Dhikr & Tasbeeh: The Complete Guide to Remembering Allah
Everything you need to know about Islamic remembrance — from the meaning of Dhikr to essential Tasbeeh phrases, daily routines, and the profound wisdom behind glorifying Allah.
Section 01
What is Dhikr (ذِكْر)?
Dhikr (also written as Zikr or Thikr) is an Arabic word meaning “remembrance” or “mention.” In Islamic theology, Dhikr refers to the act of consciously remembering and glorifying Allah through words, thoughts, and deeds. It is one of the most beloved and frequently recommended acts of worship in both the Quran and the Sunnah.
The Quran mentions the word dhikr and its derivatives over 250 times, underscoring its central importance in a Muslim’s spiritual life. Allah says:
Yā ayyuha alladhīna āmanū udhkurū Allāha dhikran kathīrā
“O you who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance.”
Quran · Surah Al-Ahzab 33:41Dhikr is not limited to verbal utterances alone. It encompasses:
- Verbal Dhikr — Reciting phrases of praise, glorification, and gratitude with the tongue
- Mental Dhikr — Contemplating Allah’s attributes, signs, and creation (tafakkur)
- Practical Dhikr — Performing every act of worship (Salah, Sawm, Hajj) with awareness of Allah
Key Insight: The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ described Dhikr as “the best deed and the purest to your Master, and the highest in your ranks, and better for you than spending gold and silver, and better for you than meeting your enemy.” — Reported by al-Tirmidhi (3377), Ibn Majah (3790)
Section 02
What is Tasbeeh (تَسْبِيح)?
Tasbeeh comes from the root s-b-ḥ (سَبَحَ), meaning to glorify, exalt, or declare Allah’s perfect purity above all imperfections. Grammatically, Tasbeeh is the verbal noun form of sabbaha, meaning “he glorified.”
The most common usage of the word Tasbeeh in everyday Muslim speech refers to:
- The phrase “SubhanAllah” — سُبْحَانَ اللَّه — itself
- Prayer beads (Misbaha / Subha) — used to count repetitions of dhikr
- Any string of dhikr phrases said in a fixed count (e.g., after prayer)
SubhānAllāhi wa biḥamdih
“Glory be to Allah and all praise is due to Him.”
Sahih Muslim · Hadith 2692 — “Whoever says this 100 times a day will have his sins forgiven even if they were as much as the foam of the sea.”The entire universe is, in essence, performing continuous Tasbeeh of Allah. As the Quran states:
“The seven heavens and the earth and all that is therein praise Him, and there is not a thing but glorifies His praise — but you do not understand their glorification.”
📖 Quran · Surah Al-Isra 17:44Section 03
Three Foundational Types of Dhikr
Islamic scholars classify Dhikr into three primary categories, each building upon the other to form a complete, holistic relationship with Allah:
Declaring Allah’s absolute purity and transcendence above all flaw, weakness, or comparison.
- SubhanAllah — سُبْحَانَ اللَّه
- SubhanAllah al-‘Adhim
- SubhanAllah wa bihamdih
Expressing gratitude and acknowledging that all perfect praise belongs to Allah alone.
- Alhamdulillah — ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰه
- Alhamdulillah Rabb al-‘Alamin
- Al-Hamdu Lillahi katheera
Proclaiming that Allah is incomparably greater than anything in existence or imagination.
- Allahu Akbar — اللَّهُ أَكْبَر
- Allahu Akbar Kabira
- Said especially at Eid & Adhan
Scholars such as Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (al-Wabil al-Sayyib) note that these three forms — Tasbih, Tahmid, and Takbir — form the bedrock of all Islamic praise, and when combined with the Shahada (Tahlil), constitute the most virtuous collection of words possible.
Section 04
Essential Dhikr & Tasbeeh Phrases
The following seven phrases are the most frequently recommended in authentic hadith. Each one carries extraordinary weight and reward far beyond its brevity.
SubhanAllah
“Glory be to Allah”
🌿 33× after prayerPlants a palm tree in Paradise with each utterance (Tirmidhi 3464). One of the most beloved phrases to Allah.
Alhamdulillah
“All praise is due to Allah”
🌿 33× after prayerFills the scales of good deeds (Muslim 223). The best phrase of gratitude and the beginning of Surah Al-Fatiha.
