Dhikr & Tasbeeh: A Beginner’s Guide To Daily Remembrance

Q: What is the difference between Dhikr and Tasbeeh?

Dhikr (ذِكْر) is the broader concept of 'remembrance of Allah' and encompasses all forms of verbal, mental, and physical worship. Tasbeeh (تَسْبِيح) refers specifically to saying 'SubhanAllah' (Glory be to Allah), though the word is also used informally to mean counting dhikr on prayer beads.

Q: How many times should I say Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah, and Allahu Akbar after prayer?

The Prophet ﷺ recommended saying SubhanAllah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times, and Allahu Akbar 34 times after each obligatory prayer — a total of 100 glorifications, as recorded in Sahih Muslim.

Q: What are the best times for Dhikr?

The best times for dhikr are: after each obligatory prayer, in the morning (after Fajr until sunrise), in the evening (after Asr until Maghrib), on Fridays (especially before and after Jumu'ah prayer), during Ramadan, and on the Day of Arafah.

Q: Is using Tasbeeh beads (Misbaha) permissible in Islam?

The majority of Islamic scholars permit using tasbeeh beads (misbaha/subha) as a counting tool for dhikr, though some scholars prefer counting on the fingers following the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. Both methods are valid.

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:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيرًا

Yā ayyuha alladhīna āmanū udhkurū Allāha dhikran kathīrā

“O you who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance.”

Quran · Surah Al-Ahzab 33:41

Dhikr 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

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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)

سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ

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 17:44

Section 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:

01 Tasbih — Glorification التَّسْبِيح

Declaring Allah’s absolute purity and transcendence above all flaw, weakness, or comparison.

SubhanAllah — سُبْحَانَ اللَّه
SubhanAllah al-‘Adhim
SubhanAllah wa bihamdih

02 Tahmid — Praise التَّحْمِيد

Expressing gratitude and acknowledging that all perfect praise belongs to Allah alone.

Alhamdulillah — ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰه
Alhamdulillah Rabb al-‘Alamin
Al-Hamdu Lillahi katheera

03 Takbir — Magnification التَّكْبِير

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.

سُبْحَانَ اللَّه

SubhanAllah

“Glory be to Allah”

🌿 33× after prayer

Plants a palm tree in Paradise with each utterance (Tirmidhi 3464). One of the most beloved phrases to Allah.

ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰه

Alhamdulillah

“All praise is due to Allah”

🌿 33× after prayer

Fills the scales of good deeds (Muslim 223). The best phrase of gratitude and the beginning of Surah Al-Fatiha.

اللَّهُ أَكْبَر

Allahu Akbar

“Allah is the Greatest”

🌿 34× after prayer

Fills what is between heaven and earth (Muslim 223). Recited at every transition of Salah as a constant reminder.

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰه

La ilaha illallah

“There is no god but Allah”

🌿 Daily — no fixed count

The best dhikr (Tirmidhi 3383). Renews iman and is the phrase of entry into Islam. Lightens the scales on Judgment Day.

لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِٱللَّٰه

La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah

“There is no power nor might except with Allah”

🌿 After Adhan & daily

A treasure from the treasures of Paradise (Bukhari 6384). Said in times of hardship and helplessness.

أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ

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.

صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ

Salawat — Durood Ibrahim

“Blessings of Allah be upon him”

🌿 10× morning & evening

For every Salawat sent upon the Prophet ﷺ, Allah sends 10 blessings back (Muslim 384). Intercession on Qiyamah.

📚 Scholarly & Reference Sources

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 597

Post-Prayer Tasbeeh at a Glance

33times

سُبْحَانَ اللَّه SubhanAllah

+

33times

ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰه Alhamdulillah

+

34times

اللَّهُ أَكْبَر Allahu Akbar

Total: 100 glorifications per prayer · 500 per day

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:

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

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 foam

Section 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).

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:

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ

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 6306

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The 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.

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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.

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Increased Rizq & Barakah

Istighfar (Astaghfirullah) opens the gates of sustenance, rain, and blessings. (Quran 71:10–12; Ibn Kathir commentary)

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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)

أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ

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 Dhikr

Section 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 2677

Scholars 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:

الرَّحْمَٰنAr-Rahman

الرَّحِيمAr-Raheem

الْقُدُّوسAl-Quddus

السَّلَامAs-Salam

الْغَفُورAl-Ghafoor

الشَّكُورAsh-Shakoor

الْحَلِيمAl-Haleem

الرَّقِيبAr-Raqeeb

الْوَدُودAl-Wadood

الرَّزَّاقAr-Razzaq

التَّوَّابAt-Tawwab

الْقَرِيبAl-Qareeb

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:

1

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).

2

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.

3

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.

4

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.

5

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).

6

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)

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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

What is the difference between Dhikr and Tasbeeh?

Dhikr (ذِكْر) is the broader concept of “remembrance of Allah” encompassing all forms of verbal, mental, and physical worship. Tasbeeh (تَسْبِيح) refers specifically to saying “SubhanAllah” (Glory be to Allah), though the word is also used informally to mean counting dhikr on prayer beads (misbaha). Think of Tasbeeh as one category within the wider umbrella of Dhikr.

How many times should I say SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, and Allahu Akbar after prayer?

What are the best times for Dhikr?

Is using Tasbeeh beads (Misbaha) permissible in Islam?

The majority of Islamic scholars — including those of the four major madhabs — permit using tasbeeh beads (misbaha/subha) as a counting tool for dhikr. Some scholars (particularly influenced by Hanbali positions) prefer counting on the fingers, following the specific Sunnah narrated in Abu Dawud (1502). Both methods are valid. Using the right hand’s fingers when possible is considered more virtuous, but beads are a widely accepted aid.

Can I do Dhikr silently (in my heart)?

Yes. Dhikr can be performed verbally (with the tongue), mentally (with the heart), or both simultaneously — which is the most complete form. The Quran says: “Remember your Lord within yourself (nafsik), humbly and with fear, and without loudness in words, in the mornings and evenings.” (7:205). However, verbal dhikr also has specific unique rewards — such as the written record of angels — so both are valuable in different ways.

What is the most virtuous single phrase of Dhikr?

Several hadiths point to different phrases as being especially virtuous. The most widely cited are: La ilaha illallah (the best dhikr — Tirmidhi 3383), SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi (beloved to Allah and fills the scales — Muslim 2692), and Subhanallahi al-‘Adhim wa bihamdihi (light on the tongue, heavy on the scales, beloved to Ar-Rahman — Bukhari 6682). Scholars agree these do not contradict each other — the virtue depends on context, sincerity, and frequency.

Dhikr & Tasbeeh: The Complete Guide to Remembering Allah

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