Daily Dhikr — Remembrance of Allah
Suggest editThe Meaning and Importance of Dhikr
Dhikr (ذكر), meaning 'remembrance' or 'mention,' in its Islamic context refers to the verbal and heartfelt remembrance of Allah — His names, praises, glorification, and supplication. It is one of the most emphasized acts of worship in the Quran and Sunnah. Allah says: 'Remember Me and I will remember you' (2:152). He says: 'Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest' (13:28). The Prophet said: 'The comparison of one who remembers his Lord to one who does not is like the living compared to the dead' (Sahih al-Bukhari). Dhikr is not merely a ritual but the very pulse of a conscious Islamic life.
The Core Phrases
The most excellent phrases of dhikr are established by explicit hadith. The Prophet said: 'The best speech is four: SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illallah, and Allahu Akbar — it does not matter which of them you begin with' (Sahih Muslim). These four phrases are the pillars of dhikr:
- SubhanAllah (سبحان الله) — 'Glory be to Allah': declaring Allah free from every imperfection and deficiency.
- Alhamdulillah (الحمد لله) — 'All praise is for Allah': attributing all gratitude and praise to Allah for every blessing.
- Allahu Akbar (الله أكبر) — 'Allah is the Greatest': affirming Allah's greatness above all else.
- La ilaha illallah (لا إله إلا الله) — 'There is no god but Allah': the statement of tawhid, the heart of Islamic belief.
The Prophet said: 'Saying SubhanAllah and Alhamdulillah and La ilaha illallah and Allahu Akbar is more beloved to me than everything the sun rises over' (Sahih Muslim).
The Tasbih After Prayer
Among the most established daily dhikr is the tasbih recited after each of the five daily prayers. Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet recommended saying SubhanAllah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times, and Allahu Akbar 33 times — completing 99 with La ilaha illallah wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul mulk wa lahul hamd wa huwa ala kulli shay'in qadir (Sahih Muslim). This brief practice takes under two minutes and wipes away sins as foam disappears from the sea, according to hadith.
The Virtue of Specific Formulas
Numerous hadith establish the extraordinary reward of specific dhikr formulas. 'SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi' (Glory and praise be to Allah) said 100 times wipes away sins even if they are as much as the foam of the sea (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim). 'SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi, SubhanAllahil-Azim' (Glory and praise to Allah, Glory to Allah the Magnificent) are 'two phrases light on the tongue, heavy on the scales, beloved to the Most Merciful' (Sahih al-Bukhari). 'La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah' (There is no power or might except with Allah) is 'a treasure from the treasures of Paradise' (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim).
Dhikr of the Heart and Tongue
Scholars emphasize that dhikr is most complete when it unites the tongue, heart, and limbs. The tongue pronounces the words; the heart reflects on their meanings; the limbs act in accordance with what the heart affirms. Mechanical repetition without presence of heart (ghaflah) diminishes the spiritual benefit of dhikr, though it retains some merit. The goal is hudur al-qalb — presence of heart — where one is truly aware of standing before Allah and invoking Him. This is why quality matters alongside quantity in dhikr.
Dhikr as a Daily Discipline
The Sunnah provides a complete architecture of dhikr throughout the day: morning and evening adhkar, the tasbih after prayer, dhikr before sleeping, dhikr upon waking, remembrances for eating, leaving the house, and entering the masjid. A Muslim who follows this Prophetic framework is in near-constant remembrance of Allah without it being burdensome — each moment of the day punctuated by brief but meaningful acknowledgment of the Divine. Ibn al-Qayyim describes such a person as being in a state of continuous worship without formal ritualization, his daily life transformed into an act of devotion.