Transliteration Polemics: Why Do We Often Write Dzikir?

The use of the 'dz' variant occurs due to efforts to approximate the original Arabic articulation. Writers often feel that the spelling 'zikir' fails to represent the spiritual depth or phonetic authenticity of the letter 'zal'. Consequently, many people are accustomed to using spelling that is perceived as more religious, even though in Indonesian language rules, 'z' represents both sounds.

This word is absorbed from the Arabic 'dhikr' (ذِكْرٌ), which literally means remembering or mentioning. In Arabic-Latin transliteration systems, the Arabic letter 'zal' (ذ) is often represented by the digraph 'dz' to distinguish it from the letter 'zai' (ز), which is symbolized by 'z'.

In the socio-religious context of Indonesia, the spelling 'dzikir' is often considered a form of respect toward the language of the Qur'an. This variant is dominantly found in religious literature, prayer meeting banners, and Islamic educational digital content, creating a collective perception that this spelling is more theologically 'correct'.