedless." [Qur'an, al-A'raf 7:205]

The world with all its attractions can easily distract the believer from the remembrance of Allah, and these worldly possessions would be of no value on the Day of Judgement. All the possessions of this world cannot save one from hellfire.

One verse of the Qur'an specifically addresses the believers as a command not to be distracted from the remembrance of Allah, as the one who gets diverted will be at loss: "O, you who have believed! Let not your wealth and your children divert you from remembrance of Allah, and whoever does that, then those are the losers." [Qur'an, al-Munafiqun 63:9]