The adhkar meaning is simple: adhkar (أذكار) is the plural of dhikr, the Arabic word for remembrance, and it means the words Muslims say to remember and praise Allah. Most often, people use it for the morning and evening adhkar, short duas and Quran passages the Prophet ﷺ taught us to read at the start and end of each day.
Assalamu Alaikum. If you’ve ever opened a list of adhkar, felt overwhelmed and closed it again, this guide is for you. You’ll find the adhkar meaning in plain words, where the Quran tells us to remember Allah morning and evening, six authentic adhkar to start with, ten benefits backed by Quran and hadith, and a simple routine that actually sticks.
Key takeaways
- Dhikr means remembrance; adhkar is its plural, the set words of remembrance from the Quran and Sunnah.
- The Quran commands remembrance “morning and afternoon” (Quran 33:42), which is where the morning and evening adhkar come from.
- Six short, authentic adhkar are enough to begin, and each one carries a promise from the Prophet ﷺ.
- Every verse below is quoted from quran.com and every hadith from sunnah.com with its number and grade.
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ ﴿٢٨﴾
“Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allāh. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allāh hearts are assured.”
How I source this: every verse is quoted from the Saheeh International translation on quran.com, and every hadith from sunnah.com with its collection, number and grade. I don’t write my own translations. These are general reminders, not fatwas; for your own situation, please ask a qualified scholar. More about me and how I write.
Adhkar Meaning: What Dhikr and Adhkar Mean in Islam
Dhikr (ذِكر) means remembering Allah, with the heart and with the tongue. Adhkar is simply its plural. So when someone says “I’ve done my adhkar”, they mean the set of remembrances they read regularly.
In everyday use, the adhkar meaning usually points to specific words from the Quran and Sunnah, read at set times:
- Morning adhkar (أذكار الصباح): read after Fajr.
- Evening adhkar (أذكار المساء): read after Asr.
- Adhkar after salah: read after each obligatory prayer.
- Adhkar before sleep: read as you go to bed.
- General dhikr: words such as SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar and La ilaha illAllah, said at any time.
Once you know the adhkar meaning, they stop feeling like a list to rush through. Instead, they become a short daily conversation with Allah at the two ends of your day.
Adhkar Meaning in the Quran: Remember Allah Morning and Evening
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيرًا ﴿٤١﴾ وَسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا ﴿٤٢﴾
“O you who have believed, remember Allāh with much remembrance. And exalt Him morning and afternoon.”
Allah also tells the Prophet ﷺ to “exalt [Allāh] with praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting” (Quran 50:39; see also Quran 20:130). So the morning and evening adhkar aren’t a later invention. Their timing comes from these verses, and the Sunnah gives us the words.
Allah also describes “the men who remember Allāh often and the women who do so” and says “for them Allāh has prepared forgiveness and a great reward” (Quran 33:35). In other words, the adhkar meaning is not only about words. It is about becoming someone who remembers Allah often.
When to Read Morning and Evening Adhkar
Because the verses mention “before the rising of the sun and before its setting”, many scholars recommend reading the morning adhkar between Fajr and sunrise, and the evening adhkar between Asr and Maghrib. Scholars discuss how far each window stretches, and what to do if you miss it, so follow a trusted scholar in your community on the details.
Part of the adhkar meaning is consistency, so what matters most is that the habit survives a busy day. Tie the morning set to Fajr and the evening set to Asr, and the two prayers become your daily reminders.
Adhkar Meaning in Practice: 6 Sunnah Adhkar to Start With
You don’t need the full list on day one. These six are authentic, short, and each comes with a promise from the Prophet ﷺ. So begin with one or two, then add more as they become part of you.
1. Bismillahilladhi la yadurru (3 times, morning and evening)
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي لاَ يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَىْءٌ فِي الأَرْضِ وَلاَ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
“If anyone says three times: “In the name of Allah, when Whose name is mentioned nothing on Earth or in Heaven can cause harm, and He is the Hearer, the Knower” he will not suffer sudden affliction till the morning, and if anyone says this in the morning, he will not suffer sudden affliction till the evening.”
Narrated Uthman ibn Affan, Sunan Abi Dawud 5088 (Sahih, Al-Albani)
Transliteration: Bismillāh, alladhi lā yaḍurru ma`a ismihi shai’un fil-arḍi wa lā fis-samā’, wa huwas-Samī`ul `Alīm (Jami at-Tirmidhi 3388, Hasan, Darussalam).
2. The three Quls (3 times, morning and evening)
“Say: “Say, He is Allah, One,” and al-Mu’awwadhatan three times in the morning and evening; they will serve you for every purpose.”
Narrated Abdullah ibn Khubayb, Sunan Abi Dawud 5082 (Hasan, Al-Albani). Also in Jami at-Tirmidhi 3575 (Hasan, Darussalam).
