The Greatest Dhikr | Subhanallah wa Bihamdihi by the Weight of His Throne | PureDua
📿 Duas & Dhikr

The Greatest Dhikr

The Four Words That Outweigh the Creation, the Throne, and Everything in Between

⚡ Quick Answer — The Greatest Dhikr · Sahih Muslim 2726 · Narrated by Juwayriyya (RA)
✦ The Prophet's ﷺ Statement — Sahih Muslim
"I have said, after you, four words three times — which would outweigh all that you have said." — Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to Juwayriyya (RA) after she had been making dhikr from Fajr until forenoon
سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ عَدَدَ خَلْقِهِ وَرِضَا نَفْسِهِ وَزِنَةَ عَرْشِهِ وَمِدَادَ كَلِمَاتِهِ
Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi · 'adada khalqihi · wa rida nafsihi · wa zinata 'arshihi · wa midada kalimatihi
"Glory is to Allah and praise is to Him — by the quantity of His creation, by His Pleasure, by the weight of His Throne, and by the extent of His Words."
عَدَدَ خَلْقِهِ
By the quantity of His creation — only Allah knows the count
رِضَا نَفْسِهِ
By His own Pleasure — the highest standard in existence
زِنَةَ عَرْشِهِ
By the weight of the Throne — the greatest created thing
مِدَادَ كَلِمَاتِهِ
By the extent of His Words — explicitly inexhaustible
— Sahih Muslim 2726 · Say it 3× · "Outweighs all that you have said" — Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
📌 Information Gain — What Most Articles Miss

The four extensions — 'adada khalqihi, rida nafsihi, zinata 'arshihi, midada kalimatihi — are not descriptive additions. They are multipliers. They transform a finite statement into one whose weight extends to the scale of what is named. The quantity of creation is unknown to any but Allah. His Pleasure cannot be measured. The Throne is the greatest of all created things. His Words are described in the Quran as inexhaustible: "The sea would be exhausted before the Words of my Lord were exhausted." (Surah Al-Kahf 18:109). The dhikr multiplied by the uncountable, the immeasurable, and the inexhaustible is itself uncountable.

🎧 Listen — The Greatest Dhikr recited by Oualid El Makami
The Greatest Dhikr recited by Oualid El Makami — PureDua
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The Prophet ﷺ had left Juwayriyya (RA) after Fajr — she was in her place of worship making dhikr. He returned after a long time. The sun had moved significantly in the sky. She was still there. He said four phrases three times — and those twelve recitations outweighed everything she had said that morning.

One sentence. Said three times. Outweighs hours of dhikr. This is the greatest dhikr.

🌟 The Complete Greatest Dhikr

✦ Foundation + Four Multipliers · Say 3 Times · Sahih Muslim 2726
سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ
① عَدَدَ خَلْقِهِ
② وَرِضَا نَفْسِهِ
③ وَزِنَةَ عَرْشِهِ
④ وَمِدَادَ كَلِمَاتِهِ
Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi · 'adada khalqihi · wa rida nafsihi · wa zinata 'arshihi · wa midada kalimatihi
"Glory is to Allah and praise is to Him — by the quantity of His creation, by His Pleasure, by the weight of His Throne, and by the extent of His Words."
✦ Say 3 times · as specified by the Prophet ﷺ
— Sahih Muslim 2726 · Narrated by Juwayriyya bint al-Harith (RA)

📖 The Story — Juwayriyya and the Morning of Dhikr

✦ The Narration — Juwayriyya bint al-Harith (RA) · Sahih Muslim 2726
"The Prophet ﷺ came out from my apartment in the morning as I was busy in performing the dawn prayer. He came back in the forenoon and I was still sitting there." He asked: "Have you been in the same position since I left you?" She said: "Yes."
سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ عَدَدَ خَلْقِهِ وَرِضَا نَفْسِهِ وَزِنَةَ عَرْشِهِ وَمِدَادَ كَلِمَاتِهِ
"I recited four phrases three times after leaving you — if they were to be weighed against all you have recited since morning, they would outweigh them." — Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
Sahih Muslim 2726

📌 The lesson is not "don't bother with long dhikr." Juwayriyya (RA) continued to be among the most devoted worshippers. What the Prophet ﷺ gave her was a treasure to add to her practice — not a reason to reduce it. The lesson is that the greatest dhikr should be part of every Muslim's daily practice, and its weight is more than can be measured by quantity alone.

🌿 The Foundation — Subhanallahi wa Bihamdihi

✦ The Base — Already Among the Most Beloved Dhikr to Allah سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ
"Two phrases are beloved to the Most Merciful, light on the tongue, and heavy on the scales: Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi, Subhanallah al-'Azim." — Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
— Sahih Bukhari · The foundation of the greatest dhikr

"Subhanallah" — Allah is glorified, declared free from every imperfection, exalted above every deficiency. Every flaw, every limitation, every defect that exists anywhere in creation — none of it applies to Him. "Wa bihamdihi" — and with His praise, inseparable from the glorification. This foundation is already among the most beloved dhikr to Allah — heavy on the scales, light on the tongue. Now add the four qualifiers — and what already fills the scales becomes expanded beyond any calculable ceiling.

