Remembrance of Allah in the Morning and in the Evening

Remembrance of Allah in the Morning and in the Evening

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful,

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

 

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“And remember your Rabb by your tongue and within yourself, humbly and with fear and without loudness in words in the mornings, and in the afternoons and be not of those who are neglectful.” (7:205)

“And declare the perfectness of your Rabb before the rising of the sun, and before its setting.” (20:130)

“And declare the perfectness of your Rabb and praise Him in the `Ashi (i.e., the time period after the midnoon till sunset) and in the Ibkar (i.e., the time period from early morning or sunrise till before midnoon).” (40:55)

“In houses (mosques) which Allah has ordered to be raised (to be cleaned, and to be honoured), in them His Name is mentioned in the mornings and in the afternoons or the evenings. Men whom neither trade nor sale diverts from the remembrance of Allah (with heart and tongue).” (24:36, 37)

“Verily, We made the mountains to declare the Perfectness of Allah with him [Dawud (David)] in the `Ashi (i.e., after the midday till sunset) and Ishraq (i.e., after the sunrise till midday).” (38:18)

 

1451. Abu Hurairah (radiallahu`anhu) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallām) said, “He who recites in the morning and in the evening the statement: “Subhan-Allahi wa bihamdihi, Subhan-Allahil-Azim”(Glory is to Allah and to Him is the praise, Glory is to Allah, the Greatest devoid of imperfection)’one hundred times, will not be surpassed on the Day of Resurrection by anyone with better deeds than one who utters the same words or utters more of these words.”

[Muslim]

1452. Abu Hurairah (radiallahu`anhu) reported: A man came to the Prophet (sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallām) and said, “What a trouble I suffered from a scorpion which stung me last night!” He (sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallām) said, “Had you said in the evening: `A`udzu bikalimatillahit-tammati min sharri ma khalaqa (I seek the protection of Allah’s Perfect Words from the evil of whatever He has created),’ it would not have harmed you.”

[Muslim]

Commentary:  Kalimat means the Words of Allah, His Decisions and His Power. At-Tamat is being free from every defect and shortcoming. Thus, it means “I seek the protection of Allah, by means of faultless Words, Decisions and Power of Allah, from the mischief of every living being”. It is the best prayer for protection from dangerous animals, insects and people.

1453. Abu Hurairah (radiallahu`anhu) reported: The Prophet (sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallām) used to say in the morning: “Allahumma bika asbahna, wa bika amsaina, wa bika nahya, wa bika namutu, wa ilaikan-nushur” (O Allah! With Your Power we have come to the morning, with Your Power we come to the evening, with Your Power we live, and we die, and to You will we return).” In the evening he would say: “Allahumma bika amsaina, wa bika nahya, wa bika namutu, wa ilaikan-nushur” (O Allah! With Your Power, we have come to the evening, by You do we live, by You do we die, and to You is the return).

[At-Tirmidzi and Abu Dawud]

1454. Abu Hurairah (radiallahu`anhu) reported: Abu Bakar asked, “O Messenger of Allah! Teach me some words so that I may recite them in the morning and in the evening.” The Messenger of Allah (sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallām) said, “Recite these words: “Allahumma fatiras-samawati wal-ardi, `alimal-ghaibi wash-shahadati, Rabba kulli shai’in wa malikahu. Ash-hadu an la ilaha illa Anta, a`udhu bika min sharri nafsi, wa sharrish-Shaitani wa shirkihi” (O Allah! Creator of the heavens and the earth! Knower of the hidden and the exposed! Rabb of everything and everyone. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but You. I seek Your Protection from the evil of my own self from the evil of Satan and from the evil of Shirk to which he calls).”’ The Messenger of Allah (sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallām) added: “Recite these words in the morning and the evening and when you go to bed.”

[Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidzi]

1455. `Abdullah bin Mas`ud (radiallahu`anhu) reported: When it was evening, the Prophet (sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallām) used to supplicate: “Amsaina [Asbahna] wa amsa [asbaha] l-mulku lillah, wal-hamdu lillah. La `ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu (We have entered upon evening and the whole kingdom of Allah, too, has entered upon evening. Praise is due to Allah. There is none who has the right to be worshiped but Allah, the One who has no partner with Him).” He (the narrator) said: I think that he (PBUH) used to follow the recitation with these words: “Lahul-mulku, wa lahul-hamdu, wa Huwa `ala kulli shi’in Qadir. Rabbi as’aluka khaira ma fi hadhihil-lailati [hadhal-yaumi], wa khaira ma ba`daha[ma ba`dahu]; wa a`udhu bika min sharri ma fi hadhihil-lailati, wa sharri ma ba`daha; Rabbi a`udhu bika minal-kasali, wa su’il-kibari; Rabbi a`udhu bika min `adhabin fin-nari, wa `adhabin fil-qabri”(His is the sovereignty and to Him is all praise due, and He is Omnipotent. My Rubb, I beg of you good that lies in this night and good that follows it, and I seek refuge in You from the evil that lies in this night and from the evil of that which follows it. My Rabb! I seek refuge in You from lethargy and the misery of old age. O Allah! I seek Your Protection from the torment of Hell-fire and the punishment of the grave).” When it was morning, he (sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallām) would recite the same, replacing the words: “We have entered upon evening and the whole kingdom of Allah, too, has entered upon evening” with “We have entered upon morning and the whole kingdom of Allah entered upon morning.” (Replace the words “Amsaina, amsa, hadhihil-lailati, ma ba`daha with Asbahna, asbaha, hadhal-yaumi, ma ba`dahu, respectively.)

[Muslim]

Commentary:  It is desirable to recite the invocations cited in the Hadith in the morning and the evening and also when one goes to bed and awakes. The purpose is that the concept of Allah’s Providence and Divinity remains alive all the time in one’s mind. With these words one seeks Allah’s Protection in life and the Hereafter from things which are harmful. One also begs for his safety and guidance in this life and the Hereafter. This Hadith fully expresses one’s recognition of Allah’s Godhood and Lordship.

1456. `Abdullah bin Khubaib (radiallahu`anhu) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallām) said to me, “Recite Surat Al-Ikhlas and Al-Mu`awwidhatain (Surat Al-Falaq and Surat An-Nas) three times at dawn and dusk. It will suffice you in all respects.”

[Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidzi]

Commentary:  “Recite Surat Al-Ikhlas and Al-Mu`awwidhatain (Surat Al-Falaq and Surat An-Nas) three times at dawn and dusk. It will suffice you in all respects” means that then one would not need any other recitation for the remembrance of Allah. Moreover, by virtue of these three Surah, Allah will protect the reciter from every dangerous thing. In other Ahadith, it is stated that after lying in the bed, the Prophet (sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallām) used to recite these Surah, then blow on his hands and rub them over his body to the extent he could.

1457. `Uthman bin `Affan (radiallahu`anhu) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallām) said, “He who recites three times every morning and evening: “Bismillahil-ladzi la yadurru ma`as-mihi shai’un fil-ardi wa la fis-sama’i, wa Huwas-Sami`ul-`Alim” (In the Name of Allah with Whose Name there is protection against every kind of harm in the earth or in the heaven, and He is the All-Hearing and All-Knowing),’ nothing will harm him.”

[Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidzi]

Commentary:  The prayer cited in this Hadith means that “I seek the Protection of Allah by means of which one can save himself from every vice, whether it is an animal or man, a jinn or Satan because He is Aware of everyone’s condition and Capable of hearing everybody’s petition. He who comes in His Protection none can harm him, except that which He wills.”