The three Quls in Arabic
قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ﴿١﴾ ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ ﴿٢﴾ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ ﴿٣﴾ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ ﴿٤﴾
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلْفَلَقِ ﴿١﴾ مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ ﴿٢﴾ وَمِن شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ ﴿٣﴾ وَمِن شَرِّ ٱلنَّفَّـٰثَـٰتِ فِى ٱلْعُقَدِ ﴿٤﴾ وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ ﴿٥﴾
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلنَّاسِ ﴿١﴾ مَلِكِ ٱلنَّاسِ ﴿٢﴾ إِلَـٰهِ ٱلنَّاسِ ﴿٣﴾ مِن شَرِّ ٱلْوَسْوَاسِ ٱلْخَنَّاسِ ﴿٤﴾ ٱلَّذِى يُوَسْوِسُ فِى صُدُورِ ٱلنَّاسِ ﴿٥﴾ مِنَ ٱلْجِنَّةِ وَٱلنَّاسِ ﴿٦﴾
Surah al-Ikhlas, Surah al-Falaq, Surah an-Nas (quran.com)
3. Sayyid al-Istighfar, the best way to seek forgiveness
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي، لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَىَّ وَأَبُوءُ لَكَ بِذَنْبِي، فَاغْفِرْ لِي، فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ
“O Allah, You are my Lord, there is none worthy of worship except You. You have created me, and I am Your servant, and I am faithful to Your covenant and promise as much as I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge Your blessings upon me, and I admit my sins. So forgive me, for none forgives sins except You.”
The Prophet ﷺ, narrated by Shaddad bin Aus, Sahih al-Bukhari 6306
Transliteration: Allahumma anta Rabbi la ilaha illa anta, Khalaqtani wa ana `Abduka, wa ana `ala `ahdika wa wa`dika mastata`tu, A`udhu bika min Sharri ma sana`tu, abu’u Laka bini`matika `alaiya, wa abu’u laka bidhanbi faghfir lee fa innahu la yaghfiru adhdhunuba illa anta. The Prophet ﷺ added: “If somebody recites it during the day with firm faith in it, and dies on the same day before the evening, he will be from the people of Paradise; and if somebody recites it at night with firm faith in it, and dies before the morning, he will be from the people of Paradise.”
4. SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi (100 times, morning and evening)
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ
“He who recites in the morning and in the evening (these words):” Exalted is Allah (He is free from imperfection)and all praise is due to Him” one hundred times, he would not bring on the Day of Resurrection anything excellent than this except one who utters these words or utters more than these words.”
Abu Huraira, Sahih Muslim 2692
5. Amsayna wa amsal-mulku lillah (evening)
أَمْسَيْنَا وَأَمْسَى الْمُلْكُ لِلَّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ
“We entered upon evening and the whole Kingdom of Allah also entered upon evening and praise is due to Allah. There is no god but Allah, the One Who has no partner with Him.”
Abdullah b. Mas’ud, describing what the Prophet ﷺ said when it was evening, Sahih Muslim 2723a
The same narration continues with a dua to ask “the good of this night” and to seek refuge “from the evil of this night and the evil which follows it”, and from torment in the Fire and the grave. It is a beautiful way to hand your night over to Allah.
6. A'udhu bi kalimatillahit-tammati (evening)
أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ
“Allah’s Messenger, I was stung by a scorpion during the night. Thereupon he said: Had you recited these words in the evening:” I seek refuge in the Perfect Word of Allah from the evil of what He created,” it would not have done any harm to you.”
Abu Huraira, Sahih Muslim 2709a
✔ Make it easy
- Start with numbers 1 and 2. Together they take about two minutes.
- Add one more each week until you have all six.
- Keep the words where you pray. My Morning, Evening and Salah Adhkar cards have the authentic adhkar with their hadith references, and the Daily Morning Adhkar cards come in packs if you’d like to share them for reward.
10 Benefits of Morning and Evening Adhkar
Every benefit below comes with its evidence, and each one shows the adhkar meaning in action. Therefore, if someone asks you why you read your adhkar, you can show them exactly where the promise comes from.
- Allah remembers you. “So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me” (Quran 2:152). In a hadith qudsi, Allah says: “I am with him if He remembers Me” (Sahih al-Bukhari 7405).
- Your heart finds rest. “Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allāh hearts are assured” (Quran 13:28). On anxious mornings, this is the promise to hold on to.
- Your heart stays alive. “The example of the one who celebrates the Praises of his Lord (Allah) in comparison to the one who does not celebrate the Praises of his Lord, is that of a living creature compared to a dead one” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6407).
- Protection from sudden affliction. Saying Bismillahilladhi la yadurru three times protects you from sudden affliction until the evening or the morning (Sunan Abi Dawud 5088, Sahih, Al-Albani).
