Virtues of Adhkar (Remembrance of Allah)

Written by: Hafiz Nadeem Zaheer

Virtue of Certain Adhkar​

Narrated by Umm al-Mu’minin Juwairiyah (RA):

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) passed by her (Juwairiyah) after the Fajr prayer while she was sitting in her place of prayer. He came back after the Duha (forenoon) and she was still sitting there. He (ﷺ) asked, "Are you still in the same position as I left you?" She replied, "Yes." The Prophet (ﷺ) then said, "I recited four words three times after I left you, and if these words were to be weighed against what you have said since morning, these would outweigh them:

سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَبِحَمْدِهٖ عَدَدَ خَلْقِهٖ وَ رِضٰي نَفْسِهٖ وَ زِنَةَ عَرْشِهٖ وَ مِدَادَ كَلِمَاتِهٖ

In another narration:

سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَبِحَمْدِهٖ عَدَدَ خَلْقِهٖ وَ رِضٰي نَفْسِهٖ وَ زِنَةَ عَرْشِهٖ، سُبْحَانَ مِدَادَ كَلِمَاتِهٖ

[Sahih Muslim: 2726]

Benefits:​

  1. Ease and Reward: Many deeds that require less effort but yield immense rewards.
  2. Special Favor: Allah’s special favor upon His servants.
  3. Place of Remembrance: It is not necessary to specify a place for the remembrance of Allah; it can be done while moving around.
Narrated by Sayyidina Abu Umamah al-Bahili (RA):

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) passed by him while he was moving his lips (in Dhikr). The Prophet (ﷺ) asked, "What are you saying, Abu Umamah?" He replied, "I am remembering my Lord." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Shall I not tell you something that is superior to your current Dhikr?" You should say:

سُبْحَانَ اللهِ عَدَدَ مَا خَلَقَ، وَ سُبْحَانَ اللهِ مِلْ ءَ مَا خَلَقَ، وَ سُبْحَانَ اللهِ عَدَدَ مَا فِي الْاَرْضِ وَ السَّمَاءِ، وَسُبْحَانَ اللهِ مِلْ ءَ مَا فِي الْاَرْضِ وَ السَّمَاءِ، وَسُبْحَانَ اللهِ عَدَدَ مَا اَحْصٰي كِتَابَهٗ، وَسُبْحَانَ اللهِ عَدَدَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ، وَسُبْحَانَ اللهِ مِلْءَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ

And similarly, say اَلْحَمْدُ للهِ، لَا اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللهُ and اَللهُ اَكْبَرُ [An-Nasai in 'Amal al-Yawm wal-Laylah: 166]

Benefits:​

  • This narration is considered weak due to the Tadlis of Muhammad bin 'Ajlan.
  • Narration is weak without explicit mention of hearing (Sama).

Virtue of Saying Talbiyah in the Market​

Narrated by Sayyidina Umar bin Khattab (RA):

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Whoever enters the market and says:

لَااِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهٗ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهٗ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ، يُحْيِيْ وَ يُمِيْتُ وَ هُوَ حَيُّ لَّا يَمُوْتُ، بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ وَهُوَ عَليٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ

Allah will write for him a hundred thousand good deeds, forgive a hundred thousand sins, and raise him by a hundred thousand degrees."

[Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 3429, Sunan Ibn Majah: 2235]

Benefits:​

  • This narration is weak in all its chains.
  • Azhar bin Sinan (a narrator in Sunan al-Tirmidhi) and Hammad bin Amr (a narrator in Sunan Ibn Majah) are weak.
  • This narration is also found in Kitab al-Du'a by Tabarani (792, 793) and Mustadrak Hakim (1/539, Hadith 1975) with weak chains.

The Supplication for the Expiation of a Gathering​

Narrated by Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA):

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

"Whoever sits in a gathering and engages in much frivolous talk, and then before getting up, says:

سُبْحَانَكَ اللّٰهُمَّ وَ بِحَمْدِكَ، اَشْهَدُاَنْ لَّا اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اَنْتَ، اَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَ اَتُوْبُ اِلَيْكَ

It will atone for whatever took place in that gathering."

[Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 3433, Sahih]

Benefits:​

  • One should generally avoid unnecessary and frivolous talk.
  • If a mistake is made unintentionally or due to a slip of the tongue, reciting this supplication will help in seeking Allah’s forgiveness.

The Virtue of Seeking Forgiveness​

Narrated by Sayyidina Shaddad bin Aws (RA):

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "The best form of seeking forgiveness (Sayyid al-Istighfar) is to say:

اَللّٰهُمَّ اَنْتَ رَبِّيْ لَا اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِيْ وَ اَنَا عَبْدُكَ وَ اَنَا عَليٰ عَهْدِكَ وَ وَ عْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ اَعُوْذُبِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ اَبُوْءُلَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ، وَ اَبُوْءُ بِذَنْبِيْ فَاغْفِرْلِيْ اِنَّهٗ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوْبَ اِلَّا اَنْتَ

If he recites it in the evening and dies that night, he will enter Paradise; if he recites it in the morning and dies that day, he will enter Paradise."

[Bukhari: 6306, 6323]

Benefits:​

  • These words hold great importance and virtue, which is why they are referred to as "Sayyid al-Istighfar" (the best form of seeking forgiveness).
 
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