Allahu Akbar
“Allah is the Greatest”
🌿 34× after prayerFills what is between heaven and earth (Muslim 223). Recited at every transition of Salah as a constant reminder.
La ilaha illallah
“There is no god but Allah”
🌿 Daily — no fixed countThe best dhikr (Tirmidhi 3383). Renews iman and is the phrase of entry into Islam. Lightens the scales on Judgment Day.
La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah
“There is no power nor might except with Allah”
🌿 After Adhan & dailyA treasure from the treasures of Paradise (Bukhari 6384). Said in times of hardship and helplessness.
Astaghfirullah
“I seek forgiveness from Allah”
🌿 100× daily (Sunnah)The Prophet ﷺ sought forgiveness more than 70–100 times a day (Bukhari 6307). Opens doors of sustenance and relief.
Salawat — Durood Ibrahim
“Blessings of Allah be upon him”
🌿 10× morning & eveningFor every Salawat sent upon the Prophet ﷺ, Allah sends 10 blessings back (Muslim 384). Intercession on Qiyamah.
Section 05
Post-Prayer Tasbeeh: The 33-33-34 Formula
One of the most established and widely practised Sunnahs is reciting a specific sequence of glorifications after each of the five obligatory prayers. Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever glorifies Allah (SubhanAllah) 33 times, praises Allah (Alhamdulillah) 33 times, and magnifies Allah (Allahu Akbar) 34 times after each prayer — that is 100 in total — his sins will be forgiven even if they are as abundant as the foam of the sea.”
📚 Sahih Muslim · Hadith 597Post-Prayer Tasbeeh at a Glance
Narrated by Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) · Sahih Muslim 597
Completing with La ilaha illallah
There is a stronger narration that completes the sequence with La ilaha illallah after the 99 repetitions:
Lā ilāha illā Allāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, lahu al-mulku wa lahu al-ḥamdu wa huwa ‘alā kulli shay’in qadīr
“There is no deity except Allah, alone, with no partner. His is the dominion and His is all praise, and He is capable of all things.”
Sahih Muslim · Hadith 597 — sins forgiven even if like sea foamSection 06
Morning & Evening Adhkar
Adhkar (أَذْكَار) is the plural of Dhikr. The Morning Adhkar (adhkar al-sabah) and Evening Adhkar (adhkar al-masa’) are perhaps the most comprehensive, well-documented collections of dhikr in the Sunnah. They are drawn from authentic hadith and are designed to be recited in the morning (after Fajr until sunrise) and in the evening (after Asr until Maghrib).
🌅 Morning Adhkar
After Fajr prayer — until sunrise
- 🌿 Ayat al-Kursi (once)
- 🌿 Surah Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, Al-Nas (3×)
- 🌿 Dua for the morning
- 🌿 Sayyid al-Istighfar (once)
- 🌿 SubhanAllah wa bihamdihi (100×)
- 🌿 Salawat on the Prophet ﷺ (10×)
🌙 Evening Adhkar
After Asr prayer — until Maghrib
- 💙 Ayat al-Kursi (once)
- 💙 Surah Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, Al-Nas (3×)
- 💙 Dua for the evening
- 💙 Sayyid al-Istighfar (once)
- 💙 Salawat on the Prophet ﷺ (10×)
- 💙 La ilaha illallah wahdahu… (10×)
The Master of Seeking Forgiveness (Sayyid al-Istighfar)
The Prophet ﷺ called this dua the greatest act of seeking forgiveness. It encapsulates humility, acknowledgment of Allah’s blessings, and a sincere return to Him:
Allāhumma anta Rabbī lā ilāha illā ant, khalaqtanī wa ana ‘abduk, wa ana ‘alā ‘ahdika wa wa’dika mastaṭa’t…
“O Allah, You are my Lord. There is no god but You. You created me and I am Your slave…”
Sahih Bukhari · Hadith 6306The complete Morning and Evening Adhkar collection, with full Arabic text, transliteration, and audio, is available on our dedicated Daily Duas page →
Section 07
Benefits of Dhikr — Quranic & Prophetic Evidence
The benefits of Dhikr are not merely spiritual abstractions — they are explicitly stated in the Quran and Hadith, and increasingly validated by modern psychology and neuroscience. Here are the primary benefits:
Tranquility of the Heart
“Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.” — Quran 13:28. No other remedy equals Dhikr for inner peace.
