Al-Mundhiri recorded the following chapter in his book Al-Targhib wal-Tarhib:

باب في الترغيب في ذكر الله تعالى

On encouragement to remember Allah Almighty.

Source: al-Targhīb wal-Tarhīb 2/162

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace be and blessings on him, said:

يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى أَنَا عِنْدَ ظَنِّ عَبْدِي بِي وَأَنَا مَعَهُ إِذَا ذَكَرَنِي فَإِنْ ذَكَرَنِي فِي نَفْسِهِ ذَكَرْتُهُ فِي نَفْسِي وَإِنْ ذَكَرَنِي فِي مَلَإٍ ذَكَرْتُهُ فِي مَلَإٍ خَيْرٍ مِنْهُمْ وَإِنْ تَقَرَّبَ إِلَيَّ بِشِبْرٍ تَقَرَّبْتُ إِلَيْهِ ذِرَاعًا وَإِنْ تَقَرَّبَ إِلَيَّ ذِرَاعًا تَقَرَّبْتُ إِلَيْهِ بَاعًا وَإِنْ أَتَانِي يَمْشِي أَتَيْتُهُ هَرْوَلَةً

Allah Almighty says: I am as My servant expects Me and I am with him as he remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I will remember him in Myself. If he mentions Me in a gathering, I will mention him in a greater gathering. When he draws near Me by the span of his hand, I draw near him by the length of a cubit. When he draws near Me by the length of a cubit, I draw near him by the length of a fathom. When he comes to Me walking, I come to him running.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6970, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi

Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَقُولُ أَنَا مَعَ عَبْدِي إِذَا هُوَ ذَكَرَنِي وَتَحَرَّكَتْ بِي شَفَتَاهُ

Verily, Allah Almighty says: I am with My servant while he remembers Me and for Me his two lips are moving.

Source: Sunan Ibn Mājah 3792, Grade: Sahih

Abdullah ibn Busr reported: A man said, “O Messenger of Allah, the laws of Islam are too many for me, so tell me something I can hold onto.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

لَا يَزَالُ لِسَانُكَ رَطْبًا مِنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ

Keep your tongue moist with the remembrance of Allah.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3375, Grade: Sahih

Mu’adh ibn Jabal reported: I asked the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Among which deeds are most beloved to Allah?” The Prophet said:

أَنْ تَمُوتَ وَلِسَانُكَ رَطْبٌ مِنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ

That you die while your tongue is moist with the remembrance of Allah.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān 818, Grade: Hasan

Abu Darda reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

أَلَا أُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِخَيْرِ أَعْمَالِكُمْ وَأَزْكَاهَا عِنْدَ مَلِيكِكُمْ وَأَرْفَعِهَا فِي دَرَجَاتِكُمْ وَخَيْرٌ لَكُمْ مِنْ إِنْفَاقِ الذَّهَبِ وَالْوَرِقِ وَخَيْرٌ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَنْ تَلْقَوْا عَدُوَّكُمْ فَتَضْرِبُوا أَعْنَاقَهُمْ وَيَضْرِبُوا أَعْنَاقَكُمْ

Shall I not tell you of the best of your deeds, which is the purest to your King, which raises you among your ranks, which is better for you than spending gold and money in charity, and which is better for you than meeting your enemy and striking the necks of each other?

They said, “Of course!” The Prophet said:

ذِكْرُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى

It is the remembrance of Allah Almighty.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3377, Grade: Sahih

Mu’adh ibn Jabal reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

مَا عَمِلَ آدَمِيٌّ عَمَلًا قَطُّ أَنْجَى لَهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ اللَّهِ مِنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ

The son of Adam never acts with a deed better to save him from the punishment of Allah than with the remembrance of Allah.

Source: Musnad Aḥmad 21574, Grade: Sahih

Ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

مَنْ عَجَزَ مِنْكُمْ عَنِ اللَّيْلِ أَنْ يُكَابِدَهُ وَبَخِلَ بِالْمَالِ أَنْ يُنْفِقَهُ وَجَبُنَ عَنِ الْعَدُوِّ أَنْ يُجَاهِدَهُ فَلْيُكْثِرْ ذِكْرَ اللَّهِ

Whoever is too weak to pray at night that he might fall down, too miserly with his wealth that he might spend it, or too fearful of the enemy that he might fight them, then let him remember Allah often.

Source: Musnad al-Bazzār 4904, Grade: Sahih li ghayrihi

Jabir ibn Abdullah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

مَا عَمِلَ آدَمِيٌّ عَمَلا أَنْجَى لَهُ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ مِنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ

The son of Adam never acts with a deed better to save him from the punishment of Allah than with the remembrance of Allah.