🔍 The Four Multipliers — Each With No Ceiling

① 'Adada khalqihi — By the Quantity of His Creation
Multiplier · Scale · Uncountable
The dhikr has weight corresponding to every created thing that exists — every atom, cell, creature, star, moment of every life, grain of sand, drop of rain, leaf, angel. The number of created things is known only to Allah. It exceeds every counting system. The dhikr multiplied by this number has weight that corresponds to the incomprehensible quantity of all creation.
∞ No Ceiling — Count Known Only to Allah
عَدَدَ خَلْقِهِ
② Rida nafsihi — By His Own Pleasure
Multiplier · Standard · Incomparable
Unlike the others, this qualifier references not something in creation but Allah's own Pleasure — the internal satisfaction of Allah Himself. The highest standard that exists. Scholars explain this as saying the dhikr to the extent of what pleases Him, or by the measure of what satisfies His Pleasure. This invokes the highest possible standard for any act of worship.
∞ No Ceiling — Allah's Pleasure Has No Measure
وَرِضَا نَفْسِهِ
③ Zinata 'arshihi — By the Weight of His Throne
Multiplier · Scale · The Greatest Created Thing
The 'Arsh — the Throne of Allah — is the greatest of all created things. The Prophet ﷺ said: "The seven heavens in relation to the Kursi are like a ring thrown into a vast open space. And the Kursi in relation to the 'Arsh is like a ring thrown into a vast open space." The dhikr carries the weight that corresponds to the greatest thing created — not the earth, not the solar system, not the galaxy — the Throne.
∞ No Ceiling — The Throne's Scale Is Beyond Imagination
وَزِنَةَ عَرْشِهِ
④ Midada kalimatihi — By the Extent of His Words
Multiplier · Scale · Explicitly Inexhaustible
The Quran explicitly describes the inexhaustibility of Allah's Words: "Say: If the sea were ink for the Words of my Lord, the sea would be exhausted before the Words of my Lord were exhausted, even if We brought the like of it as a supplement." (Surah Al-Kahf 18:109). This qualifier has no ceiling because Allah Himself declared His Words have no end. The dhikr that extends to the extent of the inexhaustible is itself inexhaustible in weight.
∞ No Ceiling — Explicitly Described as Inexhaustible in the Quran
وَمِدَادَ كَلِمَاتِهِ
قُل لَّوْ كَانَ ٱلْبَحْرُ مِدَادًا لِّكَلِمَٰتِ رَبِّى لَنَفِدَ ٱلْبَحْرُ قَبْلَ أَن تَنفَدَ كَلِمَٰتُ رَبِّى
"Say: If the sea were ink for the Words of my Lord, the sea would be exhausted before the Words of my Lord were exhausted, even if We brought the like of it as a supplement."
— Surah Al-Kahf 18:109 · The Quranic basis for "midada kalimatihi" having no ceiling

📌 Four qualifiers with no ceiling — why this outweighs hours of dhikr: 'Adada khalqihi (all creation — count known only to Allah) + Rida nafsihi (Allah's own Pleasure — no measure) + Zinata 'arshihi (the Throne — greatest created thing) + Midada kalimatihi (Words explicitly inexhaustible). The dhikr multiplied by the unlimited is itself unlimited in weight. This is why three recitations outweighed Juwayriyya's hours — the scale is simply different.

🕌 When to Recite the Greatest Dhikr

🌅

After Fajr — The Primary Time

The story of Juwayriyya (RA) begins after Fajr. This is the original context. After the Fajr prayer, before the day begins — say the greatest dhikr three times. The morning is when the scales of deeds are opened.

📿

After Every Obligatory Prayer — Three Times

Five prayers, five opportunities, three recitations each. Fifteen times daily — by the quantity of creation, by Allah's Pleasure, by the Throne's weight, by His inexhaustible Words. Fifteen times. Every day.

⏱️

When Time Is Limited — Maximum Weight from Minimum Time

The Prophet ﷺ said it outweighed hours of dhikr. Three recitations — less than sixty seconds. When you only have a moment and want maximum weight of remembrance, the greatest dhikr was designed for this.

🌊

When Encountering the Scale of Creation

When looking at the sky, ocean, or a mountain — any expression of Allah's creation that produces awe — say "'adada khalqihi." Let the creation be the trigger for this specific glorification of its Creator.

🌅

In Morning Adhkar — As a Permanent Feature

Alongside the three Quls, Ayat al-Kursi, and Sayyid al-Istighfar — add the greatest dhikr three times. This is how it becomes a permanent feature of daily practice rather than an occasional recitation.

🌙

Before Sleeping — The Heaviest Closer

Three recitations of the greatest dhikr before sleep adds the day's heaviest weight to the scales before the night. The night is when the deeds of the day are presented — close it with what has no ceiling.

