"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'There are two qualities which no Muslim person attains but he will enter Paradise, and they are easy, but those who do them are few.' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'The five daily prayers: After each prayer one of you glorifies Allah (SWT) ten times and praises Him ten times and magnifies him ten times, which makes one hundred and fifty on the tongue and one thousand five hundred in the balance.' And I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) counting them on his hands. 'And when one of you retires to his bed he says the tasbih thirty-three times and the tahmid thirty-three times and the takbir thirty-four times, that is one hundred on the tongue and one thousand in the balance.' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "So which of you does two thousand five hundred bad deeds in a day and a night?" It was said: "O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), how can a person not persist in doing that?" He said: "The Shaitan comes to one of you when he is praying and says: 'Remember such and such, remember such and such," or he comes to him when he is in bed and makes him fall asleep."
The Book of Forgetfulness (In Prayer)
Sunan an-Nasa'i 1348
Hadith Commentary
This blessed hadith from the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) reveals two simple yet profoundly rewarding acts of worship that guarantee Paradise for the believer who consistently performs them. The first act concerns the post-prayer remembrances (adhkar) following each of the five obligatory prayers.
After completing the formal prayer (salah), one should recite "Subhanallah" (glorified is Allah) ten times, "Alhamdulillah" (praise be to Allah) ten times, and "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is greatest) ten times. While this totals thirty-three recitations physically, the divine reward multiplies it to 150 on the tongue and 1,500 in the celestial scales of deeds.
The second act involves bedtime remembrances: reciting "Subhanallah" thirty-three times, "Alhamdulillah" thirty-three times, and "Allahu Akbar" thirty-four times, totaling one hundred utterances that equal one thousand rewards in the balance.
The Prophet's rhetorical question emphasizes how these abundant rewards far outweigh potential minor sins. The obstacle, as he explained, is Satan's interference during prayer through distracting thoughts and inducing sleep during bedtime remembrances. The wise believer must recognize these tricks and strive to remain focused in worship.
Scholarly Insights
Classical scholars note that the multiplication of rewards demonstrates Allah's boundless generosity. The specific numbers teach consistency in worship and show how small, regular acts yield immense spiritual capital.
Imam Nawawi commented that these practices embody the essence of easy worship leading to great reward, making Paradise accessible to all believers regardless of their circumstances.
The Prophet counting on his fingers demonstrates the recommended method for keeping track of remembrances, making the practice accessible to everyone without need for complex tools.