It was said, “Not even jihad in the way of Allah?” The Prophet said:

وَلا الْجِهَادُ إِلا أَنْ تَضْرِبَ بِسَيْفِكَ حَتَّى يَنْقَطِعَ

Not even jihad, except if one of you continues to strike with his sword until it breaks.

Source: al-Mu’jam al-Awsaṭ 2354, Grade: Hasan li ghayrihi

Al-Harith ibn al-Ash’ari reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَمَرَ يَحْيَى بْنَ زَكَرِيَّا بِخَمْسِ كَلِمَاتٍ أَنْ يَعْمَلَ بِهَا وَيَأْمُرَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَنْ يَعْمَلُوا بِهَا وَإِنَّهُ كَادَ أَنْ يُبْطِئَ بِهَا فَقَالَ عِيسَى إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَمَرَكَ بِخَمْسِ كَلِمَاتٍ لِتَعْمَلَ بِهَا وَتَأْمُرَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَنْ يَعْمَلُوا بِهَا فَإِمَّا أَنْ تَأْمُرَهُمْ وَإِمَّا أَنْ آمُرَهُمْ فَقَالَ يَحْيَى أَخْشَى إِنْ سَبَقْتَنِي بِهَا أَنْ يُخْسَفَ بِي أَوْ أُعَذَّبَ فَجَمَعَ النَّاسَ فِي بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ فَامْتَلَأَ الْمَسْجِدُ وَتَعَدَّوْا عَلَى الشُّرَفِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَمَرَنِي بِخَمْسِ كَلِمَاتٍ أَنْ أَعْمَلَ بِهِنَّ وَآمُرَكُمْ أَنْ تَعْمَلُوا بِهِنَّ أَوَّلُهُنَّ أَنْ تَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا وَإِنَّ مَثَلَ مَنْ أَشْرَكَ بِاللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ اشْتَرَى عَبْدًا مِنْ خَالِصِ مَالِهِ بِذَهَبٍ أَوْ وَرِقٍ فَقَالَ هَذِهِ دَارِي وَهَذَا عَمَلِي فَاعْمَلْ وَأَدِّ إِلَيَّ فَكَانَ يَعْمَلُ وَيُؤَدِّي إِلَى غَيْرِ سَيِّدِهِ فَأَيُّكُمْ يَرْضَى أَنْ يَكُونَ عَبْدُهُ كَذَلِكَ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ أَمَرَكُمْ بِالصَّلَاةِ فَإِذَا صَلَّيْتُمْ فَلَا تَلْتَفِتُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يَنْصِبُ وَجْهَهُ لِوَجْهِ عَبْدِهِ فِي صَلَاتِهِ مَا لَمْ يَلْتَفِتْ وَآمُرُكُمْ بِالصِّيَامِ فَإِنَّ مَثَلَ ذَلِكَ كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ فِي عِصَابَةٍ مَعَهُ صُرَّةٌ فِيهَا مِسْكٌ فَكُلُّهُمْ يَعْجَبُ أَوْ يُعْجِبُهُ رِيحُهَا وَإِنَّ رِيحَ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ وَآمُرُكُمْ بِالصَّدَقَةِ فَإِنَّ مَثَلَ ذَلِكَ كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ أَسَرَهُ الْعَدُوُّ فَأَوْثَقُوا يَدَهُ إِلَى عُنُقِهِ وَقَدَّمُوهُ لِيَضْرِبُوا عُنُقَهُ فَقَالَ أَنَا أَفْدِيهِ مِنْكُمْ بِالْقَلِيلِ وَالْكَثِيرِ فَفَدَى نَفْسَهُ مِنْهُمْ وَآمُرُكُمْ أَنْ تَذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ فَإِنَّ مَثَلَ ذَلِكَ كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ خَرَجَ الْعَدُوُّ فِي أَثَرِهِ سِرَاعًا حَتَّى إِذَا أَتَى عَلَى حِصْنٍ حَصِينٍ فَأَحْرَزَ نَفْسَهُ مِنْهُمْ كَذَلِكَ الْعَبْدُ لَا يُحْرِزُ نَفْسَهُ مِنْ الشَّيْطَانِ إِلَّا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ

Verily, Allah commanded John, the son of Zechariah, with five words to practice and to command the Children of Israel to practice. He was nearly slow to act, so Jesus said: Verily, Allah has commanded you with five words to practice and to command the Children of Israel to practice, either command them or I will. John said: I am afraid if you precede me with them, I will be swallowed by the earth or punished! So he gathered the people in the sacred house and the mosque filled as they sat upon the balcony. John said: Verily, Allah has commanded me with five words for me to practice and I command you to practice them. First, that you worship Allah without associating any partners with Him, for the parable of one who associates with Allah is that of a man who purchases a servant with his own gold or currency and he says, ‘This is my house and this is my business, so get to work and send me the profits.’ The servant gets to work, but he gives the profits to another master. Which of you would be pleased to have a servant like that? Second, Allah commands you to pray. If you pray, then do not fidget, for Allah set His face towards His servant in his prayer as long as he does not fidget. Third, I command you to fast, for the parable of that is a man amongst others with a satchel of musk. All of them are pleased and enjoy its scent, for the scent of a fasting person is more pleasant to Allah than musk. Fourth, I command you to give charity, for the parable of that is a man whose enemy has captured him and tied his hands to his neck. As they approach to strike his neck, he says, ‘I will ransom myself for a little or a lot!’ So he ransoms himself from them. Fifth, I command you to remember Allah, for the parable of that is a man who goes out with his enemy quickly following his steps, until he comes to a protected fortress and barricades himself from them. Such a servant cannot barricade himself from Satan but by remembering Allah.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2863, Grade: Sahih

Thawban reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

أَفْضَلُهُ يعني المال لِسَانٌ ذَاكِرٌ وَقَلْبٌ شَاكِرٌ وَزَوْجَةٌ مُؤْمِنَةٌ تُعِينُهُ عَلَى إِيمَانِهِ

The best wealth is a tongue that remembers Allah, a grateful heart, and a believing wife to help one in his faith.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3094, Grade: Sahih

Abu Musa reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

مَثَلُ الْبَيْتِ الَّذِي يُذْكَرُ اللَّهُ فِيهِ وَالْبَيْتِ الَّذِي لَا يُذْكَرُ اللَّهُ فِيهِ مَثَلُ الْحَيِّ وَالْمَيِّتِ

The parable of the house in which Allah is remembered, and the house in which Allah is not remembered, is that of the living and the dead.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6044, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

سَبَقَ الْمُفَرِّدُونَ

Those in solitude have raced ahead.

They said, “O Messenger of Allah, who are those in solitude?” The Prophet said:

الذَّاكِرُونَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا وَالذَّاكِرَاتُ

They are men and women who remember Allah often.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2676, Grade: Sahih

Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِنَّ لِلَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى مَلَائِكَةً سَيَّارَةً فُضُلًا يَتَتَبَّعُونَ مَجَالِسَ الذِّكْرِ فَإِذَا وَجَدُوا مَجْلِسًا فِيهِ ذِكْرٌ قَعَدُوا مَعَهُمْ وَحَفَّ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضًا بِأَجْنِحَتِهِمْ حَتَّى يَمْلَئُوا مَا بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا فَإِذَا تَفَرَّقُوا عَرَجُوا وَصَعِدُوا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ قَالَ فَيَسْأَلُهُمْ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِهِمْ مِنْ أَيْنَ جِئْتُمْ فَيَقُولُونَ جِئْنَا مِنْ عِنْدِ عِبَادٍ لَكَ فِي الْأَرْضِ يُسَبِّحُونَكَ وَيُكَبِّرُونَكَ وَيُهَلِّلُونَكَ وَيَحْمَدُونَكَ وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ قَالَ وَمَاذَا يَسْأَلُونِي قَالُوا يَسْأَلُونَكَ جَنَّتَكَ قَالَ وَهَلْ رَأَوْا جَنَّتِي قَالُوا لَا أَيْ رَبِّ قَالَ فَكَيْفَ لَوْ رَأَوْا جَنَّتِي قَالُوا وَيَسْتَجِيرُونَكَ قَالَ وَمِمَّ يَسْتَجِيرُونَنِي قَالُوا مِنْ نَارِكَ يَا رَبِّ قَالَ وَهَلْ رَأَوْا نَارِي قَالُوا لَا قَالَ فَكَيْفَ لَوْ رَأَوْا نَارِي قَالُوا وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَكَ قَالَ فَيَقُولُ قَدْ غَفَرْتُ لَهُمْ فَأَعْطَيْتُهُمْ مَا سَأَلُوا وَأَجَرْتُهُمْ مِمَّا اسْتَجَارُوا قَالَ فَيَقُولُونَ رَبِّ فِيهِمْ فُلَانٌ عَبْدٌ خَطَّاءٌ إِنَّمَا مَرَّ فَجَلَسَ مَعَهُمْ قَالَ فَيَقُولُ وَلَهُ غَفَرْتُ هُمْ الْقَوْمُ لَا يَشْقَى بِهِمْ جَلِيسُهُمْ