- The three Quls suffice you. Recited three times morning and evening, “they will serve you for every purpose” (Sunan Abi Dawud 5082, Hasan, Al-Albani).
- Protection from harm at night. The Prophet ﷺ said the evening refuge in “the Perfect Word of Allah” would have kept a scorpion’s sting from harming the man who forgot it (Sahih Muslim 2709a).
- A promise of Paradise. Whoever reads Sayyid al-Istighfar with firm faith and dies that day or night “will be from the people of Paradise” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6306).
- An unmatched reward. No one brings anything better on the Day of Resurrection than the one who says SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi a hundred times morning and evening, except one who says it as much or more (Sahih Muslim 2692).
- Forgiveness and a great reward. For “the men who remember Allāh often and the women who do so”, Allah “has prepared forgiveness and a great reward” (Quran 33:35).
- You follow the Prophet’s ﷺ own routine. He ﷺ began each evening by praising Allah and asking for the good of the night (Sahih Muslim 2723a). Each time you do the same, you live a Sunnah he kept every day.
Notice how practical these benefits are. They touch your heart, your safety, your sins and your akhirah, all in about ten minutes a day. That is the adhkar meaning lived out: remembrance that shapes the whole day.
How to Make Adhkar a Daily Habit: 7 Simple Steps
- Anchor it to a prayer. Morning adhkar straight after Fajr, evening adhkar straight after Asr, before you reach for your phone.
- Start small. Two adhkar every day beat twenty adhkar once a week.
- Learn the meaning. Read the English alongside the Arabic. Understanding the adhkar meaning is what turns the words into a conversation.
- Keep them where you pray. A printed card on the prayer mat removes the “where’s my list?” moment.
- Track it for 30 days. A simple tick on a calendar or in a journal keeps you going.
- Find a buddy. Message a friend or your spouse once you’ve finished. A little accountability goes a long way.
- Ask Allah for help. The Prophet ﷺ told Mu’adh never to leave this dua after every prayer (see below).
If mornings with little ones feel chaotic, these ideas on managing your time as a Muslim mother can help you protect those ten minutes. And daily remembrance is one of the best ways of keeping your faith alive in a distracting world.
Questions People Ask About Adhkar Meaning
What is the meaning of adhkar?
Adhkar is the plural of dhikr, which means remembrance. It refers to the words Muslims say to remember and praise Allah, especially the set remembrances from the Quran and Sunnah read in the morning, the evening, after salah and before sleep.
What is the difference between dhikr and adhkar?
Dhikr is the act of remembering Allah, or a single phrase of remembrance. Adhkar is the plural, and people usually use it for the full set of remembrances read at a particular time, such as “the morning adhkar”.
What are morning and evening adhkar?
They are remembrances from the Sunnah read after Fajr and after Asr, such as the three Quls, Sayyid al-Istighfar and Bismillahilladhi la yadurru. Their timing comes from Quran 33:42 and 50:39, which mention remembering Allah morning and afternoon, before sunrise and before sunset.
How long do the morning adhkar take?
The six adhkar in this guide take about ten minutes, including SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi one hundred times. Starting with just the first two takes about two minutes.
Can I read my adhkar from a card or an app?
Many people read from a card or a trusted app while they learn the words, and slowly memorise them over time. Just make sure the source gives the hadith reference for each dhikr, so you know it is authentic.
Do I need to understand Arabic to benefit?
The words themselves are from the Sunnah, so read them as they were taught. Reading the English meaning alongside helps your heart stay present, which is why I put the meaning and the reference next to every dhikr on my cards.
Final Thoughts: Living the Adhkar Meaning Every Day
The adhkar meaning comes down to one beautiful idea: Allah remembers those who remember Him. Ten minutes after Fajr and ten after Asr can carry protection, peace and reward through your whole day. If you’d like to go further, read these 7 ways to become Allah’s beloved and these powerful ways to become a better Muslim.
Mu’adh b. Jabal reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ caught his hand, told him he loved him, and taught him never to leave this supplication after every prayer:
اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنِّي عَلَى ذِكْرِكَ وَشُكْرِكَ وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ
“O Allah, help me in remembering You, in giving You thanks, and worshipping You well.”
Sunan Abi Dawud 1522 (Sahih, Al-Albani)
May Allah make us among those who remember Him often, morning and evening. Ameen ya Rabb. 🤲🏼
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If you found this guide beneficial, every share, every du’a and every small action counts. Jazakum Allahu Khayran for being part of this journey. 🌸
Written by Madiha Ali
Self-taught designer behind Pink Pastel Studio. I check every verse on quran.com and every hadith on sunnah.com. Last reviewed: October 2026.
Follow my daily reminders on Instagram at @pinkpastelstudio.
Sources: Quran translations: Saheeh International via quran.com. Hadith texts, numbers and grades: sunnah.com.