✨ 6 Benefits of the Greatest Dhikr

Benefit 1
⚖️
Explicitly Called "Heavier" Than Extended Dhikr by the Prophet ﷺ

The Prophet ﷺ told Juwayriyya (RA) that three recitations outweighed what she had said since Fajr. This is the highest possible prophetic recommendation — a direct comparison establishing this as the heaviest dhikr in the tradition.

Benefit 2
♾️
Four Qualifiers With No Ceiling — Infinite Scope in Weight

All creation (uncountable), Allah's Pleasure (no measure), the Throne (greatest created thing), His Words (explicitly inexhaustible). Every qualifier has no upper limit. The dhikr multiplied by the unlimited is itself unlimited in weight.

Benefit 3
🌿
Built on "Subhanallahi wa Bihamdihi" — Already the Most Beloved Foundation

The Prophet ﷺ called it "most beloved to the Most Merciful, light on the tongue, and heavy on the scales." The greatest dhikr takes this already-beloved foundation and expands its scope beyond all calculable weight.

Benefit 4
⚡
Maximum Weight from Minimum Time

Three recitations. Less than sixty seconds. Outweighing hours of other dhikr. Particularly valuable when time is limited — this dhikr provides the maximum possible weight of remembrance in the available moments.

Benefit 5
🌌
Trains Contemplation of Allah's Attributes and Scale

Each qualifier — creation, Pleasure, Throne, Words — is a contemplation point. Saying this dhikr with awareness expands understanding of who Allah is. The dhikr is simultaneously worship and ta'ammul (contemplation of divine reality).

Benefit 6
📚
Sahih Muslim — The Highest Level of Authenticity

Narrated by Juwayriyya (RA) in Sahih Muslim — one of the two most authoritative hadith collections in Islam. The greatest dhikr carries the weight of the most reliable authentication available.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q
What is the greatest dhikr in Islam?
"Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi, 'adada khalqihi, wa rida nafsihi, wa zinata 'arshihi, wa midada kalimatihi" — Glory is to Allah and praise is to Him, by the quantity of His creation, by His Pleasure, by the weight of His Throne, and by the extent of His Words. The Prophet ﷺ said three recitations of this outweighed what Juwayriyya (RA) had been saying since Fajr until forenoon. Narrated in Sahih Muslim (2726).
Q
What do the four qualifiers mean?
'Adada khalqihi — by the quantity of all creation (known only to Allah, beyond any count). Rida nafsihi — by Allah's own Pleasure (the highest standard, no measure). Zinata 'arshihi — by the weight of the Throne (the greatest created thing). Midada kalimatihi — by the extent of His Words (explicitly described in the Quran as inexhaustible — not even all the seas as ink could write them out). Each qualifier has no ceiling.
Q
How many times should I say this dhikr?
Three times — as the Prophet ﷺ specified when telling Juwayriyya (RA): "I recited four phrases three times." Say the complete dhikr three times consecutively. This is the prophetically specified repetition for the greatest dhikr.
Q
Why did three recitations outweigh hours of Juwayriyya's dhikr?
Because the weight of dhikr is not only about quantity but about scope. The four qualifiers — all of creation, Allah's Pleasure, the Throne, His inexhaustible Words — have no calculable ceiling. The dhikr multiplied by the unlimited is itself unlimited in weight. This is why it outweighs ordinary dhikr counted by quantity of time alone — the scale is simply different.
Q
Is this related to "Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi" in other hadith?
Yes. "Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi" is the foundation of the greatest dhikr. The Prophet ﷺ separately called it "most beloved to the Most Merciful, light on the tongue, and heavy on the scales" (Sahih Bukhari). The greatest dhikr takes this already-beloved foundation and expands its scope with four qualifiers that extend its weight to the scale of creation, the Throne, and the inexhaustible Words of Allah.
Q
When is the best time to say this dhikr?
After Fajr prayer (the context of the original narration), after every obligatory prayer three times, in morning adhkar as a permanent feature, before sleeping, and whenever you encounter the scale of creation in something that moves you to awe. It is also particularly valuable when time is limited — maximum weight from minimum time.

Three Times. Less Than Sixty Seconds. The Heaviest Dhikr in the Prophetic Tradition.

Juwayriyya (RA) sat from Fajr until the sun was high. Hours of dhikr. The kind of sustained worship most people aspire to. And the Prophet ﷺ came back, said four phrases three times — and those twelve recitations outweighed everything she had said.

Not to diminish her worship. To give her something more. To give us something more.

Say it after Fajr. Say it after every prayer. Say it when you see creation and are moved by its scale. Say it when you only have a moment and want maximum weight. Say it when you want the scales of your deeds to carry something that has no ceiling.

سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ عَدَدَ خَلْقِهِ وَرِضَا نَفْسِهِ وَزِنَةَ عَرْشِهِ وَمِدَادَ كَلِمَاتِهِ
✦ Say it 3 times ✦

May Allah accept from us this dhikr — by the quantity of His creation, to the satisfaction of His Pleasure, by the weight of His Throne, and to the extent of His Words.

آمِين يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِين

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