[Via Wponline.Org, Chapter 248 Remembrance of Allah in the Morning and in the, Riyad-Us-Saliheen Compiled, By Al-Imam Abu Zakariya Yahya bin Sharaf An-Nawawi Ad-Dimashqi]

The Remembrance of Allah

The Remembrance of Allah

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful,

All the praise and thanks are due to Allah Subhanahu wata’ala, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Allah Subhanahu wa ta`ala tells us to do as much dzikir as it helps a person to be closer to Allah  and provides a lot of benefits do daily life and in the Hereafter.

Allah Says:

• “O you who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance.” [Al-Ahzab, 33: 41].
• “… and the men and the women who remember Allah much with their hearts and tongues (while sitting, standing, lying, etc. for the remembrance of Allah during the five compulsory congregational prayers) or praying extra additional Nawafil prayers of night in the last part of night, etc.) Allh has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise).” [Al-Ahzab, 33:35].
• “O you who believe! When you meet (an enemy) force, take a firm stand against them and remember the Name of Allâh much (both with tongue and mind), so that you may be successful.” [Al-Anfal, 8: 45].

The person has to do as much Dzikir as he can as this will give him great benefits and profits in this life and the Hereafter. Some scholars believe that there numerous such as mentioned by Ibn al-Qayyim in book “Al-Wabil Al-Sayib”.

Dzikir is not a mandatory act which  is only a supererogatory act which helps the person get closer to Allah. But the person commits a sin if he leaves any of the Dzikir that should be said in the prayer like the Dzikir during the Ruku, the Sujud, the Tashahud and invoking blessing on the Prophet s.a.w as stated by some scholars.

The benefits of mentioning Allah that the slave will harvest in this world as well as the Hereafter:

Allah would provide trees of in the Paradise.

Ibn Mas`ud r.a narrated that Allah’s Messenger s.a.w said:

“I met Ibrahim a.s on the Night of Isra’ [i.e., the night journey from Makkah to Al-Quds (Jerusalem)]. He said: `Convey my greetings to your nation, O Muhammad, and tell them that Paradise consists of vast plains of pure soil and sweet water. The plants grow there by (the utterance of): ‘Subhaanallah’ (i.e., Glory be to Allah), ‘Al-Hamdulillah’ (i.e., All praise is due to Allah), ‘Laa Ilaaha Illallah’ (i.e., There is none worthy of worship but Allah); and ‘Allahu Akbar’ (i.e., Allah is the Greatest). `”

[At-Tirmidzi]

Abu Hurairah(radiallahu’anhu)  reported: The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said, “He who recites after every prayer: Subhan-Allah (Allah is free from imperfection) thirty-three times; Al-hamdu lillah (praise be to Allah) thirty-three times; Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greatest) thirty-three times; and completes the hundred with: La ilaha illallahu, wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu, wa Huwa `ala kulli shai’in Qadir (there is no true god except Allah. He is One and He has no partner with Him. His is the sovereignty and His is the praise, and He is Omnipotent), will have all his sins pardoned even if they may be as large as the foam on the surface of the sea.”
[Muslim]

Abu Hurairah (radiallahu’anhu) reported: The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said, “The uttering of the words: “Subhan-Allah (Allah is free from imperfection), Al-hamdu lillah (all praise is due to Allah), La ilaha illallah (there is no true god except Allah) and Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest)’ is dearer to me than anything over which the sun rises.”
[Muslim]

Commentary:  This Hadith highlights the fact that the formulas which mention the Praise and Glory of Allah, His Majesty and Oneness are liked by the Prophet (s.a.w) more than anything in the world, because this is one of the virtues which will survive and will be rewarded, while the world and all that it has will perish.

Jabir ibn Abdullah (radiallahu’anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w} said: “He who says: `Subhan-Allahi wa bihamdihi, Subhan-Allahil-Azim’ (Glory be to Allah, and to Him belongs all praise)

Will have a palm-tree planted for him in Paradise.”

