Every moment during the blessed month of Ramadan is an opportunity to do Dhikr or remembrance of Allah (SWT). We should busy our tongues and hearts during this month with the best forms of remembrance of Allah (SWT).
What are the best forms of Dhikr in Ramadan? Various hadiths mention numerous forms of Dhikr which are the best to do, and so, this can be confusing for us in choosing what Dhikr to do. For example, reciting one Subhanallah in Ramadan is worth 1,000 times more than reciting outside this blessed month.
Many scholars state that the best form of Dhikr during Ramadan is the Holy Quran and the best way of reading it is in our prayers or salat. The two rakats that we pray in Qiyam ul-Layl include takbir, tasbih, astaghfar, and salawat and therefore, salat combines all the best forms of Dhikr and this is a mercy from Allah (SWT). The Quran is a reminder to the world and contains and is a book full of reminders and remembrance of Allah (SWT).
If we see how the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) prayed Qiyam ul-Layl, he (SAW) would recite the Quran at length while standing and then make dua and Dhikr of Allah (SWT) in sujood. What we learn from our Nabi’s (SAW) salat is to engage ourselves with the Quran in recitation and speak to Allah (SWT) through dua and Dhikr when in sujood.
Our Nabi (SAW) informs us of one of the best phrases of Dhikr in this hadith, “The best dhikr is the one on the day of Arafah, and the best thing which I and the Prophets before me have said is, ‘Laa ilaha illalaaho, Wahdahu laa shareeka lahu, Lahul Mulk, wa lahul Hamd, wa ala kulle shayyin Qadeer. (There is no god but Allah, Alone, Who has no partner; to Him Alone belongs the Dominion, to Him Alone belongs all Praise; and He Alone has Power over all things.)” (At-Tirmidhi No. 2598).
Reciting Ayat ul Kursi (Surah Baqarah Ayat 255) is one of the ultimate verses from the Quran to recite during Ramadan. Besides Ayat ul Kursi, we can make Dhikr of Istighfar or the seeking of forgiveness in Allah (SWT). In Sha Allah, this Dhikr will help cleanse our hearts and souls, as we pour our hearts in front of Allah (SWT) seeking His (SWT) forgiveness for our sins and bad deeds.
Making Dhikr of La Hawla Wa La Kuwata Illa Billa (There is no power or might except (by) Allah) will help keep our egos in check as we are accepting that we are weak and powerless without Allah’s (SWT) will.
If we want to do Dhikr to erase our sins and overcome adversities, then we should recite this, Subhanallahi Wa Bihamdihi Subhan-Allahil Azeem (Glory is to Allah, and all praise is to Him. Glory is Allah the Great)
Another Dhikr to wipe away sins and seek Allah’s (SWT) forgiveness is La Illaha Illa Anta Subhanaka Inni Kuntu Minaz Zalimin (There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers).
Regarding dua or supplication, the best of the best ones recorded in the hadiths to recite is the following: Hazrat Anas ibn Malik (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) frequently prayed, “Rabbana atena fid dunya hasana, wa fil aakherate hasana, wa kena adhaab an-Naar” (O Allah, give the good of this world, and the good of the life hereafter, and save us from the punishment of the fire.)
Also, our Nabi (SAW) taught Hazrat Aisha (RA) the following dua to recite on the blessed night of Laylat ul Qadir, “Allah humma Innaka Afuwan, Tohibbul Afwa, Fahfo anna. (O Allah, You are The Pardoner, and You love to pardon, so pardon me.).“
The above Dhikrs and duas are not the extensive list, as there is much more for a believer to recite during this blessed month for pleasing Allah (SWT) and obtaining spiritual purification and satisfaction. I pray that Allah (SWT) makes Ramadan spiritually enriching for all of us.
