# What to Say When Counting Tasbih: Full Adhkar Guide
Picking up a tasbih or tasbeeh counter and not being sure what to actually say is common, especially for people who are new to the practice or want to make sure they're following the sunnah correctly. This guide covers the exact phrases — in Arabic, transliteration, and meaning — along with the hadith that establish them, so you can count with confidence instead of guesswork.
Whether you write it as tasbih or tasbeeh, and whether you call the practice dhikr or zikr, the core words are the same across the Muslim world.
What Should You Say When Counting Tasbih?
The most common and authentically documented tasbih is the 33-33-34 sequence said after each of the five daily prayers: SubhanAllah (Glory be to Allah) 33 times, Alhamdulillah (All praise is due to Allah) 33 times, and Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest) 33 or 34 times. This comes directly from hadith taught by the Prophet ﷺ to his companions, and it remains the single most-recited tasbih sequence in the Muslim world today.
Outside of this post-prayer set, people also count SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi (Glory be to Allah and praise Him) on its own, La ilaha illallah (there is no god but Allah), and istighfar (SubhanAllah, seeking forgiveness) — all of which are covered below with their sources.
What Is the 33-33-34 Tasbih After Salah?
The 33-33-34 tasbih is a specific sequence the Prophet ﷺ taught his companions to say after every obligatory prayer, made up of SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, and Allahu Akbar. Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 843) and Sahih Muslim (Hadith 595) both record the Prophet ﷺ instructing: say SubhanAllah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times, and Allahu Akbar 33 times after every prayer — a total of 99.
To complete 100, Sahih Muslim (Hadith 597) adds the closing declaration: "La ilaha illallah, wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamd, wa huwa ala kulli shay'in qadir" (There is no god but Allah, alone, without partner; His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He is over all things capable). The hadith states that whoever completes this after every prayer will have their sins forgiven, "even if they are like the foam of the sea."
In practice, many people count it as SubhanAllah x33, Alhamdulillah x33, Allahu Akbar x34, reaching 100 without needing the separate closing line — both versions are taught and practiced widely, and either is acceptable.
What Does Each Phrase of Tasbih Actually Mean?
SubhanAllah (سُبْحَانَ اللَّه) — "Glory be to Allah." This phrase declares Allah free from any imperfection, weakness, or partner — it's an act of tanzih (purification/exaltation) rather than a request or statement of praise.
Alhamdulillah (الْحَمْدُ لِلَّه) — "All praise is due to Allah." Unlike simple thanks for one thing, this is a complete statement that all praise, in every situation, belongs to Allah alone — said in both ease and hardship.
Allahu Akbar (اللَّهُ أَكْبَر) — "Allah is the Greatest." This affirms that Allah is greater than anything else that could occupy the heart or mind — greater than any worry, any worldly achievement, or any fear.
Said together as a set, the three phrases move through exaltation (SubhanAllah), gratitude (Alhamdulillah), and magnification (Allahu Akbar) — a complete cycle of remembrance rather than three unrelated phrases.
Are There Other Adhkar to Say While Counting?
Yes — beyond the post-salah 33-33-34, several other phrases are commonly counted with a tasbih or digital counter, each with its own hadith backing. SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi (Glory be to Allah and praise Him), said 100 times, comes from Sahih Muslim (Hadith 2691): "Whoever says SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi 100 times a day, his sins will be wiped away even if they are like the foam of the sea."
There's also a shorter pairing described in Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 6404) and Sahih Muslim (Hadith 2694): "Subhan Allahi wa bihamdihi, Subhan Allahil-Adheem" (Glory be to Allah and praise Him, Glory be to Allah the Most Great) — described by the Prophet ﷺ as two phrases "light on the tongue, heavy on the scale, and beloved to the Most Merciful."
Istighfar (SubhanAllah — seeking forgiveness, typically "Astaghfirullah") and La hawla wala quwwata illa billah (there is no power or strength except with Allah) are also frequently counted, especially outside of the structured post-salah set, as personal dhikr throughout the day.
How Many Times Should You Repeat Each Phrase?
The most well-documented counts are 33 (for SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, and Allahu Akbar individually after salah) and 100 (for SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi as a standalone daily practice). Beyond these specific hadith-based numbers, there's no fixed rule for how many times other adhkar must be repeated — some people do rounds of 100, 500, or 1,000 during dedicated dhikr sessions, particularly during Ramadan or after Jummah, based on personal capacity and time rather than a specific instruction.
If you're doing longer sessions beyond the standard 33-33-34, a digital tasbeeh counter makes it much easier to track large totals accurately without losing your place.
When Is the Best Time to Say Tasbih?
The strongest and most specifically documented time is immediately after each of the five daily prayers, based on the Bukhari and Muslim hadith above. Beyond that, tasbih can be said at any time — many people also do it in the morning and evening (adhkar al-sabah wal-masaa), before sleeping, or during any free moment as a way to keep the tongue occupied with remembrance rather than idle talk. There's no restriction on saying tasbih outside of prayer times; the post-salah slot is simply the most emphasized in hadith.
Does It Matter If I Say Tasbeeh or Tasbih?
No — tasbeeh and tasbih are two English transliterations of the same Arabic word (تسبيح), referring to the act of glorifying Allah, most commonly through saying SubhanAllah. The spelling difference comes from regional transliteration habits (South Asian English often uses "tasbeeh," while Arabic-influenced regions and academic transliteration tend toward "tasbih") rather than any difference in meaning or practice. The same applies to dhikr and zikr — both refer to remembrance of Allah and are used interchangeably depending on the reader's region.
FAQ
What is the correct order for the 33-33-34 tasbih? The most commonly taught order is SubhanAllah first, then Alhamdulillah, then Allahu Akbar, based on how it appears in Sahih al-Bukhari 843 and Sahih Muslim 595 — though some narrations list a slightly different order, and scholars generally agree the order is not obligatory.
Can I say tasbih in English instead of Arabic? The words are best said in Arabic since that's how they were taught and preserved, but understanding the English meaning (Glory be to Allah, All praise is due to Allah, Allah is the Greatest) helps you recite with presence and intention, which matters as much as the words themselves.
Do I have to use a tasbih counter, or can I count on my fingers? Either works. Finger-counting is the older sunnah method — see our guide on how to count tasbeeh on fingers — while a physical or digital counter is easier for larger totals like 100 or 1,000.
What do I say if I lose count of my tasbih? Round to your best estimate and continue, or restart the current set of 33. The sincerity of the remembrance matters more than mathematical precision, though using a tasbeeh counter app removes this concern entirely for longer sessions.
Is SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi different from just SubhanAllah? Yes — SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi ("Glory be to Allah and praise Him") combines glorification with praise in one phrase, and carries its own specific hadith (Sahih Muslim 2691) promising forgiveness when said 100 times a day, separate from the standalone SubhanAllah said 33 times after salah.
Can I do the 33-33-34 tasbih any time, not just after prayer? Yes, there's no restriction against saying it at other times, but the specific hadith reward described in Sahih Muslim 597 is tied to saying it after each of the five daily prayers, so that remains the most emphasized time to prioritize it.
Make Every Count Count
Keeping track of SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, and Allahu Akbar across 33-33-34 sets — or longer sessions of istighfar and SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi — is easier with the right tool. Download the free Tasbeeh Counter app to count accurately, save your daily totals, and build a consistent dhikr habit without losing your place.