What is the most powerful dhikr in Islam?

La ilaha illa Allah is called the best of remembrance. Other adhkar with immense stated rewards include SubhanAllah wa bihamdihi (100×), the hawqala — La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah — described as a treasure from Paradise, and Sayyidul Istighfar, which carries the promise of Paradise.

Which dhikr is heaviest on the scales?

The Prophet ﷺ said two phrases are 'light on the tongue, heavy on the scales, beloved to the Most Merciful': SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi, SubhanAllahil-Azim (Bukhari, Muslim).

What dhikr did the Prophet ﷺ say the most?

He made istighfar (seeking forgiveness) more than seventy — in one narration a hundred — times a day, and he constantly repeated the four great phrases: SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illa Allah and Allahu Akbar.

Guide · Dhikr

The best dhikr to say: 10 most powerful adhkar, ranked by hadith.

Q: What is the best dhikr?

The Prophet ﷺ said: 'The best dhikr is La ilaha illa Allah' (Tirmidhi). Alongside it, SubhanAllah wa bihamdihi — said 100 times a day — wipes away sins even if they are like the foam of the sea (Bukhari, Muslim).

The Zikar Team · 7 min read · Published 10 Jun 2026

"Which dhikr is best?" is one of the most natural questions a Muslim can ask — and unusually, the Sunnah answers it directly. The Prophet ﷺ told us which remembrance is the best, which is heaviest on the scales, and which is a treasure from Paradise. Here are the ten most powerful adhkar, ranked by what was actually said about each.

1. La ilaha illa Allah — the best dhikr, by name

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ La ilaha illa Allah — "There is no god but Allah." — The Prophet ﷺ said: "The best dhikr is La ilaha illa Allah." (Tirmidhi, hasan)

The declaration of pure tawhid. Said in its long form ten times after Fajr and Maghrib, it carries the reward of freeing slaves and protection from Shaytan all day.

2. SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi — sins wiped away

سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi — "Glory be to Allah and praise is His." — "Whoever says it 100 times a day, his sins are wiped away even if they are like the foam of the sea." (Bukhari, Muslim)

3. The two phrases heaviest on the scales

سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ، سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ الْعَظِيمِ SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi, SubhanAllahil-'Azim. — "Two phrases light on the tongue, heavy on the scales, beloved to the Most Merciful." (Bukhari, Muslim)

4. The hawqala — a treasure from Paradise

لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah — "There is no power or might except with Allah." — "Shall I not tell you of a treasure from the treasures of Paradise?" (Bukhari, Muslim)

5. Sayyidul Istighfar — the promise of Paradise

The master supplication for forgiveness. Whoever says it in the morning or evening with conviction and dies that day or night is from the people of Paradise (Bukhari). Read the full dua with meaning →

6. The four beloved phrases

سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، وَلَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ SubhanAllah, walhamdulillah, wa la ilaha illa Allah, wallahu akbar. — "The most beloved words to Allah." (Muslim) — dearer to the Prophet ﷺ "than everything the sun rises upon."

These four are the heart of the tasbih, tahmid, tahlil and takbir — and of the famous 33-33-34 after every prayer.

7. Astaghfirullah — the Prophet's ﷺ own habit

He ﷺ — already forgiven — sought Allah's forgiveness more than seventy, in one narration a hundred, times every day. Istighfar opens relief from distress and provision from where you don't expect. The complete istighfar guide →

8. Tasbih Fatima — better than a servant

SubhanAllah ×33, Alhamdulillah ×33, Allahu Akbar ×34 before sleep and after every salah — the gift the Prophet ﷺ chose for his own daughter over worldly help. The story and the sequence →

9. Salawat — ten blessings for one

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ عَلَىٰ نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ Allahumma salli wa sallim 'ala Nabiyyina Muhammad. — "Whoever sends one salah upon me, Allah sends ten upon him." (Muslim)

10. The Quran — the greatest remembrance of all

Allah calls the Quran itself a dhikr (15:9). Every letter recited carries ten rewards. No ranking of remembrance is complete without the Book at its head.

Count the best dhikr — free

Most of these have a count attached — 100×, 33-33-34, 10×. Tap through them with our free counters: morning, evening, after salah and before sleep — no sign-up, right in your browser.

So which one should you start with?

If you want a single answer: SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi, 100 times a day. It takes under three minutes, the reward is stated in the clearest possible terms, and the count gives you something concrete to keep. From there, add the after-salah routine, then the morning and evening adhkar.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best dhikr for forgiveness?

Sayyidul Istighfar is the most complete, and Astaghfirullaha wa atubu ilayh repeated through the day is the Prophet's ﷺ own practice.

Is there a best time for dhikr?

Dhikr is accepted at all times, but the morning (after Fajr), the evening (after Asr), after every salah, and before sleep carry specific prescribed adhkar — those four windows are where the Sunnah concentrates the practice.