The Messenger of Allah was asked: “Which of the worshippers is superior in rank with Allah on the Day of Judgment?” He said: “Those men who remember Allah much [and women].” He said: “I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! What about the fighter in the cause of Allah?’ He said: ‘If he were to strike with his sword among the disbelievers and the idolater, until it breaks, and he (or it) is dyed with blood, those who remember Allah much would still be superior in rank.”

the Prophet said: “Should I not inform you of the best of your deed, and the purest of them with your Master, and the highest of them in your ranks, and what is better for you than spending gold and silver, and better for you than meeting your enemy and striking their necks, and they strike your necks?” They said: “Of course.” He said, “The remembrance of Allah [Most High].” [Then] Mu’adh bin Jabal [may Allah be pleased with him] said: “There is nothing that brings more salvation from the punishment of Allah than the remembrance of Allah.”

He bears witness, from Abu Hurairah and Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri, that they bear witness, from the Messenger of Allah, that he said: “There is no group that remembers Allah, except that the angels encompass them, mercy covers them, and tranquility descends upon them: and Allah remembers (mentions) them before those who are with Him.”

Mu’awiyah came out to the Masjid and said: “What has caused you to gather for this sitting.” They said: “We gathered so that we may remember Allah.” He said, “By Allah, nothing caused you to gather for this sitting except for that?” They said, “By Allah, nothing caused us to gather for this sitting except for that.” He said: “Indeed, I did not ask you out of suspicion, and there was no one in the position I was from the Messenger of Allah who narrates less Ahadith from him than me. Indeed the Messenger of Allah came out upon a circle of his Companions and said: ‘what has caused you to gather for this sitting?’ They said: ‘We have gathered for this sitting to remember Allah, and praise Him for His having guided us to Islam, and having bestowed blessings upon us.’ So he said: ‘By Allah, nothing caused you to gather for this sitting except for that?’ He said: ‘Indeed, I did not ask you out of suspicion, verily Jibra’il came to me and informed me that Allah boasts of you to the angels.’”

the Prophet said: “No group gather in a sitting in which they do not remember Allah, nor sent Salat upon their Prophet, except it will be a source of remorse for them. If He wills, He will punish them, and if He wills, He will forgive them.”

the Messenger of Allah said: “There is none who utters a supplication, except that Allah gives him what he asked, or prevents evil from him that is equal to it – as long as he does not supplicate for something evil, or the cutting of ties of the womb.”

The Messenger of Allah said: “Whoever wishes that Allah would respond to him during hardship and grief, then let him supplicate plentifully when at ease.”

the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “The best remembrance is: ‘there is none worthy of worship except Allah (Lā ilāha illallāh)’ and the best supplication is: ‘All praise is due to Allah (Al-ḥamdulillāh).’”

the Messenger of Allah (saws) used to remember Allah in all of his affairs.

whenever the Messenger of Allah (saws) would mention someone and supplicate for him, he would begin with himself (saws).

“Whenever the Messenger of Allah would raise his hands in supplication, he would not lower them until he had wiped his face with them.”

the Prophet said: “One of you will be responded to, so long as he is not hasty, saying: ‘I supplicated, and I was not responded to.’”

“I heard `Uthman bin `Affan (ra) saying: ‘The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “There is no worshiper who says, in the morning of every day, and the evening of every night: ‘In the Name of Allah, who with His Name, nothing in the earth or the heavens can cause harm, and He is the Hearing, the Knowing (Bismillāh, alladhi lā yaḍurru ma`a ismihi shai'un fil-arḍi wa lā fis-samā', wa huwas-Samī`ul `Alīm)’ – three times, (except that) nothing shall harm him.” And Aban had been stricken with a type of semi-paralysis, so a man began to look at him, so Aban said to him, “What are you looking at? Indeed the Hadith is as I reported it to you, but I did not say it one day, so Allah brought about His decree upon me.”

“The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘Whoever says when he reaches the evening: “I am pleased with Allah as (my) Lord, with Islam as (my) religion, and with Muhammad (saws) as (my) Prophet (Raḍītu billāhi rabban wabil-Islāmi dīnan wa bi-Muḥammadin nabiyyan) it is a duty upon Allah to please him.’” (Hasan Gharib)

“When he reached the evening, the Prophet (saws) used to say, ‘We have reached the evening, and the Dominion has reached the evening, while belonging to Allah. And all praise belongs to Allah. None has the right to be worshiped but Allah, alone, without partner. (Amsaina wa amsal-mulku lillāh, wal-ḥamdullilāh, wa lā ilāha illallāh, waḥdahu lā sharīka lahu)’ – I think he said [in it]: - ‘To Him belongs the Dominion, and to Him is the praise, and He is capable of all things. I ask You for the good that is in this night, and the good of what is after it, and I seek refuge in You from the evil of this night, and the evil of what is after it, and I seek refuge in You from laziness and helpless old age. And I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the Fire and the punishment of the grave (Lahul-mulku wa lahul-ḥamdu, wa huwa `alā kulli shai'in qadīr. Asa'luka khaira mā fī hādhihil-lailah, wa khaira mā ba`dahā, wa a`ūdhu bika min sharri hādhihil-lailati wa sharri mā ba`dahā, wa a`ūdhu bika minal-kasali wa sū'il-kibar, wa a`ūdhu bika min `adhābin-nāri wa `adhābil-qabr).’ And when he reached the morning, he (saws) used to say, ‘We have reached the morning, and the Dominion has reached the morning, while belonging to Allah. And all praise belongs to Allah (Aṣbaḥnā wa aṣbaḥal-mulku lillāh, wal-ḥamdulillāh).’”

The Messenger of Allah (saws) used to teach his Companions, saying: “When one of you reached the morning, then let him say: ‘O Allah, by You we enter the morning, and by You we enter the evening, and be You we live, and by You we died, and to You is the Return (Allāhumma bika aṣbaḥnā wa bika amsainā wa bika naḥyā wa bika namūtu wa ilaikal-maṣīr). And when he reaches the evening let him say: ‘O Allah, by You we enter the evening, and by You we enter the morning, and by You we live, and by You we die, and to You is the Resurrection (Allāhumma bika amsainā wa bika aṣbaḥnā wa bika naḥyā wa bika namūtu wa ilaikan-nushūr).’”

“Abu Bakr said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, command me with something that I may say when I reach morning and evening.’ He said: ‘Say: “O Allah Knower of the Unseen and the Seen, Originator of the heavens and the earth, Lord of everything and its Possessor, I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except You, I seek refuge from You from the evil of my soul and from the evil of Shaitan and his Shirk (Allāhumma `ālimal-ghaibi wash-shahādati fāṭiras-samāwāti wal-arḍ, rabba kulli shai’in wa malīkahu, ash-hadu an lā ilāha illā anta, a`ūdhu bika min sharri nafsī wa min sharrish-shaiṭāni washirkihi).’” He said: ‘Say it when you reach morning, and evening, and when you go to bed.’”

The Prophet (saws) said to him: “Should I not direct you to the chief of supplications for forgiveness? ‘O Allah, You are my Lord, there is none worthy of worship except You, You created me and I am Your slave. I am adhering to Your covenant and Your promise as much as I am able to, I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I admit to You your blessings upon me, and I admit to my sins. So forgive me, for there is none who can forgive sins except You (Allāhumma anta rabbī lā ilāha illā anta, khalaqtanī wa ana `abduka, wa ana `alā `ahdika wa wa`dika ma-staṭa`tu. A`ūdhu bika min sharri ma ṣana`tu, wa abū'u ilayka bini`matika `alayya wa a`tarifu bidhunūbī faghfirlī dhunūbī innahu lā yaghfirudh-dhunūba illā ant).’ None of you says it when he reaches the evening, and a decree comes upon him before he reaches morning, except that Paradise becomes obligatory upon him. And none says it when he reaches the morning, and a decree comes upon him before he reaches evening, except that Paradise becomes obligatory for him.”

The Prophet (saws) said to him: “Should I not teach you some words to say when you go to your bed, so if you died, you will die upon the Fitrah, and if you reach the morning, you will reach it in good? You say: ‘O Allah, verily, I submit myself to You, and I turn my face to You, and I entrust my affair to You, hoping in You and fearing in You. And I lay myself down depending upon You, there is no refuge [nor escape] from You except to You. I believe in Your Book which You have revealed, and in Your Prophet whom You have sent (Allāhumma innī aslamtu nafsī ilaika wa wajjahtu wajhī ilaika, wa fawwaḍtu amrī ilaika, raghbatan wa rahbatan ilaika wa alja'tu ẓahrī ilaika, lā malja'a [wa lā manjā] minka illā ilaik. Āmantu bikitābikal-ladhī anzalta wa binabiyyikal-ladhī arsalt).’” Al-Bara' said: “So I said: ‘And in Your Messenger whom you have sent.’” He said: “So he (saws) struck his hand upon my chest, then said: “And in Your Prophet whom You have sent. (Wa binabiyyikal-ladhī arsalt).”

