It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both), he says: We were sitting with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), when a man mentioned this: "Allah is the Greatest, Most Great, and all praise is for Allah in abundance, and Glory be to Allah morning and evening." The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Who said these words?" The man said: "I did." The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "By Him in Whose hand is my soul! I was watching these words, they were ascending, until the gates of heaven were opened for them." Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: "By Him in Whose hand is my soul! Since I heard this hadith from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), I have never abandoned these words." The narrator Awn said: "Since I heard this hadith from Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both), I too have not abandoned reciting these words."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abi Awfa (may Allah be pleased with him) that a man came to the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah! I do not have the ability to learn the Noble Qur’an, so teach me some words that will suffice me in its place. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Recite these words: Subhan Allah, walhamdu lillah, wa la ilaha illallah, wallahu akbar, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah. He said: O Messenger of Allah! All these words are for Allah Almighty, what is there for me? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Make this supplication: Allahumma ighfir li, warhamni, wa ‘afini, wahdini, warzuqni (O Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, grant me well-being, guide me, and provide for me). Then he went away, and he had closed both his palms. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: He has filled both his hands with goodness and virtue.

Narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Remember the enduring good deeds (Baqiyat Salihat) abundantly. Someone asked: O Messenger of Allah! What are they? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Religion. Someone asked: O Messenger of Allah! What is that? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Religion. Someone asked: O Messenger of Allah! What is that? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Religion. Someone asked: O Messenger of Allah! What is that? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Saying Takbir (Allahu Akbar), Tahlil (La ilaha illallah), Tasbih (Subhanallah), Tahmid (Alhamdulillah), and La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Nu’man bin Bashir, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Beware! Subhan Allah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar. These remembrances are the everlasting good deeds.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) and Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Indeed, Allah Almighty has preferred four words: Subhan Allah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar. Whoever says Subhan Allah, twenty good deeds will be written for him and twenty sins will be forgiven; whoever says Allahu Akbar, he will receive the same reward; whoever says La ilaha illallah, he will also receive the same reward; and whoever says Alhamdulillahi Rabbil 'Alamin from his heart, thirty good deeds will be written for him and thirty sins will be forgiven.

It is narrated from Abu Salih that a companion reports that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: The best words are these: Subhan Allah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) took hold of a branch and shook it, but no leaves fell from it. Then he shook it again, but still no leaves fell. Then he shook it, and its leaves fell. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: Indeed, "Subhan Allah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar"—these words remove sins just as a tree sheds its leaves.

Narrated by Sayyida Yasirah (may Allah be pleased with her), who was among the emigrant women, she says: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to us women: O believing women! Make it a habit to recite Tahleel, Tasbeeh, and Taqdees, and do not be neglectful of them, otherwise you will forget mercy. And count these words with the help of your fingers, for your fingers will be questioned, for they will be asked and made to speak.

It is narrated from a man of Sana'a, Ayub bin Salman, who says: We were sitting by the wall of the mosque with Ata Khurasani in Makkah Mukarramah; neither did we ask him anything nor did he say anything to us. Then we sat with Sayyiduna Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, in the same way as you are sitting with us; neither did we ask him anything nor did he say anything to us. Eventually, he said: What is the matter with you people, you neither speak nor remember Allah Almighty? Do this dhikr: ALLAHU AKBAR, ALHAMDULILLAH, SUBHANALLAH WA BIHAMDIHI. Allah Almighty will write ten (good deeds) for one word, and for ten, He will write a hundred. Whoever remembers (Allah) more, Allah Almighty will give him more reward, and whoever remains silent, Allah Almighty will forgive him, ... .

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: After the Noble Qur’an, four words are the most excellent speech, and these too are from the Noble Qur’an itself. So whichever word you wish to begin with, it will make no difference. These four words are: Subhan Allah (Glory be to Allah), Alhamdulillah (All praise is due to Allah), La ilaha illallah (There is no god but Allah), and Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest).