The Virtues of Reciting the Third kalimah

One should recite the following zikr as there are many virtues recorded in the Mubaarak Ahaadith for the one who recites this zikr:

سُبْحَانَ اللهِ ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ ، وَلَا إلٰهَ إلَّا الله ، وَاللهُ أكْبَرْ

Glory be to Allah, and all praise is due to Allah, and there is none worthy of worship besides Allah, and Allah is the greatest

Among the virtues of this zikr are the following virtues:

1) The Most Beloved Words of Man to Allah Ta’ala

عن سمرة بن جندب، قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: أحب الكلام إلى الله أربع: سبحان الله، والحمد لله، ولا إله إلا الله، والله أكبر. لا يضرك بأيهن بدأت (صحيح مسلم، الرقم: 2137)

Hazrat Samurah bin Jundub (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “The most beloved words (from the speech of man) are four; Subhaanallah, Alhamdulillah, Laa ilaaha illallah, Allahu Akbar. It does not matter with which of these words you begin.”

2) A Tree in Jannah for Every Word

عن أبي هريرة، أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم مر به وهو يغرس غرسا، فقال: يا أبا هريرة، ما الذي تغرس؟ قلت: غراسا لي، قال: ألا أدلك على غراس خير لك من هذا؟ قال: بلى يا رسول الله، قال: قل: سبحان الله، والحمد لله، ولا إله إلا الله، والله أكبر، يغرس لك بكل واحدة شجرة في الجنة (سنن ابن ماجة، الرقم: 3807)

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) once passed by him while he was planting (a tree). Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) asked, “O Abu Hurairah! What are you planting?” Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu anhu) replied, “(I am planting) a tree of mine.”  Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) then asked him, “Should I not show you such trees that are better than this?” Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu anhu) replied, “Definitely, O Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)!” Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Recite Subhaanallah, Alhamdulillah, Laa ilaaha illallah, Allahu Akbar, for each of these words, a tree will be planted for you in Jannah.”

3) Increase your Fruit-Bearing Trees in Jannah

عن ابن مسعود، قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: لقيت إبراهيم ليلة أسري بي فقال: يا محمد، أقرئ أمتك مني السلام وأخبرهم أن الجنة طيبة التربة عذبة الماء، وأنها قيعان، وأن غراسها سبحان الله والحمد لله ولا إله إلا الله والله أكبر (سنن الترمذي، الرقم: 3462)

Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ood (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “I met Hazrat Ibraaheem (alayhis salaam) on the night of Israa (meraaj), and he said to me, ‘O Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)! Convey salaam to your ummah on my behalf, and inform them that the soil of Jannah is fertile and its water is sweet, and (also inform them that) it is an empty land, and its plantations is Subhaanallah, Alhamdulillah, Laa ilaaha illallah, Allahu Akbar.’”

Note: In this Hadith, Jannah is stated to have a totally plain land. However, in other Ahaadith where Jannah has been described, it is stated that there are all kinds of fruit trees in it. Thus, there is a sort of outward contradiction between both types of Ahaadith.

Some Ulama reconcile between both these types of Ahaadith by explaining that the smallest Jannah that anybody will be blessed with in the hereafter will be larger and greater than the whole world. Some parts of it will be covered with original gardens and other parts of it will be without any growth. The trees in this part will grow according to the zikr done by its recipients in the world.

4) Earn Rewards Greater than Mount Uhud

عن عمران يعني ابن حصين قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : أما يستطيع أحدكم أن يعمل كل يوم مثل أحد عملا قالوا يا رسول الله، ومن يستطيع أن يعمل في كل يوم مثل أحد عملا قال: كلكم يستطيعه قالوا: يا رسول الله ماذا قال: سبحان الله أعظم من أحد، والحمد لله أعظم من أحد، ولا إله إلا الله أعظم من أحد، والله أكبر أعظم من أحد رواه الطبراني والبزار، ورجالهما رجال الصحيح. (مجمع الزوائد، الرقم: 16859)

Hazrat Imraan bin Husayn (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Why are you unable to carry out good deeds every day equal to Mount Uhud?” The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) asked, “O Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), who among us is able to do good deeds every day equal to Mount Uhud?” Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) replied, “All of you do have the ability to do it.” The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) then asked, “How will we do it, O Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)?” Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) replied, “(Recite Subhaanallah, recite Alhamdulillah, recite Laa ilaaha illallah and recite Allahu Akbar). The reward for reciting Subhaanallah is greater than Mount Uhud, the reward for reciting Alhamdulillah is greater than Mount Uhud, the reward for reciting Laa ilaaha illallah is greater than Mount Uhud, the reward for reciting Allahu Akbar is greater than Mount Uhud.”

