Imam Al-Nawawi’s Riyad-us-Saliheen
Chapter 244
The Excellence of the Remembrance of Allah
Allah, the Exalted, says:
“And the remembering (praising) of (you by) Allah (in front of the angels) is greater indeed [than your remembering (praising) of Allah in prayers]” (29:45)
“Therefore remember Me (by praying, glorifying). I will remember you.” (2:152)
“And remember your Rubb 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 remember Allah much, that you may be successful.” (62:10)
“Verily, the Muslims (those who submit to Allah in Islam) men and women… (up to)… And the men and the women who remember Allah much with their hearts and tongues. Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward (i.e., Jannah).” (33:35)
“O you who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance. And glorify His Praises morning and afternoon [the early morning (Fajr) and `Asr prayers].” (33:41,42)
1408. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) 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 be to Allah and His is the praise, (and) Allah, the Greatest is free from imperfection)‘.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
1409. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) 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].
1410. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “He who utters a hundred times in a day these words: `La ilaha illallahu, wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu, wa Huwa `ala kulli sha’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),’ he will have a reward equivalent to that for emancipating ten slaves, a hundred good deeds will be recorded to his credit, hundred of his sins will be blotted out from his scroll, and he will be safeguarded against the devil on that day till the evening; and no one will exceed him in doing more excellent good deeds except someone who has recited these words more often than him. And he who utters: `Subhan-Allahi wa bihamdihi (Allah is free from imperfection and His is the praise)’ one hundred times a day, his sins will be obliterated even if they are equal to the extent of the foam of the ocean.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
1411. Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “He who utters ten times: `La ilaha illallahu, wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahulmulku wa lahulhamdu, wa Huwa `ala kulli sha’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),’ he will have a reward equal to that for freeing four slaves from the progeny of Prophet Isma`il.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
1412. Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said to me, “Shall I tell you the expression that is most loved by Allah?” It is `Subhan-Allahi wa bihamdihi’ (Allah is free from imperfection and His is the praise)’.”
[Muslim].
1413. Abu Malik Al-Ash`ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Wudu’ is half of Salat, and the expression: `Subhan-Allah (Allah is free from imperfection)’ fills the Balance, and the expression: `Al-hamdu lillah (praise be to Allah)’ fills the space between the heavens and the earth.”
[Muslim].
1414. Sa`d bin Abu Waqqas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: A bedouin came to the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) and said to him, “Teach me a few words to recite frequently.” He (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Say: “La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu; Allahu Akbar kabiran, wal-hamdu lillahi kathiran, wa subhan-Allahi Rabbil-`alamin; wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billahil-`Azizil-Hakim (there is no true god except Allah the One and He has no partner with Him; Allah is the Greatest and greatness is for Him. All praise is due to Him. Allah, the Rubb of the worlds is free from imperfection; there is no might and power but that of Allah, the All-Powerful and the All-Wise.)”’ The bedouin said: “All of these for my Rubb. But what is for me?” Thereupon he (Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam)) said, “You should say: `Allahummaghfir li, warhamni, wahdini, warzuqni (O Allah! Grant me pardon, have mercy upon me, direct me to righteousness and provide me subsistence)‘.”
[Muslim].
1415. Thauban (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Whenever the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) concluded his prayer, he would beg forgiveness from Allah thrice and then would recite: “Allahumma Antas-Salamu, wa minkas-salamu, tabarakta ya Dhal-Jalali wal-Ikram (O Allah, You are the Grantor of security, and security comes from You. You are Blessing, O You Who have majesty and nobility)!” (Imam) Al-Awza`i, one of the narrators of this Hadith, was asked: “How forgiveness is to be sought?” He answered: “The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) used to say: `Astaghfirullah! Astaghfirullah! (I beseech Allah for forgiveness, I beseech Allah for forgiveness)’.”
[Muslim].
