as many times as the number of His creatures on earth; Subḥān Allāh as many times as the number of whatever lies between the two; Subḥān Allāh as many times as the number of what He will yet create. Allāhu akbar the same number of times; al-ḥamdu lillāh the same number of times; Lā ilāha illā Allāh the same number of times; and Lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh (there is no power nor might except through Allah) the same number of times.” Al-Tirmidhī narrated it and declared it ḥasan (sound).

1443 – Abū Mūsā (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to him, “Shall I not direct you to a treasure from the treasures of Paradise?” I replied, “Indeed, O Messenger of Allah.” He said, “Lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh.” Agreed upon.

[Explanation]

These two hadiths illustrate the superiority of remembrance (dhikr). Many narrations have already passed that all point to the same virtue. In the report of Saʿd ibn Abī Waqqāṣ, the Prophet ﷺ entered upon a woman who had pebbles or date stones before her with which she was counting her glorifications. He said, “Shall I not inform you of something better than that?” and then taught her a formula of glorification whose like—or something very close—appears in his words: “Subḥān Allāh wa bi-ḥamdih, ʿadada khalqih” (three times); “Subḥān Allāh wa bi-ḥamdih, zinata ʿarshih” (three times); “Subḥān Allāh wa bi-ḥamdih, riḍā nafsih” (three times); “Subḥān Allāh wa bi-ḥamdih, midāda kalimātih” (three times). These twelve utterances contain immense good, and their explanation has already been given.

As for the hadith of Abū Mūsā al-Ashʿarī (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet ﷺ asked, “Shall I not guide you to a treasure from the treasures of Paradise?”—a question posed to whet his eagerness and draw his attention—