The words in the hadith, “And to You is the resurrection,” mean the return on the Day of Resurrection, when people are raised from their graves and brought back to life after death.

The words, “And to You is the final return,” mean the return and homecoming, as Allah Most High says: “Indeed, to your Lord is the return.” 1.

The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—placed the words, “And to You is the resurrection,” in the morning remembrance and the words, “And to You is the final return,” in the evening remembrance to maintain correspondence and parallelism. This is because entering the morning resembles resurrection after death: sleep is a lesser death, and awakening from it resembles being raised after death. Allah Most High says: “Allah takes the souls at the time of their death, and those that do not die during their sleep. He then retains those for whom He has decreed death and releases the others until an appointed term. Indeed, in that are signs for people who reflect.” 2.

Entering the evening resembles death after life, for at that time a person proceeds to sleep, which resembles death and the taking of the soul. The conclusion of each remembrance is therefore perfectly suited to the meaning and occasion in which it is recited.

This is further clarified by the authentic report that, upon awakening from sleep, the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—would say: “Praise be to Allah, who gave us life after causing us to die, and to Him is the resurrection.” Sleep was thus termed death, and awakening from it life after death. This hadith and its meaning will be discussed, Allah willing, when addressing the remembrances for sleep and awakening.

Among the remembrances for morning and evening is that great remembrance and beneficial supplication which the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—taught Abū Bakr al-Siddīq—may Allah be pleased with him—when he asked him to direct him to certain words