115 / Among the Remembrances for Morning and Evening
Among the great remembrances and blessed devotions that the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—urged his Companions to learn and observe every morning and evening is that related in the hadith of Abū Hurayrah—may Allah be pleased with him—recorded in Sunan al-Tirmidhī, Sunan Abī Dāwūd, and other works. The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—would teach his Companions, saying: “When one of you reaches the morning, let him say: ‘O Allah, by You we have reached the morning, by You we reach the evening, by You we live, by You we die, and to You is the resurrection.’ When he reaches the evening, let him say: ‘O Allah, by You we have reached the evening, by You we reach the morning, by You we live, by You we die, and to You is the final return.’”1.
This is a magnificent prophetic supplication and a blessed remembrance that every Muslim should observe each morning and evening, reflecting on its sublime meanings and profound implications. It reminds the Muslim of Allah’s immense favor, boundless generosity, and graciousness toward him. A person’s sleep and wakefulness, movement and stillness, standing and sitting are all by Allah—Mighty and Majestic. Whatever Allah wills comes to pass, and whatever He does not will cannot come to pass. There is no power or strength except through Allah the Almighty.
The words in the hadith, “By You we have reached the morning,” mean: By Your blessing, assistance, and sustaining aid, we have entered the morning. The same meaning applies to the words, “By You we have reached the evening.”
The words, “By You we live, and by You we die,” mean that this remains our condition at all times and in every circumstance, throughout all our movements and affairs. We are entirely dependent upon You; You alone grant aid, all affairs are in Your hand, and we cannot do without You for even the blink of an eye. The reliance upon Allah, recourse to Him, and acknowledgment of His generosity and favor expressed in these words perfect a person’s faith, strengthen his certainty, and deepen his bond with his Lord—glory be to Him.