Short Summary
Dhikr (ذِكْر — dhikr) is the Arabic word for the remembrance and mention of ALLAH. It is one of the most powerful and accessible acts of worship in Islam — no wudu required, no specific time or place, no special equipment. A single phrase uttered sincerely from the heart is an act of worship that elevates you before ALLAH.
What Dhikr Is
The word dhikr comes from the Arabic root dhakara — to remember, to mention, to keep in mind. In Islamic practice, dhikr refers to any act of consciously remembering ALLAH: repeating His names, praising Him, glorifying Him, thanking Him, or declaring His oneness.
Dhikr can be spoken aloud or silently in the heart. It can be performed while sitting, standing, walking, or even lying down. This makes it unique among the pillars of worship — it has no barriers.
Dhikr vs. Dua
Dhikr is the remembrance and praise of ALLAH — glorifying Him, thanking Him, and acknowledging His greatness. It is directed toward ALLAH.
Dua is supplication — asking ALLAH for something specific. It is a conversation with ALLAH.
Both are forms of worship. Dhikr often precedes and enriches dua. You can think of dhikr as turning to face ALLAH before speaking to Him in dua.
Why Dhikr Matters
ALLAH commands the remembrance of Him directly and repeatedly in the Quran — and He promises that the heart finds its true rest in that remembrance.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيرًا وَسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا
“O you who believe, remember ALLAH with much remembrance and exalt Him morning and evening.”
أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ
“Verily, in the remembrance of ALLAH do hearts find rest.”
This verse from Surah Ar-Ra'd is one of the most well-known in the Quran. It is not a metaphor — it is a statement of reality. Anxiety, restlessness, and emptiness find their remedy in the remembrance of ALLAH.
The Quran also shows us what a life of dhikr looks like in practice — people who remember ALLAH in every state:
ٱلَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ قِيَٰمًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِى خَلْقِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ
“Those who remember ALLAH while standing, sitting, and lying on their sides, and who reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth.”
ALLAH also tells us that He remembers those who remember Him:
فَٱذْكُرُونِىٓ أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَٱشْكُرُوا۟ لِى وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ
“Remember Me, and I will remember you. Be grateful to Me and do not be ungrateful.”
And ALLAH ties dhikr directly to success:
وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
“And remember ALLAH often that you may succeed.”
The Core Phrases of Dhikr
These are the foundational expressions of dhikr that every Muslim uses throughout their day. Each carries enormous reward and a specific meaning.
SubhanALLAH (سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ)
Meaning: "Glory be to ALLAH" — ALLAH is free of all imperfection, weakness, and limitation.
Use it when you witness something beautiful, something surprising, or when reflecting on ALLAH's creation.
Alhamdulillah (الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ)
Meaning: "All praise and thanks belong to ALLAH" — acknowledging that every blessing comes from Him.
Use it after eating, drinking, sneezing, completing something, or any moment of gratitude.
ALLAHU Akbar (اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ)
Meaning: "ALLAH is the Greatest" — greater than any situation, fear, problem, or distraction.
Use it in the adhan (call to prayer), in salah, and whenever you need to recenter yourself on what truly matters.
La ilaha illa ALLAH (لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ)
Meaning: "There is no god worthy of worship except ALLAH" — the core of tawheed (monotheism), the greatest declaration in Islam.
This phrase is the foundation of faith itself. It is the first part of the Shahadah. Repeated as dhikr, it renews your declaration of faith and clears the heart.
Bismillah (بِسْمِ اللَّهِ)
Meaning: "In the name of ALLAH" — a prayer of blessing and a conscious act of beginning everything for His sake.
Say it before eating, drinking, entering a home, starting any task, beginning a journey, or opening a book. Bismillah transforms ordinary acts into acts of worship.
Astaghfirullah (أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ)
Meaning: "I seek forgiveness from ALLAH" — turning back to ALLAH after any sin or shortcoming.
ALLAH is Al-Ghaffar (the Perpetual Forgiver) and Al-Tawwab (the One Who accepts repentance). Seeking forgiveness is itself an act of worship and a sign of humility.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Peace Be Upon Him) said: "Two phrases are beloved to the Most Merciful, light on the tongue, and heavy on the Scale: SubhanALLAH wa bihamdihi, SubhanALLAH al-Azeem — Glory be to ALLAH and His is the praise; Glory be to ALLAH the Magnificent."
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Peace Be Upon Him) said: "The example of the one who remembers his Lord and the one who does not is like the example of the living and the dead."
How Dhikr Is Practiced in Daily Life
Dhikr After Salah
After each of the five daily prayers, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Peace Be Upon Him) taught specific phrases to be repeated:
- SubhanALLAH — 33 times
- Alhamdulillah — 33 times
- ALLAHU Akbar — 33 times
- Then completing 100 with: La ilaha illa ALLAH, wahdahu la sharika lah, lahu'l-mulku wa lahu'l-hamd, wa huwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadir — "There is no god but ALLAH, alone with no partner, to Him belongs the dominion and all praise, and He is over all things capable."
