If anyone extols Allah after every prayer thirty-three times, and praises Allah thirty-three times, and declares His Greatness thirty-three times, ninety-nine times in all, and says to complete a hundred:" There is no god but Allah, having no partner with Him, to Him belongs sovereignty and to Him is praise due, and He is Potent over everything," his sins will be forgiven even If these are as abundant as the foam of the sea.
Hadith Text
If anyone extols Allah after every prayer thirty-three times, and praises Allah thirty-three times, and declares His Greatness thirty-three times, ninety-nine times in all, and says to complete a hundred:" There is no god but Allah, having no partner with Him, to Him belongs sovereignty and to Him is praise due, and He is Potent over everything," his sins will be forgiven even If these are as abundant as the foam of the sea.
Scholarly Commentary
This noble hadith from Sahih Muslim establishes one of the most meritorious forms of dhikr following the prescribed prayers. The practice involves reciting "Subhanallah" (Glory be to Allah) thirty-three times, "Alhamdulillah" (All praise is for Allah) thirty-three times, and "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is Greatest) thirty-three times, culminating with the complete declaration of Tawhid.
The scholars explain that this specific combination engages the servant in all three fundamental aspects of worship: tasbih (declaring Allah's transcendence), tahmid (praising Allah for His blessings), and takbir (affirming Allah's supreme greatness). The hundredth statement serves as the seal that encompasses the essence of Islamic monotheism.
The magnitude of forgiveness promised - compared to the "foam of the sea" - demonstrates Allah's boundless mercy. Just as foam, despite its apparent volume, is weightless and transient, so too can mountains of sins be erased through this simple yet profound act of remembrance, provided the conditions of sincere repentance and avoidance of major sins are met.
Practical Implementation
This dhikr should be performed immediately after completing the obligatory prayer, before engaging in any worldly speech or activity. The recommended method is to use the fingers of the right hand for counting, as was the practice of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
The complete formula: 33x Subhanallah, 33x Alhamdulillah, 33x Allahu Akbar, followed by: "La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadir."