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Deen Hub Editorial
The Power of Dhikr: Remembering Allah
2025-03-08
8 min read
Among all acts of worship, dhikr (remembrance of Allah) is unique in that it can be performed at any time, in any place, without requiring special conditions of purity or facing a particular direction. The Quran declares: "Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest." (13:28). This is not a metaphor — countless Muslims across centuries have testified to the deep tranquility that fills the heart when the tongue and mind are engaged in the remembrance of Allah.
The forms of dhikr are numerous: Subhanallah (Glory be to Allah), Alhamdulillah (All praise is for Allah), Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest), La ilaha illallah (There is no god but Allah), Astaghfirullah (I seek forgiveness from Allah), and the countless duas from the Sunnah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Shall I not tell you about the best of your deeds... the remembrance of Allah."
Among the most powerful and concise forms of dhikr are the Tasbih — the phrase "Subhanallah wa bihamdihi, Subhanallah il-Azim." The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Two phrases are beloved to the Most Merciful, light on the tongue, and heavy on the scales: Subhanallah wa bihamdihi, Subhanallah il-Azim." (Agreed upon). Another Hadith teaches the "Tasbih of Fatimah" — saying Subhanallah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times, and Allahu Akbar 34 times after each prayer. The Prophet said this is "better for you than a servant."
Dhikr is more than words — it is attentiveness of the heart. The Prophet (peace be upon him) distinguished between the one who remembers Allah and the one who does not: "The example of the one who remembers Allah and the one who does not is like the living and the dead." A life without remembrance of Allah is a spiritually empty one, while dhikr breathes life and meaning into every moment.
The morning and evening adhkar (plural of dhikr) are a structured set of supplications the Prophet (peace be upon him) taught to be recited after Fajr and after Asr. They include the Ayat al-Kursi (2:255), the last two verses of Surah al-Baqarah, the three Quls (112, 113, 114), and specific phrases for protection, gratitude, and seeking forgiveness. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever says in the morning: Subhanallah wa bihamdihi 100 times, and in the evening 100 times, no one will come on the Day of Resurrection with something better than what he came with." (Muslim). These adhkar serve as a spiritual shield for the day and night.
Salawat — sending blessings and peace upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) — is one of the most rewarding forms of dhikr. The Quran commands: "Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who believe, also send blessings upon him and greet him with a worthy greeting." (33:56). The Prophet said: "Whoever sends one blessing upon me, Allah sends ten blessings upon him." Scholars have noted that salawat is unique because Allah Himself sends blessings upon the Prophet, and the believer joins in this act.
Practical dhikr can be woven into daily routines: saying Bismillah before any action, Alhamdulillah after eating, Astaghfirullah when one makes a mistake, and La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah in times of difficulty. These short phrases, repeated throughout the day, transform ordinary activities into acts of worship and keep the heart connected to its Creator.
In an age of constant digital distraction and anxiety, the Quranic promise about dhikr carries extraordinary relevance. The restlessness and emptiness many people report can often be traced to a heart that has been filled with everything except the remembrance of its Creator. The prescription Islam offers is not complicated: begin each day with the morning adhkar, end it with the evening adhkar, and fill the spaces in between with short phrases of remembrance. A Muslim who does this consistently will find — as every generation of believers has found — that "Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest."
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The forms of dhikr are numerous: Subhanallah (Glory be to Allah), Alhamdulillah (All praise is for Allah), Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest), La ilaha illallah (There is no god but Allah), Astaghfirullah (I seek forgiveness from Allah), and the countless duas from the Sunnah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Shall I not tell you about the best of your deeds... the remembrance of Allah."
Among the most powerful and concise forms of dhikr are the Tasbih — the phrase "Subhanallah wa bihamdihi, Subhanallah il-Azim." The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Two phrases are beloved to the Most Merciful, light on the tongue, and heavy on the scales: Subhanallah wa bihamdihi, Subhanallah il-Azim." (Agreed upon). Another Hadith teaches the "Tasbih of Fatimah" — saying Subhanallah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times, and Allahu Akbar 34 times after each prayer. The Prophet said this is "better for you than a servant."
Dhikr is more than words — it is attentiveness of the heart. The Prophet (peace be upon him) distinguished between the one who remembers Allah and the one who does not: "The example of the one who remembers Allah and the one who does not is like the living and the dead." A life without remembrance of Allah is a spiritually empty one, while dhikr breathes life and meaning into every moment.
The morning and evening adhkar (plural of dhikr) are a structured set of supplications the Prophet (peace be upon him) taught to be recited after Fajr and after Asr. They include the Ayat al-Kursi (2:255), the last two verses of Surah al-Baqarah, the three Quls (112, 113, 114), and specific phrases for protection, gratitude, and seeking forgiveness. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever says in the morning: Subhanallah wa bihamdihi 100 times, and in the evening 100 times, no one will come on the Day of Resurrection with something better than what he came with." (Muslim). These adhkar serve as a spiritual shield for the day and night.
Salawat — sending blessings and peace upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) — is one of the most rewarding forms of dhikr. The Quran commands: "Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who believe, also send blessings upon him and greet him with a worthy greeting." (33:56). The Prophet said: "Whoever sends one blessing upon me, Allah sends ten blessings upon him." Scholars have noted that salawat is unique because Allah Himself sends blessings upon the Prophet, and the believer joins in this act.
Practical dhikr can be woven into daily routines: saying Bismillah before any action, Alhamdulillah after eating, Astaghfirullah when one makes a mistake, and La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah in times of difficulty. These short phrases, repeated throughout the day, transform ordinary activities into acts of worship and keep the heart connected to its Creator.
In an age of constant digital distraction and anxiety, the Quranic promise about dhikr carries extraordinary relevance. The restlessness and emptiness many people report can often be traced to a heart that has been filled with everything except the remembrance of its Creator. The prescription Islam offers is not complicated: begin each day with the morning adhkar, end it with the evening adhkar, and fill the spaces in between with short phrases of remembrance. A Muslim who does this consistently will find — as every generation of believers has found — that "Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest."
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