The Prophet said: “When one of you lies down on his right side, then says: ‘O Allah, I have submitted myself to You, and I have turned my face to You, and I lay myself down relying upon You, and I have entrusted my affair to You, there is no refuge [nor escape] from You except to You. I believe in Your Book and Your Messengers (Allāhumma innī aslamtu nafsī ilaika wa wajjahtu wajhī ilaika, wa alja’tu ẓahrī ilaika, wa fawwaḍtu amrī ilaika, lā malja'a [wa lā manjā] minka illā ilaik, ūminu bikitābika wa birusulika)’ – then if he dies that night, he shall enter Paradise.”

when he went to his bed, the Messenger of Allah (saws) used to say: “All praise is due to Allah, who has fed us and given us to drink, and has sufficed and granted us refuge, and how many are they who have none to suffice them and none to grant them refuge (Al-ḥamdulillāhi alladhi aṭ`amanā wa saqānā wa kafānā wa āwānā, wakam mimman lā kāfiya lahu wa lā mu'wiy).”

the Prophet (saws) said: “Whoever says, when he goes to his bed: ‘I seek forgiveness from Allah, [the Magnificent] the One whom there is none worthy of worship except for Him, the Living, the Sustainer, and I repent to Him (Astaghfirullāha [al-`Aẓim] alladhi lā ilāha illā huw, al-Ḥayyul-Qayyūm, wa atūbu ilaihi)’ three times, Allah shall forgive him his sins if they were like the foam of the sea, even if they were the number of leaves of the trees, even if they were the number of sand particles of `Alij, even if they were the number of the days of the world.”

When the Prophet (saws) would sleep, he would put his hand under his head then say: “O Allah, safeguard me from Your Punishment the Day You gather [Your slaves] (Allāhumma qinī `adhābaka yawma tajma`u [`ibādak])” or “you resurrect your slaves (tab`athu `ibādak).”

The Messenger of Allah (saws) used to lay his head upon his right hand when going to sleep, then say: “My Lord, safeguard me from Your punishment the Day You resurrect Your slaves (Rabbi qinī `adhābaka yawma tab`athu `ibādak).”

“The Messenger of Allah (saws) used to order that when one of us went to sleep, he should say: ‘O Allah, Lord of the heavens and Lord of the earths, and our Lord, and the Lord of everything, splitter of the seed-grain and date-stone, and Revealer of the Tawrah and the Injil and the Qur’an. I seek refuge in You from the evil of every evil that You are holding by the forelock. You are the First, there is nothing before You, You are the Last, there is nothing after You, and Az-Zahir, there is nothing above you, and Al-Batin, there is nothing below You. Relieve me of my debt, and enrich me from poverty (Allāhumma rabbas-samāwati wa rabbal-arḍīna wa rabbanā, wa rabba kulli shai’in, fāliqal-ḥabbi wan-nawā, wa munzilat-Tawrāti wal-Injīli wal-Qur’ān. A`ūdhu bika sharri kulli dhi sharrin anta ākhidhun bināṣiyatihi, antal-Awwalu falaisa qablaka shai’un, wa antal-Ākhiru falaisa ba`daka shai’un, waẓ-Ẓāhiru falaisa fauqaka shai'un wal-Bātinu falaisa dūnaka shai’un, iqḍi `annid-daina wa aghninī minal-faqr).’”

the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “When one of you leaves his bed then returns to it, then let him brush it off with the edge of his Izar three times, for indeed, he does not know what succeeded him upon it after him. When he lies down, let him say: ‘In Your Name, my Lord, I lay my side down, and in Your Name I raise it. And if You take my soul, then have mercy upon it, and if You release it, then protect it with that which You protect Your righteous worshipers (Bismika rabbī waḍa`tu janbī wa bika arfa`uhu, fa’in amsakta nafsī farḥamhā wa in arsaltahā faḥfaẓhā bimā taḥfaẓu bihī `ibādakaṣ-ṣāliḥīn)’ And when he awakens, let him say: All praise is due to Allah, Who healed me in my body, and returned to me my soul, and permitted me to remember Him (Al-ḥamdulillāh alladhī `āfānī fī jasadī wa radda `alayya rūḥī wa adhina lī bidhikrih).’”

