Table of Contents
The Special Time of Morning and Evening Adhkār
The remembrance of Allah in the early morning and late afternoon or evening holds a special place in the life of a Muslim. These times mark the beginning and the close of one’s daily cycle, and they are moments when the heart is particularly in need of guidance, protection, and renewal.
Allah praises those who remember Him at these times. He says:
“So be patient over what they say and exalt [Allah] with praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting.”
(Qur’an 50:39)
And He says:
“And remember the name of your Lord morning and evening.”
(Qur’an 76:25)
These verses show that morning and evening remembrance is not just recommended practice, but a mark of sincere servitude and constant connection to the Lord of the worlds.
The Virtue and Purpose of Morning and Evening Adhkār
Morning and evening adhkār are a collection of prophetic supplications and phrases of remembrance that the Prophet ﷺ used to say at the start and end of the day. They carry many purposes, among them protection, forgiveness, gratitude, trust, and renewal of faith.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The example of the one who remembers his Lord and the one who does not remember his Lord is like the example of the living and the dead.”
(Al-Bukhari)
When these adhkār are said at the beginning of the day, the believer begins with life in the heart, with the remembrance of Allah, and when they are said at the end of the day, the believer does not close the day with heedlessness. Instead, the last thoughts and words are for Allah alone.
Among their greatest purposes are seeking protection and safety. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“In the name of Allah, with whose Name nothing on earth or in heaven can cause harm, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing. Whoever says it three times in the morning and three times in the evening, nothing will harm him.”
(Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi)
This shows that these adhkār are not only words but shields by the permission of Allah.
The Time Frame for Morning and Evening Adhkār
The scholars mention that the “morning” time for these adhkār begins after Fajr and extends until shortly before the sun reaches its zenith, and the “evening” time begins after ‘Asr and continues until after sunset. These are times when angels gather, records are raised, and deeds are presented.
Allah says:
“And exalt [Allah] with praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting.”
(Qur’an 20:130)
And the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Angels take turns among you, by night and by day, and they all assemble at the Fajr and ‘Asr prayers. Then those who have stayed with you ascend, and their Lord asks them, and He knows best about them: ‘How did you leave My servants?’ They say: ‘We left them while they were praying, and we came to them while they were praying.’”
(Al-Bukhari, Muslim)
This shows why the times around Fajr and ‘Asr, which overlap with the morning and evening adhkār, are especially honored. A person who fills these periods with remembrance is recorded by the angels as a worshipper at the key moments when deeds rise to Allah.
Important rule: Morning and evening adhkār should be connected to the times after Fajr and after ‘Asr, and continued until the end of the respective period. It is best to maintain them daily for lasting benefit.
Renewing Faith and Tawḥīd at the Start and End of the Day
Morning and evening adhkār are not only for protection from harm. They also renew the foundation of faith and tawḥīd every single day, which is the main theme of Islam. Among the most important of these supplications is the daily renewal of belief in Allah, His names, His power, and His control over all affairs.
One of the famous morning and evening supplications of the Prophet ﷺ is:
“O Allah, I have entered the morning with You as my witness, and the bearers of Your Throne, Your angels, and all of Your creation, that You are Allah, there is no deity worthy of worship except You alone, without partner, and that Muhammad is Your servant and messenger.”
(Abu Dawud)
Another well known dhikr that summarizes complete submission is:
“O Allah, by You we enter the morning, and by You we enter the evening, and by You we live, and by You we die, and to You is the resurrection.”
(At-Tirmidhi)
These words train the heart to see that everything in the day, life or death, beginning or end, rests upon Allah alone. Repeating them every morning and evening builds a solid habit of relying on Allah and recognizing His lordship above all other forces.
Protection, Safety, and Inner Peace
One of the clearest benefits of morning and evening adhkār is the protection they bring by the permission of Allah. They are shields against harm, fear, and the whispers of Shaytan, and they bring serenity to the heart.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever says in the evening: ‘In the Name of Allah with whose Name nothing on earth or in heaven can cause harm, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing’ three times, will not be afflicted by sudden calamity until morning comes, and whoever says it in the morning three times will not be afflicted by sudden calamity until evening comes.”
(Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah)
He ﷺ also said about another famous invocation:
“Whoever says: ‘In the Name of Allah with whose Name nothing in the earth or the heaven can cause harm, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing’ three times in the morning and three times in the evening, nothing will harm him.”
(At-Tirmidhi)
Similarly, Surah Al-Ikhlās, Al-Falaq, and An-Nās form a powerful part of the morning and evening program. It is reported:
“The Prophet ﷺ used to recite ‘Say: He is Allah, One,’ and ‘Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of the daybreak,’ and ‘Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind’ three times in the evening and three times in the morning, and he would suffice himself with them for everything.”
(Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi)
This hadith indicates that these short chapters of the Qur’an, when read regularly in the morning and evening, are enough for protection from many harms by Allah’s permission.
Important statement: Morning and evening adhkār are among the strongest means of protection from visible and invisible harms, but they only benefit when spoken with sincere faith in Allah, not as empty words.
