In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful
Al-Nawawi records in his book Riyad al-Salihin:
Allah Almighty said:
اتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ
Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Verily, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, but the remembrance of Allah is greater.
Surat al-Ankabut 29:45
And Allah said:
فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِي وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ
Remember Me and I will remember you, be grateful to Me and do not be ungrateful.
Surat al-Baqarah 2:152
And Allah said:
وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
Remember Allah often that you may succeed.
Surat al-Jumu’ah 62:10
And Allah said:
وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ فِي نَفْسِكَ تَضَرُّعًا وَخِيفَةً وَدُونَ الْجَهْرِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ وَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ الْغَافِلِينَ
Remember your Lord within yourself with humility and in private, without announcing it, in the mornings and evenings, and do not be among the unmindful.
Surat al-A’raf 7:205
And Allah said:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيرًا وَسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا
O you who believe, remember Allah with much remembrance and exalt Him in the morning and evening.
Surat al-Ahzab 33:41
Abu Musa reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
مَثَلُ الْبَيْتِ الَّذِي يُذْكَرُ اللَّهُ فِيهِ وَالْبَيْتِ الَّذِي لَا يُذْكَرُ اللَّهُ فِيهِ مَثَلُ الْحَيِّ وَالْمَيِّتِ
The example of the house which remembers Allah and the house which does not remember Allah is that of the living and the dead.
Source: Sahih Bukhari 6044, Grade: Sahih
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
كَلِمَتَانِ حَبِيبَتَانِ إِلَى الرَّحْمَنِ خَفِيفَتَانِ عَلَى اللِّسَانِ ثَقِيلَتَانِ فِي الْمِيزَانِ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ الْعَظِيمِ
Two words are beloved to the Most Merciful. They are light on the tongue but heavy on the scale: Glory and praise to Allah, and glory to Allah the Almighty.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 7563, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
لَأَنْ أَقُولَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِمَّا طَلَعَتْ عَلَيْهِ الشَّمْسُ
To declare the glory of Allah, the praise of Allah, the oneness of Allah, and the greatness of Allah is more beloved to me than anything over which the sun rises.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2695, Grade: Sahih
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
مَنْ قَالَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ فِي يَوْمٍ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ كَانَتْ لَهُ عَدْلَ عَشْرِ رِقَابٍ وَكُتِبَتْ لَهُ مِائَةُ حَسَنَةٍ وَمُحِيَتْ عَنْهُ مِائَةُ سَيِّئَةٍ وَكَانَتْ لَهُ حِرْزًا مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ يَوْمَهُ ذَلِكَ حَتَّى يُمْسِيَ وَلَمْ يَأْتِ أَحَدٌ أَفْضَلَ مِمَّا جَاءَ بِهِ إِلَّا أَحَدٌ عَمِلَ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَمَنْ قَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ فِي يَوْمٍ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ حُطَّتْ خَطَايَاهُ وَلَوْ كَانَتْ مِثْلَ زَبَدِ الْبَحْرِ
Whoever declares there is no god but Allah without any partner, to Him belongs sovereignty and praise and He is powerful over everything one hundred times a day, he will have the reward of emancipating ten slaves, a hundred good deeds will be recorded for him, a hundred sins will be erased from his record, and he will have a guard against Satan during the day until evening. No one will exceed him but one who recited these words more often. Whoever declares the glory of Allah and His praises one hundred times a day, his sins will be diminished even if they are like the foam of the sea.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2691, Grade: Sahih
Abu Dharr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
أَلَا أُخْبِرُكَ بِأَحَبِّ الْكَلَامِ إِلَى اللَّهِ إِنَّ أَحَبَّ الْكَلَامِ إِلَى اللَّهِ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ
Shall I tell you about the most beloved word to Allah? Verily, the most beloved word to Allah is to declare the glory of Allah and His praise.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2731, Grade: Sahih
Abu Malik al-Ash’ari reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
الطُّهُورُ شَطْرُ الْإِيمَانِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ تَمْلَأُ الْمِيزَانَ وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ تَمْلَآَنِ أَوْ تَمْلَأُ مَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَالصَّلَاةُ نُورٌ وَالصَّدَقَةُ بُرْهَانٌ وَالصَّبْرُ ضِيَاءٌ وَالْقُرْآنُ حُجَّةٌ لَكَ أَوْ عَلَيْكَ كُلُّ النَّاسِ يَغْدُو فَبَايِعٌ نَفْسَهُ فَمُعْتِقُهَا أَوْ مُوبِقُهَا
Purity is half of faith, and the praise of Allah fills the scale. Glorification and praise fill up what is between the heavens and the earth. Prayer is a light, charity is proof, and patience is illumination. The Quran is a proof for you or against you. All people go out early in the morning and sell themselves, either setting themselves free or ruining themselves.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 223, Grade: Sahih
Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas reported: A bedouin came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and he said, “Teach me some words to say.” The Prophet said:
قُلْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ كَثِيرًا سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَكِيمِ
Say: There is no god but Allah without any partner, Allah is the greatest of the great, all praise is due to Allah in abundance, glory be to Allah the Lord of the worlds, there is no movement or might but in Allah, the Almighty, the Wise.
The man said, “These words are for my Lord, but what is for me?” The Prophet said:
قُلْ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَارْحَمْنِي وَاهْدِنِي وَارْزُقْنِي
Say: O Allah, forgive me, have mercy upon me, guide me, and provide for me.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2696, Grade: Sahih
Abu Huraira reported: The poor emigrants came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and they said, “The wealthy have taken the highest degrees and blessed ranks. They pray as we pray, they fast as we fast, they give in charity and we do not have charity to give, they free slaves and we have none to free.” The Prophet said:
أَفَلَا أُعَلِّمُكُمْ شَيْئًا تُدْرِكُونَ بِهِ مَنْ سَبَقَكُمْ وَتَسْبِقُونَ بِهِ مَنْ بَعْدَكُمْ وَلَا يَكُونُ أَحَدٌ أَفْضَلَ مِنْكُمْ إِلَّا مَنْ صَنَعَ مِثْلَ مَا صَنَعْتُمْ
Shall I teach you something by which you will reach those ahead of you, surpass those after you, and by which no one will be better than you but one who does like you?
