(249) Chapter: Supplication before going to Bed

'Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to me and to Fatimah (May Allah be pleased with her) (Ali's wife and the Prophet's daughter), "When you go to bed, recite: Takbir (Allahu Akbar) thirty-three times and Tasbih (Subhan-Allah) thirty-three times and Tahmid (Al-hamdu lillah) thirty-three times." Another narration is: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Recite Tasbih thirty-four times." Another narration is: The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) said, "Recite Takbir thirty-four times." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. Commentary: It is apparent from the difference in the narrations of this Hadith that the aggregate of the wordings has to be one hundred. For this purpose, one of these invocations should be recited thirty-four times. It will be quite in order if one recites either of the three for thirty-four times because the Ahadith on the subject say this number for any of them. In this connection two Ahadith have been mentioned by Imam An-Nawawi and the reciting of "Alhamdu lillah'' thirty-four times occurs in An-Nasa'i. This formula of Glorification, Praise and Elevation of Allah's Name is to be recited after every obligatory Salat and before going to bed.