The Virtue of Dhikr and Istighfar
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Question:
The questioner: Your Eminence, this questioner Ibrahim Abu Hamid says: Tell us, O honorable Shaykh, about the virtue of dhikr and the virtue of istighfar. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow his guidance. As for what follows:
For Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) has prescribed for His servants dhikr and istighfar, and He commanded them to increase in the remembrance of Allah. He said (Exalted and Majestic is He): [Al-Ahzab: 41], [Al-Ahzab: 42]. He said (Exalted is He): [Al-Baqarah: 152]. And He said (Exalted and Majestic is He): [Hud: 3]. He said: [Al-Baqarah: 199]. So the believer is commanded to increase in dhikr and to increase in istighfar, so that perhaps Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) will multiply his reward and forgive his sins.
And it is prescribed to increase in this at the beginning of the night and the beginning of the day. One increases in the remembrance of Allah at the start of the day and the start of the night. In the authentic hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: He said (peace and blessings be upon him) to Juwayriyah when he saw her in her place of prayer in the morning, and he returned to her in the late morning, saying: She said: Yes. He said: .
And he said (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 2137a And he said (peace and blessings be upon him): Sunan an-Nasa'i 924Hasan (Darussalam).
And a man said: “I am a Bedouin, O Messenger of Allah. Teach me something by which I may remember my Lord.” He said: “Say:Riyad as-Salihin 1414” He said: “O Messenger of Allah, this is for my Lord, but what is for me?” He said: “Say: .”
So the believer supplicates to his Lord, seeks forgiveness from his Lord, and increases in His remembrance (Exalted and Majestic is He) in the morning and evening, hoping for His reward and fearing His punishment. As He said (Exalted is He): [Ta-Ha: 130]. And He said (Exalted is He): [Ar-Rum: 17].
And likewise, for the rest of the time, one increases in the remembrance of Allah in the night and day and does not grow weary; for Allah loves to be remembered. And in the authentic hadith, he said (peace and blessings be upon him):Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3534Hasan (Darussalam) These are great words. Whoever says them ten times: “There is no god but Allah alone, having no partner. His is the dominion, and His is the praise. He gives life and He causes death, and He is over all things competent,” ten times, is like one who freed four slaves from the descendants of Isma'il.
And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Ibn Majah 3798Sahih (Darussalam) meaning: he frees her and this is a great virtue.
And it is prescribed for people to say after every prayer:Sahih Muslim 597a And it is mentioned that if the servant says that, his sins are forgiven, even if they are like the foam of the sea. And this is a great virtue after every obligatory prayer. When he says the taslim, he says: “I seek forgiveness from Allah, I seek forgiveness from Allah, I seek forgiveness from Allah. O Allah, You are Peace, and from You is peace. Blessed are You, O Owner of Majesty and Honor. There is no god but Allah alone, having no partner. His is the dominion, and His is the praise, and He is over all things competent,” once or three times. “There is no power and no strength except by Allah. There is no god but Allah, and we worship none but Him. His is the blessing, His is the favor, and His is the good praise. There is no god but Allah, sincere to Him in religion, even if the disbelievers hate. O Allah, there is no one who can prevent what You have given, and there is no one who can give what You have prevented, and no one of wealth benefits from You by his wealth.” Then he glorifies thirty-three times... “Subhan Allah (Glory be to Allah), Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah), Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest),” thirty-three times. He said (peace and blessings be upon him): And this is a great virtue. That he glorifies, praises, and magnifies thirty-three times. That is ninety-nine. Then he says to complete the hundred: “There is no god but Allah alone, having no partner. His is the dominion, and His is the praise, and He is over all things competent,” once, to complete the hundred. In this is a great virtue, one of the causes of forgiveness.
And if he says: “Subhan Allah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illa Allah, Allahu Akbar,” twenty-five times, it becomes a hundred. This is another type as well. “Subhan Allah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illa Allah, Allahu Akbar,” after every prayer, a hundred times. Twenty-five times, the total is a hundred times. If he says: “Subhan Allah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illa Allah, Allahu Akbar,” twenty-five times, the total is a hundred times. He says: “Subhan Allah” twenty-five times, “Alhamdulillah” twenty-five times, “La ilaha illa Allah” twenty-five times, “Allahu Akbar” twenty-five times. The total is a hundred times. But the hadiths: “Whoever glorifies Allah thirty-three times, praises Allah thirty-three times, and magnifies Allah thirty-three times, that is ninety-nine, and he says to complete the hundred: ‘There is no god but Allah alone, having no partner. His is the dominion, and His is the praise, and He is over all things competent,’ his sins are forgiven, even if they are like the foam of the sea” — this is more authentic and more established than the first one.
