Easy Dhikr

Right from when I was a child the size of my fathers’ legs to the man I have become today by the Grace of Allah, my father has told me, “Son, make the Dhikr (remembrance) of Allah whenever the tongue is free. Do not waste your time.” As a child, I did not have to look into the Quran and Sunnah to obey him. It was only years later that I did look into the matter of Dhikr only to find extraordinary things that blew my mind away and I hope will blow away yours too.

Very often we look for getting the most out of very little, being able to do a lot without much effort. Our own religion allows us to do that and we are unaware of it. If we spend our time, even if it were for a few seconds, in the Dhikr of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, it could help us gain unimaginable bounties as you will see below.

Ibn al-Qayyim Rahimullah (May Allah have mercy upon him) said:

“Dhikr gives a person strength so that he can do with dhikr that which he cannot do without it. I saw wonders in the strength of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah in walking, speech, courage and writing. He used to write in one day what a scribe would write in a week, or more. The troops saw his amazing strength in war.” [Al-Wabil Al-Sayyib (p. 77)]

Above all, dhikr does to the heart what no other form of action can do, it does to the heart what every man yearns for but seeks it in all the wrong places. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala says:

“Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.”

[Surat Ar-Ra’ad 13: Ayah 28]

سُبْحَانَ اللّهِ وَ بِحَمْدِهِ ، سُبْحَانَ اللّهِ الْعَظِيمِ

SubhanAllahi wa Bi Hamdihi, Subhan-Allahil-Azhim

Glory and praise be to Allah, Glory be to Allah the Almighty.

• [At- Tirmidhi].
  Arabic/English book reference : Book 16, Hadith 1439

  Jabir RadhiyAllahu Anhu (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

  The Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam said, “For him who says: ‘Subhan-Allahi wa bi hamdihi’ a palm-tree will be planted in Jannah.”

• Bukhari :: Book 9 :: Volume 93 :: Hadith 652

  Narrated by Abu Huraira RadhiyAllahu Anhu:

  The Prophet said, “(There are) two words which are dear to the Beneficent (Allah) and very light (easy) for the tongue (to say), but very heavy in weight in the balance. They are: ‘Subhan Allah wa-bi hamdihi’ and ‘Subhan Allah Al-‘Azim.”

• Bukhari :: Book 8 :: Volume 78 :: Hadith 673

  Narrated by Abu Huraira RadhiyAllahu Anhu:

  Allah’s Apostle said, “(Following are) two words (sentences or utterances that are very easy for the tongue to say, and very heavy in the balance (of reward,) and the most beloved to the Gracious Almighty (And they are): Subhan Allah wa bi-hamdihi; Subhan Allahi-l-‘Azim,”

• Sahih Bukhari, Volume VIII (8), Chapter 67, Hadith 414

  Narrated by Abu Huraira RadhiyAllahu Anhu:

  Allah’s Apostle (peace and blessings be upon him) said,“Whoever says, ‘Subhan Allah wa bihamdihi,’ one hundred times a day, will be forgiven all his sins even if they were as much as the foam of the sea.”

لا إِلَهََ إِلاَّ الله وَحْدَهُ لا شَرِيْكَ لَهُ، لَهُ المُلْكُ وَلَهُ الحَمْدُ وَهُوَعَلَى كُلِّ شَيء ٍ قَدِيْر

La ilaha illallahu wahdahu, la sharika lahu, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu, wahuwa ‘ala kulli shai’n qadeer

There is none worthy of worship except Allah, alone, Who has no partner. For Him is the Dominion and to Him is the praise and He has power over all things.

• Bukhari :: Book 4 :: Volume 54 :: Hadith 514

  Narrated Abu Huraira RadhiyAllahu Anhu :

  Allah’s Apostle SallAllahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam said, “If one says one-hundred times in one day: “[the above]”, one will get the reward of manumitting ten slaves, and one-hundred good deeds will be written in his account, and one-hundred bad deeds will be wiped off or erased from his account, and on that day he will be protected from the morning till evening from Satan, and nobody will be superior to him except one who has done more than that which he has done.”

• Sahih al-Bukhari; 7:67, Sahih Muslim; 4:2071.

  Whoever says the above ten times, will have the reward for freeing four slaves from the Children of Isma’il.

Remembering Allah after the 5 Obligatory prayers saying

سُبْحَانَ اللّهِ,الْحَمْدُللّهِ,اللّهُ اَكْبَرُ

SubhanAllah, Alhumdulillah, AllahuAkbar

Glory be to Allah, Praise be to Allah, Allah is the Most Great

• Bukhari :: Book 1 :: Volume 12 :: Hadith 804

  Narrated Abu Huraira RadhiyAllahu Anhu:

  Some poor people came to the Prophet SallAllahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam and said, “The wealthy people will get higher grades and will have permanent enjoyment and they pray like us and fast as we do. They have more money by which they perform the Hajj, and ‘Umra; fight and ,struggle in Allah’s Cause and give in charity.” The Prophet said, “Shall I not tell you a thing upon which if you acted you would catch up with those who have surpassed you? Nobody would overtake you and you would be better than the people amongst whom you live except those who would do the same. Say “Sub-han-al-lah”, “Alhamdu-lillah” and “Allahu Akbar” thirty three times each after every (compulsory) prayer.” We differed and some of us said that we should say, “SubhanAllah” thirty three times and “Alhamdulillah” thirty three times and “Allahu Akbar” thirty four times. I went to the Prophet who said, “Say, “Subhan al-lah” and “Alhamdu lillah” and “Allahu Akbar” all together for thirty three times.”

• Dawud :: Book 8 : Hadith 1499

  Narrated AbuHurayrah RadhiyAllahu Anhu:

  AbuDharr said: Prophet of Allah. The wealthy people have all the rewards; they pray as we pray; they fast as we fast; and they have surplus wealth which they give in charity; but we have no wealth which we may give in charity. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: AbuDharr, should I not teach you phrases by which you acquire the rank of those who excel you? No one can acquire your rank except one who acts like you. He said: Why not, Apostle of Allah? He said: Exalt Allah (say: Allah is Most Great) after each prayer thirty-three times; and praise Him (say: Praise be to Allah) thirty-three times; and glorify Him (say: Glory be to Allah) thirty-three times, and end it by saying, “There is no god but Allah alone, there is no partner, to Him belongs the Kingdom, to Him praise is due and He has power over everything”. His sins will be forgiven, even if they are like the foam of the sea.

   

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ، اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

Allahumma Salli Ala Muhammadin Wa Ala Ali Muhammadin Kama Sallaita Ala Ibraheema Wa Ala Ali Ibraheema Innaka Hameedum Majeed.
Allahumma Barik Ala Muhammadin Wa Ala Ali Muhammadin Kama Barakta Ala Ibraheema Wa Ala Ali Ibraheema Innaka Hameedum Majeed

O Allah! Send prayer upon Mohammed and upon the family of Mohammed, as You sent prayers upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim.You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory. And send blessings upon Mohammed and upon the family of Mohammed, as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory.

• Muslim :: Book 4 : Hadith 808

  Abu Huraira RadhiyAllahu Anhu reported:

  The Messenger of Allah SallAllahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam said: “He who blesses me once, Allah would bless him ten times.”

   

• (Saheeh Sunan Abi Dawood, 1795)

  It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah RadhiyAllahu Anhu that:

  The Messenger of Allaah SallAllahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam said: “There is no one who sends salaams upon me, but Allaah will restore to me my soul so that I may return his salaams.”

• Narrated by al-Nasaa’i, 1282;
  Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1664

  It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allah ibn Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

  The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Allah has angels who go around on earth, conveying to me the salaam of my ummah.”

   

• Narrated by Abu Dawood, 2042;
  classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 7226.

  It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said:

  The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Do not take your houses as graves and do not take my grave as a place of festivity (which you visit repeatedly). Send blessings upon me for your greeting will reach me no matter where you are.”

   

• Dawud :: Book 3 : Hadith 1042

  Narrated Aws bin Aws RadhiyAllahu Anhu:

  The Prophet SallAllahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam said: Among the most excellent of your days is Friday ; on it Adam was created, on it he died, on it the last trumpet will be blown, and on it the shout will be made, so invoke more blessings on me that day, for your blessings will be submitted to me. The people asked: Apostle of Allah, how can it be that our blessings will be submitted to you while your body is decayed? He replied: Allah, the Exalted, has prohibited the earth from consuming the bodies of Prophets.