1416. Al-Mughirah bin Shu`bah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) used to say at the conclusion of prayer: “La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku, wa lahul-hamdu, wa Huwa `ala kulli shai’in Qadir. Allahumma la mani`a lima a’tayta, wa la mu`tiya lima mana`ta, wa la yanfa`u dhal-jaddi, minkal-jaddu (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. O Allah! None can deny that which You bestow and none can bestow that which You hold back; and the greatness of the great will be of no avail to them against You).”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
1417. It has been reported that `Abdullah bin Zubair (May Allah be pleased with them) used to recite after Taslim at the conclusion of every Salat (prayer): “La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku, wa lahul-hamdu, wa Huwa `ala kulli shai’in Qadir. La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah. La ilaha illallahu, wa la na`budu illa iyyahu, Lahun-ni`matu, wa lahul-fadlu, wa lahuth-thana’ul-hasan. La ilaha ilallahu, mukhlisina, lahud-dina, wa lau karihal-kafirun (there is no true god except Allah; He is One. To Him belongs the dominion and to Him is all praise, and He is Powerful over all things. There is no power and might except with (the help of) Allah. There is no God but Allah and we worship none except Him, to Him belongs the bounty and to Him belongs the grace, and to Him belongs all excellent praise; there is no deity but Allah. We reserve our devotion exclusively for Him though the disbelievers may detest it).” Ibn Az-Zubair said: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) used to celebrate Allah’s Greatness in those terms after every Salat (prayer).
[Muslim].
1418. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The poor Emigrants came to the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) and said: “The wealthy have gone with the highest ranks and lasting bliss.” He asked: “How is that?” They replied: “They offer Salat (prayer) as we offer it; they observe fast as we do; (and as they are wealthy) they perform Hajj and `Umrah, and go for Jihad, and they spend in charity but we cannot, and they free the slaves but we are unable to do so.” The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Shall I not teach you something with which you may overtake those who surpassed you and with which you will surpass those who will come after you? None will excel you unless he who does which you do.” They said: “Yes, please do, O Messenger of Allah” He (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “You should recite: Tasbih (Allah is free from imperfection), Takbir (Allah is Greatest), Tahmid (Praise be to Allah) thirty-three times after each Salat.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Abu Salih, the subnarrator of the Hadith said, when Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) was asked about the manner of reciting Tasbih, Tahmid and Takbir, he said, “Recite: “Subhan-Allah, wal-hamdulillah, wallahu Akbar’, till all are recited thirty-three times.
1419. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) 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].
1420. Ka`b bin `Ujrah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “There are some words, the reciters of which will never be disappointed. These are: Tasbih [saying `Subhan-Allah’ (Allah is free from imperfection)], thirty-three times, Tahmid [saying `Al-hamdu lillah’ (praise be to Allah)] thirty-three times and Takbir [saying `Allahu Akbar’ (Allah is Greatest)] thirty-four times; and these should be recited after the conclusion of every prescribed prayer.”
[Muslim]
1421. Sa`d bin Abu Waqqas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) used to seek (Allah’s) protection after prayers in these words: “Alla-humma inni a`udhu bika minal-jubni wal-bukhl, wa a`udhu bika min an uradda ila ardhalil-`umur, wa a`udhu bika min fitnatid-dunya, wa a`udhu bika min fitnatil-qabr (O Allah, I seek refuge with You from cowardice, miserliness and from being sent back to a feeble age; and, seek refuge with You from the trials of this life and those of the grave).”
[Al-Bukhari].
1422. Mu`adh (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) took hold of my hand and said, “O Mu`adh! By Allah I love you, so I advise you to never forget to recite after every prayer: “Allahumma a`inni ala dhikrika, wa shukrika, wa husni `ibadatika (O Allah, help me remember You, to be grateful to You, and to worship You in an excellent manner).”
[Abu Dawud].
1423. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “When anyone of you has done his Tashahhud during Salat (prayer), he should seek refuge in Allah against four things and say: “Allahumma inni a`udhu bika min `adhabi jahannam, wa min `adhabil-qabr, wa min fitnatil-mahya wal-mamat, wa min sharri fitnatil-masihid-dajjal (O Allah! I seek refuge in You from the torment of Hell, from the torment of the grave, from the trials of life and death, and from the mischief of Al-Masih Ad-Dajjal (Antichrist).”