[At-Tirmidzi]

Abu Hurairah(radiallahu’anhu)  reported: The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said, “There are two statements that are light for the tongue to remember, heavy in the Scales and are dear to the Merciful: `Subhan-Allahi wa bihamdihi, Subhan-Allahil-Azim [Glory is to Allah and to Him is the praise, Glory is to Allah, the Greatest, devoid of imperfection)’.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Commentary: This Hadith affirms that man’s actions carry weight. On the Day of Judgement, his actions will be cast into the Balance. At that time Allah will endow these actions with weight, or according to some scholars, those records which register man’s actions will be weighed. This is quite possible for the reason that Almighty Allah is Capable of weighing things without even their physical form. This discussion apart, when actions will be cast into the Balance, the formula mentioned in the Hadith, the utterance of which is very easy, will prove weighty. Every Muslim should make it a practice to repeat them frequently.

Abu Hurairah (radiallahu’anhu)  reported: The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said, “He who recites in the morning and in the evening the statement: “Subhan-Allahi wa bihamdihi, Subhan-Allahil-Azim”(Glory is to Allah and to Him is the praise, Glory is to Allah, the Greatest devoid of imperfection)’one hundred times, will not be surpassed on the Day of Resurrection by anyone with better deeds than one who utters the same words or utters more of these words.”

[Muslim]

The continuous mentioning of Allah by His slaves protects them from being neglected by Allah, which is the direct cause of their misery in this world and the Hereafter.

Forgetting Allah leads to forgetting one’s own self and what benefits it, as Allah Says:

“And be not like those who forgot Allah, so He made them forget themselves. Those are the defiantly disobedient.”

[Al-Hashar, 59: 19]

By forgetting one’s own soul, a person becomes oblivious of taking care of its interests, which inevitably causes its degradation and destruction. Had there been no other benefit of mentioning Allah than guarding oneself against this, it would have been reason enough. Whoever forgets Allah Almighty will be made to forget his own soul in this world, and the Lord will leave him in the torture of the Hellfire in the Hereafter; Allah Says:

“And whoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e. neither believes in this Quran nor acts on its orders, etc.)  – indeed, he will have a depressed [i.e., difficult] life, and We will gather [i.e., raise] him on the Day of Resurrection blind. He will say: ‘My Lord! Why have you raised me blind while I was [once] seeing?’ [Allah] will say: ‘Thus did Our signs come to you, and you forgot [i.e., disregarded] them; and thus will you this Day be forgotten.'”

[Ta-Ha, 20: 124-126] Meaning, such a slave will be forgotten in the torment just as he forgets the Lord’s proofs, verses, signs and revelations, neither reciting them nor acting upon them. The depressed and difficult life mentioned in the verses refers to the difficulties, privation and sufferings he will face in this world, the grave and the Hereafter. Opposite to this is what the righteous people will lead, which is a happy life in this world, the grave and the Hereafter; Allah Says:

“Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer – We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do.”

[Al-Nahl, 16: 97]

This applies both to his stay in the grave as well as the Hereafter.

Speaking about his teacher Imam Ibn Taymiyyah, Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim said: “Allah is my witness that I have never seen anyone living in a better condition than him, despite the hardships he faced including lack of welfare, imprisonment, constant threat, and exhaustive suffering. He was very tranquil (in his heart), optimistic, cheerful and radiant.”

The mentioning of Allah is a deed that has a unique and distinctive sweet taste that other good deeds cannot come close to producing.

Malik bin Deenaar said: “Nobody ever found more sweetness and enjoyment than in mentioning Allah.”

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim said: “I heard Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah saying: ‘There is a Paradise in this worldly life (i.e. the mention of Allah); he, who does not enter it, will not enter the Paradise of the Hereafter’”.

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim also quoted Imam Ibn Taymiyyah as saying: “What can my enemies do to me? My Paradise (i.e. the mentioning of Allah) is in my heart; it moves with me wherever I go. Imprisonment for me is a religious retreat. To kill and be killed (for me) is martyrdom, and to be expelled to another land is a spiritual journey” and also: “If I were to pay them (i.e., his enemies who imprisoned him) as much as the weight of this fortress (where he was imprisoned) in gold, that would still not repay them for the great favour they have done to me by imprisoning me; they cannot realise the great benefit I have gained from being in seclusion.”

