A Beginner’s Guide to Performing Dhikr

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Imam Mufti Samir Wahir shares how to remember Allah with dhikr

Co-authored by Mufti Samir Wahid and Amy Bobinger, BA

Last Updated: February 23, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Reciting Dhikr
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• Counting on Your Fingers
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• Using Prayer Beads
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• More Phrases
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• Getting the Most Out of Dhikr
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• Video
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• Q&A

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Dhikr is one way to keep God in your mind and heart as you go about your day. The word “dhikr” (ذِكْر) is an Arabic word that refers to the act of remembering and glorifying Allah. It can also mean a type of recitation used after prayers to help someone meditate on God. We talked to Islam education expert Belal Elkadri and Imam Mufti Samir Wahid to help us explain how to recite dhikr, how to count recitations on your fingers or prayer beads, and other phrases you can say during dhikr. By the time you’re done reading, performing dhikr will feel like second nature to you.

How to Do Dhikr

Imam Mufti Samir Wahid says that dhikr means “remembrance” and is a way of remembering God. To perform dhikr:

• Recite Subhanallah (سبحان الله, “Allah is flawless”) and Alhamdulillah (ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ, “Praise be to God”) 33 times and Allahu akbar (الله أكبر, “God is the greatest”) 34 times.
• Count each recitation by touching your right thumb to each of the 3 segments on your 5 fingers twice.
• Use a string of 33 prayer beads to keep count if you don’t want to count on your fingers, using 1 bead per recitation.

Steps

Section 1 of 5:

How to Recite Dhikr

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1. 
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   Recite dhikr after performing salah (صلاة, daily prayers). Ideally, it’s best to perform dhikr after each of the 5 daily prayers. Salah is performed at dawn, midday, the late part of the afternoon, just after sunset, and between sunset and midnight.

   • If you don’t have enough time, perform dhikr alongside other daily routines, such as working out, commuting to work, or preparing to go to bed.
   • If you’ve never performed dhikr before, start with just once or twice a day and work your way up.

   Meet the wikiHow Experts

   Belal Elkadri is an Islamic education expert and motivational speaker based in Detroit, Michigan. He’s worked in the non-profit space for over 10 years, where he helps challenge stigmas around the Muslim community.

   Mufti Samir Wahid is an Islam expert and Imam based in Atlanta, Georgia. He is also the founder of the Najam Institute and the CEO of the Islamic Institute of Atlanta.
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   Think of nothing except God as you perform dhikr. “Dhikr means remembrance,” says Wahid. It’s a time for you to clear your mind of any distracting thoughts and let only thoughts of God enter your mind. Find a quiet place that’s free of any distractions. Reflect on what dhikr means to you and your faith, and think about what you’re trying to achieve through performing dhikr.

   • Keep your intentions pure as you go into performing dhikr. Do it because you want to feel closer to Allah, not because you’re expecting reward or praise.
   • Remember that Allah is always with you and allow your heart to be filled with gratitude for everything He does.
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3. 
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   Say “Subhanallah” 33 times. “Subhanallah” (سبحان الله) is an Arabic phrase that roughly translates to “Allah is flawless.” Pronounce it as sub-hanal-lah.

   • It is said that if a person recites Subhanallah 100 times a day, all of their minor sins will be forgiven.
   • When you’re reciting dhikr, you can say each phrase out loud or silently in your mind.
4. 
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   Repeat “Alhamdulillah” 33 times. Elkadri says that “Alhamdulillah” (ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ) means “Praise be to God.” Pronounce it like al-Ḥamdu lillāh. As soon as you finish saying “Subhanallah” for the 33rd time, move on to chanting “Alhamdulillah”.
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   Recite saying “Allahu akbar” 34 times. Chant “Allahu akbar” (الله أكبر) to conclude your dhikr. This phrase means “God is the greatest,” Elkadri says. Pronounce it as uh-laa-hoo aak-baar.

   • If you prefer, you can say “Allahu akbar” 33 times, then recite “La ilaha illallah” once. Elkadri says this means, “There is only one God.”
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Section 2 of 5:

Counting Dhikr Using Fingers

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1. 
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   Keep count with your thumb and fingers on your right hand. Turn your hand so that you are looking at your palm. You will see that each finger is divided into 3 segments: the bottom, middle, and top. Use these segments to keep track of your count when performing dhikr.

   • Use your thumb to mark your count on your 4 fingers and your index finger to mark your count on your thumb.
   • While using your left hand is permissible, it is customary to use your right hand while performing dhikr.
2. 
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   Start your count at the bottom segment of your smallest finger. Touch your thumb to the bottom segment of your pinky finger when you say “Subhanallah” for the first time. When you repeat “Subhanallah” for the second time, move your thumb up to the middle segment of your pinkie finger. Finally, move to the top of your finger when you say “Subhanallah” for the third time.

