In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. In the bustling rhythm of our daily lives, we sometimes overlook precious moments when our tongues could be moist with the remembrance of Allah (Dhikr), rather than being consumed by worldly concerns. As we tread the journey of life, let us gently realign our priorities and cherish the spaces in our days where we can engage in Dhikr. These spaces often come cloaked in the guise of mundane, ‘wasted’ moments — yet, these very pockets of time hold the potential of serving as portals to tranquility and divine connection.
Seize These Missed Opportunities
Here are instances where time might seemingly be ‘wasted,’ but can be beautifully converted into moments of Dhikr and deepened spirituality:
Everyday Moments to Remember Allah (ﷻ)
We often think we need a perfect setting or complete silence to remember Allah ﷻ. But the truth is, the opportunities for dhikr are everywhere — woven into the quiet pauses and transitions of our daily routines. Here are some beautiful moments where you can easily recite SubḥānAllāh, Alḥamdulillāh, Allāhu Akbar, or make du‘ā:
🕰️ While Going About Your Day
- During your morning or evening commute — turn your drive or walk into a journey of barakah.
- As you wait in line at the supermarket — a chance to whisper dhikr under your breath.
- While preparing meals — infuse your cooking with love and remembrance.
- During household chores — let your heart stay connected even as your hands are busy.
- While watching TV during commercial breaks — a minute of reflection adds no cost.
📱 Waiting Moments Turned into Worship
- Waiting for an appointment or someone to arrive — turn idle time into reward.
- During your coffee or tea break at work — sip slowly and remember your Provider.
- While your computer loads or updates — recite a short supplication or istighfār.
- As your phone charges or installs updates — let your heart recharge in du‘ā.
🌅 Spiritual Pause and Reflection
- In the peaceful moments after Fajr — the most blessed time to remember your Lord.
- During a walk or light exercise — reflect on Allah’s creation and say Alḥamdulillāh.
- As you wait for food at a restaurant — what better time to say Alḥamdulillāh for His blessings?
🏡 In the Stillness of Home
- Watering plants — reflect on Allah as Ar-Razzāq, the Sustainer of all life.
- Waiting for the elevator — a moment for a heartfelt SubḥānAllāh.
- Waiting for water to heat for a shower — think of the blessings of comfort and hygiene.
🌙 Quiet Times Before Rest
- As you lie in bed before sleep — recite the prescribed adhkār and feel the peace.
- While scrolling at night — pause and instead say a quiet Astaghfirullāh.
- On hold during a phone call — make silent tasbīḥ instead of frustration.
🌳 In Nature and Solitude
- While gazing at the sky, trees, or the horizon — ponder Allah’s greatness in His creation.
🕰️ And finally…
- In those moments when you’re doing nothing at all — let your soul breathe in remembrance. Sometimes, it’s in these quietest times that the most sincere dhikr emerges.
“So remember Me; I will remember you…”
(Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:152)
Every second remembered is a second rewarded. May Allah make us among those whose hearts are always connected to Him — in busy moments and quiet ones.
Āmīn.
Absolutely. Here is a simple list of easy-to-do dhikr (remembrance of Allah) along with the immense rewards attached to them—straight from the authentic sayings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the Qur’an.
Simple Dhikr With Huge Rewards
1. SubḥānAllāh (سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ)
Meaning: Glory be to Allah
Reward:
✔️ A tree is planted for you in Paradise.
→ “Whoever says: SubḥānAllāh, a palm tree is planted for him in Paradise.”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, 3465 – Hasan)
2. Alḥamdulillāh (الْـحَمْـدُ للهِ)
Meaning: All praise is for Allah
Reward:
✔️ Fills the scale on the Day of Judgment.
→ “Alḥamdulillāh fills the scale…”
(Sahih Muslim, 223)
3. Allāhu Akbar (اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ)
Meaning: Allah is the Greatest
Reward:
✔️ One of the dearest words to Allah.
→ “The most beloved words to Allah are: SubḥānAllāh, Alḥamdulillāh, Lā ilāha illAllāh, and Allāhu Akbar.”
(Sahih Muslim, 2137)
4. Lā ilāha illAllāh (لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ)
Meaning: There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah
Reward:
✔️ The best statement ever uttered.
✔️ A cause for entering Paradise.
→ “Whoever dies while knowing that there is no god but Allah shall enter Paradise.”
(Sahih Muslim, 26)
5. Lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh (لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ)
Meaning: There is no power and no strength except with Allah
Reward:
✔️ A treasure from the treasures of Paradise.
→ “Lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh is a treasure from the treasures of Paradise.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, 6384)
6. Astaghfirullāh (أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّٰهَ)
Meaning: I seek Allah’s forgiveness
Reward:
✔️ Allah will forgive your sins.
✔️ Increases provision and relieves stress.
→ See Surah Nūḥ (71:10-12):
(“Seek forgiveness from your Lord… He will send rain upon you, increase wealth and children…”)
7. SubḥānAllāhi wa bi ḥamdihi (سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ)
Meaning: Glory and praise be to Allah
Reward:
✔️ Erases sins, even if they are like the foam of the sea.
→ “Whoever says this 100 times a day, his sins will be forgiven even if they are like the foam of the sea.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, 6405)
8. Reciting the last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah at night
Reward:
✔️ Protection for the night.
