Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah)
Remembrance and glorification of Allah through repetition of sacred phrases.
Dhikr (Arabic: ذكر) means "remembrance" or "mention" and refers to the act of remembering and glorifying Allah through repetition of sacred phrases and prayers. Dhikr can be performed at any time, but is especially recommended after the obligatory prayers.
The most common dhikr phrases after prayer are: "SubhanAllah" (Glory be to Allah) 33 times, "Alhamdulillah" (All praise to Allah) 33 times, and "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is the Greatest) 34 times — a total of 100 repetitions.
The Quran says: "O you who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance, and glorify Him morning and evening" (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:41-42). Dhikr brings peace and tranquility to the heart and strengthens the believer's connection to Allah in daily life.
Related terms
Usul al-Fiqh (Principles of Jurisprudence)
Islamic legal theory that defines the methods for deriving legal rules from the sacred sources.
Sunnah (Voluntary Prayer)
Voluntary prayers based on the Prophet's practice.
Salat al-Mayyit (Funeral Prayer)
The prayer for the deceased, performed before the burial.
Mafatih al-Jinan (Keys to Paradise)
The most widely used Shia prayer book, compiled by Shaykh Abbas al-Qummi.
Bid'ah (Innovation in Religion)
An innovation or addition to religion that has no basis in the Quran or Sunnah.
Ashura (The Tenth of Muharram)
The tenth day of Muharram, the commemoration of Imam Husayn's martyrdom.