Dhikr — the remembrance of Allah — doesn’t require long stretches of free time. Some of the most repeated phrases in Islamic practice are only a few words long. Here are five small, sourced ways to start.
1. Anchor it to something you already do
Rather than trying to find new time in your day, attach dhikr to a moment that already exists — waking up, getting in the car, or making tea. “And remember your Lord within yourself in humility and in fear without being apparent in speech — in the mornings and the evenings.” (Qur’an 7:205) The verse itself points to natural daily bookends, not an extra task bolted onto an already full schedule.
2. Start with the shortest phrases
“SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi” (Glory and praise be to Allah), recited consistently, is described in Sahih al-Bukhari (6405) and Sahih Muslim (2691) as wiping away sins “even if they are like the foam of the sea.” A short phrase, repeated with sincerity, carries real weight — you don’t need a long routine to begin.
3. Use the after-prayer window
A set of phrases recited after each of the five daily prayers — Astaghfirullah three times, followed by SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, and Allahu Akbar — is narrated in Sahih Muslim (596) as a means of having one’s sins forgiven. Because it’s tied to prayer, which already happens five times a day, it doesn’t require remembering a separate routine.
4. Keep a phrase for hard moments
“Hasbiyallahu la ilaha illa huwa, ‘alayhi tawakkaltu” (Allah is sufficient for me; there is no god but Him. On Him I rely) is traditionally recited for relief from worry. Having one phrase ready for difficult moments — rather than searching for the right words under stress — makes dhikr practical exactly when it’s needed most.
5. Let it be a menu, not a checklist
You don’t need to complete every phrase every day for the habit to count. A single sincere phrase, repeated daily, tends to outlast an ambitious routine abandoned after a week.
Going deeper
Our Morning & Evening guide walks through a full set of these phrases with translations, and our Daily Duas guide covers supplications for specific everyday moments.