Allāhu ʿĀlimun, “God the Knower.”
The first being drawn, as it were, from the navel to the breast; the second, from the breast to the brain; the third, from the brain up the heavens; and then again repeated stage by stage backwards and forwards.
He says in a low voice, “Allāh,” from the right knee, and then from the left side.
With each exhalation of his breath, he says, “lā ilāha,” and with each inhalation, “illā ʾllāhu.”
This third ẓarb is a most exhausting act of devotion, performed, as it is, hundreds or even thousands of times, and is, therefore, considered the most meritorious.
It is related that Maulawī Ḥabību ʾllāh, living in the village of Gabāsanri, in the Gadūn country, on the Peshawur frontier, became such an adept in the performance of this ẓarb, that he recited the first part of the ẕikr lā ilāha with the exhalation of his breath after the mid-day prayer; and the second part, illā ʾllāhu, with the inhalation of his breath before the next time of prayer, thus sustaining his breath for the period of about three hours!
Another act of devotion, which usually accompanies the ẕikr, is that of Murāqabah, or meditation.
The worshipper first performs ẕikr of the following:—
Allāho hāzirī, “God who is present with me.”
Allāho nāz̤irī, “God who sees me.”