Morning and evening supplications: a ten-minute routine
A selection of authentic morning and evening supplications, their meaning, the best time to say them and a simple method to turn them into a lasting habit.
Why morning and evening?
The Quran invites us to remember Allah abundantly, and especially at the two ends of the day:
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ذِكْرًۭا كَثِيرًۭا ﴿41﴾ وَسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةًۭ وَأَصِيلًا ﴿42﴾
(41) O vous qui croyez! Evoquez Allah d'une façon abondante, (42) et glorifiez-Le à la pointe et au déclin du jour.Other passages repeat this appointment “before the rising of the sun and before its setting” (Surah Ta-Ha, verse 130; Surah Qaf, verse 39). In the morning, we entrust the day that is beginning to Allah; in the evening, we thank Him for what has happened and entrust the night to Him. These formulas are called أَذْكَارُ الصَّبَاحِ وَالْمَسَاءِ (adhkâr as-sabâh wa-l-masâ’), “the remembrances of the morning and the evening.”
The Prophet ﷺ described the difference this remembrance makes in a life:
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، عَنْ بُرَيْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَثَلُ الَّذِي يَذْكُرُ رَبَّهُ وَالَّذِي لاَ يَذْكُرُ مَثَلُ الْحَىِّ وَالْمَيِّتِ ".
Narrated by Abu Musa al-Ash‘ari (may Allah be pleased with him)
The Prophet ﷺ said: “The example of the one who remembers his Lord and the one who does not is that of the living and the dead.”
The Quran also reminds us that hearts find peace in the remembrance of Allah (Surah ar-Ra‘d, verse 28). Ten minutes, twice a day, are enough to change the color of a day.
When should they be said?
The most recommended time for the morning supplications is the interval between the fajr prayer and sunrise. For the evening ones, it is the afternoon, between the ‘asr prayer and sunset. In practice, many say them right after the prayer, without leaving their place.
If one has forgotten, many scholars advise saying them as soon as one remembers, rather than leaving them.
An authentic selection to begin with
The collection Hisn al-Muslim (“the Fortress of the Muslim”) by Sa‘îd al-Qahtânî gathers about thirty formulas for the morning and the evening. There is no need to learn everything at once: here are three formulas based on authentic hadiths.
1. The protection of Allah’s name, three times
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مَوْدُودٍ، عَمَّنْ سَمِعَ أَبَانَ بْنَ عُثْمَانَ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ عُثْمَانَ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ عَفَّانَ - يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " مَنْ قَالَ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي لاَ يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَىْءٌ فِي الأَرْضِ وَلاَ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ لَمْ تُصِبْهُ فَجْأَةُ بَلاَءٍ حَتَّى يُصْبِحَ وَمَنْ قَالَهَا حِينَ يُصْبِحُ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ لَمْ تُصِبْهُ فَجْأَةُ بَلاَءٍ حَتَّى يُمْسِيَ " . قَالَ فَأَصَابَ أَبَانَ بْنَ عُثْمَانَ الْفَالِجُ فَجَعَلَ الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي سَمِعَ مِنْهُ الْحَدِيثَ يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ مَا لَكَ تَنْظُرُ إِلَىَّ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا كَذَبْتُ عَلَى عُثْمَانَ وَلاَ كَذَبَ عُثْمَانُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَلَكِنَّ الْيَوْمَ الَّذِي أَصَابَنِي فِيهِ مَا أَصَابَنِي غَضِبْتُ فَنَسِيتُ أَنْ أَقُولَهَا .
Narrated by ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan (may Allah be pleased with him)
I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: “Whoever says three times: ‘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,’ no sudden misfortune will strike him until morning. And whoever says it three times in the morning, no sudden misfortune will strike him until evening.”
In Arabic: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ (bismi-llâhi-lladhî lâ yadurru ma‘a-smihi shay’un fi-l-ardi wa lâ fi-s-samâ’i wa huwa-s-samî‘u-l-‘alîm).
2. Asking for ‘âfiya
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ مُوسَى الْبَلْخِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، - الْمَعْنَى - حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا عُبَادَةُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ الْفَزَارِيُّ، عَنْ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ أَبِي سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ مُطْعِمٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ عُمَرَ، يَقُولُ لَمْ يَكُنْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَدَعُ هَؤُلاَءِ الدَّعَوَاتِ حِينَ يُمْسِي وَحِينَ يُصْبِحُ " اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْعَافِيَةَ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْعَفْوَ وَالْعَافِيَةَ فِي دِينِي وَدُنْيَاىَ وَأَهْلِي وَمَالِي اللَّهُمَّ اسْتُرْ عَوْرَتِي " . وَقَالَ عُثْمَانُ " عَوْرَاتِي وَآمِنْ رَوْعَاتِي اللَّهُمَّ احْفَظْنِي مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَىَّ وَمِنْ خَلْفِي وَعَنْ يَمِينِي وَعَنْ شِمَالِي وَمِنْ فَوْقِي وَأَعُوذُ بِعَظَمَتِكَ أَنْ أُغْتَالَ مِنْ تَحْتِي " . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ قَالَ وَكِيعٌ يَعْنِي الْخَسْفَ .
Narrated by ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and with his father)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ never neglected these supplications, in the evening and in the morning: “O Allah, I ask You for well-being in this world and in the hereafter. O Allah, I ask You for pardon and well-being in my religion, my worldly life, my family and my property. O Allah, cover my faults and calm my fears. O Allah, protect me from in front of me and from behind me, from my right and from my left, and from above me; and I seek refuge in Your greatness from being seized unaware from beneath me.”
The word الْعَافِيَة (al-‘âfiya) brings together health, safety and protection from whatever harms, in the body as in faith. The first sentence, اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْعَافِيَةَ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ (Allâhumma innî as’aluka-l-‘âfiyata fi-d-dunyâ wa-l-âkhira), is easy to remember from the very first day.
3. A hundred times “subhâna-llâhi wa bihamdih”
حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ الأُمَوِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ الْمُخْتَارِ، عَنْ سُهَيْلٍ، عَنْ سُمَىٍّ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ قَالَ حِينَ يُصْبِحُ وَحِينَ يُمْسِي سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ . لَمْ يَأْتِ أَحَدٌ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِأَفْضَلَ مِمَّا جَاءَ بِهِ إِلاَّ أَحَدٌ قَالَ مِثْلَ مَا قَالَ أَوْ زَادَ عَلَيْهِ " .
Narrated by Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Whoever says, in the morning and in the evening, one hundred times: ‘Glory and praise be to Allah,’ no one will come on the Day of Resurrection with anything better than what he brings, except someone who has said as much or more.”
A hundred repetitions of سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ (subhâna-llâhi wa bihamdih) take about three minutes. You can count them on your fingers, as many Muslims do.
4. The other formulas of Hisn al-Muslim
The morning and evening chapter of Hisn al-Muslim also contains, among others:
- the Throne Verse (Âyat al-Kursî), which many recite morning and evening;
- surahs al-Ikhlâs, al-Falaq and an-Nâs, three times each;
- the great plea for forgiveness (sayyid al-istighfâr);
- “asbahnâ wa asbaha-l-mulku lillâh” in the morning, “we have reached the morning, and sovereignty belongs to Allah,” adapted in the evening as “amsaynâ wa amsâ-l-mulku lillâh.”
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُۥ سِنَةٌۭ وَلَا نَوْمٌۭ ۚ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَىْءٍۢ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَـُٔودُهُۥ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
Allah! Point de divinité à part Lui, le Vivant, Celui qui subsiste par lui-même «Al-Qayyûm». Ni somnolence ni sommeil ne Le saisissent. A Lui appartient tout ce qui est dans les cieux et sur la terre. Qui peut intercéder auprès de Lui sans Sa permission? Il connaît leur passé et leur futur. Et, de Sa science, ils n'embrassent que ce qu'Il veut. Son Trône «Kursiy», déborde les cieux et la terre, dont la garde ne Lui coûte aucune peine. Et Il est le Très Haut, le Très Grand.The ten-minute routine
Here is a simple way to chain these formulas together, morning and evening.
Steps
Choose a fixed time: right after the fajr prayer, and right after ‘asr (or maghrib).
Stay seated in your prayer spot, or settle in a quiet corner, with your phone on silent.
Recite the Throne Verse, then al-Ikhlâs, al-Falaq and an-Nâs three times each (about two minutes).
Say “bismi-llâhi-lladhî lâ yadurru…” three times, then the supplication for ‘âfiya (about two minutes).
Say “subhâna-llâhi wa bihamdih” one hundred times, counting on your fingers (about three minutes).
Finish with a personal supplication, in your own language, for yourself and your loved ones.
In total: less than ten minutes. If you are just starting, begin with a single formula, then add a new one each week.
Making the habit last
The hardest part is not learning the formulas but keeping them over time. The Prophet ﷺ gave the criterion:
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ، عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ عُقْبَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " سَدِّدُوا وَقَارِبُوا، وَاعْلَمُوا أَنْ لَنْ يُدْخِلَ أَحَدَكُمْ عَمَلُهُ الْجَنَّةَ، وَأَنَّ أَحَبَّ الأَعْمَالِ أَدْوَمُهَا إِلَى اللَّهِ، وَإِنْ قَلَّ "
Narrated by ‘Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Aim for what is right and draw near, and know that it is not his deeds that will make any of you enter Paradise, and that the deed most beloved to Allah is the most constant, even if it is small.”
A few tips that really help:
- hook the adhkâr onto a habit that already exists: the prayer, the morning coffee, the commute;
- keep the text within reach, in the app or on a small card;
- understand the meaning: a formula that is understood is remembered better and said with the heart;
- say them quietly with the family: children learn quickly by listening;
- after a lapse, start again the next day without guilt.