Gratitude, Contentment, and Trust in Allah
Morning and evening adhkār also cultivate gratitude and contentment. They remind a person that every blessing they have when they wake up or end the day is from Allah alone, and that their affairs are under His care.
Allah commands remembrance with gratitude, saying:
“So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not be ungrateful.”
(Qur’an 2:152)
Among the prophetic adhkār is the well known supplication:
“O Allah, whatever blessing has been received by me or anyone of Your creation this morning, is from You alone, You have no partner. So for You is all praise and for You is all thanks.”
(Abu Dawud, An-Nasa’i)
And in another narration for evening:
“O Allah, whatever blessing has been received by me or anyone of Your creation this evening, is from You alone, You have no partner. So for You is all praise and for You is all thanks.”
(Abu Dawud)
These words train the heart to see blessings correctly. Wealth, health, family, safety, and every small or large comfort are traced back to Allah. This helps a believer avoid arrogance and helps build contentment with what Allah has given.
Another of the morning and evening adhkār emphasizes complete trust:
“O Allah, I ask You for well being in this world and in the Hereafter. O Allah, I ask You for forgiveness and well being in my religion, my worldly affairs, my family, and my wealth. O Allah, conceal my faults and calm my fears. O Allah, protect me from in front of me, from behind me, on my right, on my left, and from above me, and I seek refuge in Your greatness from being taken unaware from beneath me.”
(Abu Dawud, An-Nasa’i)
Such a supplication gathers fear, hope, trust, and reliance in one comprehensive form, suitable for the beginning and end of the day.
Consistency and the State of the Heart
The greatest benefit of morning and evening adhkār comes through consistency, not through occasional recitation. Even if the tongue moves quickly, the steady habit softens the heart over time and brings light into the daily life of a believer.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The most beloved deeds to Allah are those done regularly, even if they are few.”
(Al-Bukhari, Muslim)
This principle applies clearly to adhkār. Even if a person cannot say every single reported supplication, if they maintain at least a core set regularly each morning and evening, their heart will gradually transform. The aim is not to race through memorized words, but to be present with Allah.
Morning and evening adhkār also help a believer to keep away from sins and from heedlessness. A tongue that is used to saying “Subḥānallāh,” “Alḥamdulillāh,” “Lā ilāha illa Allāh,” and “Allāhu akbar” at the opening and closing of the day becomes shy to use that same tongue for backbiting or false speech. Allah reminds:
“O you who have believed, remember Allah with much remembrance. And exalt Him morning and afternoon.”
(Qur’an 33:41–42)
Important rule: The benefit of adhkār is strongly tied to the presence of the heart and the continuity of practice. A small, regular set with focus is better than many words without attention.
Using the Qur’an and Sunnah as the Source of Morning and Evening Adhkār
For morning and evening adhkār to be complete, they must come from authentic sources. The safest and most beneficial collection is what is reported from the Prophet ﷺ. He is the one taught by revelation. Allah says:
“Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination. It is not but a revelation revealed.”
(Qur’an 53:3–4)
And the Prophet ﷺ said:
“I have left among you two things, you will never go astray as long as you hold fast to them, the Book of Allah and my Sunnah.”
(Al-Hakim)
For this reason, the core of morning and evening adhkār includes verses of the Qur’an such as Ayat al-Kursī, the last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah, and the three “Quls,” as well as specific prophetic supplications described in sound hadith. This ensures that every sentence is filled with correct belief and divine wisdom.
Morning and evening adhkār are therefore not a random personal composition but a guided path laid down by revelation. Learning them, memorizing them, and practicing them is part of following the Messenger ﷺ.
Connecting the Start and End of the Day to the Hereafter
Morning and evening adhkār also remind a believer that each day is a small model of life and death. Waking from sleep resembles resurrection, and going to sleep resembles death. The Prophet ﷺ taught supplications that reflect this meaning. Among them:
“All praise is for Allah who gave us life after having taken it from us, and unto Him is the resurrection.”
(Al-Bukhari)
Morning and evening adhkār fit beautifully into this pattern. They tie the daily cycle to the greater journey to Allah. Each morning, with dhikr, the believer opens the day conscious of being alive for worship. Each evening, with dhikr, the believer closes the day conscious that it may be the last.
Allah reminds:
“And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and to Allah is the final return.”
(Qur’an 24:42)
Remembering this at the beginning and end of the day keeps the heart awake and helps a believer prepare gradually for the meeting with Allah.
Important statement: Morning and evening adhkār are not only for protection in this world, but also a daily preparation for the final return to Allah and the life of the Hereafter.
Making Morning and Evening Adhkār Part of Daily Life
For a beginner, the most important step is to start with what is simple and maintain it. A person can begin with short surahs and a few key supplications from the Qur’an and authentic hadith, then gradually increase as they learn more.
The key points are to keep close to the time after Fajr and after ‘Asr or before Maghrib, to recite with understanding as much as possible, and to know that every word is witnessed by Allah and recorded by the angels.
Allah promises:
“Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts find rest.”
(Qur’an 13:28)
Morning and evening adhkār are among the clearest and easiest ways to live this verse every day. When the heart tastes the peace that comes from them, the believer will naturally protect this practice and strive not to let a day pass without beginning and ending it with the remembrance of Allah.