They said, “Of course, O Messenger of Allah.” The Prophet said:
تُسَبِّحُونَ وَتُكَبِّرُونَ وَتَحْمَدُونَ دُبُرَ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ ثَلَاثًا وَثَلَاثِينَ مَرَّةً
Glorify Allah, exalt Allah, and praise Allah thirty three times after every prayer.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 595, Grade: Sahih
Mu’adh ibn Jabal reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, took me by the hand and he said:
يَا مُعَاذُ وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لَأُحِبُّكَ وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لَأُحِبُّكَ أُوصِيكَ يَا مُعَاذُ لَا تَدَعَنَّ فِي دُبُرِ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ تَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنِّي عَلَى ذِكْرِكَ وَشُكْرِكَ وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ
O Mu’adh, I swear by Allah that I love you. I swear by Allah that I love you. O Mu’adh, I advise you not to forget supplicating after every prayer, saying: O Allah, help me to remember You, to give thanks to You, and to worship You in the best manner.
Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 1522, Grade: Sahih
Ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
وَإِنِّي نُهِيتُ أَنْ أَقْرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ رَاكِعًا أَوْ سَاجِدًا فَأَمَّا الرُّكُوعُ فَعَظِّمُوا فِيهِ الرَّبَّ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَأَمَّا السُّجُودُ فَاجْتَهِدُوا فِي الدُّعَاءِ فَقَمِنٌ أَنْ يُسْتَجَابَ لَكُمْ
Verily, I have been prohibited from reciting the Quran while bowing or prostrating in prayer. As for bowing, you should exalt the Lord Almighty. As for prostration, you should exert yourself in supplication, for it is worthy that you be answered.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 479, Grade: Sahih
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
أَقْرَبُ مَا يَكُونُ الْعَبْدُ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَهُوَ سَاجِدٌ فَأَكْثِرُوا الدُّعَاءَ
The servant is closest to his Lord during prostration, so increase your supplications therein.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 482, Grade: Sahih
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace be and blessings on him, said:
يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى أَنَا عِنْدَ ظَنِّ عَبْدِي بِي وَأَنَا مَعَهُ إِذَا ذَكَرَنِي فَإِنْ ذَكَرَنِي فِي نَفْسِهِ ذَكَرْتُهُ فِي نَفْسِي وَإِنْ ذَكَرَنِي فِي مَلَإٍ ذَكَرْتُهُ فِي مَلَإٍ خَيْرٍ مِنْهُمْ وَإِنْ تَقَرَّبَ إِلَيَّ بِشِبْرٍ تَقَرَّبْتُ إِلَيْهِ ذِرَاعًا وَإِنْ تَقَرَّبَ إِلَيَّ ذِرَاعًا تَقَرَّبْتُ إِلَيْهِ بَاعًا وَإِنْ أَتَانِي يَمْشِي أَتَيْتُهُ هَرْوَلَةً
Allah Almighty says: I am as My servant expects of Me and I am with him as he remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I will remember him in Myself. If he mentions Me in a gathering, I will mention him in a greater gathering. When he draws near Me by the span of his hand, I draw near him by the length of a cubit. When he draws near Me by the length of a cubit, I draw near him by the length of a fathom. When he comes to Me walking, I come to him running.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 7405, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Abdullah ibn Busr reported: A man said, “O Messenger of Allah, the laws of Islam are too many for me, so tell me something I can hold onto.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
لَا يَزَالُ لِسَانُكَ رَطْبًا مِنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ
Keep your tongue moist with the remembrance of Allah.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3375, Grade: Sahih
Jabir ibn Abdullah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
أَفْضَلُ الذِّكْرِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَفْضَلُ الدُّعَاءِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ
The best remembrance is to declare there is no God but Allah. The best supplication is to declare all praise is due to Allah.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3383, Grade: Hasan
Ibn Mas’ud reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
لَقِيتُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لَيْلَةَ أُسْرِيَ بِي فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ أَقْرِئْ أُمَّتَكَ مِنِّي السَّلَامَ وَأَخْبِرْهُمْ أَنَّ الْجَنَّةَ طَيِّبَةُ التُّرْبَةِ عَذْبَةُ الْمَاءِ وَأَنَّهَا قِيعَانٌ وَأَنَّ غِرَاسَهَا سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
I met Abraham on the night of my Ascension and he said: O Muhammad, greet your nation with peace from me. Tell them Paradise has pure soil and delicious water, that it is a level plain and its plants grow with declarations of the glory of Allah, the praise of Allah, the oneness of Allah, and the greatness of Allah.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3462, Grade: Hasan
Abu Darda reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
أَلَا 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
Shall I not tell you of the best of your deeds, which is the purest to your King, which raises you among your ranks, which is better for you than spending gold and money in charity, and which is better for you than meeting your enemy and striking the necks of each other?
They said, “Of course!” The Prophet said:
ذِكْرُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى
It is the remembrance of Allah Almighty.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3377, Grade: Hasan
Abu Musa reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
أَلَا أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى كَلِمَةٍ مِنْ كُنُوزِ الْجَنَّةِ لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللهِ
Shall I not tell you about a word among the treasures of Paradise? There is no movement or might but in Allah.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2704, Grade: Sahih
Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.