❔ The Proper Way to Count the Tasbīḥ after Prayers with Fingers

Question: ʿAfallah ʿAnkum, O Shaykh. What is the proper way to count the tasbīḥ with fingers after prayer?

Answer: The ḥadīth of ʿAbdullah ibn ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ states,

«رأيت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يعقد التسبيح بيده»
"I saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) counting the tasbīḥ with his hand."

It is also narrated [with additional wording],

«بيمينه»
"with his right hand,"

but the wording “with his right hand” is shādhah (anomalous). The preserved version is, "I saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) counting the tasbīḥ with his hand."

In Abū Dāwūd another narration stated,

«سبحن بالأنامل»
"Recite the tasbih with your fingers,"

but this is weak.

The ḥadīth of ʿAbdullah ibn ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ could have one of two meanings:

(i) It could be "counting the tasbīḥ with his hand," meaning that tasbīḥ is prescribed with the hand. It's as if he's saying that tasbīḥ is not prescribed with anything other than the hand. This is meant to clarify the type, as if he's saying that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) never counted tasbīḥ with pebbles, date pits, or anything else. He counted tasbīḥ with his hand.

(ii) It could also be that he meant the right hand, based on the generality of the ḥadīth of ʿĀʾishah:

«كان يعجبه التيمن في تنعله وترجله وطهوره وفي شأنه كله»
(he preferred to start with his right hand when putting on his shoes, combing his hair, purifying himself, and in all his other affairs).

Most scholars hold this ⌜latter⌝ view, and that tasbīḥ is recommended with the right hand.

No particular ṣīghah (style) has been reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding this matter. Did he recite the tasbīḥ with his fingertips or interlock his fingers? Since there is no evidence to support this from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), the matter is broad. What is intended is to count the number, whether with the right hand or both hands, and whether done with the fingertips or the fingers. The Sunnah is to count the tasbīḥ with the hand, as ʿAbdullah ibn ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ only mentioned this to convey a meaning, namely that tasbīḥ should be done with the hand and not with anything else.

— Al-Shaykh Al-Muḥaddith Sulaymān Al-ʿAlwān (audio)
~ Galandān 🖋


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📝Additional Notes: In another place Shaykh Al-ʿAlwān said: “Something that has two sides, the right one is better than the left one. Nevertheless if a person counts tasbīḥ with both hands, there is no harm in that. As for the addition, mentioning "right hand" this is shādhah (weak), the objective of that narrtion is to limit it. Also avoid Rosary, as it has no basis.” (See, Audio). In another place he was asked about the device that is placed on the hand for counting and tasbīḥ, and he said: I do not forbid it, and fingers are more appropriate (awlā). (Ref, Book: One Hundred Questions and Benefits from Shaykh Al-ʿAlwān's Gatherings, No. 92)

⚙️The Authentic Modes of Reciting the Tasbīḥ after Obligatory Prayers.

Question: Are the ḥadīths that mention reciting Al-Tashahhud ten times (i.e. reciting the testimony of faith, ten times) after the Salām (i.e. ending) of prayer, authentic?

Answer: The ḥadīths that mention reciting the Tashahhud ten times is to recite: "Subḥān-Allah" thirty-three times, "Al-Ḥamdulillah" thirty-three times, "Wa-Allahu-Akbar" thirty-three times, and to complete a hundred, by reciting: "Lā ʾilāha ʾillallāh waḥdahu lā sharīka lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-ḥamd wa huwa ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīr." and then say: "Lā ilāha illā-Allah" ten times. This narration is ḍaʿīf (weak). The authentic aḥadīth from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding the supplications recited after each prayer are as follows:

1⃣The first method: Say "Subḥān-Allah" thirty-three times, "Wal-Ḥamdulillah" thirty-three times, and "Wal-Allahu-Akbar" thirty-four times.

2⃣The second method: Say "Subḥān-Allah" thirty-three times, "Wal-Ḥamdulillah" thirty-three times, and "Wal-Allahu-Akbar" thirty-three times. And Instead of saying "Allahu Akbar" for the thirty-fourth time you say "La ilaha illa Allah waḥdahu..." once, so each one is thirty-three, and to complete the hundred, you recite "Lā ʾilāha ʾillallāh waḥdahu lā sharīka lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-ḥamd wa huwa ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīr." This is the method that is popular today.

3⃣The third method: Say each one thirty-three times, without completing the hundred.

4⃣The fourth method: To say ten of each.

5⃣The fifth method: To say: "Subḥān-Allah" twenty-five times, "Wal-Ḥamdulillah" twenty-five times, "Wal-Allahu-Akbar" twenty-five times, and "La ilaha illa Allah" twenty-five times.

6⃣The sixth method: It is what was previously mentioned (in the beginning) as ḍaʿīf (weak.)

7⃣The seventh method: This is disputed in defining, as this method refers to the method we mentioned earlier (No. 2 and 3). We have preferred one of its definitions over the other. What we concluded (as more correct) is, reciting: "Subḥān-Allah," "Al-Ḥamdulillah," and "Wal-Allahu-Akbar," each one thirty-three times.

Whereas thare are some who say: "You recite a total sum of thirty-three from of all" which would mean reading each of the three, eleven times only. However, this narration is incorrect. The correct version is what I mentioned, which is thirty-three times from each one, making a total of ninety-nine.

These method (other than what was mentioned as weak) are authentically attributed to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

— Al-Shaykh Al-Muḥaddith Sulaymān Al-ʿAlwān (audio)
~ Galandān 🖋


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⬆️ Note: We had previously presented the aforementioned authentic modes in the firm of a chart. (see: Tasbīḥāt after Prayers , also see: Adhkār After Prayers )