33/56. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 3811 — Four of the Best Words
The Virtue Of Glorifying Allah
Hadith About the Four Best Words: SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, La Ilaha Illallah, Allahu Akbar
Sunan Ibn Majah : 3811
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 3811
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عُمَرَ، حَفْصُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ كُهَيْلٍ، عَنْ هِلاَلِ بْنِ يِسَافٍ، عَنْ سَمُرَةَ بْنِ جُنْدَبٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ " أَرْبَعٌ أَفْضَلُ الْكَلاَمِ لاَ يَضُرُّكَ بِأَيِّهِنَّ بَدَأْتَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَلاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ " .
Samura b. Jundub Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "(There are) four that are the best of words, and it does not matter with which you begin: Subhan-Allah, wal-Hamdu-Lillah, wa la ilaha illallah, wa Allahu Akbar (Glory is to Allah, praise is to Allah, none has the right to be worshiped but Allah and Allah is the Most Great)."
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 3811In-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 155English translation : Vol. 5, Book 33, Hadith 3811
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 3811
This hadith names four statements as the best of words: Subhan-Allah, wal-Hamdu-Lillah, wa la ilaha illallah, wa Allahu Akbar. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم also said that it does not matter which of them a person begins with. The hadith is short, but it gives a clear set of words for daily remembrance. Each phrase carries praise, glorification, belief in Allah’s oneness, and magnifying Allah. The focus is not on a hard method or long order. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم made it easy by saying a person may start with any of them. This hadith about dhikr is simple, easy to teach, and easy to practice.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم named four phrases as the best of words.
- A person may begin with any of the four phrases mentioned.
- Daily dhikr can be simple and easy to remember.