5) A Means of Forgiveness of Sins

عن أنس بن مالك، أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم مر بشجرة يابسة الورق فضربها بعصاه فتناثر الورق، فقال: إن الحمد لله وسبحان الله ولا إله إلا الله والله أكبر لتساقط من ذنوب العبد كما تساقط ورق هذه الشجرة (سنن الترمذي، الرقم: 3533)

Hazrat Anas (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) once passed by a tree whose leaves had become dry. He then hit it with his stick and the leaves began falling. He then said, “(Reciting) Alhamdulillah, Subhaanallah, Laa ilaaha illallah and Allahu Akbar causes a person’s (minor) sins to fall away just as the leaves of this tree are falling off.”

6) Receiving Ten Rewards for Each Letter

عن ابن عمر قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: من قال سبحان الله والحمد لله ولا إله إلا الله والله أكبر كتبت له بكل حرف عشر حسنات رواه الطبراني في الكبير والأوسط، ورجالهما رجال الصحيح غير محمد بن منصور الطوسي، وهو ثقة. (مجمع الزوائد، الرقم: 16860)

Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (radhiyallahu anhuma) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “The one who recites Subhaanallah, Alhamdulillah, Laa ilaaha illallah, Allahu Akbar, then for each letter he will receive ten rewards.”

7) Receiving Great Rewards

عن عمرو بن شعيب، عن أبيه، عن جده، قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: من سبح الله مائة بالغداة ومائة بالعشي كان كمن حج مائة حجة، ومن حمد الله مائة بالغداة ومائة بالعشي كان كمن حمل على مائة فرس في سبيل الله، أو قال غزا مائة غزوة، ومن هلل الله مائة بالغداة ومائة بالعشي كان كمن أعتق مائة رقبة من ولد إسماعيل، ومن كبر الله مائة بالغداة ومائة بالعشي لم يأت في ذلك اليوم أحد بأكثر مما أتى إلا من قال مثل ما قال أو زاد على ما قال. هذا حديث حسن غريب. (سنن الترمذي، الرقم: 3471)

Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (radhiyallahu anhuma) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihhi wasallam) said, “The one who recites Subhaanallah one hundred times in the morning and one hundred times in the evening is like one who performs Hajj one hundred times, and the one who recites Alhamdulillah one hundred times in the morning and one hundred times in the evening, is like one who provides (mujaahideen with) one hundred horses in the path of Allah – or he said – (is like one) who participated in one hundred battles, and the one who recites Laa ilaaha Illallah one hundred times in the morning and one hundred times in the evening is like the one who freed one hundred slaves from the progeny of Hazrat Ismaa’eel (alayhis salaam), and the one who recites Allahu Akbar one hundred times in the morning and one hundred times in the evening, then no person will surpass him in reward on that day besides the one who recites the same amount as he recited or more (i.e. besides the one who carried out any zikr that is greater in virtue and reward than this zikr).”

8) Receiving Magnificent Rewards

عن أم هانئ بنت أبي طالب، قالت: مر بي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ذات يوم فقلت: يا رسول الله، إني قد كبرت فمرني بعمل أعمله وأنا جالسة، فقال: سبحي الله مائة تسبيحة، فإنها تعدل مائة رقبة من ولد إسماعيل، واحمدي الله مائة تحميدة فإنها تعدل مائة فرس مسرجة ملجمة تحملين عليها في سبيل الله، وكبري الله مائة تكبيرة فإنها تعدل مائة بدنة متقبلة، وهللي الله مائة تهليلة فإنها تملأ ما بين السماء والأرض، ولا يرفع لأحد عمل أفضل منها إلا أن يأتي بمثل ما أتيت (المعجم الكبير للطبراني، الرقم: 1008)

It is reported that Hazrat Ummu Haani (radhiyallahu anha – the sister of Hazrat Ali radhiyallahu anhu) said, “One day, Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) passed by me and I said to him, ‘O Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), I have become old. Show me such a good deed that I can do while I am seated.’ Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) replied, “Recite Subhaanallah one hundred times, as it is equal to freeing one hundred slaves from the progeny of Hazrat Ismaa’eel (alayhis salaam), recite Alhamdulillah one hundred times, as it is equal to providing (mujaahideen with) one hundred bridled and saddled horses to fight in the path of Allah Ta’ala, recite Allahu Akbar one hundred times, as it is equal to slaughtering one hundred accepted sacrificial camels, and recite Laa ilaaha illallah one hundred times, as it fills the area and space between the sky and the earth (with rewards), and there will be no action (good deed) of any person which will be raised (to the sky) that is more virtuous than reciting this zikr (which you have recited), besides the one who recites the same amount of this zikr which you have recited (or any other person who recites any other zikr that is greater in virtue and reward than this zikr).’”

9) Everlasting Pious Deeds

عن أبي سعيد الخدري، أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، قال: استكثروا من الباقيات الصالحات، قيل: وما هن يا رسول الله؟ قال: التكبير، والتهليل، والتسبيح، والحمد لله، ولا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله (صحيح ابن حبان، الرقم: 840)

Hazrat Abu Sa’eed Khudri (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Increase your everlasting, pious deeds (i.e. recite in abundance those azkaar that bring everlasting rewards).” The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) asked, “O Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam, what are they?” Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) replied, “(Reciting) Allahu Akbar, Laa ilaaha illallah, Subhaanallah, Alhamdulillah and Laa hawla wala quwwata illa billah (in abundance).”

10) Protection from the fire of Jahannum

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه، قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: خذوا جنتكم. قلنا يا رسول الله: من عدو قد حضر؟ قال: لا جنتكم من النار، قولوا: سبحان الله، والحمد لله، ولا إله إلا الله، والله أكبر، فإنها يأتين يوم القيامة منجيات ومقدمات وهن الباقيات الصالحات هذا حديث صحيح على شرط مسلم ولم يخرجاه (المستدرك على الصحيحين للحاكم، الرقم: 1985)

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Take your shields (to protect you)!” The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) asked, “O Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam, (are you asking us to take our shields) because of any enemy who has come (to fight us)?” Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) replied, “No, take your shields (to protect you) from the fire of jahannum. (The shields which will protect you from the fire of Jahannum are to) recite Subhaanallah, Alhamdulillah, Laa ilaaha illallah, Allahu Akbar, as they will come on the day of Qiyaamah being a means of protection for one (from the fire of jahannum), and being regarded as the good deeds which one had advanced to the Hereafter, and these are the good deeds whose rewards are continuous and everlasting.”

11) A Form of Sadaqah

عن أبي ذر، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، أنه قال: يصبح على كل سلامى من أحدكم صدقة، فكل تسبيحة صدقة، وكل تحميدة صدقة، وكل تهليلة صدقة، وكل تكبيرة صدقة، وأمر بالمعروف صدقة، ونهي عن المنكر صدقة، ويجزئ من ذلك ركعتان يركعهما من الضحى (صحيح مسلم، الرقم: 720)

Hazrat Abu Zar Ghifaari (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Every morning, sadaqah should be given on behalf of your body joints (and limbs). Every subhaanallah is a sadaqah, every alhamdulillah is a sadaqah, every La ilaaha illallah is a sadaqah, every Allahu Akbar is a sadaqah, enjoining good is a sadaqah, and preventing from evil is a sadaqah. Performing two rakaats at the time of duha will suffice for all of that.”

12) Deeds being Weighty on the Scales on the Day of Qiyaamah

حدثني أبو سلام الأسود، حدثني أبو سلمى راعي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، ولقيته في مسجد الكوفة، قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول:  بخ بخ بخمس ما أثقلهن في الميزان: سبحان الله، والحمد لله، ولا إله إلا الله، والله أكبر، والولد الصالح يتوفى للمسلم فيحتسبه هذا حديث صحيح الإسناد، ولم يخرجاه (المستدرك على الصحيحين للحاكم، الرقم: 1885)

Hazrat Abu Salmah (radhiyallahu anhu) – the shepherd (the person who would herd the animals) of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) – reports that he heard Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) say, “How wonderful and excellent are five things which are extremely weighty on the scales (of good deeds on the day of Qiyaamah). (Reciting) subhaanallah, (reciting) alhamdulillah, (reciting) La ilaaha illallah, (reciting) Allahu Akbar, and a pious child of a Muslim who passes away, and he (the Muslim parent makes sabr and) hopes for reward (from Allah Ta‘ala upon the loss of his child).”