It is a light for the one who mentions Allah in this worldly life, in his grave and on the Day of Resurrection.

It will illuminate his way on the Sirat (i.e. the bridge over Hell) to pass it easily; Allah Says:

“And is the one who was dead and We gave him life and made for him light by which to walk among the people like one who is in darkness, never to emerge there from?…”

[Al-An’am, 6: 122]

The first person mentioned in the verse is he who mentions Allah and is thus granted the light of faith and the love of Allah, while the second is he who is heedless of doing so.

It makes the person closer to Allah and worthy of His love, support, and company.

Allah says in a Qudsi narration:

“I am with My slave when he mentions Me and his lips move with utterance of Me.”

[Al-Bukhari]

It is superior to spending in charity for the sake of Allah and better than fighting Jihad.

Abu Ad-Darda’ reported that the Messenger of Allah s.a.w said:

“Shall I not inform you of the best of your deeds which are the purest to your Lord, which exalt you to the highest ranks, which are more efficacious than spending gold and silver (in charity), and better for you than encountering your enemies whose necks you will smite and who will smite your necks?” The people replied: “Certainly!” He said: “The mentioning of Allah the Exalted.”

[At-Tirmidzi]

It is the highest form of expressing gratitude; one who does not mention Allah is certainly of the ungrateful.

Mu’adz bin Jabal r.a reported that the Messenger of Allah s.a.w once held him by the hand and said: “O Mu’adz! I swear by Allah that I love you. I advise you not to miss supplicating after every solah saying:

‘Allaahumma a`inni `alaa dzikrika, wa shukrika, wa husni `ibadatika.’

(O Allah! Assist me in mentioning You, expressing gratitude to You, and worshiping You in the finest manner).”

[Abu Dawud; An-Nasa’ie]

Here, the Prophet s.a.w combined between gratitude and the mentioning of Allah, because they are the means of attaining true felicity.

There is hardness in the heart that cannot be melted except by mentioning Allah the Almighty.

Therefore, the slave must treat his hardened heart by mentioning Him. A man complained of his hard heart to Al-Hasan who responded by saying: “Melt it by mentioning Allah.”

Hearts are cured by the medicine of mentioning Allah and sickened by being heedless of and forgetting Him.

`Umar said: “Mention Allah, as it is the ultimate cure.”

Allah’s blessings are not drawn, nor are His wrath appeased, by anything better than mentioning Him.

Remembrance of Allah calls for the mercy of Allah and the supplications of His angels for the one who does so.

Such a person will indeed be amongst the successful; Allah Almighty Says:

“O, you who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance. And exalt Him morning and afternoon. It is He who confers blessing upon you, and His angels [ask Him to do so] that He may bring you out from darkness into the light. And ever is He, to the believers, Merciful.”

[Al-Ahzab, 33: 41-43]

This mercy from Allah, glory be to Him, and the supplications by His angels for those who frequently mention Him are the means by which they are brought out of darkness into the light, which entails the attainment of all goodness and the protection from all evil. Woe to those who are forgetful of their Lord, for being deprived of His graces! May Allah grant us all success in mentioning Him.

The assemblies in which Allah is mentioned are the only ones, anywhere, which the angels attend.

Abu Hurayrah (radiallahu’anhu) reported that Allah’s Messenger s.a.w said:

“Allah has mobile squads of angels who traverse the roads seeking those who mention Him. When they find people doing so, they call one another and say: ‘Hasten to what you are looking for!’ They then surround them with their wings until the space between them and the sky is full. Allah the Exalted and Glorious then asks them (although He is best informed about everything): `What are My servants saying?` They reply: `They are glorifying You, uttering Your Greatness, recognising Your Oneness, and celebrating Your praise.` Allah will say: `Have they ever seen Me?` They say: `No, we swear by Allah that they have never seen You`. Allah says: `How would it have been if they saw Me? ` The angels reply: `If they saw You, they would worship You more devoutly and celebrate Your Glory more deeply, and declare Your freedom from any resemblance to anything more often` …” until he said:  “… Then Allah says: `I make you witnesses that I have forgiven them`. One of the angels then says: `There is someone amongst them, and he is not one of them, but came for some need`. Allah would say: `These are people whose companions will not suffer from misery.’”

