Short Dhikr for Busy Muslims: 10 Phrases Under 10 Seconds

“I Don’t Have Time for Dhikr”

If you’ve ever said this — or thought it — you’re not alone. Between work, family, commuting, cooking, and the thousand other demands on a modern Muslim’s day, finding a quiet hour for extended dhikr can feel genuinely impossible.

But here’s what the Prophet (peace be upon him) taught us: you don’t need an hour.

Some of the most powerful dhikr in the Islamic tradition takes under ten seconds to say. A few of them take two. And the Prophet (peace be upon him) — the busiest man of his generation, leading a community through war, revelation, governance, teaching, family life, and everything else — not only practiced these but made a point of teaching them to people who came to him with exactly your concern.

A companion came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said: “O Messenger of Allah, the obligations of Islam have become much for me. Tell me something to hold on to.” He said: “Let your tongue always be moist with the remembrance of Allah.” (Ibn Majah)

Moist — not flooded. Moist means constant, easy, light. A few words throughout the day. Ten seconds here, fifteen there. A habit so light it doesn’t compete with anything else.

Here are ten of those phrases, with their sources and their rewards, each taking under ten seconds to say.

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1. SubhanAllah (Glory be to Allah)

Time: 2 seconds
Meaning: Allah is free from all imperfection and deficiency.

The reward: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Two words are light on the tongue, heavy in the scale, and beloved to the Most Merciful: SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi, SubhanAllahil Azeem.” (Bukhari) The full phrase “SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi” (Glory be to Allah and all praise is due to Him) adds only two extra words and a few more seconds, but the reward is described as filling the scales.

When to say it: Whenever something amazes you — a sunset, a child’s laughter, food that smells good, news of something good. Let wonder be a trigger for praise.

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2. Alhamdulillah (All praise is for Allah)

Time: 2 seconds
Meaning: Every good thing — the breath in my lungs, the sight in my eyes, the fact that I woke up — comes from Allah and is praised back to Him.

The reward: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Alhamdulillah fills the scales.” (Muslim) He also said: “Allah is pleased with His servant who says Alhamdulillah when he eats his food and when he drinks his drink.” (Muslim)

When to say it: After anything good. After eating. After finishing a task. When you receive good news. When you notice something you’re grateful for. Make it the default response to goodness.

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3. Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest)

Time: 2 seconds
Meaning: Whatever I’m worried about, whatever feels overwhelming, whatever seems powerful or threatening — Allah is greater than all of it.

The reward: This phrase alongside SubhanAllah and Alhamdulillah was described by the Prophet (peace be upon him) as filling what is between the heavens and earth. (Muslim)

When to say it: When something feels overwhelming. When you encounter something large and imposing. Before a difficult meeting. At the start of a challenging task. As a reminder of scale.

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4. La ilaha illAllah (There is no god but Allah)

Time: 3 seconds
Meaning: Nothing and no one else deserves the worship, fear, love, and obedience that only Allah deserves.

The reward: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The best dhikr is La ilaha illAllah.” (Tirmidhi) He also said: “Renew your faith.” The companions asked how. He said: “Say La ilaha illAllah frequently.” (Ahmad)

When to say it: This is the dhikr of walking, of quiet moments, of the drive to work. Some scholars recommended keeping a count and aiming for 100 times each day. At 3 seconds each, that’s five minutes total — easily spread throughout a day.

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5. Astaghfirullah (I seek forgiveness from Allah)

Time: 2 seconds
Meaning: I acknowledge my shortcomings, my sins, my distance from what Allah deserves, and I turn back toward Him.

The reward: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever says Astaghfirullah frequently, Allah will provide for him a way out of every hardship, relief from every grief, and will provide for him from where he does not expect.” (Abu Dawud)

When to say it: After any salah. In the last third of the night if you wake up. Whenever you’ve said something you regret. In traffic (especially in traffic). The Prophet (peace be upon him) is reported to have made istighfar more than 70 times a day — he, the most forgiven of all human beings.

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6. HasbunAllahu wa ni’mal wakeel (Allah is sufficient for us and He is the best Disposer of affairs)

Time: 5 seconds
Meaning: I place my reliance in Allah. He is enough. He is the best Trustee of my affairs.

The reward: This was the statement of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) when he was thrown into the fire, and the statement of the Prophet (peace be upon him) when he was told that enemies were gathering against him. Allah’s response to Ibrahim: He made the fire cool. Allah’s response to the believers: He turned away the threat. (Quran 3:173-174)

When to say it: When you receive bad news. When you feel anxiety about the future. When a plan falls apart. When you’re waiting for a decision that could change your circumstances. This is the dhikr of tawakkul.

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7. La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah (There is no might or power except through Allah)

Time: 5 seconds
Meaning: I have no power on my own. My ability to do anything — to resist sin, to accomplish my work, to protect my family — comes only from Allah.

The reward: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah is a treasure from the treasures of Paradise.” (Bukhari, Muslim)

When to say it: Before undertaking anything difficult. When facing temptation. When you feel weak or inadequate. When transitioning from rest to action.

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8. SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi, SubhanAllahil Azeem

Time: 7 seconds
Meaning: Glory be to Allah and all praise is due to Him. Glory be to Allah, the Magnificent.

The reward: As noted above, the Prophet (peace be upon him) described these as “light on the tongue, heavy in the scale, and beloved to the Most Merciful.” (Bukhari)

When to say it: At any spare moment. Between tasks at work. While waiting for water to boil. In the lift. This is perhaps the best candidate for the “filler dhikr” — the phrase you say whenever there’s a moment of nothing.

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9. Salawat — Allahumma salli ala Muhammad (O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad)

Time: 5 seconds
Meaning: A prayer that Allah honors and elevates the Prophet (peace be upon him), used as both an act of love and an act of worship.

The reward: “Whoever sends one blessing upon me, Allah will send ten blessings upon him.” (Muslim) The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said about the person who sends salawat upon him frequently: “I will be with him on the Day of Judgment.” (Tirmidhi)

When to say it: The Prophet’s (peace be upon him) name is mentioned — say it immediately after. Friday morning and evening. Whenever you want closeness to the Prophet (peace be upon him).

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10. Hasbiyallahu la ilaha illa hu, alayhi tawakkaltu wa huwa rabbul arshil azeem

Time: 9 seconds
Meaning: Allah is sufficient for me. There is no god but Him. I place my reliance upon Him. He is the Lord of the magnificent throne.

The reward: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever says this seven times in the morning and seven times in the evening, Allah will handle whatever worries him.” (Abu Dawud)

When to say it: Seven times after Fajr (63 seconds total). Seven times after Asr or Maghrib. Or any time anxiety about the future rises up.

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Making These Part of Your Day

You don’t need a dedicated session. You need triggers.

Pick two or three from this list and attach each one to something you already do consistently:

• Every time you wash your hands → Astaghfirullah 3 times
• Every time you check your phone → La ilaha illAllah before opening it
• Every time you get in your car → Hasbunallahu wa ni’mal wakeel 1 time
• Every time you hear good news → Alhamdulillah out loud

The goal is for these phrases to become reflexes — the automatic response of a heart trained to turn toward Allah in every moment.

An app like Nafs can remind you gently throughout the day at the moments when you’re most likely to need a nudge, helping you build these reflexes until they need no reminder.

The busy Muslim has time for dhikr. The busy Muslim needs dhikr more than the free one.

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Nafs helps busy Muslims track their daily dhikr and ibadah goals — with gentle reminders and visual progress tracking. Download free and start your practice today.

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Keep Reading

Start with the complete guide: Building a Dhikr Habit: The Complete Guide to Consistency

• The 99 Names of Allah: A Dhikr and Reflection Guide
• 7 Proven Benefits of Consistent Dhikr from the Quran and Sunnah
• The Complete Guide to Daily Adhkar: Morning, Evening & After Salah

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