[Muslim].
1424. `Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: When the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) was in Salat (prayer), he used to supplicate towards the end of prayer after Tashahhud and before the concluding salutations: “Allahum-maghfir li ma qaddamtu wa ma akh-khartu, wa ma asrartu, wa ma a`lantu, wa ma asraftu, wa ma Anta a`lamu bihi minni. Antal-Muqqadimu, wa Antal-Mu’akh-khiru. La ilaha illa Anta (O Allah! Forgive my former and latter sins, which I have done secretly and those which I have done openly, and that I have wronged others, and those defaults of mine about which You have better knowledge than I have. You Alone can send whomever You will to Jannah, and You Alone can send whomever You will to Hell-fire. None has the right to be worshipped but You.”
[Muslim].
1425. `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) used to recite frequently in his bowing and prostration: “Subhanak-Allahumma, Rabbana wa bihamdika. Allahum-maghfir li (O Allah! You are free from imperfection and I begin with praising You. Forgive my sins).”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
1426. `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) used to recite in his bowing and prostration: “Subbuhun Quddusun, Rabbul-mala’ikati war-ruh [You are the Most Glorious. The Most Holy. You the Rubb of the angels and of Jibril
[Muslim].
1427. Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Glorify your Lord in Ruku` (bowing posture) and exert yourself in supplication in prostration. Thus your supplications are liable to be accepted.”
[Muslim].
1428. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “A slave becomes nearest to his Rubb when he is in prostration. So increase supplications while prostrating.”
[Muslim].
1429. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) used to say in his prostration: Allahum-maghfir li dhanbi kullahu: diqqahu wa jillahu, wa `awwalahu wa akhirahu, wa alaniyatahu wa sirrahu (O Allah! Forgive all my sins, the small and the great, first and the last, the open and the secret).”
[Muslim].
1430. `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: One night I missed the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) from his bed. I searched for him. When I found him he was in bowing or prostrating posture and was reciting: Subhanaka wa bi hamdika. La ilaha illa Anta (You are free from imperfection and I begin praising You. There is no true god except You).”
Another narration is: My hand fell over his feet while he was in prostration with his feet erect. He was supplicating: “Allahumma inni a`udhu biridaka min sakhatika, wa bi-mu`afatika min `uqubatika, wa a`udhu bika minka, la uhsi thana’an `alaika, Anta kama athnaita `ala Nafsika (O Allah! I seek protection against Your Wrath in Your Pleasure. I seek protection in Your Pardon against Your chastisement, I am not capable of enumerating praise of You. You are as You have lauded Yourself).”
1431. Sa`d bin Abu Waqqas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: We were with the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) when he asked, “Is anyone of you unable to earn a thousand good deeds?” One of those present asked: “How can one earn thousand good deeds in a day?” He (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) replied, “By saying: Subhan Allah a hundred times, then one thousand good deeds will be recorded for him or one thousand sins will be blotted out from his record.”
[Muslim].
1432. Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Every morning charity is due from every joint bone of the body of every one of you. Every utterance of Allah’s Glorification (i.e., Subhan-Allah) is an act of charity, and every utterance of praise of Him (i.e., Al-hamdu lillah) is an act of charity, and every utterance of profession of Faith (i.e., La ilaha illallah) is an act of charity, and every utterance of His Greatness (i.e., Allahu Akbar) is an act of charity; and enjoining good is an act of charity and forbidding what is disreputable is an act of charity; and two Rak`ah prayer which one offers in the forenoon (Ad-Duha) will suffice for all this.”
[Muslim].
