Dhikr in Islam: Remembering Allah Every Day

Dhikr in Islam means the remembrance of Allah. It is one of the simplest, most rewarding and most beloved acts of worship.

Allah says: “So remember Me; I will remember you” (Al-Baqarah 2:152), and “Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest” (Ar-Ra’d 13:28).

Dhikr can be done anywhere, at any time, by anyone, standing, sitting or lying down.

This guide explains the meaning of dhikr, its virtues, its types, the most important phrases from the Sunnah, the morning and evening adhkar, etiquette and practical ways to make remembrance part of daily life.

What Is Dhikr?

The Arabic word dhikr means remembering, mentioning or keeping something in mind. In Islamic terms, it is the remembrance of Allah with the heart, the tongue and the limbs.

It includes glorifying Him, praising Him, declaring His oneness, seeking His forgiveness, reciting the Quran and making du’a.

Scholars describe three levels:

• Dhikr of the tongue: saying words of remembrance.
• Dhikr of the heart: being conscious of Allah inwardly.
• Dhikr of the limbs: obeying Allah in action.

The best dhikr combines the tongue and the heart together.

Virtues of Dhikr

Allah remembers the one who remembers Him

In a hadith qudsi, Allah says: “I am as My servant thinks of Me, and I am with him when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I remember him in Myself; and if he remembers Me in a gathering, I remember him in a gathering better than it.”

The best of deeds

The Prophet ﷺ asked: “Shall I not tell you of the best of your deeds, the purest of them with your Lord, the highest in raising your ranks, 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.”

The living and the dead

“The example of the one who remembers his Lord and the one who does not is like the living and the dead.”

Peace of heart

Dhikr calms anxiety and fills the heart with tranquillity, as Allah promises in Surah Ar-Ra’d.

Protection from Shaytan

Shaytan is described as “the whisperer who withdraws” (An-Nas 114:4): he retreats when Allah is remembered.

Light and ease

Ibn al-Qayyim listed more than seventy benefits of dhikr, including removing worry, bringing joy, strengthening the heart and body, attracting provision and illuminating the face.

Quranic Commands to Remember Allah

• “O you who have believed, remember Allah with much remembrance and exalt Him morning and afternoon” (Al-Ahzab 33:41-42).
• “Those who remember Allah while standing or sitting or lying on their sides” (Aal-Imran 3:191).
• “And remember your Lord within yourself in humility and in fear, without being apparent in speech, in the mornings and the evenings” (Al-A’raf 7:205).
• “And the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so, for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward” (Al-Ahzab 33:35).

The Most Important Phrases of Dhikr

The Prophet ﷺ said: “The most beloved words to Allah are four: SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illallah and Allahu Akbar. It does not matter which you begin with.”

Salawat on the Prophet ﷺ

Sending blessings on the Prophet ﷺ is also dhikr. “Whoever sends one blessing upon me, Allah sends ten upon him.”

Dhikr After Prayer

After each obligatory prayer, the Sunnah includes:

1. Astaghfirullah three times.
2. “Allahumma antas-salam wa minkas-salam, tabarakta ya dhal-jalali wal-ikram.”
3. SubhanAllah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times, Allahu Akbar 33 times, completing 100 with “La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamd, wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadir.”
4. Ayat al-Kursi: “Whoever recites it after every obligatory prayer, nothing prevents him from entering Paradise except death.”
5. The last three surahs (Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, An-Nas).

Morning and Evening Adhkar

Allah commands remembrance “before the rising of the sun and before its setting” (Qaf 50:39). Key morning and evening adhkar include:

• Ayat al-Kursi: protection until evening or morning.
• Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas three times: “They will suffice you against everything.”
• Sayyid al-Istighfar: “Allahumma anta Rabbi, la ilaha illa ant, khalaqtani wa ana ‘abduk…” Whoever says it with certainty in the morning and dies that day enters Paradise.
• “Bismillahil-ladhi la yadurru ma’asmihi shay’un fil-ardi wa la fis-sama’i wa huwas-sami’ul-‘alim” three times: nothing will harm him.
• “Hasbiyallahu la ilaha illa huwa, ‘alayhi tawakkaltu wa huwa Rabbul-‘arshil-‘azim” seven times.
• “Radeetu billahi Rabban, wa bil-Islami dinan, wa bi Muhammadin nabiyya” three times.

Dhikr Throughout the Day

The Sunnah provides words of remembrance for nearly every activity:

• Waking up: “Alhamdulillahil-ladhi ahyana ba’da ma amatana wa ilayhin-nushur.”
• Before eating: Bismillah. After: Alhamdulillah.
• Leaving home: “Bismillah, tawakkaltu ‘alallah, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.”
• Entering home: Bismillah and salam.
• Getting dressed: praising Allah who provided the clothing.
• Travelling: “Subhanal-ladhi sakhkhara lana hadha…”
• Entering the mosque: “Allahummaf-tah li abwaba rahmatik.”
• When something pleases you: “Ma sha’ Allah.”
• In distress: “La ilaha illa anta, subhanaka inni kuntu minaz-zalimin,” the du’a of Yunus (AS).
• Before sleep: Ayat al-Kursi, the last two verses of Al-Baqarah, the three Quls and tasbih (33, 33, 34).

Gatherings of Dhikr

“No people sit in a gathering remembering Allah except that the angels surround them, mercy covers them, tranquillity descends upon them and Allah mentions them to those with Him.”

Study circles where the Quran is recited and learned are among the best gatherings of remembrance.

