Dhikr — Remembrance of Allah

Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) is one of the most beloved acts of worship in Islam, accessible at all times, in all places, and in every condition. Allah commands: "O you who believe, remember Allah with much remembrance" (Quran 33:41). And He promises: "Remember Me, and I will remember you" (Quran 2:152). The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Shall I not tell you of the best of your deeds, the purest in the sight of your Master, which raises your ranks the highest, which is better for you than spending gold and silver, and better for you than meeting your enemy and striking their necks? They said: Yes. He said: The remembrance of Allah" (Sunan al-Tirmidhi).

Forms of Dhikr

Dhikr takes many forms: SubhanAllah (Glory be to Allah), Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah), Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest), La ilaha illAllah (There is no god but Allah), La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah (There is no power or strength except with Allah), Istighfar (seeking forgiveness), Salawat upon the Prophet, and recitation of the Quran (the greatest form of dhikr). Each phrase carries specific rewards detailed in authentic hadiths. The Prophet said: "Two words are light on the tongue, heavy on the scale, and beloved to the Most Merciful: SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi, SubhanAllahil-Azim" (Sahih al-Bukhari).

Morning and Evening Adhkar

The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught specific supplications for the morning (after Fajr) and evening (after Asr or Maghrib). These include Ayat al-Kursi (Quran 2:255), the last three surahs of the Quran (al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq, al-Nas), and various duas for protection, gratitude, and seeking Allah's pleasure. Regular recitation of these adhkar serves as a spiritual shield. The Prophet said: "Whoever recites Ayat al-Kursi after every obligatory prayer, nothing prevents him from entering Paradise except death" (Sunan al-Nasai). Collections of these adhkar, such as Hisn al-Muslim (Fortress of the Muslim), are widely available.

Post-Prayer Dhikr

After every obligatory prayer, the Prophet would recite specific adhkar: Astaghfirullah three times, then "Allahumma Anta al-Salam wa minka al-Salam, tabarakta ya Dhal-Jalali wal-Ikram." He would also recite SubhanAllah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times, Allahu Akbar 33 times, and complete the hundred with "La ilaha illAllahu wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamd, wa huwa ala kulli shay'in qadir" (Sahih Muslim). These post-prayer adhkar are among the most consistently practiced sunnahs across the Muslim world.

The State of the Heart

True dhikr is not mere movement of the tongue but engagement of the heart. Allah criticizes those who remember Him only superficially: "And remember your Lord within yourself in humility and in fear, without being loud, in the mornings and the evenings" (Quran 7:205). The scholars of the heart emphasize that the tongue's dhikr should lead to the heart's awareness, which should lead to a state where the entire being is conscious of Allah's presence. This is the station described as "those who remember Allah standing, sitting, and on their sides, and reflect upon the creation of the heavens and the earth" (Quran 3:191).