Is it sunnah to say “La ilaha illallah / kalima at-tawhid” 33 times after prayers?

- Is there a hadith about it?

Dear Brother / Sister,

First of all, we should state that there are narrations about saying “kalima at-tawhid” 33 times being sunnah.

A woman came to the Messenger of Allah and complained about some issues. The Messenger of Allah said to her,

"Shall I tell you some good things that will eliminate your complaints? When you go to bed, say la ilaha illallah thirty-three times, subhanallah thirty-three times and alhamdulillah thirty-four times. This one hundred is better than the world and what is in the world." (Ibn Abi Shayba, Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, Matalibu Aliya, Tevhid Yayınları, 3/155)

There is also a hadith narration about saying “La ilaha illallah” after every prayer:

Zayd b. Thabit narrates:

The Companions were ordered to say “Subhanallah” thirty-three times, “Alhamdulillah” thirty-three times and “Allahu akbar” thirty-four times after every prayer. Somebody from Ansar had a dream. He was addressed as follows: “The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) ordered you to say “Subhanallah” thirty-three times, “Alhamdulillah” thirty-three times and “Allahu akbar” thirty-four times after every prayer; is that right?” He said “Yes” The man addressing him said, “Reduce them to twenty-five and add “La ilaha illallah”. In the morning, the man told the Prophet (pbuh) about his dream. The Prophet (pbuh) said, “You can say so.” (Nasai, Sahw, 93; Tirmidhi, Dua, 26; Darimi, Salah 90)

In another narration that has the same meaning as the one above, the Prophet said, “Do as the Ansari says.” (Nasai, Sahw, 93 see Bayhaqi, Mustadrak, 1/383, no: 929; Musnad, 5/184, 190)

Another hadith regarding the issue is as follows:

"If somebody says Subhanallah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times and Allahu akbar 33 times after every prayer, which amounts to 99, and says (La ilaha illallah...) as the one hundredth, his sins will be forgiven even if they are as many as the foams of the sea." [Muslim, Kitabul-Masajid, 26 (h. no: 146)]

As it is seen, we are advised to say each glorification 33 times and add “La ilaha illallah…” after that.

Badiuzzaman Said Nursi states that it is mustahab/sunnah according to Shafiis to add kalima at-tawhid after glorifications of 33 times and dua. (see Mektubat, Yirmi Sekizinci Mektup, Dördüncü Risale)

This issue is expressed more clearly in Barla Lahikası as follows:

“However, since his madhhab is Shafii, his glorification after the prayer is longer. The extra glorification consists of 'La ilaha illallah' sometimes ten times and sometimes thirty-three times, which is sunnah in Shafii madhhab, and salawat three times after glorifications of 33 times.” (Barla Lahikası, Envar Neşriyat, p. 301)

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