So it is recommended for the believer to increase in these great adhkar, and to read Ayat al-Kursi after this as well: [Al-Baqarah: 255] after every prayer, after this dhikr. And he reads [Al-Ikhlas: 1] and the two Mu'awwidhat after every prayer. And if he repeats them three times after Fajr in the morning and evening, it is better. Three times, after Maghrib and Fajr.
And in any case, what is prescribed for every believer, male and female, is to increase in the remembrance of Allah in all of the night and day. To increase in the remembrance of Allah, His glorification, His praise, and His magnification, and to increase in istighfar. Yes; for the hadith:Sunan Ibn Majah 3819Da'if (Darussalam) Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you. Allah is the One to be sought for help. May Allah reward you with good, Your Eminence.
The questioner: Your Eminence, this questioner Ibrahim Abu Hamid says: Tell us, O honorable Shaykh, about the virtue of dhikr and the virtue of istighfar. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow his guidance. As for what follows:
For Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) has prescribed for His servants dhikr and istighfar, and He commanded them to increase in the remembrance of Allah. He said (Exalted and Majestic is He):
O you who have believed, remember Allah with much remembrance
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيرًاAnd exalt Him morning and afternoon.
وَسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًاSo remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me.
فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِي وَلا تَكْفُرُونِAnd [saying], "Seek forgiveness of your Lord and repent to Him
وَأَنِ اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُوا إِلَيْهِand ask forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
وَاسْتَغْفِرُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌAnd it is prescribed to increase in this at the beginning of the night and the beginning of the day. One increases in the remembrance of Allah at the start of the day and the start of the night. In the authentic hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Whoever says: “Subhan Allah wa bihamdihi (Glory be to Allah and with His praise)” one hundred times in the morning and evening, his sins are forgiven, even if they are like the foam of the sea.
من قال: سبحان الله وبحمده حين يصبح وحين يمسي مائة مرة غفرت خطاياه، وإن كانت مثل زبد البحرHave you not been in your place of prayer?
ما زلت بمصلاك؟I have said after you words that, if weighed against what you have said since this day, would outweigh them three times: “Subhan Allah al-Azim wa bihamdihi (Glory be to Allah the Magnificent and with His praise), the number of His creation. Subhan Allah rida nafsihi (Glory be to Allah, the pleasure of His Self). Subhan Allah zinat 'Arshihi (Glory be to Allah, the weight of His Throne). Subhan Allah mada' kalamatihi (Glory be to Allah, the ink of His words).”
لقد قلت بعدك كلمات لو وزنت بما قلت منذ اليوم لوزنتهن ثلاث مرات: سبحان الله العظيم وبحمده، عدد خلقه، سبحان الله رضا نفسه، سبحان الله زنة عرشه، سبحان الله مداد كلماتهAnd he said (peace and blessings be upon him):
The dearest phrases to Allah are four: Subhan Allah (Hallowed be Allah), Al-Hamdulillah (Praise be to Allah), La ilaha illa-Allah (There is no deity but Allah), Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greater).
أحب الكلام إلى الله أربع: سبحان الله، والحمد لله، ولا إله إلا الله، والله أكبرSubhanAllah, wal-hamdulilah, wa la illaha ill-Allah, wa Allahu Akbar, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa Billahil-aliy al-azim (Glory be to Allah, praise be to Allah, there is none worthy of worship except Allah, Allah is Most Great, and there is no power and no strength except with Allah the Exalted and Magnificent )
الباقيات الصالحات: سبحان الله، والحمد لله، ولا إله إلا الله، والله أكبر، ولا حول ولا قوة إلا باللهAnd a man said: “I am a Bedouin, O Messenger of Allah. Teach me something by which I may remember my Lord.” He 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.)"
لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، الله أكبر كبيرًا، والحمد لله كثيرًا، وسبحان الله رب العالمين، ولا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله العزيز الحكيمO Allah, forgive me, provide for me, keep me in health, and guide me.
اللهم اغفر لي وارزقني وعافني واهدنيSo the believer supplicates to his Lord, seeks forgiveness from his Lord, and increases in His remembrance (Exalted and Majestic is He) in the morning and evening, hoping for His reward and fearing His punishment. As He said (Exalted is He):
and exalt [Allah] with praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting
وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَاSo exalted is Allah when you reach the evening and when you reach the morning.
فَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ حِينَ تُمْسُونَ وَحِينَ تُصْبِحُونَAnd likewise, for the rest of the time, one increases in the remembrance of Allah in the night and day and does not grow weary; for Allah loves to be remembered. And in the authentic hadith, he said (peace and blessings be upon him):
Whoever says: "There is no god but Allah, alone, without partner, to Him belongs the dominion and to Him belongs the praise, He gives life and He causes death, and He is over all things competent," ten times, is like one who has freed four slaves from the descendants of Isma'il.
من قال: لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك، وله الحمد، يحيي ويميت، وهو على كل شيء قدير، عشر مرات، كان كمن أعتق أربعة أنفس من ولد إسماعيلAnd he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Whoever says one hundered times each day: La ilaha illahu wahdahu la sharikalahu, wa lahul-mulku wa lahul hamduwa huwa ala kulli shayin qadeer (None has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone, with no partner or associate. His is the dominion, all praise is to Him, and He is able to do all things), it will be equivalent to him freeing ten slaves
من قال في يومه مائة مرة: لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك، وله الحمد، وهو على كل شيء قدير، كانت له عدل عشر رقابAnd Allah will write for him one hundred good deeds, and erase from him one hundred bad deeds, and he will be protected from Satan that day until he becomes evening, and no one will come with anything better than what he came with, except a man who did more work than his work.
وكتب الله له مائة حسنة، ومحا عنه مائة سيئة، وكان في حرز من الشيطان يومه ذلك حتى يمسي، ولم يأت أحد بأفضل مما جاء به، إلا رجل عمل أكثر من عملهAnd it is prescribed for people to say after every prayer:
If anyone extols Allah after every prayer thirty-three times, and praises Allah thirty-three times, and declares His Greatness thirty-three times, ninety-nine times in all, and says to complete a hundred:" There is no god but Allah, having no partner with Him, to Him belongs sovereignty and to Him is praise due, and He is Potent over everything,"
سبحان الله، والحمد لله، والله أكبر، ثلاثًا وثلاثين مرة، وتمام المائة لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك وله الحمد، وهو على كل شيء قديرWhoever glorifies Allah thirty-three times after every prayer, praises Allah thirty-three times, and magnifies Allah thirty-three times, and says: "There is no god but Allah, alone, without partner, to Him belongs the dominion and to Him belongs the praise, and He is over all things competent," his sins are forgiven, even if they are like the foam of the sea.
من سبح الله دبر كل صلاة ثلاثًا وثلاثين، وحمد الله ثلاثًا وثلاثين، وكبر الله ثلاثًا وثلاثين، وقال: لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك، وله الحمد، وهو على كل شيء قدير، غفرت خطاياه وإن كانت مثل زبد البحرAnd if he says: “Subhan Allah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illa Allah, Allahu Akbar,” twenty-five times, it becomes a hundred. This is another type as well. “Subhan Allah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illa Allah, Allahu Akbar,” after every prayer, a hundred times. Twenty-five times, the total is a hundred times. If he says: “Subhan Allah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illa Allah, Allahu Akbar,” twenty-five times, the total is a hundred times. He says: “Subhan Allah” twenty-five times, “Alhamdulillah” twenty-five times, “La ilaha illa Allah” twenty-five times, “Allahu Akbar” twenty-five times. The total is a hundred times. But the hadiths: “Whoever glorifies Allah thirty-three times, praises Allah thirty-three times, and magnifies Allah thirty-three times, that is ninety-nine, and he says to complete the hundred: ‘There is no god but Allah alone, having no partner. His is the dominion, and His is the praise, and He is over all things competent,’ his sins are forgiven, even if they are like the foam of the sea” — this is more authentic and more established than the first one.
So it is recommended for the believer to increase in these great adhkar, and to read Ayat al-Kursi after this as well:
Allah - there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence
اللَّهُ لا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُSay, "He is Allah, [who is] One,
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌAnd in any case, what is prescribed for every believer, male and female, is to increase in the remembrance of Allah in all of the night and day. To increase in the remembrance of Allah, His glorification, His praise, and His magnification, and to increase in istighfar. Yes; for the hadith:
Whoever persists in asking for forgiveness, Allah will grant him relief from every worry, and a way out from every hardship, and will grant him provision from (sources) he could never imagine.
من لزم الاستغفار جعل الله له من كل هم فرجًا، ومن كل ضيق مخرجًا، ورزقه من حيث لا يحتسبThe presenter: May Allah reward you. Allah is the One to be sought for help. May Allah reward you with good, Your Eminence.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.