The best dhikr: SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illallah

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs us that the best dhikr (remembrance of Allah) is Lā ilāha illa Allah (there is no god but Allah), which means that no one is worthy of worship except Allah; and that the best supplication is Alhamdulillah (praise be to Allah), and it means acknowledgment that Allah Almighty is the Bestower of favors and the One worthy of possessing the attributes of perfection and excellence.

Benefits

• This urges us to mention Allah often by uttering the testimony of faith and the supplication of praise.

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The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs that the most beloved speech to Allah Almighty are four:

Subhān Allah: It is exalting Allah Almighty far above any imperfection.

Al-hamdulillāh: It is ascribing complete perfection to Allah, along with loving and extolling Him.

La ilāha illa Allah: It means none is worthy of being worshiped except Allah.

Allāhu akbar: It means He is more Sublime, Greater, and more Powerful than everything.

For obtaining the merit and reward of these words, it is not required to utter them in order.

Benefits

• The Hadīth shows the ease of the Shariah, as one may start with any of these words.

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The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) told about two words that the tongue utters without effort and in any condition, they bring great reward when weighed on the scale, and the Most Merciful Lord loves them:

Glory be to Allah, the Majestic; glory and praise be to Allah. This is because these two words contain attributes of greatness and perfection of Allah Almighty and exalting Him far above defects and imperfections.

Benefits

• The best dhikr is that which combines the exaltation of Allah and praise of Him.
• The Hadīth shows Allah's vast mercy to His servants, as He gives abundant rewards in return for simple deeds.

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The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs that remembering Allah Almighty with these noble phrases is better than the world and what it contains. The phrases are:

Subhān Allah (Glory be to Allah): Exalting Allah far above imperfections.

Wa al-hamdulillāh (Praise be to Allah): Praising Allah by the attributes of perfection along with loving and extolling Him.

Wa lā ilāha illa Allah (There is no god but Allah): None is truly worthy of worship except Allah.

Wa Allāhu akbar (Allah is the Most Great): He is Greater and more Sublime than all else.

Benefits

• The Hadīth urges us to remember Allah and mentions that His remembrance is dearer than everything the sun rises upon.
• We are exhorted to engage in dhikr a lot, given its reward and merit.
• Worldly enjoyment is little, and its desires are transient.

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The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs that whoever says "subhān Allah wa bihamdih (glory be to Allah, and praise be to Him)" one hundred times a day, his sins will be erased and forgiven, even if they were as much as the white foam that appears above the water of the sea when it is wavy and stormy.

Benefits

• This reward is attained by one who says it during a day in a successive or sporadic manner.
• Tasbīh (glorification) is to exalt Allah above any imperfection, and hamd (praise) is to attribute perfection to Him while loving and extolling Him.
• What is intended in the Hadīth is the expiation of minor sins. As for the major sins, repentance is a must.

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The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed that whoever says: (Glory be to Allah) and I exalt Him (the Most Great) in His essence, attributes, and actions (and praise is due to Him) accompanied by attributing the qualities of perfection to Him, Exalted is He, a date palm tree is planted for him in the ground of Paradise every time he says it.

Benefits

• Encouraging the frequent remembrance of Allah Almighty and it includes exalting Allah along with praising Him.
• Paradise is vast, and its plants are Tasbīh (glorification of Allah) and Tahmīd (praise of Allah), as a favor and blessing from Allah Almighty.
• The date palm tree was specifically mentioned in the Hadīth apart from other trees due to its numerous benefits and the goodness of its fruit. For this reason, Allah Almighty used it as a parable for the believer and his faith in the Qur’an.