   

   

Sayyid ul Istighfaar (Best dua for seeking forgiveness)

اَللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّيْ لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِيْ وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ، أَبُوْءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ، وَأَبُوْءُ بِذَنْبِيْ فَاغْفِرْ لِيْ فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوْبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ

‘Allahumma anta Rabbi la ilaha illa anta. Khalaqtani wa ana abduka, wa ana ‘ala ahdika wa wa’dika mastata’tu, A’udhu bika min Sharri ma sana’tu. Abu’u Laka bini’matika ‘alaiya, wa Abu’u bidhanbi. Faghfirli, faa innahu la yaghfiru adhdhunuba illa anta.”

O Allah, You are my Lord, there is none worthy of worship but You. You created me and I am your slave. I keep your covenant, and my pledge to you as far as I am able. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge Your blessings upon me and I admit to my misdeeds. Forgive me for there is none who may forgive sins but You.

• Bukhari :: Book 8 :: Volume 75 :: Hadith 318

  Narrated Shaddad bin Aus RadhiyAllahu Anhu:

  The Prophet SallAllahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam said “The most superior way of asking for forgiveness from Allah is: (The dua mentioned above).”
  The Prophet added. “If somebody recites it during the day with firm faith in it, and dies on the same day before the evening, he will be from the people of Paradise; and if somebody recites it at night with firm faith in it, and dies before the morning, he will be from the people of Paradise.”

أَسْتَغْفِرُاللَّهَ

Astaghfirullah

I seek the forgiveness of Allah.

• Narrated by al-Bukhaari, no. 6307

  The Prophet SallAllahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam said: “By Allah, I seek the forgiveness of Allah and I turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times each day.”

• Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2499; classed as hasan by al-Albaani.

  The Prophet SallAllahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam said “Every son of Adam sins, and the best of those who sin are those who repent.”

• Narrated by al-Bukhaari, no. 6309

  The Prophet SallAllahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam said: “When a person repents, Allah rejoices more than one of you who found his camel after he lost it in the desert.”

• Narrated by Muslim, no. 2759

  The Prophet SallAllahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam said: “Allah spreads out His Hand at night to accept the repentance of those who did wrong during the day, and He spreads out His Hand during the day to accept the repentance of those who did wrong during the night. (This will continue) until the sun rises from the west.”

• Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6953; Muslim, 4953

  The Prophet SallAllahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam said: “If a person commits a sin, then says, ‘O Lord, I have committed a sin so forgive me,’ He (Allah) says, ‘My slave knows that he has a Lord Who may forgive sins or punish for it; I have forgiven My slave…”

• Narrated by Muslim, 4936

  The Prophet SallAllahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam said: “If you did not commit sin, Allah would do away with you and bring people who would commit sins then ask Him to forgive them, so He would forgive them.”

• Tafseer Al-Qurtubi (18/301-302)

  A man once came to al-Hasan al-Basri and complained to him: “The sky does not      shower us with rain.” He replied: “Seek Allah’s forgiveness (i.e. say أستغفر ألله). Then another person came to him and said, “I complain of poverty.” He replied: “Seek Allah’s forgiveness.” Then another person came to him and complained, “My wife is barren; she cannot bear children.” He replied: “Seek Allah’s forgiveness.” The people who were present, said to al-Hasan: “Everytime a person came to you complaining, you instructed them to seek Allah’s forgiveness?” Al-Hasan al-Basri said, “Have you not read the statement of Allah? –
  “Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Truly He is Oft-Forgiving. He will send rain to you in abundance; increase you in wealth and children; grant you gardens and bestow on you rivers.” [Surat Nuh: Ayahs 10-12]

• [Summarized from Al Jumuah magazine, vol 19, issue 7]

  This story about “Istighfar” is from the life of Imam Ahmed Bin Hanbal, who is considered as a renowned scholar of Islam and a famous theologian.

  During his old age, while Imam Ahmed was travelling he stopped by a town. After the prayers, he wanted to stay for the night in the masjid yard because he didn’t know anyone in the town. Owing to his humility, he hadn’t introduced himself to anyone thinking that if he did, he would be welcomed by many people.

  Failing to recognize Ahmed bin Hanbal, the caretaker of the mosque refused to let him stay in the mosque. As Imam Ahmed was quite old, the caretaker had to drag him out of the mosque. On seeing this, a baker from a nearby place felt pity for this man (Imam Ahmed) and offered to be the host to him for the night. During his stay with the baker, Imam Ahmed observed that the baker would constantly recite Istighfar (seek forgiveness from Allah). Imam Ahmed asked the baker if the constant practice of saying Istighfar had any effect on him. The baker responded by telling Imam Ahmed that Allah had accepted all of his duas (supplications), except one. When he asked him what dua was it that hadn’t been accepted, the baker replied that he had been asking Allah to provide him the privilege to meet the famous scholar Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal.

  On this, Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal said that Allah had not only listened to his dua but had dragged him onto his (the baker’s) doorsteps.

• Related by at-Tirmidhi (also by Ahmad ibn Hanbal). Its chain of authorities is sound.

  On the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:

  I heard the Messenger of Allah say: “Allah the Almighty said: ‘O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it.’

أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ الْعَظِيمَ الَّذِي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْْقَيُّومُ وَ أَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ

Astaghfirullah al-‘Adheemal-ladhi la ilaha illa Huwal-Hayyul-Qayyumu wa atubu ilaiyh

I seek the forgiveness of Allah the Mighty, Whom there is none worthy except Him, the Living, The Eternal, and I repent unto Him.

• Abu Dawud 2/85, at-Tirmidhi 5/569, Al-Hakim who declared it authentic.
  Adh-Dhahabi agreed with him 1/511.

  Whoever says the above words, Allah will forgive him even if he deserted the army’s ranks.

لا حَوْلَ وَلا قُوَّةَ اِلَّا بِاللّهِ

Laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa Billaah

There is no strength and no power except with Allah.

• Sahih al-Bukhari; al-Fath al-Bari 11:213, Sahih Muslim, 2076.

  The Prophet Sallalahu Alayhi wa Sallam said that [the above] is a treasure from the treasures of Paradise.

سُبْحَانَ اللّهِ ، والْحَمْدُللّهِ ، وَ لا اِلهَ اِلَّا اللّهُ ، وَ اللّهُ اَكْبَرُ

SubhaanAllah, wal-hamdu Lillah, wa laa ilaaha illAllaah, wallaahu akbar

Glory be to Allah, praise be to Allah, there is no god except Allah, and Allah is Most Great.

• Narrated by Muslim

  The Prophet SallAllahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam said: “When I say [the above],  this is more beloved to me than all that the sun rises upon.”

• [At- Tirmidhi] Book 16, Hadith 1440

  Ibn Mas’ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

  The Messenger of Allah SallAllahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam said, “I met Ibrahim on the Night of Ascension (Al-Asra), and he said to me: “O Muhammad, convey my greetings to your Ummah, and tell them that Jannah has a vast plain of pure soil and sweet water. It is a plain levelled land. The plants grow there by uttering: Subhan-Allah, Al-hamdu lillah, La ilaha illallah and Allahu Akbar.”

سُبْحـانَ اللهِ وَبِحَمْـدِهِ عَدَدَ خَلْـقِه ، وَرِضـا نَفْسِـه ، وَزِنَـةَ عَـرْشِـه ، وَمِـدادَ كَلِمـاتِـه

 Subhaan Allaahi wa bi hamdihi, ‘adada khalqihi, wa ridaa nafsihi, wazinata ‘arshihi, wa midaada kalimaatihi

Glory and praise be to Allah, as much 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.

• Muslim 4/2090

  Juwairiyah RadhiyAllahu Anhu reported that one day the Prophet SallAllahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam, peace be upon him, left her apartment in the morning as she was busy observing her dawn prayer in her place of worship. He came back in the forenoon and she was still sitting there. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said to her, “You have been in the same place since I left you?” She said, “Yes.” Thereupon the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, “I recited four words three times after I left you and if these were to be weighed against what you have recited since morning these would outweigh them, and these words are: [the above].

• Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said:”Saying: [the above] is many times better than merely saying Subhan Allah (Glory be to Allah). What the one who says ‘Subhan Allah wa bi hamdih, ‘adada khalqihi…’ achieves of knowing Allah, exalting Him and glorifying Him, when his dhikr is connected to the huge numbers mentioned, is far greater than what is achieved by the one who merely says Subhan Allah. This is called multiplied dhikr and it is greater glorification and praise than regular dhikr, hence it is better than it.”