Introduction
Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said:
"Dhikr is to the heart what water is to a fish. Imagine the state of a fish when it is taken out of water."
Dhikr—the remembrance of Allah—is the spiritual heartbeat of a believer. It's the simplest yet most powerful act of worship that can be done anytime, anywhere, and transforms everything in its path.
What is Dhikr?
Dhikr (ذِكْر) means remembrance, mention, or invocation of Allah. It includes:
- Saying Tasbih, Tahmid, Takbir (SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar)
- Reciting Quran
- Making dua
- Sending salawat on the Prophet ﷺ
- Saying La ilaha illallah
- Any words that remember and glorify Allah
Allah's Direct Promise
The Divine Exchange
"So remember Me; I will remember you." (Quran 2:152)
This is Allah's direct promise: when you remember Him, the Creator of the universe remembers YOU.
The Cure for Anxiety
"Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest." (Quran 13:28)
Quranic Evidence on Dhikr
1. The Command to Remember Often
"O you who have believed, remember Allah with much remembrance." (Quran 33:41)
2. The Best of People
"Men whom neither commerce nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allah." (Quran 24:37)
3. The Difference Between Life and Death
"And remember your Lord within yourself in humility and in fear without being apparent in speech - in the mornings and the evenings. And do not be among the heedless." (Quran 7:205)
4. Protection from Shaytan
"And whoever is blinded from remembrance of the Most Merciful - We appoint for him a devil, and he is to him a companion." (Quran 43:36)
5. The Greatest Act
"And the remembrance of Allah is greater." (Quran 29:45)
Powerful Hadiths on Dhikr
1. Better Than Gold and Silver
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Shall I not inform you of the best of your deeds, the purest of them with your Master, which raises your ranks the most, and which is better for you than spending gold and silver, and better for you than meeting your enemy and striking their necks and them striking your necks?"
They said: "Of course, O Messenger of Allah!"
He said: "Dhikr of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic." (Tirmidhi, 3377 - Hasan Sahih; Ibn Majah, 3790)
2. The Difference Between Living and Dead
"The example of the one who remembers his Lord and the one who does not remember his Lord is like that of the living and the dead." (Bukhari, 6407 & Muslim, 779)
3. Allah Remembers You in a Better Gathering
The Prophet ﷺ said that Allah said:
"I am as My servant thinks I am, and I am with him when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I remember him in Myself. If he remembers Me in a gathering, I remember him in a gathering better than it." (Bukhari, 7405 & Muslim, 2675)
4. Protection from Regret on Judgment Day
"No people sit in a gathering in which they do not remember Allah... except that it will be a source of regret for them on the Day of Resurrection." (Tirmidhi, 3380 - Sahih)
5. Angels Surround You
"No people gather together in one of the Houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying it together, except that tranquility descends upon them, mercy covers them, angels surround them, and Allah mentions them to those near Him." (Muslim, 2699)
The Spiritual Benefits of Dhikr
1. Hearts Find Peace
Allah promises: "Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest." (Quran 13:28)
No therapy, no distraction, no worldly pleasure can give the heart peace like dhikr.
2. Allah Remembers You
When you say "SubhanAllah," Allah mentions you in a gathering of angels. What greater honor?
3. Doors Are Opened
Imam al-Shāfiʿī said: "The dua made with dhikr is like an arrow that does not miss its target."
Dhikr opens closed doors in your life—doors of provision, marriage, healing, guidance.
4. Sins Are Forgiven
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever says 'SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi' 100 times a day, his sins are forgiven even if they are like the foam of the sea." (Bukhari, 6405 & Muslim, 2691)
5. Your Rank Is Elevated
Every tasbih, every SubhanAllah raises your status in Jannah.
6. Protection from Shaytan
Dhikr is your shield. The heedless heart is Shaytan's playground.
7. Light in Your Face
People who do abundant dhikr often have noor (light) visible in their faces.
8. Ease in Hardship
"And whoever turns away from My remembrance - indeed, he will have a depressed life." (Quran 20:124)
Dhikr turns difficulty into ease.
The Most Powerful Adhkar
1. La ilaha illallah (لا إله إلا الله)
"The best dhikr is La ilaha illallah." (Tirmidhi, 3383 - Hasan)
Virtue: Erases sins, heaviest on the scale, saves from Hellfire
2. SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi, SubhanAllahil Azim (سبحان الله وبحمده، سبحان الله العظيم)
"Two phrases that are light on the tongue, heavy on the scale, and beloved to the Most Merciful." (Bukhari, 6406 & Muslim, 2694)
3. Alhamdulillah (الحمد لله)
"Alhamdulillah fills the scale." (Muslim, 223)
4. Allahu Akbar (الله أكبر)
"Allahu Akbar fills what is between the heavens and the earth." (Muslim, 223)
5. SubhanAllah wa bihamdihi (100 times daily)
Sins forgiven even if like the foam of the sea.