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A man from the Bedouin asked the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to teach him a Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) to say. So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: Say: "There is no god but Allah, alone with no partner," starting with the testimony of monotheism, which means that no deity is truly worthy of worship except Allah. "Allah is the Greatest with all greatness," i.e., Allah is greater and more magnificent than everything. "And abundant praise is due to Allah," i.e., abundant praise is due to Allah for His attributes, acts, and countless favors. "Allah, the Lord of the worlds, is exalted above imperfection," i.e., He is exalted and far above deficiency. "There is no might nor power except with Allah, the Mighty and the All-Wise," i.e., there is no change from one state to another except through Allah, His assistance and guidance. The man said: Those words are for my Lord to remember and extoll Him, what supplication should I say for myself? So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: Say: "O Allah forgive me" by erasing and concealing my sins. "And have mercy upon me" by conveying religious and worldly interests and benefits to me. "And guide me" to the best of states and to the straight path. "And give me provision" represented in lawful gains, health, and every kind of goodness and well-being.

Benefits

• Encouraging the act of remembering Allah by proclaiming His oneness and His greatness and glorifying and praising Him.
• It is recommended to remember Allah and praise Him before supplication.
• It is recommended for one to supplicate Allah with the best and reported invocations, which combine all good things in the worldly life and the Hereafter, and he may supplicate as he wishes.
• One should be keen on learning whatever could bring him benefit in this life and the Hereafter.
• Encouraging the pursuit of forgiveness, mercy, and sustenance, which combine all goodness.
• The Prophet's compassion and keenness to teach his Ummah what benefits them.
• Mercy was mentioned after forgiveness to complete the purification process, as forgiveness refers to concealing and erasing sins besides being dragged away from Hellfire. In contrast, mercy refers to conveying good things and being admitted to Paradise, the supreme triumph.

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The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed that whoever says: (I am pleased with Allah as a Lord), God, Sustainer, Owner, Master, and Reformer; (with Islam) with all of its rulings, the commands and prohibitions, (as a religion), faith, and law by way of belief and submission; (and with Muhammad as a Messenger) and Prophet, with everything he was sent with and conveyed to us—except that Paradise will be guaranteed for him.

Benefits

• Encouraging the recitation of this supplication and highlighting the subsequent reward.
• Being pleased with Allah as a Lord entails that one worships none but Allah Almighty.
• Being pleased with Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) as a Prophet and Messenger entails obeying him and complying with his Sunnah.
• Being pleased with Islam as a religion indicates being pleased with what Allah has chosen for His slaves.
• It is recommended to say this supplication after the Two Testimonies of Faith upon hearing the Adhān (call to prayer), as indicated in other narrations.
• It was mentioned in another Hadīth that this supplication is recommended in the morning and evening.

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The Arabic imperative 'alizzu' used in this Hadīth means be "persistent in doing something". The meaning: Hold on to this supplication and keep repeating it. This is a virtuous supplication as it includes a name of Allah said to be His most glorious Name, since it encompasses all the attributes of Lordship and Divinity.

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Abu Hurayrah and Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with both of them) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said that Allah affirms what His slave says. If one says, "there is no god but Allah, and Allah is Greatest," Allah says: "Indeed, there is no god but Me, and I am Greatest." When one says, "Allah is Greatest, and there is no might nor power save with Allah," Allah would affirm it. So, if a person said this Dhikr (There is no god but Allah, and there is no might nor power save with Allah) then died, the Fire would not consume him, i.e. that would be a reason not to be burnt in Hellfire. Therefore, every Muslim should memorize this Dhikr and say it when he is ill, so that Allah would grant him a good end for his life, Allah, the Almighty, Willing.

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This Hadīth proves of the virtue of remembering Allah with these words of Dhikr because they contain exalting and glorifying Allah, the Almighty, as well and praising Him for His actions. Verily, there is nothing man can do except by the will of Allah. No one has power to avert harm or bring about goodness except by the help of Allah, the Almighty. The reward and benefit of these words with the great meanings that they carry do remain for the believer after his/her death.