Every night, when the Prophet (saws) would go to his bed, he would join his hands, then blow in them, as he recited in them: “Say: He is Allah, the One.” And “Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of Al-Falaq” and “Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind.” Then he would wipe as much as he was able to of his body with them, beginning with them first of his head and face, and the front of his body. He would do this three times.

He came to the Prophet (saws) and said: “O Messenger of Allah, teach me something that I may say when I go to my bed.” So he said: “Recite: Say: ‘O you disbelievers’ for verily it is a disavowal of Shirk.” Shu`bah said: “Sometimes he would say: ‘One time’ and sometime he would not say it.” (Another chain) from Farwah bin Nawfal, from his father: "That he came to the Prophet (saws)" then he mentioned similar in meaning. And this is more correct. [Abu `Eisa said:] And Zubair reported this hadith from Ishaq, from Farwah bin Nawfal, from his father from the Prophet (saws), with similar wording. This is more appropriate and more correct than the narration of Shu`bah. The companions of Abu Ishaq were confused in the narration of this hadith. This hadith has been reported through routes other than this. `Abdur-Rahman is the brother of Farwah bin Nawfal.

“The Prophet would not sleep until he reached Tanzil as-Sajdah and Tabarak.”

“The Prophet (saws) would not sleep until he recited Az-Zumar and Banu Isra’il.” Muhammad bin Ismail informed me: “This Abu Lubabah’s (a narrator in the chain) name is Marwan, the freed slave of Abdur-Rahman bin Ziyad. He heard from Aisha, and Hammad bin Zaid heard from him.”

The Prophet (saws) would not sleep until he had recited Al-Musabbihat, and he would say: “In them is an Ayah that is better than a thousand Ayah.”

“I accompanied Shaddad bin Aws [may Allah be pleased with him] on a journey, so he said: ‘Should I not teach you what the Messenger of Allah used to teach us? That you say: “O Allah, I ask You for steadfastness in the affair and I ask You for determination upon guidance, and I ask You to make me grateful for Your favor, and excellence in worshiping You, and I ask You for a truthful tongue and a sound heart, and I seek refuge in You from the evil of what You know, and I ask You for the good of what You know, and I seek Your forgiveness for that which You know. Verily, You are the Knower of all that is hidden (Allāhumma innī as’alukath-thabāta fil-amri, wa as’aluka `azīmatar-rushdi, wa as’aluka shukra ni`matika, wa ḥusna `ibādatika, wa as’aluka lisānan ṣādiqan wa qalban salīman, wa a`ūdhu bika min sharri mā ta`lamu, wa as’aluka min khairi mā ta`lamu, wa astaghfiruka mimmā ta`lamu innaka anta `allāmul-ghuyūb).’” He said: ‘The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “There is no Muslim who lays down to sleep while reciting a Surat from Allah’s Book, except that Allah entrusts an angel, so that nothing approaches him to harm him until he awakens, whenever he awakens.”

“Fatimah complained to me about her hands blistering from grinding flour. So I said: ‘If you were to approach your father and ask him for a servant?’ So he (the Prophet) said: ‘Should I not direct the two of you, to that which is better for you than a servant? When the two of you lay down to sleep, say thirty-three, thirty-three, thirty-four, of At-Taḥmīd, At-Tasbīḥ, and At-Takbīr.”

“Fatimah went to the Prophet complaining of her hands blistering, so he ordered her to say At-Tasbīḥ, At-Takbīr, and At-Taḥmīd.”

“The Messenger of Allah said: ‘There are two characteristics over which a Muslim man does not guard, except that he enters Paradise. And indeed, they are easy, and those who act upon them are few: He glorifies Allah at the end of every prayer ten times (saying Subḥān Allāh) and praises Him ten times saying (Al-Ḥamdulillāh) and extols His greatness ten times (saying Allāhu Akbar).’”He said: “And I have seen the Messenger of Allah counting them with his hand. He said: ‘So this is one hundred and fifty with the tongue, and one thousand and five hundred on the Scale. When you go to bed, you glorify Him, extol His greatness, and praise Him a hundred times, so this is one hundred with the tongue and one thousand on the Scale. Which of you perform two thousand and five hundred evil deeds in a single day and night?’ They said: ‘How could we not guard over them?’ He said: ‘Shaitan comes to one of you when he is in his Salat and says: “Remember such and such, remember such and such” until he turns perhaps he will not do it. And he comes to him and he is lying down and makes him sleepy until he falls asleep.’”