1433. Juwairiyah bint Al-Harith (May Allah be pleased with her) reported, the Mother of the Believers: The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) came out from my apartment in the morning as I was busy in performing the dawn prayer. He came back in the forenoon and found me sitting there. The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Are you still in the same position as I left you.” I replied in the affirmative. Thereupon the Prophet said, “I recited four words three times after I had left you. If these are to be weighed against all you have recited since morning, these will be heavier. These are: Subhan-Allahi wa bihamdihi, `adada khalqihi, wa rida nafsihi, wa zinatah `arshihi, wa midada kalimatihi [Allah is free from imperfection and I begin with His praise, as many times as the number of His creatures, in accordance with His Good Pleasure, equal to the weight of His Throne and equal to the ink that may be used in recording the words (for His Praise)].”
[Muslim].
1434. Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “The similitude of one who remembers his Rubb and one who does not remember Him, is like that of the living and the dead.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
1435. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Allah the Exalted says: `I am as my slave expects me to be, and I am with him when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me inwardly, I will remember him inwardly, and if he remembers Me in an assembly, I will remember him in a better assembly (i.e., in the assembly of angels).”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
1436. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “The Mufarridun have gone ahead.” He was asked, “Who are the Mufarridun?” He (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) replied, “Those men and women who frequently celebrate the remembrance of Allah.”
[Muslim].
1437. Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) saying, “The best way to celebrate the remembrance of Allah is to say: La ilaha illallah (there is no true god except Allah).”
[At-Tirmidhi].
1438. `Abdullah bin Busr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: One of the Companions said, “O Messenger of Allah. There are many injunctions of Islam for me. So tell me something to which I may hold fast.” He said, “Keep your tongue wet with the remembrance of Allah.”
[At-Tirmidhi].
1439. Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “For him who says: `Subhan-Allahi wa bi hamdihi (Allah is free from imperfection, and I begin with praising Him, and to Him),’ a palm-tree will be planted in Jannah.”
[At-Tirmidhi].
1440. Ibn Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “I met Ibrahim (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) on the Night of Ascension (Al-Asra), and he said to me: `O Muhammad, convey my greetings to your Ummah, and tell them that Jannah has a vast plain of pure soil and sweet water. It is a plain levelled land. The plants grow there by uttering: Subhan-Allah, Al-hamdu lillah, La ilaha illallah and Allahu Akbar (Allah is free from imperfection; praise be to Allah; there is no true god except Allah; and Allah is Greatest).”
[At-Tirmidhi].
1441. Abud-Darda (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Shall I not inform you of the best of your actions which are the purest to your Rubb, which exalt you to the high ranks, which are more efficacious than spending gold and silver (in charity), and better for you than you should encounter your enemies whom you will smite their necks and they will smite your necks?” They said, “Certainly.” He (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Remembrance of Allah the Exalted.”
[At-Tirmidhi].
1442. Sa`d bin Abu Waqqas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) and I went to see a woman. She had date-stones or pebbles in front of her, and she was counting and reciting Tasbih. [`Subhan-Allah’ (Allah is free from imperfection)]. He said, “Shall I not inform you of what is easier or better than this for you?” You should say: `Subhan-Allahi `adada ma khalaqa fis-sama’, wa subhan-Allahi `adada ma khalaqa fil-ardi, wa subhan-Allahi `adada ma baina dhalika, wa subhan-Allahi `adada ma Huwa Khaliqun, wallahu Akbaru mithla dhalika, wal-hamdu lillahi mithla dhalika, wa la ilaha illallahu mithla dhalika, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billahi mithla dhalika (Subhan-Allah, equal to the number of what He created in the heaven; and Subhan-Allah, equal to the number of His creatures in the earth; and Subhan-Allah, equal to the number in between them; and Subhan-Allah equal to the number of those He will create).’ Then say: `Allahu Akbar’ (Allah is Greatest) in the same way. Then say: `Al-hamdu lillah’ (praise be to Allah) in the same way. Then say: `La ilaha illallah’ (there is no true god except Allah) in the same way. Then say: `La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah’ (there is no change of a condition nor power except by Allah) in the same manner.”
[At-Tirmidhi].
1443. Abu Musa (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said to me, “Shall I not guide you to a treasure from the treasures of Jannah?” I said: “Yes, O Messenger of Allah!” Thereupon he (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “(Recite) `La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah’ (There is no change of a condition nor power except by Allah).”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
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