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The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) says that outward purification is attained by ablution and washing up, and it is required for prayer. And saying "al-hamdulillāh" fills the Scale. This is to praise Allah and ascribe the attributes of perfection to Him. This will be weighed on the Day of Judgment and fill the Scale of deeds. Saying "subhān Allah wa al-hamdulillāh" - which exalts Allah far above all deficiencies and ascribes to Him the complete perfection that befits His majesty, along with loving and extolling Him - fills what is between the heavens and the earth. "Prayer is light" for a person within his heart, on his face, in his grave, and on the Day of Judgment. "Charity is proof" and evidence for the sincerity of a believer's faith and it sets him apart from the hypocrite, who refrains from giving charity because he does not believe in the reward promised in return for it. "Patience is radiance," by refraining from exasperation and indignation, is radiance, which is light that comes with heat and burning, like the light of the sun. This is because patience is difficult and requires self-struggle and restraining oneself from one's desires. So, a patient person continues to have light and adhere to guidance and the right path. Patience is shown in observing Allah's commands, avoiding His prohibitions, and enduring afflictions and different forms of hardships in this world. And "the Qur’an is proof either for you," by reciting and acting upon it, or "against you," for abandoning it, without application or recitation. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned that all people work and go about, and they get up from their sleep and go out for their different activities. Some of them hold onto obedience to Allah and thus save themselves from Hellfire. And some others deviate from that and commit sins, which ruin them by leading them to Hellfire.

Benefits

• Purity is of two kinds: outward purity, which is attained by ablution and washing up, and inward purity, which is attained by Tawhīd (monotheism), faith, and righteous deeds.
• It points out the significance of observing the prayer, as it is light for people in this world and on the Day of Judgment.
• Charity is evidence of the sincerity of faith.
• It is important for a person to act upon the Qur’an and believe in it, so that it will be proof for him, not against him.
• If a person does not preoccupy himself with worship, he will preoccupy it with sin.
• Everyone must work, and one either saves his soul with obedience to Allah or destroys it with sins.
• Patience needs endurance and the pursuit of Allah's reward, and it involves hardship.

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The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) states that he met Abraham, Al-Khalīl, (peace be upon him) on the Night of Isrā’ and Mi'rāj, and he said to him: O Muhammad, convey my greetings of peace to your Ummah and inform them that Paradise has a pleasant soil and sweet water that is not salty. Tell them that Paradise is spacious, plain, and treeless. Its seedlings are the good words, which are the lasting righteous deeds: Subhānallāh (glory be to Allah), Al-hamdulillāh (praise be to Allah), La ilāha illallāh (there is no god but Allah), and Allāhu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest). Whenever the Muslim says and repeats them, a seedling is planted for him in Paradise.

Benefits

• Encouraging the act of making Dhikr recurrently to increase the seedlings planted in Paradise.
• The superiority of the Muslim Nation, as Abraham (peace be upon him) sent them his greeting of peace.
• Abraham (peace be upon him) encouraged the Ummah of Muhammad (peace be upon him) to remember Allah Almighty frequently.
• At-Taybi said: Paradise is vast plain lands; then Allah Almighty created therein, by His favor, trees and palaces according to the worshippers' deeds. Every worshipper will get what has been specifically prepared for him because of his deeds, and since Allah Almighty has made it easy for him to perform the deeds that he was created for to get rewarded, therefore, He considers him like the one who plants such trees.

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The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) warned against neglecting the remembrance of Allah, stating that no group of people sit in a gathering where they do not remember Allah Almighty and do not invoke blessings upon His Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), except that such a gathering will be a source of regret, remorse, loss, and deficiency for them on the Day of Judgment. If Allah wills, He will punish them for their past sins and future shortcomings, and if He wills, He will forgive them out of His grace and mercy.

Benefits

• Encouraging Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) and highlighting its merit.
• The merit of gatherings in which Allah Almighty is remembered and His Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) is mentioned, and that gatherings without these are ominous for their people on the Day of Judgment.
• The warning mentioned against heedlessness of remembering Allah is not restricted to gatherings; rather, it includes other things as well. An-Nawawi said: It is disliked for one who sits in a place to leave it without remembering Allah Almighty therein.
• The grief they experience on the Day of Judgment is either because of missing the reward and recompense for not utilizing time in obeying Allah, or because of incurring sin and being subject to punishment for spending the time in disobeying Allah.
• If this warning is against heedlessness caused by what is permissible, then what about the prohibited gatherings that involve backbiting, talebearing, and other prohibitions?!

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