After an obligatory salah, the familiar 33/33/34 formula is not the only established wording. A report from Ka‘b ibn ‘Ujrah describes saying Subhanallah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times and Allahu Akbar 34 times; another authentic report gives 33 of each phrase, followed by tahlil (affirming Allah’s oneness). The 33/33/34 sequence is also reported for remembrance before sleep, so the setting matters. Here is how to recite each form and keep count without mixing them up.
What the hadith says about dhikr after salah
Tasbih (glorifying Allah by saying Subhanallah), tahmid (praising Allah with Alhamdulillah) and takbir (proclaiming Allah’s greatness with Allahu Akbar) are reported as remembrance after every prescribed prayer. Ka‘b ibn ‘Ujrah reported: “Ka‘b ibn ‘Ujrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “There are certain things, the sayer of which – or the performer of which – after every prescribed prayer will never be disappointed: Tasbīh (saying ‘Subhānallāh’) thirty-three times, Tahmīd (saying ‘Al-hamdulillāh’) thirty-three times, and Takbīr (saying ‘Allāhu Akbar’) thirty-four times.”” (Narrated by Muslim)
This wording gives a clear count: 33 Subhanallah, 33 Alhamdulillah and 34 Allahu Akbar. Its promised reward is expressed as never being disappointed; the wording does not make this the sole valid post-prayer formula. The hadith report itself is the basis for practising this sequence after salah.
The post-prayer wording: 33 each, then tahlil
Abu Hurayrah reported another post-prayer form: say Subhanallah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times and Allahu Akbar 33 times. That makes 99; complete the hundredth remembrance by saying the tahlil and its accompanying words: “La ilāha illallāh wahdahu la sharīka lah, lahu al-mulku wa lahu al-hamdu wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadīr” (There is no god except Allah. He is One and has no partner with Him. To Him belongs sovereignty and to Him belongs praise, and He is Omnipotent over everything). The report promises forgiveness even if a person’s sins are like the foam of the sea. (Narrated by Muslim)
The practical distinction is the final count and wording: the Ka‘b report has 34 takbirs, while the Abu Hurayrah report has 33 takbirs followed by the full tahlil. Both are reported after the obligatory prayer, so you can learn either wording accurately rather than combining their counts. For a broader overview of the remembrances after salah, see our complete guide to dhikr after prayer.
Why 33/33/34 is also reported
The same 33/33/34 count appears in a report about bedtime remembrance. ‘Ali reported that the Prophet ﷺ taught him and Fatimah to say Subhanallah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times and Allahu Akbar 34 times when going to bed. The context is explicit: “When you go to bed, say ‘Subhān Allah’ (glory be to Allah) thirty-three times, ‘Alhamdulillāh’ (praise be to Allah) thirty-three times, and ‘Allāhu Akbar’ (Allah is the Most Great) thirty-four times. This is better for you than a servant.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim)
That bedtime report helps explain why people may associate the formula with sleep, but Ka‘b’s report also explicitly places 33/33/34 after each prescribed prayer. The post-prayer reports therefore preserve more than one wording: 33/33/34, and 33/33/33 followed by tahlil. Neither should be presented as the only established form. For a detailed discussion of the wording and its variants, consult the explanation of the wording of tasbih, tahmid, takbir and tahlil after prayer.
How to count the repetitions on your fingers
Use a consistent method for each phrase. For example, count each repetition on a finger joint, moving through the joints in the same direction each time. Complete one phrase’s full count before starting the next: 33 Subhanallah, then 33 Alhamdulillah, then either 34 Allahu Akbar or 33 Allahu Akbar followed by the tahlil. Keeping each phrase separate makes it easier to avoid accidentally carrying a count over.
Keep the count simple and steady
You can divide each set into three groups of ten and a final group of three; for 34, add one more repetition. This gives you a small checkpoint without requiring you to stop the remembrance. If you prefer a digital aid, you can use the Tasbeeh Counter to keep track of your dhikr, while learning to follow the count on your fingers.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to say the phrases in a particular order?
Follow the order in the wording you are practising: tasbih, then tahmid, then takbir, and—when using the 33/33/33 form—the tahlil at the end. Do not move the final tahlil into the middle if you want to preserve that reported sequence. Learn one complete form at a time until its count feels familiar.
After salah, you may recite the reported 33/33/34 form or say each phrase 33 times and complete the hundred with tahlil. The 33/33/34 wording is also reported for bedtime, but it is not limited to bedtime. Choose a complete reported wording, keep its counts distinct, and use your fingers to track each phrase.
Sources quoted
Every quotation was checked word for word against the Quran and hadith texts in our database.
- Hadith narrated by Muslim — authentic
- Hadith narrated by Muslim — authentic
- Hadith narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim — authentic
The Al Muslim Plus editorial team · tested on October 20, 2026