Forgiveness of Sins
SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi (100×) wipes away sins even if they were as much as the foam of the sea. (Sahih Muslim 2692)
Heavy on the Scales
Subhanallah al-‘Adhim wa bihamdihi is “light on the tongue, heavy on the scales, beloved to the Most Merciful.” (Bukhari 6682)
Allah Remembers You
“Remember Me, and I will remember you.” (Quran 2:152). When you mention Allah, He mentions you to the Angels.
Trees in Paradise
SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar — each one plants a tree of gold in Paradise. (Tirmidhi 3464)
Protection from Shaytan
Constant dhikr builds a shield against Shaytan’s whispers. “A-‘udhu billahi min al-shaytan al-rajim” repels evil.
Increased Rizq & Barakah
Istighfar (Astaghfirullah) opens the gates of sustenance, rain, and blessings. (Quran 71:10–12; Ibn Kathir commentary)
Among the Best Deeds
The Prophet ﷺ called the dhikr of Allah better than spending in gold and silver, and better than meeting an army of enemies. (Tirmidhi 3377)
Alā bidhikrillāhi taṭmaʾinnu al-qulūb
“Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.”
Quran · Surah Ar-Ra’d 13:28 — The Most Quoted Verse on DhikrSection 08
Dhikr Through the 99 Names of Allah (Asma ul-Husna)
One of the most profound forms of Dhikr is reciting and contemplating Asma ul-Husna (أَسْمَاءُ اللَّهِ الحُسْنَى) — the 99 Beautiful Names of Allah. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Allah has ninety-nine names, one hundred less one; whoever memorises them will enter Paradise.” — And in another narration: “whoever enumerates them” (yuhsiha).
📚 Sahih Bukhari · Hadith 2736; Sahih Muslim · Hadith 2677Scholars note that iḥsā’ (to enumerate/count) goes beyond mere memorisation — it includes understanding the meaning of each Name, calling upon Allah by that Name in relevant situations, and aspiring to embody the qualities that are appropriate for humans (like patience, gratitude, and generosity).
Here is a selection of Names most relevant to Dhikr practice:
The most comprehensive and authentic listing of the 99 Names, with tafsir commentary, is found in the Tafsir of Ibn Kathir and the works of Imam al-Nawawi. For a complete digital reference, visit:
Section 09
How to Build a Consistent Dhikr Habit
Many Muslims feel the desire to increase their dhikr but struggle with consistency. Here is a practical, step-by-step approach rooted in both the Sunnah and behavioural science:
Start Small — The “One Phrase” Rule
Commit to just one dhikr phrase — say SubhanAllah 33 times after each prayer. Consistency with a small deed is more beloved to Allah than an inconsistent large deed (Bukhari 6464).
Anchor Dhikr to Existing Habits
Tie dhikr to activities you already do: say Subhanallah while waiting, Alhamdulillah after eating, Bismillah before starting any task. This is the method of habit stacking, also endorsed by the Sunnah of constant tasbih.
Use Your Fingers or Misbaha Beads
The Prophet ﷺ used his right hand fingers to count tasbeeh (Abu Dawud 1502). Misbaha (prayer beads) with 33 or 99 beads are a popular and permissible aid. The physical act anchors mindfulness.
Understand What You Are Saying
Dhikr recited with understanding of its meaning is incomparably more powerful. Study the root meanings of SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, and Allahu Akbar. Explore our Dhikr & Tasbeeh collection for full explanations.
Reserve Special Times
Protect the morning adhkar after Fajr and evening adhkar after Asr as non-negotiable. The Prophet ﷺ was consistent (dawam) in his voluntary worship even when brief (Muslim 746).
Track Progress & Make Du’a for Tawfiq
Keep a simple daily log or use a dhikr counter app. Most importantly, ask Allah to grant you tawfiq (ability) and sincerity. “O Turner of Hearts, keep my heart firm upon Your religion.” (Tirmidhi 3522)
The best voluntary time for extended dhikr is the last third of the night, when Allah descends to the lowest heaven and asks: “Who is making dua that I may answer? Who is seeking forgiveness that I may forgive?” — (Bukhari 1145)
Section 10
Frequently Asked Questions About Dhikr & Tasbeeh
🔗 Further Reading & Scholarly Resources
Continue Your Dhikr Journey
Explore our full collection of authentic duas, dhikr, and Islamic supplications — with Arabic text, transliteration, and source references.
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