The Quran: The Greatest Dhikr

Allah calls the Quran “adh-Dhikr”: “Indeed, it is We who sent down the Reminder (adh-Dhikr), and indeed, We will be its guardian” (Al-Hijr 15:9).

Every letter recited carries ten rewards. Reciting with reflection is the highest form of remembrance.

Etiquette of Dhikr

1. Sincerity: remember Allah for His sake alone.
2. Presence of heart: reflect on the meanings.
3. Humility and a soft voice: “Call upon your Lord in humility and privately.”
4. Purity is recommended, though dhikr is valid without wudu.
5. Facing the qiblah when possible, for formal sessions.
6. Following the Sunnah in wording and counts.
7. Consistency: “The most beloved deeds to Allah are the most consistent, even if small.”

Counting dhikr

The Prophet ﷺ counted tasbih on the fingers of his right hand, and said the fingers will be made to speak on the Day of Judgement. Many scholars also permit using prayer beads.

Dhikr and Mental Wellbeing

Regular dhikr brings calm, focus and perspective.

Repeating “La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah” reminds the believer that outcomes are in Allah’s hands, lifting the weight of anxiety.

Istighfar opens the heart to hope: “Whoever constantly seeks forgiveness, Allah will make for him a way out of every distress and relief from every worry.”

Practical Tips for Building a Dhikr Habit

• Anchor dhikr to existing routines: after each prayer, during commutes, while cooking.
• Start small: 100 SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi daily takes about two minutes.
• Use waiting time: queues, traffic and waiting rooms.
• Memorise the morning and evening adhkar a few at a time.
• Teach children simple phrases and say them together.
• Keep a small card of adhkar in your pocket or phone.
• Join a Quran circle for regular remembrance with others.

Dhikr in Special Times

Some times carry extra reward for remembrance:

• The last third of the night: Allah descends to the lowest heaven and asks: “Who is calling upon Me that I may answer him? Who is asking Me that I may give him? Who is seeking My forgiveness that I may forgive him?”
• The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah: “There are no days greater with Allah… so increase in them tahlil, takbir and tahmid.”
• Between the adhan and iqamah: du’a in this time is not rejected.
• Friday, especially the last hour after Asr.
• While fasting and at the time of breaking the fast.
• In Ramadan, especially the last ten nights.

Stories From the Sunnah About Dhikr

Juwairiyah’s words

The Prophet ﷺ left his wife Juwairiyah (RA) sitting in her place of prayer after Fajr and returned late in the morning to find her still there.

He said: “After leaving you I said four phrases three times which, if weighed against all you have said today, would outweigh it: SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi, ‘adada khalqihi, wa rida nafsihi, wa zinata ‘arshihi, wa midada kalimatih” (Glory and praise be to Allah, as many times as the number of His creation, as much as pleases Him, as much as the weight of His Throne and as much as the ink of His words).

Fatimah’s request

Fatimah (RA) asked her father for a servant because her hands were worn from grinding grain.

He told her and Ali (RA): “Shall I not tell you of something better than a servant? When you go to bed, say SubhanAllah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times and Allahu Akbar 34 times. That is better for you than a servant.” Ali said he never left it afterwards.

The trees of Paradise

The Prophet ﷺ met Ibrahim (AS) on the Night Journey, who said: “Convey my greetings to your ummah and tell them that Paradise has pure soil and sweet water, and it is a flat plain, and its plants are SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illallah and Allahu Akbar.” Every phrase plants a tree in Paradise.

Signs That Dhikr Is Benefiting You

Over time, consistent remembrance shows its effects: greater calm in difficult situations, less interest in idle talk, more ease in waking for Fajr, sweetness in prayer, quicker repentance after mistakes and a growing sense that Allah is near.

If these signs appear, thank Allah; if they do not yet, keep going with patience, because the heart softens gradually.

A Four-Week Plan to Apply What You Learned About dhikr in islam

Knowledge sticks when it is turned into a routine. Here is a simple four-week plan to build on this guide.

• Week one: Re-read this article slowly and write down the three points that were newest to you. Share one of them with a family member, because explaining an idea is one of the best ways to understand it.
• Week two: Connect the topic to your daily Quran reading. Each day, look for one verse or phrase in your portion that relates to dhikr in islam, and note it in a small notebook.
• Week three: Ask questions. Bring anything that is still unclear to a qualified teacher, and correct any misunderstanding before it becomes a habit.
• Week four: Review your notebook, choose one practical change and commit to it for the next month. Small, consistent actions are more beloved to Allah than large efforts that do not last.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “The most beloved of deeds to Allah are those that are most consistent, even if they are small.”

Apply that principle here, and this topic will become part of your life rather than something you read once and forgot.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is dhikr in Islam?

Dhikr is the remembrance of Allah through words, heart and actions, including tasbih, tahmid, tahlil, takbir, istighfar and Quran recitation.

What is the best dhikr?

The Prophet ﷺ said the best dhikr is “La ilaha illallah,” and the best of all is reciting the Quran.

Do I need wudu for dhikr?

No, dhikr is permitted without wudu, though being in a state of purity is better.

Can dhikr be done silently?

Yes. Silent dhikr with presence of heart is highly rewarded.

How much dhikr should I do?

Allah commands “much remembrance.” Start with the Sunnah adhkar after prayer and morning and evening, then add more.

Final Thoughts

Dhikr in Islam is the lifeline of the heart. It costs nothing, requires no special place and brings immense reward.

Through remembrance, the believer stays connected to Allah in every moment.

Begin today with a few phrases after each prayer and in the morning and evening, and let your tongue stay moist with the remembrance of Allah.