Verily, Allah Almighty has caravans of angels who have no other work but to follow gatherings of remembrance. When they find such gatherings in which there is remembrance, they sit with them and some of them surround the others with their wings until the space between them and the heavens is covered. When they disperse, they ascend to the heavens and Allah Almighty asks them, although He is best informed about them: From where have you come? They say: We came from Your servants on earth who were glorifying You, declaring Your greatness and oneness, praising You and asking from You. Allah says: What do they ask from Me? They say: They ask for Your Paradise. Allah says: Have they seen My Paradise? They say no. Allah says: What if they were to see My Paradise? They say: They seek Your protection. Allah says: From what do they seek My protection? They say: From Your Hellfire, our Lord. Allah says: Have they seen My Hellfire? They say no. Allah says: What if they were to see My Hellfire? They say: They ask for Your forgiveness. Allah says: I will pardon them, give them what they request, and grant them protection. They say: Our Lord, there is one among them, a simple servant who happened to pass by and sit there alongside them. Allah says: I will also grant him pardon, for whoever sits with these fellows will not suffer misery.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6045, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi

Mu’awiyah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came out to a gathering of his companions and he said:

مَا أَجْلَسَكُمْ

Why are you sitting?

They said, “We are sitting to remember Allah and to praise him for guiding us to Islam and blessing us with it.” The Prophet said, “

آللَّهِ مَا أَجْلَسَكُمْ إِلَّا ذَاكَ

Only for Allah are you sitting for this?

They said, “By Allah, we are only sitting for this.” The Prophet said:

أَمَا إِنِّي لَمْ أَسْتَحْلِفْكُمْ تُهْمَةً لَكُمْ وَلَكِنَّهُ أَتَانِي جِبْرِيلُ فَأَخْبَرَنِي أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يُبَاهِي بِكُمْ الْمَلَائِكَةَ

Verily, I did not ask you for an oath because I doubted you. Rather, Gabriel has told me that Allah Almighty is proud of you in front of the angels.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2701, Grade: Sahih

Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

مَا مِنْ قَوْمٍ اجْتَمَعُوا يَذْكُرُونَ اللهَ لَا يُرِيدُونَ بِذَلِكَ إِلَّا وَجْهَهُ إِلَّا نَادَاهُمْ مُنَادٍ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ أَنْ قُومُوا مَغْفُورًا لَكُمْ قَدْ بُدِّلَتْ سَيِّئَاتُكُمْ حَسَنَاتٍ

No people gather to remember Allah, only desiring by that His countenance, except that it will be announced for them in the heavens: Stand forgiven! Your bad deeds have been replaced with good deeds!

Source: Musnad Aḥmad 12453, Grade: Sahih li ghayrihi

Sahl ibn Hanzalah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

مَا جَلَسَ قَوْمٌ مَجْلِسًا يَذْكُرُونَ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِيهِ فَيَقُومُونَ حَتَّى يُقَالَ لَهُمْ قُومُوا قَدْ غَفَرَ اللهُ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وبُدِّلَتْ سَيِّئَاتُكُمْ حَسَنَاتٍ

No people sit together to remember Allah Almighty and stand to leave until a heavenly caller says to them: Stand and your sins are forgiven by Allah! Your bad deeds have been replaced with good deeds!

Source: al-Mu’jam al-Kabīr 6039, Grade: Sahih li ghayrihi

Abdullah ibn Amr reported: I said, “O Messenger of Allah, what are the spoils of gathering to remember Allah?” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

غَنِيمَةُ مَجَالِسِ الذِّكْرِ الْجَنَّةُ

The spoils of the gatherings of remembrance is Paradise.

Source: Musnad Aḥmad 6651, Grade: Hasan

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

لَا يَقْعُدُ قَوْمٌ يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلَّا حَفَّتْهُمْ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَغَشِيَتْهُمْ الرَّحْمَةُ وَنَزَلَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ السَّكِينَةُ وَذَكَرَهُمْ اللَّهُ فِيمَنْ عِنْدَهُ

No people gather to remember Allah Almighty but that the angels surround them, cover them with mercy, send tranquility upon them, and mention them to Allah among those near to Him.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2700, Grade: Sahih

Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِذَا مَرَرْتُمْ بِرِيَاضِ الْجَنَّةِ فَارْتَعُوا

When you pass by the meadows of Paradise, graze as you like.

They said, “What are the meadows of Paradise?” The Prophet said:

حِلَقُ الذِّكْرِ

Circles of remembrance.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3510, Grade: Hasan