- Authors
- Name
- Ahmad
- Role
- Senior Marketing Manager, Islamic education • DeenUp
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
When people ask "what is the best dhikr I can do?", they are asking one of the most important questions in Islamic spiritual practice. The answer comes directly from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and it is more accessible than most Muslims realize — no special occasion required, no lengthy ritual, just a few words spoken with intention.
What Is the Best Dhikr in Islam?
The best dhikr in Islam, according to authentic hadith, is La ilaha illallah — "There is no god but Allah." The Prophet ﷺ said: "The best dhikr is La ilaha illallah, and the best supplication is Alhamdulillah" (Sunan at-Tirmidhi 3383, graded hasan). This single phrase encompasses the entire foundation of tawheed and earns immense reward on the scales of the hereafter.
Alongside it, the four beloved phrases — SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illallah, and Allahu Akbar — are collectively described as the most virtuous words a believer can utter. The Prophet ﷺ said they are "more beloved to me than everything the sun rises over" (Sahih Muslim 2695).
The Most Virtuous Dhikr Phrases from Authentic Hadith
SubhanAllahi wa bihamdih — The Heaviest on the Scales
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ الْعَظِيمِ
SubhanAllahi wa bihamdih, SubhanAllah il-Azeem
"Glorified is Allah and praise belongs to Him; Glorified is Allah, the Magnificent." — (Sahih al-Bukhari 6682, Sahih Muslim 2694)
The Prophet ﷺ said these two phrases are "light on the tongue, heavy on the scales of good deeds, and beloved to the Most Merciful." This makes them uniquely efficient — a moment's effort carries extraordinary weight on the Day of Judgment.
Subhanalah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar — After Every Prayer
The post-prayer dhikr is one of the most consistent practices of the Prophet ﷺ:
- SubhanAllah × 33 — سُبْحَانَ اللّهِ (Glorified is Allah)
- Alhamdulillah × 33 — الْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ (All praise is for Allah)
- Allahu Akbar × 33 — اللّهُ أَكْبَرُ (Allah is the Greatest)
- Complete with: La ilaha illallah wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa ala kulli shay'in qadeer (Sahih Muslim 597)
Abu Hurairah RA reported that those who do this after every prayer will have their sins forgiven, even if they were as much as the foam of the sea (Sahih Muslim 597).
La ilaha illallah — The Foundation of All Dhikr
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ
La ilaha illallah
"There is no god but Allah." — (Sunan at-Tirmidhi 3383)
This phrase is the core of the shahada and the most comprehensive declaration of tawheed. The Prophet ﷺ taught that it erases sins and raises a person's rank with Allah. It can be said at any time — walking, resting, before sleep, while doing chores.
Astaghfirullah — The Best Dhikr for Forgiveness
أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ
Astaghfirullah
"I seek forgiveness from Allah."
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever says Astaghfirullah al-Azeem al-ladhi la ilaha illa huwal-hayyul-qayyumu wa atubu ilayh, his sins will be forgiven even if he fled from battle" (Abu Dawud 1517). Learning about the benefits of istighfar shows how deeply this simple phrase transforms a person's relationship with Allah.
A Quick-Reference Table: Best Dhikr by Situation
| Situation | Dhikr | Source |
|---|---|---|
| After every prayer | SubhanAllah ×33, Alhamdulillah ×33, Allahu Akbar ×33 | Sahih Muslim 597 |
| Best at all times | SubhanAllahi wa bihamdih, SubhanAllah il-Azeem | Sahih al-Bukhari 6682 |
| Best overall dhikr | La ilaha illallah | Sunan at-Tirmidhi 3383 |
| Best for forgiveness | Sayyidul Istighfar (full form) | Sahih al-Bukhari 6306 |
| Morning & evening | Subhanalah ×10, Alhamdulillah ×10, Allahu Akbar ×10 | Various (Abu Dawud 5065) |
| Before sleep | SubhanAllah ×33, Alhamdulillah ×33, Allahu Akbar ×34 | Sahih al-Bukhari 3113 |
Why These Specific Dhikr Are Considered the Best
The Prophet ﷺ did not pick these phrases arbitrarily. Each one encodes a core attribute of tawheed:
- SubhanAllah — Declares Allah free of all imperfection (tanzih)
- Alhamdulillah — Ascribes all praise and gratitude to Allah alone
- La ilaha illallah — Affirms Allah's absolute uniqueness in divinity
- Allahu Akbar — Acknowledges Allah as greater than everything
Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله wrote that the heart cannot be spiritually alive without consistent remembrance of Allah. Just as the body needs food, the soul needs dhikr. The importance of dhikr goes beyond reward-counting — it orients the entire self toward Allah throughout the day.