“I saw the Messenger of Allah counting At-Tasbīḥ.”

The Prophet said: “There are Mu’aqqibat, he who says them shall not be miserable. Glorify Allah at the end of every prayer thirty-three times, and praise him thirty-three times, and extol His greatness thirty-four times.”

“We were ordered to say the Tasbīḥ at the end of every Salat thirty-three times, and to say the Takbīr thirty-four times.” He said: “Then a man from the Ansar had a dream in which someone said: ‘The Messenger of Allah (saws) ordered you to say the Tasbīḥ at the end of every Salat thirty-three times, and to say the Taḥmīd thirty-three times, and to say the Takbīr thirty-four times?’ He said: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘Then make them twenty-five and add the Tahlīl (saying Lā ilāha illallāh) to them.’ The next day he went to the Prophet (saws) and informed him, so he said: “Do it.”

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “Whoever wakes up in the night and says, ‘None has the right to be worshiped but Allah, alone, without partner, to Him belongs the Dominion, and to Him is the praise, and He has power over all things. And Glory is to Allah, and all the praise is to Allah, and ‘None has the right to be worshiped but Allah, and Allah is the greatest, and there is no might nor power except by Allah (Lā ilāha illallāh, waḥdahu lā sharīka lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-ḥamdu, wa huwa `alā kulli shai'in qadīr. Wa subḥān Allah, walḥamdulillāh, wa lā ilāha illallāh, wa Allāhu akbar, wa lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh.)’ – then he said: ‘O my Lord, forgive me (Rabbighfirlī)’ – or he said – ‘then he supplicates, he shall be responded to. So he makes a firm determination, then performs Wudu', then he performs Salat, his Salat shall be accepted.”

“`Umair bin Hani used to perform a thousand prostrations every day and recite a hundred thousand Tasbīḥs every day.”

“I used to spend the night at the door of the Prophet (saws), so that I may give him his water for Wudu', and I would hear him, for a long period of the night, saying: ‘Allah hears the one who praise Him (Sami` Allāhu liman ḥamidah).’ And I would hear him, for a long period saying: ‘All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the all that exists. (Al-ḥamdulillāhi rabbil-`ālamīn).’”

“O Allah, in Your Name I die and I live (Allāhumma bismika amūtu wa aḥyā).” And when he would wake, he would say: “Allah praise is due to Allah who revived my soul after causing its death and to Him is the resurrection (Al-ḥamdulillāh, alladhī aḥyā nafsī ba`da mā amātahā wa ilaihin-nushūr).”

Another chain on the authority of 'Imran bin Husain narrates a similar narration.

"I said to 'Aishah: 'Which of the companions of the Prophet SAW were the most beloved to him?' She said: 'Abu Bakr.' I said: 'Then who?' She said ' 'Umar.' I said: 'Then who?' She said: 'Then Abu 'Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah.'" He said: I said: 'Then who?'" He said: "Then she was silent."

That the Messenger of Allah SAW said: "What an excellent man is Abu Bakr. What an excellent man is 'Umar. What an excellent man is Abu 'Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah."

To us (saying): Waki' narrated to us (saying): Sufyan reported to us from 'Abdul-Malik bin 'Umair, from a freed slave of Rib'i bin Hirash, from Hudhaifah who said: "We were sitting with the Prophet SAW and he said: "I do not know how long I will be with you, so stick to the two after me,' and he signaled towards Abu Bakr and 'Umar- 'And act upon the guidance of 'Ammar, and whatever Ibn Mas'ud reports to you, then believe him.'"

'A slave (of Allah) shall not believe until he believes in four: The testimony of La Ilaha Illallah, and that I am the Messenger of Allah whom He sent with the Truth, and he believes in the death, and he believes in the Resurrection after death, and he believes in Al-Qadar." Another chain reports a similar narration.

(Another chain) from 'Ali from the Prophet (SAW) with similar meaning.

from his father: "A man sneezed in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (SAW) while I was present, so the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: 'Yarhamukallah (May Allah have mercy upon you).' Then he sneezed a second and third time. So the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: "This man is suffering from a cold.'"

"You are suffering from a cold." [He said:] And this is more correct than the narration of Ibn Al-Mubarak.