[Al-Bukhari; Muslim]

In this way, the assemblies that contain the mentioning of Allah are the assemblies of the angels, while those of forgetfulness and heedlessness of Allah are the assemblies of the devils. Everyone selects his counterpart, whether angelic or devilish.

Allah the Almighty boasts to the angels about those who remember Him.

Mu`awiyah narrated that the Messenger of Allah s.a.w came to an assembly in the mosque and said to the people present:

“What makes you sit together?” They replied: “We sat to mention Allah and praise Him for guiding us to Islam and bestowing His favours upon us.” He said: “I adjure you by Allah, has anything else made you sit in this way?” They replied: “We swear by Allah! Nothing made us sit here but that.” He said: “I did not adjure you because I suspected you (of lying), but (the angel) Jibrail came and told me that Allah was boasting about you to the angels.”

[Muslim]

This boasting is an indication of the lofty rank that mentioning Allah holds in His sight, and how much it is loved by Him.

All righteous deeds were legislated in order to establish the remembrance of Allah.

As Allah says: “…Establish prayer for My remembrance.” [Ta-Ha, 20:14], in order to establish My rememrance. Allah also Says: “Recite, [O Muhammad], what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the mention of Allah is greater…” [As-Sajdah, 32: 45]

Imam Ibn Taymiyyah said: “The correct way to understand this verse is that solah achieves two great objectives, the first of which is prohibiting immorality and the second being the mentioning of Allah, which is the greater of the two objectives.”

‘Aishah r.a narrated that the Messenger of Allah s.a.w said:

“Circumambulation around the Ka’abah, walking between mount Safa and mount Marwah, and the casting of the stones at the Pillars (during Hajj) was only legislated to establish the mentioning of Allah.”

[Abu Dawud]

Continual remembrance of Allah can be a substitute for optional acts of worship.

Abu Hurayrah r.a reported that some of the poor Emigrants came to the Messenger of Allah s.a.w and said to him:

“The wealthy have obtained the highest ranks and everlasting bliss!” He asked: “How is that?” They replied: “They offer prayers as we do, and observe fasting as we do, but they give in charity and we do not, and they emancipate slaves and we cannot.” He said: “Shall I not teach you something whereby you will catch up with those who have preceded you and be ahead of those who follow you; something in which no one can better you, unless he does as you do?” They said: “Indeed, O Messenger of Allah!” He s.a.w said: “Say: ‘Subhanallah, Allahu Akbar and Al-Hamdu lillah’ (i.e. Glory be to Allah, Allah is the Greatest, and All praise is due to Allah) thirty-three times at the end of every prayer.”

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Thus, he made the mention of Allah make up for whatever deeds they missed out on.

It assists one in performing more good deeds and in remaining obedient to Allah.

`Abdullah bin Bishar reported that one of the Companions said:

“O Messenger of Allah! There are many injunctions of Islam upon me, so tell me something to which I may hold fast.” He (s.a.w) replied: “Keep your tongue moist with the remembrance of Allah.”

[At-Tirmidzi]

The man was not suggesting that the Prophet s.a.w should exempt him from his religious obligations; rather, he needed something that would help him perform them all. Therefore, he guided him to what would assist him to perform them and cause him to be keen to adhere to them, thus facilitating their performance. The person who frequently mentions Allah will love Him and whatever pleases Him, and nothing would then be dearer to him than endeavoring to please his Lord.

[Excerpted from the Fatwa Center at Islam web Fatwa No. 84771, 26 Jamadil-Akhir 1423 / 04-09-2002]