What is the tahlil that is recited after the Maghrib prayer and after the Fajr prayer?
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The questioner : This message reached us, and the sender did not mention his name, but he says in it: What is the tahlil that is recited after the Maghrib prayer and after the Fajr prayer?
The Shaykh : The tahlil, or rather the remembrance of Allah the Exalted after the prayers, is something Allah has commanded in His saying:[An-Nisa 4:103] This remembrance that Allah commanded in general terms was specified by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). So when you conclude the prayer with the taslim, you say: I seek Allah's forgiveness, I seek Allah's forgiveness, I seek Allah's forgiveness. O Allah, You are Peace, and from You comes peace. Blessed are You, O Owner of Majesty and Honor. There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He is over all things competent. There is no god but Allah, and we worship none but Him. His is the grace, His is the favor, and His is the good praise. There is no power and no strength except by Allah. There is no god but Allah, and we worship none but Him, making our religion sincere for Him, even if the disbelievers dislike it. O Allah, there is no one who can prevent what You have given, and there is no one who can give what You have withheld, and the wealth of the wealthy does not benefit him against You. And you glorify Allah the Exalted with what has been reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
The questioner : O Allah, send blessings.
The Shaykh : Among these is that you glorify Allah, praise Him, and magnify Him thirty-three times each. You say: Subhan Allah (Glory be to Allah), Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah), and Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest), thirty-three times each. And you complete the hundred with: There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He is over all things competent. It is the same whether you recite them together—Subhan Allah, Alhamdulillah, and Allahu Akbar—or you recite the glorification alone, the praise alone, and the magnification alone, saying: Subhan Allah, Subhan Allah, Subhan Allah, until you complete thirty-three.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah, until you complete thirty-three. Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, until you complete thirty-three. And you conclude with: There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He is over all things competent.
Likewise, it is permissible to glorify, praise, and magnify ten times each instead of thirty-three.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So you say: Subhan Allah, Subhan Allah, Subhan Allah, ten times. Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah, ten times. And Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, ten times. This makes thirty.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is also from what the Sunnah brought. And from what the Sunnah brought in this matter is that you say: Subhan Allah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illa Allah, and Allahu Akbar. These are four phrases, recited twenty-five times, so the total is one hundred. So whichever of these types you recite, it is permissible, because the legal principle is that acts of worship that have been transmitted in various forms are permissible to perform, and indeed it is recommended to perform them in all these forms. This is one way and that is another way, so that a person may bring the Sunnah in all its forms.
These dhikr that I mentioned are general for the prayers: Maghrib, Fajr, Zuhr, Asr, and Isha. In Maghrib, the tahlil is added ten times, and in Fajr as well, the tahlil is added ten times, and likewise "O Allah, save me from the Fire" seven times.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, indeed.
The questioner : The tahlil, which is: There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise. He gives life and He causes death, and He is over all things competent?
The Shaykh : Yes.
The Shaykh : The tahlil, or rather the remembrance of Allah the Exalted after the prayers, is something Allah has commanded in His saying:
And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting, or [lying] on your sides
فإذا قضيتم الصلاة فاذكروا الله قياما وقعودا وعلى جنوبكمThe questioner : O Allah, send blessings.
The Shaykh : Among these is that you glorify Allah, praise Him, and magnify Him thirty-three times each. You say: Subhan Allah (Glory be to Allah), Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah), and Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest), thirty-three times each. And you complete the hundred with: There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He is over all things competent. It is the same whether you recite them together—Subhan Allah, Alhamdulillah, and Allahu Akbar—or you recite the glorification alone, the praise alone, and the magnification alone, saying: Subhan Allah, Subhan Allah, Subhan Allah, until you complete thirty-three.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah, until you complete thirty-three. Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, until you complete thirty-three. And you conclude with: There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He is over all things competent.
Likewise, it is permissible to glorify, praise, and magnify ten times each instead of thirty-three.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So you say: Subhan Allah, Subhan Allah, Subhan Allah, ten times. Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah, ten times. And Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, ten times. This makes thirty.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is also from what the Sunnah brought. And from what the Sunnah brought in this matter is that you say: Subhan Allah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illa Allah, and Allahu Akbar. These are four phrases, recited twenty-five times, so the total is one hundred. So whichever of these types you recite, it is permissible, because the legal principle is that acts of worship that have been transmitted in various forms are permissible to perform, and indeed it is recommended to perform them in all these forms. This is one way and that is another way, so that a person may bring the Sunnah in all its forms.
These dhikr that I mentioned are general for the prayers: Maghrib, Fajr, Zuhr, Asr, and Isha. In Maghrib, the tahlil is added ten times, and in Fajr as well, the tahlil is added ten times, and likewise "O Allah, save me from the Fire" seven times.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, indeed.
The questioner : The tahlil, which is: There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise. He gives life and He causes death, and He is over all things competent?
The Shaykh : Yes.