FIVE AUTHENTIC MODES OF DHIKR AFTER THE SALAH
Allah’s Messenger ﷺ would make tasbeeh (glorify Allaah),tahmeed (praise Him) and takbeer (extol His greatness) after the obligatory prayers. The following is what is authentically reported from him:
Subhaanallaah: 33 times, al-hamdulillaah: 33 times, Allaahu-akbar: 33 times and finishing with a single Laa ilaaha illallaah wahdahu laa shareekalahu, lahul mulk walahul hamd wa huwa ‘alaa kulli shayin qadeer. (Muslim, 597).
Subhaanallaah: 33 times, al-hamdulillaah: 33 times, Allaahu-akbar: 34 (Muslim, 596).
Subhaanallaah: 33 times, al-hamdulillaah: 33 times, and Allaahu-akbar: 33 (Bukhaaree, 843, Muslim, 595).
Subhaanallaah: 10 times, al-hamdulillaah: 10 times, and Allaahu-akbar: 10 (Bukhaaree, 6329).
Subhaanallaah: 25 times, al-hamdulillaah: 25 times, Allaahu-akbar: 25 times, and Laa ilaaha illallaah: 25 (An-Nasaa’ee 1351 authenticated by al-Albaanee)
Abdullaah bin ‘Amr said: I saw Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ counting them on [the fingers of] his right hand. (Abu Dawood, 5065, at-Tirmidhee, 3410).
One should alternate between the various modes. It is not allowed to use threaded beads, counters or stones to count dhikr as they all are innovations – and the best guidance is that of the Prophet ﷺ.