6. La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah (لا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله)
"A treasure from the treasures of Paradise." (Bukhari, 4205 & Muslim, 2704)
Meaning: There is no power or strength except with Allah
7. Salawat on the Prophet ﷺ
"Whoever sends blessings upon me once, Allah will send blessings upon him ten times." (Muslim, 384)
"Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammad"
8. Istighfar (Seeking Forgiveness)
"Astaghfirullah wa atubu ilayh" (أستغفر الله وأتوب إليه)
The Prophet ﷺ would seek forgiveness more than 70 times a day. (Bukhari, 6307)
9. Ayat al-Kursi
"Whoever recites Ayat al-Kursi after every obligatory prayer, nothing prevents him from entering Paradise except death." (Nasai, 9928 - Sahih)
Dhikr for Every Situation
Morning & Evening:
- 3x: Surah Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, An-Nas
- 3x: "SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi, SubhanAllahil Azim"
- 100x: "SubhanAllah"
After Salah:
- 33x: SubhanAllah
- 33x: Alhamdulillah
- 34x: Allahu Akbar
- 1x: Ayat al-Kursi
Before Sleep:
- Ayat al-Kursi
- Last 2 verses of Surah Al-Baqarah
- 3x: Surah Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, An-Nas
When Anxious:
- "La ilaha illa Anta, Subhanaka, inni kuntu minaz-zalimin" (Dua of Yunus)
- "Hasbunallahu wa ni'mal wakil"
When Making Decisions:
- Salat al-Istikhara
- Abundant salawat on the Prophet ﷺ
The Physical and Mental Benefits
1. Reduces Stress and Anxiety
Studies show that repetitive spiritual phrases calm the nervous system.
2. Improves Focus
Dhikr trains the mind to be present and mindful.
3. Increases Gratitude
Saying Alhamdulillah rewires the brain to notice blessings.
4. Better Sleep
Dhikr before sleep brings peace and protection.
5. Productivity Boost
Barakah in time means more gets done with less stress.
How to Make Dhikr a Habit
1. Start Small
Don't overwhelm yourself. Start with 10 SubhanAllahs after each salah.
2. Use a Tasbih (Prayer Beads)
Keep one in your pocket, car, or bag.
3. Set Reminders
Phone alarms with dhikr notifications.
4. Link to Daily Activities
- Driving? Say SubhanAllah
- Waiting? Say Alhamdulillah
- Walking? Say Allahu Akbar
5. Make it Social
Do dhikr circles with family or friends.
6. Use Apps
Download dhikr counter apps to track your progress.
7. Understand the Meanings
The more you understand, the more your heart connects.
The Reality Check
Ibn al-Qayyim said:
"The person who remembers Allah among the heedless is like the one who fights in battle while others have fled."
Hassan al-Basri said:
"The people of dhikr sit with Allah, and when you sit with Allah, you sit with the Most Generous."
Imam Ahmad said:
"I saw Allah in a dream and asked: 'O Lord, what is the best way for the seekers to get close to You?' He said: 'By reciting My words, O Ahmad.' I said: 'With understanding or without?' He said: 'With understanding and without understanding.'"
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Doing dhikr mindlessly without presence
❌ Only doing dhikr when in trouble
❌ Thinking you need to be in wudu or facing qibla (for most adhkar)
❌ Saying it too fast without reflection
❌ Comparing your dhikr to others
❌ Giving up when you don't "feel" anything immediately
Start Today
You don't need to wait for Ramadan. You don't need to be in the mosque. You don't need to finish your to-do list.
Right now, wherever you are, say:
"SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi, SubhanAllahil Azim"
And watch how Allah transforms your life—one word at a time.
Conclusion
Dhikr is not just words on your tongue—it's nourishment for your soul, medicine for your heart, and a direct line to your Creator.
The Prophet ﷺ said: "The best of your deeds is dhikr of Allah."
Not the most difficult. Not the most expensive. Not the most time-consuming.
The best.
So start now. Make every moment count. Let your tongue be moist with the remembrance of Allah.
Because when you remember Him, He remembers you.
And that changes everything.
🤲 Challenge: Set a goal to say "SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi" 100 times today. Feel the difference.
💚 Share this with someone who needs peace in their heart.
"Shall I not inform you of something that, if a calamity or disaster befalls you and you say it, it will relieve you of it? The dua of Dhun-Nun (Yunus): 'La ilaha illa Anta, Subhanaka, inni kuntu minaz-zalimin.'" (Tirmidhi - Sahih)