Morning and evening dhikr is one of the recommended acts of worship in Islam. Dhikr means remembering Allah through certain phrases taught by the Prophet Muhammad. With dhikr, a Muslim can feel the presence of Allah in every aspect of his life. The following are some of the benefits of morning and evening dhikr based on the Quran and Hadith.
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Getting Closer to Allah
Dhikr is the best way to get closer to Allah. In the Quran, Allah says:
فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِي وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ
“So remember Me, and I will remember you, and give thanks to Me, and do not deny My favours.” [Quran 2:152]
By remembering Allah through dhikr, we will always feel close to Him and feel His presence in every aspect of our lives. This strengthens our spiritual bond with Allah and makes us more obedient in carrying out His commands.
Gaining Peace of Mind
Dhikr can provide peace of mind for those who do it. Allah says:
الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُمْ بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُُ
“(Those) who believe and their hearts are stilled by the remembrance of Allah. Remember, it is only with the remembrance of Allah that the heart is at rest.” [Quran 13:28]
With dhikr, our hearts will become calmer and more peaceful, especially when facing difficulties or trials in life. This calmness comes from the belief that Allah is always with us and hears our every prayer and complaint.
Protection from Harm
Morning and evening dhikr is also a protection from various dangers, both visible and invisible. Rasulullah Shallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam said:
وَعَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عَفَّانَ – رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ – قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ – صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – : (( مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ يَقُولُ فِي صَبَاحِ كُلِّ يَوْمٍ وَمَسَاءِ كُلِّ لَيْلَة : بِسْمِ اللهِ الَّذِي لاَ يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الأَرْضِ وَلاَ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ العَلِيمُ ، ثَلاثَ مَرَّاتٍ ، إِلاَّلَمْ يَضُرَّهُ شَيْءٌ )) . رَوَاهُ أَبُوْ دَاوُدَ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ ، وَقَالَ : (( حَدِيْثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيْحٌ ))
‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “A slave should not say a sentence every morning of his day and every evening of his night: BISMILLAHILLADZI LAA YADHURRU MA’ASMIHI SYAI-UN FIL ARDHI WA LAA FIS SAMAA’ WA HUWAS SAMII’UL ‘ALIIM (in the name of Allah, in Whose name there is no harm in the earth nor in the heavens, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing) three times, nothing will harm him.” (HR: Abu Daud and Tirmidhi. Tirmidhi said that this hadith is hasan saheeh). [Abu Daud, no. 5088; Tirmidhi, no. 3388; Ibn Majah, no. 3388. Al-Hafizh Abu Thahir said that the sanad of this hadeeth is hasan].
This dhikr provides protection from various dangers that may befall us, whether in the form of diseases, disturbances from spirits, or natural disasters.
Getting Abundant Rewards
Doing dhikr morning and evening is one of the deeds that is very loved by Allah and gets a great reward. Rasulullah Shallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam said:
“ أَلاَ أُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِخَيْرِ أَعْمَالِكُمْ وَأَزْكَاهَا عِنْدَ مَلِيكِكُمْ وَأَرْفَعِهَا فِي دَرَجَاتِكُمْ وَخَيْرٌ لَكُمْ مِنْ إِنْفَاقِ الذَّهَبِ وَالْوَرِقِ وَخَيْرٌ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَنْ تَلْقَوْا عَدُوَّكُمْ فَتَضْرِبُوا أَعْنَاقَهُمْ وَيَضْرِبُوا أَعْنَاقَكُمْ ” . قَالُوا بَلَى . قَالَ ” ذِكْرُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى ”
“Shall I show you a deed that is best and purest in the sight of your Lord, and of the highest degree, and better for you than spending gold and silver, and better for you than meeting your enemies, then you strike their necks or they strike your necks?” The Companions replied, “Certainly, O Messenger of Allah.” He said, “Dhikr of Allah.” (Tirmidhi 3377)
Dhikr is one of the noblest deeds in the sight of Allah. The reward gained from this remembrance is greater than giving gold and silver, and better than striving in the cause of Allah.
Also Read: Faith, Knowledge, and Deeds: The Three Foundations of Act in Islam
Erasing Sins
Morning and evening dhikr can also erase our sins. The hadith states:
مَنْ قَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ. فِي يَوْمٍ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ حُطَّتْ خَطَايَاهُ، وَإِنْ كَانَتْ مِثْلَ زَبَدِ الْبَحْرِ
“Whoever says ‘Subhanallah wa bihamdihi’ a hundred times a day, his sins will be expiated, even if they are as numerous as the foam in the sea.” (Bukhari 6405, Muslim 2691)
By doing dhikr regularly, our sins will be blotted out by Allah, even if they are as many as the foam in the sea. This shows how great Allah’s mercy is towards His servants who always remember Him.
Getting Intercession on the Day of Judgement
Consistent dhikr will be a witness and intercession for us on the Day of Judgement. Rasulullah Shallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam said:
مَا جَلَسَ قَوْمٌ مَجْلِسًا يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ فِيهِ إِلاَّ حَفَّتْهُمُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ وَتَغَشَّتْهُمُ الرَّحْمَةُ وَتَنَزَّلَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّكِينَةُ وَذَكَرَهُمُ اللَّهُ فِيمَنْ عِنْدَهُ
“There is no people who remember Allah except the angels surround them, Allah’s mercy covers them, tranquillity descends upon them, and Allah mentions them before the creatures that are with Him.” (Muslim 2700)
Dhikr will be a witness to our faith and can intercede for us on the Day of Judgement. Angels will record every dhikr that we say, and Allah will mention it to us.
The morning and evening dhikr has many great benefits for the life of a Muslim. With dhikr, we can draw closer to Allah, gain peace of mind, protection from harm, abundant rewards, expiation of sins, and intercession on the Day of Judgement. Therefore, let us always make time for dhikr every morning and evening so that we will always be under the protection and mercy of Allah. Hopefully, this article is useful and can increase our awareness of the importance of morning and evening dhikr.
References
MSc, M. A. T. (2018, October 11). Meminta Perlindungan dari Bahaya pada Pagi dan Petang Hari. Rumaysho.com. https://rumaysho.com/18757-meminta-perlindungan-dari-bahaya-pada-pagi-dan-petang-hari.html
Dzikir Pagi Dan Petang | Almanhaj. (2019, April 26). Almanhaj.or.id. https://almanhaj.or.id/11518-dzikir-pagi-dan-petang.html