10 supplications
Short Dhikr with Great Rewards
Some of the lightest words carry the heaviest rewards: a phrase that plants a palm tree in Paradise, another that fills the scale, others confirmed by Allah Himself. These short adhkar can fill the gaps of every day.
The best dhikr
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ
La ilaha illallah.
There is no god but Allah. “The best dhikr is La ilaha illallah.”
Source: Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi; Sunan Ibn Majah
Fills the scale
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ
Alhamdu lillah.
Praise be to Allah. “Alhamdulillah fills the scale.”
Source: Sahih Muslim
Fills the heavens and earth
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ
Subhanallahi wal-hamdu lillah.
Glory be to Allah and praise be to Allah. “They fill what is between the heavens and the earth.”
Source: Sahih Muslim
A palm tree in Paradise
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ الْعَظِيمِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ
Subhanallahil-‘adhimi wa bi-hamdih.
Glory be to Allah the Magnificent and praise be to Him. “Whoever says it, a palm tree is planted for him in Paradise.”
Source: Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi
The lasting good deeds
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، وَلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ
Subhanallah, wal-hamdu lillah, wa la ilaha illallah, wallahu akbar, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.
Glory be to Allah, praise be to Allah, there is no god but Allah, Allah is the greatest, and there is no power or strength except with Allah. Al-baqiyat as-salihat, “the good deeds that endure” (18:46).
Source: Sunan al-Nasa’i; al-Mustadrak of al-Hakim
Words taught to a Bedouin
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ كَثِيرًا، سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَكِيمِ
La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, Allahu akbaru kabira, wal-hamdu lillahi kathira, subhanallahi rabbil-‘alamin, la hawla wa la quwwata illa billahil-‘azizil-hakim.
There is no god but Allah alone without partner; Allah is greatly great; much praise is for Allah; glory be to Allah, Lord of the worlds; there is no power or strength except with Allah, the Almighty, the Wise.
Source: Sahih Muslim
Words Allah confirms
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ
La ilaha illallahu wallahu akbar, la ilaha illallahu wahdah, la ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, la ilaha illallahu lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamd, la ilaha illallahu wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.
There is no god but Allah and Allah is the greatest; there is no god but Allah alone; there is no god but Allah alone without partner; there is no god but Allah, His is the dominion and His the praise; there is no god but Allah and there is no power or strength except with Allah. Allah confirms each phrase; whoever says them in illness and dies, the Fire will not touch him.
Source: Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi; Sunan Ibn Majah
The praise after Uhud
اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ كُلُّهُ، اللَّهُمَّ لَا قَابِضَ لِمَا بَسَطْتَ، وَلَا بَاسِطَ لِمَا قَبَضْتَ، وَلَا هَادِيَ لِمَا أَضْلَلْتَ، وَلَا مُضِلَّ لِمَنْ هَدَيْتَ، وَلَا مُعْطِيَ لِمَا مَنَعْتَ، وَلَا مَانِعَ لِمَا أَعْطَيْتَ، وَلَا مُقَرِّبَ لِمَا بَاعَدْتَ، وَلَا مُبَاعِدَ لِمَا قَرَّبْتَ، اللَّهُمَّ ابْسُطْ عَلَيْنَا مِنْ بَرَكَاتِكَ وَرَحْمَتِكَ وَفَضْلِكَ وَرِزْقِكَ
Allahumma lakal-hamdu kulluh. Allahumma la qabida lima basat, wa la basita lima qabadt, wa la hadiya lima adlalt, wa la mudilla liman hadayt, wa la mu‘tiya lima mana‘t, wa la mani‘a lima a‘tayt, wa la muqarriba lima ba‘adt, wa la muba‘ida lima qarrabt. Allahummabsut ‘alayna min barakatika wa rahmatika wa fadlika wa rizqik.
O Allah, all praise is Yours. None can withhold what You extend or extend what You withhold, none can guide whom You leave astray or mislead whom You guide, none can give what You withhold or withhold what You give, none can bring near what You put far or put far what You bring near. O Allah, spread over us Your blessings, mercy, favour and provision.
Source: Musnad Ahmad; al-Adab al-Mufrad of al-Bukhari
Persist in this name
يَا ذَا الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ
Ya dhal-jalali wal-ikram.
O Owner of Majesty and Honour. “Hold fast to Ya Dhal-Jalali wal-Ikram.”
Source: Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi
His frequent words near the end
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ، أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ
Subhanallahi wa bi-hamdih, astaghfirullaha wa atubu ilayh.
Glory be to Allah and praise be to Him; I seek Allah’s forgiveness and repent to Him. ‘A’ishah said he said it often before his death.
Source: Sahih Muslim
Small words, heavy scales
The Prophet ﷺ described dhikr as better than giving gold and silver in charity (at-Tirmidhi). Phrases like “La ilaha illallah” and “Subhanallahil-‘adhimi wa bihamdih” take seconds to say and can be repeated while walking, driving or waiting.
The lasting good deeds (al-baqiyat as-salihat) mentioned in the Qur’an were explained by Companions as these phrases of glorification, praise, tahlil and takbir.
Short Dhikr with Great Rewards: questions and answers
Is it better to count dhikr?
Counting is Sunnah for set numbers; otherwise remembrance without counting is also rewarded.
Can women in menstruation do dhikr?
Yes. Dhikr is allowed in every state.