Going further
- The full chapter: Hisn al-Muslim, morning and evening supplications.
- For the whole day: Dhikr in an ordinary day.
- For bedtime: Sleeping well according to the sunna.
- Read and reflect on the Throne Verse.
Questions fréquentes
Which are the most important morning supplications?
Among the formulas based on authentic hadiths: “bismi-llâhi-lladhî lâ yadurru…” three times, the supplication for ‘âfiya, and “subhâna-llâhi wa bihamdih” one hundred times. Hisn al-Muslim adds the Throne Verse, the last three surahs and the great plea for forgiveness.
At what time should the evening supplications be said?
The most recommended time runs from the ‘asr prayer to sunset. Other scholars extend this time to the beginning of the night, after maghrib. The essential thing is to choose a fixed time that you can keep every day.
Can one read the adhkâr on a phone?
Yes, reading the formulas on a screen or in a booklet is perfectly fine, especially at the beginning. With repetition, one often ends up knowing them by heart, which makes it possible to say them anywhere.
Is wudu required to say the adhkâr?
Wudu is recommended but not obligatory for remembering Allah, and a woman during her period may say the supplications. For the Quran verses that are part of them, the schools differ: ask a qualified person from your school.
Can the morning and evening supplications be said in English?
The transmitted formulas are preferably said in Arabic, as they were taught. Until you master them, you can rely on the transliteration and reflect on the translation. Personal supplication, however, can be made in any language.
Mots arabes de cet article
- Dhikr ذكر
- The remembrance of Allah, through formulas of praise, glorification or supplication; “adhkâr” is its plural.
- ‘Âfiya عافية
- Well-being: health, safety and protection from whatever harms, in life as in faith.
- Tasbih تسبيح
- Glorifying Allah, notably by saying “subhâna-llâh,” “glory be to Allah.”
- Istighfar استغفار
- The plea for forgiveness addressed to Allah; the “sayyid al-istighfâr” is its most complete formula.
- Ayat al-Kursi آية الكرسي
- The Throne Verse, verse 255 of Surah al-Baqara, often recited morning and evening and before sleep.
- Hisn al-Muslim حصن المسلم
- “The Fortress of the Muslim,” a collection of everyday supplications compiled by Sa‘îd al-Qahtânî.
Sources et références
Chaque référence a été contrôlée automatiquement : existence du verset ou du hadith, numérotation sunnah.com, degré d’authenticité selon les savants.
- Coran 33:41-42Vérifiéquran.com
- Coran 2:255Vérifiéquran.com
- Coran 20:130Vérifiécélébrer la louange d’Allah avant le lever et le coucher du soleilquran.com
- Coran 50:39Vérifiécélébrer la louange d’Allah avant le lever et le coucher du soleilquran.com
- Coran 13:28Vérifiéles cœurs s’apaisent par l’évocation d’Allahquran.com
- Sahîh al-Bukhârî n° 6407Sahîh (authentique) · al-Bukhârî (recueil authentique par consensus)VérifiéVoir sur sunnah.com
- Sunan Abî Dâwûd n° 5088Sahîh (authentique) · al-AlbânîVérifiéVoir sur sunnah.com
- Jâmi‘ at-Tirmidhî n° 3388Hasan sahîh · Ahmad Muhammad ShâkirVérifiéversion d’at-Tirmidhî de la même invocationVoir sur sunnah.com
- Sunan Abî Dâwûd n° 5074Sahîh (authentique) · al-AlbânîVérifiéVoir sur sunnah.com
- Sahîh Muslim n° 2692aSahîh (authentique) · Muslim (recueil authentique par consensus)VérifiéVoir sur sunnah.com
- Sahîh al-Bukhârî n° 6464Sahîh (authentique) · al-Bukhârî (recueil authentique par consensus)VérifiéVoir sur sunnah.com
- Jâmi‘ at-Tirmidhî n° 2517Hasan (bon) · Ahmad Muhammad ShâkirVérifié« attache-la et place ta confiance »Voir sur sunnah.com
- Hisn al-Muslim (La forteresse du musulman), chapitre des invocations du matin et du soir — Sa‘îd ibn ‘Alî ibn Wahf al-QahtânîRéférence bibliographique
Dans l’application
Cet article est une synthèse pédagogique : il résume des sources vérifiées et ne constitue pas une fatwa. Les détails de pratique peuvent varier selon les écoles. Pour une situation personnelle, consultez une personne qualifiée. Signaler une erreur
Articles liés
Dhikr: Remembering Allah Through an Ordinary Day
The authentic phrases of dhikr, the moments to place them from waking to bedtime, the right amount and how to keep the heart present, at any age and in any situation.
Sleeping well: evening habits inspired by the sunna
Ablution, supplications, the right side, screens off and waking for fajr: the bedtime habits the Prophet ﷺ taught, for calmer and more peaceful nights.
Tawakkul: Trusting in Allah While Taking the Means
What tawakkul means, the lessons of the camel and the birds, how it eases everyday worry, and why our app is called Tawakoul.