Morning and Evening Adhkar: Short Authentic Remembrances with References

The morning and evening adhkar are short remembrances the Prophet (ﷺ) taught for the start and close of the day. Many Muslims learn them from the popular collection Hisn al-Muslim. This guide gathers a few of the best-known ones and gives the exact hadith reference for each, so you can check every line yourself.

Why mornings and evenings?

The Qur’an addresses believers directly: “O believers! Always remember Allah often, and glorify Him morning and evening” (Qur’an 33:41–42, Clear Quran translation). The two ends of the day are natural points to pause and turn back to God.

In our introduction What Is Dhikr?, we described remembrance as keeping God present in the heart. The morning and evening adhkar give that idea a daily shape. They are short enough to learn by heart, and each one rests on a known hadith.

Five well-known adhkar and their references

Below are five remembrances, each with its source. Transliterations follow the English pages of the Sunnah.com collections. Learn the Arabic wording from a teacher or a reliable printed copy.

1. Sayyid al-Istighfar (the master of seeking forgiveness)

Allahumma anta Rabbi, la ilaha illa anta, khalaqtani wa ana ‘abduka… The Prophet (ﷺ) called it “the most superior way of asking for forgiveness from Allah,” and mentioned saying it in the day and at night (Sahih al-Bukhari 6306).

Its meaning is a complete act of repentance in a few lines: affirming God’s lordship, admitting one’s faults, recognising His blessings, and asking for forgiveness.

2. SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi

“Glory be to Allah, and all praise is His.” The hadith mentions reciting it one hundred times in the morning and in the evening (Sahih Muslim 2692). It is easy to spread through the day, for example while walking or waiting.

3. “By You we enter the morning…”

In the morning: Allahumma bika asbahna wa bika amsayna, wa bika nahya wa bika namutu, wa ilaykal-masir (“O Allah, by You we enter the morning and by You we enter the evening, by You we live and by You we die, and to You is the return”). In the evening the order is reversed and it ends wa ilaykan-nushur (“to You is the resurrection”). The Prophet (ﷺ) taught it to his Companions (Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3391; also Sunan Abi Dawud 5068).

Remembrances of protection and well-being

Some adhkar are short requests for God’s protection and care. They are a way of placing the day in His hands, not a formula with guaranteed results.

4. Bismillahilladhi la yadurru

“In the name of Allah, with whose name nothing on earth or in heaven can cause harm, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.” It is said three times in the morning and in the evening (Sunan Abi Dawud 5088, graded sahih by al-Albani; Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3388).

5. The three Quls

Surat al-Ikhlas (“Say, He is Allah, One”) and the two Mu’awwidhatayn (al-Falaq and al-Nas), each three times morning and evening (Sunan Abi Dawud 5082; Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3575).

Counts mentioned in these hadith

At a glance: morning vs evening wording

A few adhkar change slightly between morning and evening. The evening form of one well-known du’a begins “We have entered upon evening and the whole kingdom of Allah has entered upon evening” (Sahih Muslim 2723). Another narration adds that in the morning he said the same with “morning” in place of “evening” (Sahih Muslim 2723b).

Remembrance	Morning	Evening	Reference
“By You we enter…”	Bika asbahna wa bika amsayna… wa ilaykal-masir	Bika amsayna wa bika asbahna… wa ilaykan-nushur	Tirmidhi 3391
Kingdom of Allah du’a	“We entered upon morning…”	“We have entered upon evening…”	Muslim 2723b
SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi	100 times	100 times	Muslim 2692

How to build the habit

Consistency matters more than volume. Start with one or two of these and add more once they feel natural. The etiquette of seeking knowledge applies here too: learn the wording carefully and ask when unsure.

A note on presence of heart

Classical teachers stressed that the tongue and the heart should work together. Saying these words while thinking about their meaning is the goal, even if attention wanders at first.

These adhkar are acts of worship, not charms. Say them out of love and need for God, and leave the outcome to Him. For questions about wording, counts or timing, ask a qualified scholar.

This article is general educational content and not a religious ruling. Last checked: 6 October 2026.