Bis-millahir-rahmanir-raheem.
As’salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullah wa barakatu,
My question is concerning dhikhr after every fard salat. I have read
hadith that state recite
“Allahu Akbar”, “Al-hamdulillah” and
“SubhanAllah” 33 times each. I was informed that it only a total of 30 times
after each compulsory(Allahu Akbar, Al-Hamdulillah and SubhanAllah 10 times each). Which,
if either, is the correct method for this particuliar dhikr? Also, it has been related to
me that you perform the same before you go to sleep except you recite “Allahu
Akbar” 34 times which will total one hundred.
What is the reward recorded on your behalf for this action? Finally, what
is the proper method for performing dhikr on the right hand ? Do you start with the thumb
going down and left to right?
Which joints to you count on? Your reply would be greatly appreciated,
insha’Allah.
Jazakullahkhair

Praise be to Allaah

The dhikr after salaah referred to in the question has been reported in a
hadeeth reported by Abu Hurayrah from the Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him): “Whoever glorifies Allaah (says Subhaan Allaah)
thirty-three times immediately after each prayer, and praises Allaah (says Al-hamdu
Lillaah) thirty-three times, and magnifies Allaah (says Allaahu akbar)
thirty-three times, this makes ninety-nine, then to complete one hundred says Laa
ilaaha ill-Allaah wahdahu laa shareeka lahu, lahu’l-mulk wa lahu’l-hamd wa huwa
‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer (There is no god except Allaah Alone, with no
partner, His is the power and His is the praise, and He is Able to do all things) –
his sins will be forgiven even if they are like the foam of the sea.” (Reported
by Muslim, 939).

A number of different descriptions of the dhikr after
salaah have been narrated, an example of which has been referred to in the question. The
evidence for this is the hadeeth of ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr (may Allaah be pleased
with him) who said: “The Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) said: ‘There are two qualities, no Muslim man acquires them but he will
enter Paradise, and they are simple and easy. He should glorify Allaah (say Subhaan
Allaah) ten times immediately after each prayer, and praise Him (say Al-hamdu
Lillaah) ten times and magnify Him (say Allaahu akbar) ten times.’ I saw
the Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) counting this on
his fingers. He said: ‘That makes one hundred and fifty on the tongue, and one
thousand five hundred (hasanaat) in the scales. [Translator’s note:
each of three phrases repeated ten times makes thirty; multiplied by the number of daily
prayers, which is five, makes one hundred and fifty. Each of these good deeds of the
tongue will be rewarded with ten hasanaat which will be added to the total of good
deeds to be weighed in the balance or scales on the Day of Judgement]. When
you go to bed, glorify Him and praise Him and magnify Him one hundred times: that will be
one hundred on the tongue and a thousand in the scales. Who among you does two thousand
and five hundred sayi’aat (bad deeds) in one day?’ They said: ‘How
could we not count (our sins)?’ He said: ‘The Shaytaan comes to any one of you
whilst he is praying and says, Remember this, remember that, until he finishes his prayer
and does not do (this dhikr), or he comes to him when he is lying down and makes
him sleepy, until he falls asleep (without doing this dhikr).’” (Abu
‘Eesaa said: This is a hasan saheeh hadeeth. Sunan al-Tirmidhi, 3332).

Among the adhkaar that may be recited before going to sleep, as referred
to in the question, is that reported in the hadeeth of ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib (may
Allaah be pleased with him), who said that Faatimah (upon whom be peace) came to the
Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and asked him for a servant. He
said, “Shall I not tell you of something that is better for you than that? When you
go to sleep, say ‘Subhaan Allaah’ thirty-three times, ‘Al-hamdu
Lillah’ thirty-three times, and ‘Allaahu akbar’ thirty four
times.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 4943).

As regards counting this tasbeeh, the Sunnah is to
use the fingers of the right hand, although it is permitted to use the left hand. The
evidence that the right hand is preferable was reported by Abu Dawood (may Allaah have
mercy on him), who said: “ ‘Ubayd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar ibn Maysarah and
Muhammad ibn Qudaamah, among others, told us: ‘Aththaam told us from al-A’mash
from ‘Ataa’ ibn al-Saa’ib from his father from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn
‘Amr who said: ‘I saw the Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) counting the tasbeeh.’ Ibn Qudaamah said: ‘With his right
hand.’” (Sunan Abi Dawood, Kitaab al-Salaat, Baab
al-Tasbeeh bi’l-hasaa).

It was said in Haashiyat al-Tahtaawi: “It is correct that he

(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to count the tasbeeh on his
right hand. It was reported that he said: ‘Count with your finger tips, for they will
be asked and they will be made to speak.’ Ibn Hijr said: Counting the tasbeeh
with the fingertips is better than using the subhah (prayer-beads or
“rosary”).

The sunnah is to count with the fingertips by
putting them on the palm of the hand. As to precisely which finger of the right hand one
should start with, I have no specific information on this.

And Allaah knows best.