   • When you say “Subhanallah” for the fourth time, touch the top segment of your pinkie again. Then, move your thumb down to the middle and bottom segments for the fifth and sixth repetitions. When you’re finished, you will have used your pinky to count 6 recitations of the phrase “Subhanallah.”
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   Count 6 repetitions on your ring, middle, and index fingers. Once you reach the bottom of your pinky finger, continue counting on your ring finger in the same way. Then, move on to your middle finger and index finger as you chant “Subhanallah” for each segment.

   • When you reach the bottom of your index finger the second time, you have recited “Subhanallah” a total of 24 times.
4. 
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   Use your index finger to count 9 recitations on your thumb. Start at the bottom segment of your thumb and count 6 recitations, moving up and then down, just like you did on the other four fingers. Then, when you reach the bottom of your thumb, go up one more time to count 3 additional recitations.

   • Once you’ve finished counting 9 recitations on your thumb, you have recited “Subhanallah” 33 times.
5. 
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   Repeat the process for reciting “Alhamdulillah” and “Allahu akbar.” As you move to the next chant, start back at the bottom of your pinky finger and work your way over to your thumb. When reciting “Allahu akbar,” do one extra repetition on your thumb—10 times instead of 9—in order to recite the full 34 repetitions.
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Section 3 of 5:

Counting Dhikr Using Prayer Beads

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1. 
   Use a misbaha, or prayer beads, to make counting easier. Elkadri says that a misbaha usually has 33 beads, and they’re used for keeping track of your recitations during dhikr. To use a misbaha, touch one bead each time you recite “Subhanallah.” When you get to the end of the strand, start over, repeating “Alhamdulillah,” then “Allahu akbar.”

   • Misbahas are made from a variety of materials, including amber, black coral, wood, ivory, and pearl.
   • If you prefer, you can touch one bead as you say “Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu akbar.” Repeat this for each bead—you'll complete dhikr with one pass of your prayer beads.

Section 4 of 5:

Other Phrases to Say During Dhikr

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1. 
   Choose a recitation that feels personal. For dhikr, you don't really need anything beyond “Subhanallah,” “Alhamdulillah,” and “Allahu akbar” (and “La ilaaha illallaah,” if you include that). But if you do want to add variety to your recitations, try reciting these 100 times (or replace one of the phrases in your regular dhikr and repeat it 33 times, instead):

   • “La ilaha illallah wahdahu la shareekalahu, lahul mulk walahul hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shayin qadeer”: This means, “There is no god worthy of worship except Allah alone, with no partner or associate. His is the Dominion and to Him be praise, and He is able to do all things.”
   • “La ilaha illallah”: The shortened form of the phrase above; it means “There is only one God.”
   • “Astaghfirullah”: Elkadri says this means, “God, I ask you for forgiveness,” and is used when someone has done something wrong.
   • Recite the Quran: “Any time you’re remembering God, that’s considered a form of dhikr,” says Wahid, adding that reciting the Holy Book is considered dhikr. Choose a passage that you specifically want to meditate on, and repeat it 100 times.
   • 99 Names of Allah: Choose a Name of God that embodies a trait you want to meditate on. For instance, you might say “Al-Ghaffar” (“The Constant Forgiver”) if you want to feel closer to God’s forgiving spirit, or As-Sami (“The All-Hearing”) if you need a reminder that He hears your prayers.
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Section 5 of 5:

Getting the Most Out of Dhikr

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1. 
   These tips can help make performing dhikr more meaningful. If you’re new to performing dhikr, it may seem daunting to get started. But it actually only takes about 5–10 minutes, so it’s a simple but powerful way to deepen your faith. Here are some things to keep in mind:

   • Be consistent. Try to perform dhikr at the same time every day. For instance, you might set a timer, or you might make it a habit every night before you go to bed.
   • Start small and work your way up. If you’re not in the habit of performing dhikr, don’t feel like you have to suddenly start doing it 5 times a day. It can be hard to sustain that habit if you’re not used to it—start by consistently doing dhikr once or twice a day and gradually build up the habit from there.
   • Find a quiet place free of any distractions. You’ll get the most out of dhikr if you’re able to really focus on it. Turn off your phone, set aside your work, and just focus on your thoughts of Allah.
   • Think about what you hope to obtain by doing dhikr. Elkadri says that when you say dhikr, “you’re remembering God. And when you remember God, God will remember you.” He adds that there are other virtues as well, like trees planted in paradise. Concentrating on these may help you feel more connected to God during dhikr.

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