The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, encouraged Muslims to remember Allah throughout their daily lives so that the heart remains connected to its Creator.
Dhikr is not limited to one particular time. It accompanies the Muslim from waking up in the morning through daily activities, prayer, travel, and the evening, turning remembrance into a continuous part of worship.
Dhikr Upon Waking and in the Morning
A Muslim begins the day by remembering Allah upon waking. Among the reported supplications is:
“Praise be to Allah who restored health to my body, returned my soul to me, and permitted me to remember Him.”
Among the morning remembrances is:
“We have entered the morning and sovereignty belongs to Allah.”
These words remind the believer to be grateful for life and well-being and to recognize Allah’s complete sovereignty.
Supplication When Entering and Leaving the Bathroom
When entering the bathroom, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would say:
“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the male and female devils.”
Upon leaving, he would say:
“I seek Your forgiveness.”
These supplications demonstrate how the Sunnah teaches Muslims to remember Allah throughout the details of everyday life while observing the proper etiquette of each setting.
Dhikr When Leaving Home
When leaving his home, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would say:
“In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah. There is no power and no strength except through Allah.”
This remembrance combines reliance upon Allah with recognition that strength, protection, and success ultimately come from Him.
Dhikr During Travel
The Prophetic Sunnah also teaches Muslims to remember Allah while traveling.
When climbing an elevated place, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would say “Allah is the Greatest,” and when descending, he would glorify Allah.
Jabir ibn Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that they would proclaim Allah’s greatness when ascending and glorify Him when descending.
This reflects the broader principle that dhikr accompanies the believer throughout different circumstances.
Supplication When Entering the Mosque
When entering the mosque, one of the reported supplications is:
“O Allah, open for me the gates of Your mercy.”
The Muslim then begins the prayer, which itself is centered around remembrance, glorification, takbir, and Quranic recitation.
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, explained that prayer is not a place for ordinary human conversation, but rather for remembrance, glorification, takbir, and recitation of the Quran.
Dhikr After Prayer
After completing the prayer, Muslims are encouraged to continue remembering Allah.
Among the established forms of post-prayer remembrance is to glorify Allah 33 times, praise Him 33 times, and proclaim His greatness 33 times, then complete one hundred with:
“There is no god but Allah alone, without partner. To Him belongs the dominion and to Him belongs all praise, and He has power over all things.”
These remembrances help maintain the believer’s connection with Allah after completing the obligatory prayer.
Sayyid al-Istighfar
One of the greatest supplications for seeking forgiveness is Sayyid al-Istighfar, taught by the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him:
“O Allah, You are my Lord. There is no god but You. You created me and I am Your servant. I abide by Your covenant and promise as best I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge Your blessings upon me and I acknowledge my sin, so forgive me, for none forgives sins except You.”
This supplication combines recognition of Allah’s oneness, acknowledgment of servitude, gratitude for His blessings, confession of sin, and a sincere request for forgiveness.
Evening Dhikr
Just as the Muslim begins the day by remembering Allah, the day can also end with the evening adhkar.
Among the reported evening remembrances is:
“We have entered the evening and sovereignty belongs to Allah.”
In this way, the believer moves throughout the day between different forms of remembrance, keeping the heart connected to Allah.
Sending Blessings Upon the Prophet
One of the deeds that strengthens a Muslim’s love for the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, is frequently sending blessings and peace upon him.
The Sunnah contains strong encouragement to do so. In the well-known narration of Ubayy ibn Ka'b, may Allah be pleased with him, he asked the Prophet how much of his supplication he should devote to sending blessings upon him.
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, replied:
“As much as you wish, and if you increase it, it will be better for you.”
When Ubayy asked whether he should devote all of his supplication to sending blessings upon the Prophet, he replied:
“Then you will be relieved of your worries and your sins will be forgiven.”
The narration demonstrates the virtue of frequently sending blessings upon the Prophet, without establishing a mandatory daily number for every Muslim.
Dhikr as a Way of Life
The variety of these remembrances shows that dhikr in the Prophetic Sunnah is not restricted to one particular time or occasion.
It accompanies the Muslim upon waking, in the morning, when entering and leaving the bathroom, when leaving home, during travel, when entering the mosque, after prayer, and in the evening, along with seeking forgiveness and sending blessings upon the Prophet.
The broader purpose is to keep the heart connected to Allah and transform remembrance from an occasional act into a consistent part of the believer’s life.
What should a Muslim say upon waking up?
Among the reported remembrances is praise to Allah for restoring health, returning the soul, and allowing the believer to remember Him.
What should be said when entering the bathroom?
The Muslim seeks refuge in Allah from the male and female devils.
What should be said when leaving the bathroom?
The reported supplication is: “I seek Your forgiveness.”
What can be said when entering the mosque?
Among the reported supplications is: “O Allah, open for me the gates of Your mercy.”
Is there a fixed daily number for sending blessings upon the Prophet?
No mandatory daily number is established for every Muslim. It is recommended to frequently send blessings and peace upon the Prophet.
