“All praise is for Allah” thirty-three times, and “Allah is Most Great” thirty-four times, making one hundred in all. (1)
The third manner is to say, “Glory be to Allah” ten times, “All praise is for Allah” ten times, and “Allah is Most Great” ten times, making thirty in all. (2)
The fourth manner is to say, “Glory be to Allah, all praise is for Allah, there is no god worthy of worship but Allah, and Allah is Most Great” twenty-five times, making one hundred in all. (3)
This variation is a variation of diversity. We have previously mentioned that, with acts of worship that have been transmitted in various forms, one should practise one form at times and another form at other times; and we mentioned the benefits of this. (4) One should also recite Ayat al-Kursi, for hadiths concerning it have been narrated from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. (5) But if they are authentic,
(1) Recorded by Muslim in the previously cited location, no. 596 (144).
(2) Recorded by Imam Ahmad, 2:160-205; Abu Dawud, Book of Etiquette, chapter on saying tasbih (glorification of Allah) before sleep, no. 5065; al-Tirmidhi, Chapters on Supplications, chapter on tasbih, takbir (declaring Allah's greatness), and tahmid (praising Allah) before sleep, no. 3410, who said: “A sound, authentic hadith”; and Ibn Majah, Book of Establishing the Prayer, chapter on what is said after the taslim, no. 926.
(3) Recorded by Imam Ahmad, 5:184, 190; al-Nasai, Book of Forgetfulness, chapter on another form concerning the number of tasbihs, no. 1351; and al-Tirmidhi, Book of Supplications, chapter on the virtue of tasbih, tahmid, and takbir at the conclusion of the prayers, no. 3413, who said: “A sound hadith.”
(4) See p. 30.
(5) Recorded by al-Nasai in al-Sunan al-Kubra, Book of Daily and Nightly Deeds, chapter on one who recites Ayat al-Kursi (the Verse of the Throne) after every prayer, no. 9928. Al-Mundhiri graded it authentic in al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib, no. 2373.
Ibn Abd al-Hadi said: “A sound hadith.” Al-Muharrar, no. 278.
Ibn Kathir said: “Its chain of transmission meets the conditions of al-Bukhari.” Al-Tafsir, 1:454.