The Practising Muslim · Supplication & Dhikr

Blessings & Dhikr Practices in Islam

Test your knowledge on sending blessings and remembrance of Allah.

9 questions · Medium · about 5 minutes

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9 questions, about 5 minutes.

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Show questions and answers Spoilers: every answer and explanation for all 9 questions.

1. How does sending blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ benefit the one who sends them?

  • Allah sends blessings upon that person, erases misdeeds, raises rank, and may take care of their needs. (correct answer)
  • It benefits only the Prophet ﷺ and never the person saying it.
  • It replaces all other acts of worship.
  • It guarantees forgiveness of every sin without repentance.

Why

Sending blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ is an act of worship and obedience to Allah’s command. It also benefits the one who sends the blessings: Allah sends blessings upon that person, erases misdeeds, raises their rank, and it may be a means of having worries taken care of and sins forgiven.

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2. Why are blessings specifically sent upon the Prophet ﷺ and his family in prayer?

  • Allah prescribed it, and the Prophet ﷺ taught his ummah to pray that way. (correct answer)
  • Because no righteous slaves are mentioned anywhere in the prayer.
  • Because all people have exactly the same rank and virtue.
  • Because Muslims may invent any wording they prefer in the tashahhud.

Why

In the tashahhud, salam is sent upon the Prophet ﷺ and upon the righteous slaves of Allah. After that, the prescribed sending of blessings is specifically upon the Prophet ﷺ and his family. This is how Allah prescribed it and how the Prophet ﷺ taught his Companions, so the Muslim response is submission and following the Sunnah.

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3. What should someone do if they forgot to send blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ when his name was mentioned, then remembered later?

  • Send blessings upon him when they remember. (correct answer)
  • Leave it because sending blessings later is forbidden.
  • Repeat the entire gathering from the beginning.
  • Replace it with a different dhikr only.

Why

A Muslim should be keen to send blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ immediately when his name is mentioned. If the delay is brief, it does not matter. If a person forgot and remembered later, there is nothing wrong with sending blessings then, even if a long time has passed.

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4. When may a person single out a particular time for dhikr because of special virtue?

  • When there is evidence that Islam singles out that time. (correct answer)
  • Whenever people invent a special virtue for that time.
  • Whenever a group chooses a time and treats it as Sunnah.
  • Only between Maghrib and ‘Isha in every case.

Why

There is nothing wrong with choosing a time for dhikr because a person is free or has energy, as long as they do not believe that the time has a special religious virtue without evidence. But singling out a time as specially virtuous for worship requires proof from Islamic teachings. Otherwise it becomes an invented restriction.

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5. What is the minimum practice mentioned for being regular in dhikr?

  • Reciting the morning and afternoon adhkar, post-prayer dhikr, and adhkar for occasions that have a reason. (correct answer)
  • Keeping the heart saying one formula every second of the day.
  • Abandoning family, work, and normal responsibilities for constant dhikr.
  • Using an invented breathing method and treating it as obligatory.

Why

Remembering Allah much is greatly encouraged, but it is not obligatory to make the heart repeat Allah’s name every second. The minimum mentioned includes regular morning and afternoon adhkar, dhikr after the five obligatory prayers, and adhkar connected to specific occasions. Claims of a required 24/7 inner dhikr or a special breath-control method have no basis in the cited source.

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6. What is the recommended approach to different authentic adhkar?

  • Recite a variety of adhkar so each one’s virtue and reward may be attained. (correct answer)
  • Use only one dhikr and abandon all others.
  • Replace istighfar entirely with tasbeeh.
  • Recite only adhkar that mention worldly provision.

Why

A Muslim should not focus on one dhikr to the exclusion of all others. Different adhkar have different virtues, and a person should do what they can of each. “Subhaan Allah wa bi hamdihi” has great virtue and expiates sins, but it does not replace istighfar; both tasbeeh and seeking forgiveness are needed, and each may be more suitable in different circumstances.

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7. How should restricted adhkar be recited?

  • At the prescribed time or number mentioned in the Sunnah. (correct answer)
  • With any invented number that people find meaningful.
  • Only in a mosque and never at home.
  • At a fixed time chosen by a person when no evidence restricts it.

Why

Some adhkar are restricted by time or number, such as morning and evening adhkar or certain post-prayer adhkar. These should be recited as prescribed. Other adhkar are unrestricted, so they may be recited at any time and repeated as much as a person wishes. What is not allowed is turning an unrestricted dhikr into a fixed-time or fixed-number practice without evidence.

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8. What is the basic rule for unrestricted dhikr?

  • A person may remember Allah as much as they are able. (correct answer)
  • A person must never say unrestricted dhikr more than one hundred times.
  • A person must follow a fixed number even when no number was prescribed.
  • A person may change restricted post-prayer adhkar however they wish.

Why

Unrestricted dhikr is not tied to a specific time, place, situation, wording count, or number of repetitions, so a person may say it as much as they are able. Restricted dhikr is different: if a dhikr is tied to a particular time, wording, or number in the Sunnah, the basic rule is to adhere to what was narrated, except where the text itself allows adding more.

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9. What is the ruling on assigning fixed numbers and times to distress adhkar without evidence?

  • The adhkar may be prescribed, but the invented numbers and timings should not be treated as Sunnah. (correct answer)
  • Any fixed number becomes Sunnah if people find it helpful.
  • The adhkar themselves become forbidden because someone attached wrong numbers to them.
  • Every dhikr must be repeated exactly eleven times for relief from distress.

Why

Some distress adhkar and du’as are valid and recommended in themselves. The problem is claiming a specific number, time, manner, or special virtue without evidence. A Muslim may say prescribed adhkar and du’as, but should not turn an unrestricted dhikr into a fixed ritual with invented numbers or timings.

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A note on these answers

These questions are for learning and self-testing. Explanations are drawn from the sources linked on each question and are not a fatwa. For a ruling on your own circumstances, please consult a qualified scholar.

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