How to Apply the Best Dhikr Daily
Knowing the best dhikr is one thing; making it a living habit is another. Here is a simple framework:
Anchor dhikr to existing routines
The most reliable way to build a dhikr habit is to attach it to what you already do:
- After Fajr: Morning adhkar — SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar × 10 each before rising
- After every prayer: Post-salah tasbih (33-33-34, see table above)
- During commute or chores: La ilaha illallah and SubhanAllahi wa bihamdih
- Before sleep: SubhanAllah ×33, Alhamdulillah ×33, Allahu Akbar ×34 (Sahih al-Bukhari 3113)
Start with what's on the scales
If time is short, prioritize SubhanAllahi wa bihamdih, SubhanAllah il-Azeem. The Prophet ﷺ specifically highlighted these as lightweight yet "heavy on the scales" — the highest return on the smallest investment of time.
Add daily adhkar over time
The morning and evening athkar are a structured collection of the Prophet's ﷺ recommended remembrances. Once the post-prayer dhikr becomes automatic, expanding to the full daily dhikr routine is the next step. This is the level at which major sins are warded off and hearts find their deepest peace.
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Signs That Dhikr Is Taking Root in Your Heart
Real dhikr leaves traces. You might notice:
- Gratitude rises naturally — something good happens and Alhamdulillah comes before the thought
- Distress softens faster — difficulty still hurts, but La ilaha illallah settles the heart more quickly
- Idle moments get filled — waiting in a queue becomes a moment of SubhanAllah rather than mindless scrolling
- Salah feels different — post-prayer tasbih shifts from a routine to a genuine exhale of the heart
These are signs described by scholars as the fruit of dhikr taking root — not achieved overnight, but through consistency over weeks.
Understanding Dhikr Through the Quran
Allah says in the Quran:
أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ
"Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest." — (Surah Ar-Ra'd, 13:28)
And again:
فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ
"Remember Me; I will remember you." — (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:152)
These are not motivational phrases — they are direct divine statements about the mechanism of spiritual well-being. The best dhikr is not just the most rewarded phrase; it is the key the Quran offers for a heart that does not find peace elsewhere.
The dhikr after salah is the most accessible starting point because prayer is already structured into the day. Each salah ends with a built-in opportunity for the best dhikr — 99 words spread across three phrases that cost less than three minutes.
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What is the best dhikr in Islam?
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that the best dhikr is La ilaha illallah (there is no god but Allah). Additionally, SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illallah, and Allahu Akbar — known together as the four beloved phrases — are described in hadith as the most virtuous words of remembrance a Muslim can say.
How many times should I say SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, and Allahu Akbar?
After each obligatory prayer, the Prophet ﷺ taught Muslims to say SubhanAllah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times, and Allahu Akbar 33 times, completing with La ilaha illallah wahdahu la sharika lah. This is recorded in Sahih Muslim 597.
What is the most beloved dhikr to Allah?
The Prophet ﷺ said the most beloved speech to Allah is SubhanAllahi wa bihamdih (Glorified is Allah and praise belongs to Him). He said it is light on the tongue, heavy on the scales, and beloved to the Most Merciful, as recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 6682 and Sahih Muslim 2694.
Is it better to do dhikr in Arabic?
The authenticated dhikr phrases from the Prophet ﷺ are in Arabic, and scholars agree that reciting them in Arabic is the strongest form. However, a new Muslim can say dhikr in their own language while learning the Arabic. The key is sincerity and consistency alongside memorizing the authentic forms.
Can I do dhikr at any time of day?
Yes — dhikr is encouraged at all times. The Quran instructs believers to remember Allah standing, sitting, and on their sides (Surah An-Nisa, 4:103). Specific times carry extra reward: morning and evening adhkar, post-prayer dhikr, and remembrance during moments of difficulty or gratitude.
What is the dhikr that fills the scales on the Day of Judgment?
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Two phrases are light on the tongue, heavy on the scales, and beloved to the Most Merciful: SubhanAllahi wa bihamdih, SubhanAllah il-Azeem" (Sahih al-Bukhari 6682). These two phrases together are considered among the most weighted acts of worship.
Does dhikr count if done distracted?
Scholars say dhikr performed with the tongue counts and earns reward even if the heart is not fully present, though dhikr with a focused, attentive heart (khushu) is far more rewarding. The Prophet ﷺ encouraged consistent dhikr and described it as keeping the heart alive, so regular practice builds presence over time.