This takes less than two minutes and fills the space after prayer with continued worship.
Morning and Evening Adhkar
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Peace Be Upon Him) taught specific collections of dhikr for the morning (after Fajr) and evening (after Asr or Maghrib). These are called al-adhkar al-sabah wal-masa' — the morning and evening remembrances. They include phrases for protection, gratitude, and seeking ALLAH's blessing on the day ahead or the night ahead.
Many Muslims use a misbaha (prayer beads, also called tasbih or sibha) to keep count of repetitions. This is a practical tool, not a religious requirement.
Dhikr Throughout the Day
Because dhikr requires no special state of purity and no specific location, it can fill every moment:
- Say Bismillah before every action
- Say Alhamdulillah after every blessing, large or small
- Say SubhanALLAH when you see something that moves you
- Say Astaghfirullah when you catch yourself in a mistake
- Say ALLAHU Akbar when life feels overwhelming
Start Small and Be Consistent
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Peace Be Upon Him) said that the most beloved deeds to ALLAH are those done consistently, even if they are small. Do not try to memorize every formula at once. Start with SubhanALLAH, Alhamdulillah, and ALLAHU Akbar after each salah. Let that become natural before adding more. Consistent small dhikr is worth more than an occasional large effort.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistakes Beginners Often Make
- Saying the words without the heart present — Dhikr said mechanically while thinking about something else has less value than fewer words said with awareness. Work on presence, not just repetition count.
- Trying to do everything at once — New Muslims sometimes try to memorize all morning and evening adhkar on day one. Start with three phrases after each prayer. Grow from there.
- Thinking dhikr requires a special state — Unlike prayer, dhikr requires no wudu, no facing the qiblah, and no special time. You do not need to "get ready" for dhikr. Start now, wherever you are.
- Abandoning dhikr when busy — The tongue can remember ALLAH while hands are working. Do not reserve dhikr only for quiet moments. ALLAH is the purpose of every moment.
- Counting without understanding — If you say "SubhanALLAH" 33 times without knowing it means "Glory be to ALLAH," spend a week just reflecting on that meaning before increasing the count.
Common Questions
The specific phrases of dhikr — SubhanALLAH, Alhamdulillah, ALLAHU Akbar, and others — are in Arabic, and Arabic is the language of the Quran. However, you can simultaneously reflect on their meanings in your own language. ALLAH knows what is in your heart regardless of language. The Arabic words carry special weight because they are the words taught by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Peace Be Upon Him) himself.
Using a misbaha (tasbih/sibha) to count repetitions of dhikr is permissible according to the majority of scholars. It is a practical counting tool. Some scholars prefer counting on the fingers of the right hand, as that is established in the Sunnah — but both practices are acceptable. The goal is the dhikr itself.
Yes. This is one of the great gifts of dhikr. You can remember ALLAH while driving, cooking, walking, exercising, or doing household tasks. The heart can be in dhikr while the hands are busy. ALLAH commanded "much remembrance" — and this is how the Muslim fills their day with worship without stopping all other activity.
Both are acts of worship and remembrance of ALLAH, but they are distinct. Reciting the Quran means reciting the words of ALLAH as revealed — every letter carries tenfold reward. Dhikr refers to phrases of praise, glorification, and remembrance. Both can fill a Muslim's day. The Quran itself contains verses that are also used as dhikr (such as Ayatul Kursi), so the two overlap beautifully.
Key Takeaways
- Dhikr means remembrance and mention of ALLAH — it is one of the most accessible acts of worship
- ALLAH commands His believers to remember Him abundantly, and promises that hearts find rest in His remembrance
- The core phrases are: SubhanALLAH, Alhamdulillah, ALLAHU Akbar, La ilaha illa ALLAH, Bismillah, Astaghfirullah
- Dhikr after salah, in the morning and evening, and throughout the day are all established Sunnah practices
- Consistency over quantity: small, regular dhikr is more beloved to ALLAH than sporadic large efforts
- Dhikr is the foundation that supports all other acts of worship — it keeps the heart connected to ALLAH between prayers
Related Topics
References
- Quran 33:41–42 — Command to remember ALLAH abundantly
- Quran 13:28 — Hearts find rest in the remembrance of ALLAH
- Quran 2:152 — ALLAH remembers those who remember Him
- Quran 3:191 — Believers who remember ALLAH standing, sitting, and lying down
- Quran 62:10 — Remember ALLAH often to succeed
- Hadith: "The one who remembers his Lord vs. the one who does not, like the living and the dead" — Sahih al-Bukhari (citation number pending scholar review)
- Hadith on SubhanALLAH wa bihamdihi — Sahih al-Bukhari (citation number pending scholar review)
- Post-salah dhikr formulas — Sahih Muslim (citation numbers pending scholar review)
Scholar Review Required
This article is a draft and has been marked for scholar review before publication. Hadith citation numbers are marked as pending verification. Do not publish without completing citation_check_required review.