→ “Whoever recites the last two verses of Surah al-Baqarah at night, they will suffice him.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, 5009)
9. Saying “Radhītu billāhi Rabban…”
Arabic:
رَضِيتُ بِاللَّهِ رَبًّا وَبِالإِسْلَامِ دِينًا وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ نَبِيًّا
Transliteration:
Radhītu billāhi Rabban, wabil-Islāmi dīnan, wabimuhammadin ﷺ nabiyyā
Reward:
✔️ Jannah (Paradise) becomes mandatory for you.
→ “Whoever says this three times in the morning and evening, Paradise is guaranteed.”
(Sunan Abi Dawood, 5072 – Hasan)
10. Sending Salawat (peace and blessings) upon the Prophet ﷺ
Reward:
✔️ 10 blessings from Allah
✔️ 10 sins erased
✔️ 10 degrees raised
→ “Whoever sends one blessing upon me, Allah will send ten blessings upon him…”
(Sahih Muslim, 408)
Tip: Make these part of your routine
- After every prayer
- While walking, driving, or waiting
- Set reminders to recite dhikr throughout your day
“Remember Me, and I will remember you.”
(Qur’an, Surah Al-Baqarah 2:152)
May Allah make our tongues moist with His remembrance and hearts firm upon His obedience.
Āmīn.
- During your morning/evening commute.
- While waiting in line at the supermarket.
- As you prepare meals for your family.
- Whilst doing household chores.
- During the advertisements while watching television.
- While waiting for an appointment.
- On your coffee/tea break at work.
- As you wait for your computer to load.
- In the calm moments after Fajr prayer.
- As you take a walk or exercise.
- While waiting for your meal at a restaurant- what better time to say Alhamdulliah?
- As your phone charges or updates.
- Whilst waiting for someone, like waiting for your kids to finish their activities.
- As you wait for the elevator to reach your floor.
- As you water your household plants.
- While waiting for the bus or the train
- During the quiet moments before you sleep.
- As you wait for the water to heat up for your bath/shower.
- Whilst waiting for your favourite program to start.
- On hold during a phone call.
- While looking outdoors gazing upon nature
- At night when you scroll on social media
- And lastly, in those moments when you’re simply doing nothing.
A Practical Dhikr Tracker
Imagine a serene garden of time that can blossom with the seeds of Dhikr; this tracker is your gardening tool.
Weekly Dhikr Time Chart
| Day | Morning Commute | Meal Preparation | Household Chores | Work Breaks | Evening Wind Down | Brief Moments of Pause (Through the Day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | ||||||
| Tuesday | ||||||
| Wednesday | ||||||
| Thursday | ||||||
| Friday | ||||||
| Saturday | ||||||
| Sunday |
Set Your Dhikr Goals
If you set a goal, it maybe easier to achieve a set number of Shikr per day
- SubhanAllah: _____ times daily
- Alhamdulillah: _____ times daily
- Allahu Akbar: _____ times daily
- La ilaha illallah: _____ times daily
- Astaghfirullah: _____ times daily
- Salawat upon the Prophet (ﷺ): _____ times daily
At the end of each day, reflect on the gentle whispers of Dhikr that you have sown. Write down your feelings and any elevation in your spirituality you may have observed.
Practical approaches to incorporating Dhikr
In the gentle embrace of His infinite wisdom and benevolence, let us consider ways in which we can replace our moments of temporal engagement with the ever-lasting comfort of Dhikr, the remembrance of Allah s.w.t. Here are some respectful suggestions for integrating Dhikr into our daily lives:
- Starting the Day with Dhikr:
As dawn breaks and the world stirs into motion, consider beginning your day with the serene recitation of Dhikr rather than reaching for the ephemeral scrolls of social media. Dedicate the first moments of your morning to glorify Allah s.w.t., allowing His praise to set a reverent tone for your day. - In Moments of Rest:
During the night, as the darkness envelopes the Earth in a quiet slumber, allocate a short period before sleep for Dhikr—let your last thoughts be in remembrance of Allah s.w.t., seeking His forgiveness and giving thanks for the blessings of the day. - Amidst Daytime Activities:
Replace a portion of your lunch break or any brief respite in your workday with Dhikr. Opt to spend this sacred interlude with a Tasbih in hand or with silent prayers upon your lips, embracing an opportunity to reconnect with your faith amidst the trials of temporal labor. - Companionship on Walks:
As you tread upon the Earth, whether it is under the vast sky or amidst the rustling leaves, use this walking meditation as an appointed time for Dhikr. As you step, let each movement be accompanied by the remembrance of Allah s.w.t., experiencing His creation while praising Him with every breath. - Evening Times with Loved Ones:
Suggest to your family or housemates that you devote a portion of your evening to communal Dhikr. This act of collective worship can not only bring you closer to Allah s.w.t. but also deepen the bonds of love and faith within your home.
These suggestions are tender invitations, not obligations, intended to gently nudge our hearts towards a state of constant awareness of Allah’s proximity. Recall that our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) taught us that the most beloved deeds to Allah are those that are consistent, even if they are small.
Beloved brothers and sisters, let us seize these golden threads of time and weave a fabric of remembrance and connection that envelops our day, drawing us closer to Allah s.w.t. May we find in every ‘wasted’ moment, a precious opportunity to dial down the clamor of life and dial in to His divine presence.
Remember, it’s not about grand gestures but rather the consistent, humble utterances throughout our day: the soothing rhythm of “SubhanAllah,” the gratitude-infused “Alhamdulillah,” the resonant “Allahu Akbar,” and the affirming “La ilaha illallah”. Let these become our anchors, helping us navigate the currents of daily life with peace and spiritual fortitude.
May our tongues be kept moist with His remembrance, and may every moment of our existence become a testament to our faith and love for Him. Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
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