The Ruling on the Obligation of the Number in Dhikr and Increasing Beyond It
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
Regarding the concept of the number in dhikr, is it obligatory, or is it not affected by increasing?
Answer:
The Sunnah is to perform the prescribed dhikr in its proper manner, and if one wishes to increase after that, there is no harm. For example, after the prayers, one recites the tasbih, tahmid, and takbir thirty-three times each, and concludes 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," or concludes it with the thirty-fourth takbir, or does neither of these and limits himself to ninety-nine, meaning: thirty-three tasbih, thirty-three tahmid, and thirty-three takbir. There is no harm in that. And if he wishes to increase, he may recite hundreds of tasbih; there is no blame on him for that. But he should first perform the matter prescribed by Allah, intending to follow the Sunnah, and if he wishes to increase after that, there is no harm.
The presenter : Some people, may the Shaykh be lenient with them, may be unable to keep track?
The Shaykh : He should act according to his best effort, meaning: he should base it on... the lesser is better for him.
The presenter : Base it on the lesser?
The Shaykh : On the lesser, which is what they call certainty, meaning: he should base it on certainty. This is better, and it is not obligatory. This is better. For example, if he doubts whether he recited ninety-nine or missed one, he adds one. Or if he doubts whether he recited eighty or ninety, he makes it eighty and completes it, and so on. Or if he said, "My Lord, forgive me," and doubts whether he recited it three times or two, it is better for him to recite it three times, and so on. "Subhan Rabbi al-Azim" in the bowing, and "Subhan Rabbi al-A'la" in the prostration, if he doubts whether he recited it two or three... three... he recites it two and adds a third, which is better. Otherwise, the obligatory is once. The obligatory is "Subhan Rabbi al-Azim" in the bowing once, and in the prostration "Subhan Rabbi al-A'la" once. But if he recites it three times, it is better, and if he recites it five times, it is better, and so on; the more he increases, the better. But the imam should consider not causing hardship for the ma'mum if he recites it five, seven, or ten times; he should suffice with that so as not to burden the ma'mum.
As for the ma'mum, he recites the dhikr and supplication until his imam raises his head. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good. So the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) specified thirty-three and thirty-three, and his specification (peace and blessings be upon him) of ninety-nine, and the conclusion with the hundred does not affect the matter if the servant increases beyond this, in the sense of ensuring that he has performed what is required?
The Shaykh : Yes, if he increases beyond it with the intention of desiring good, there is no harm. He is recorded the reward for what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed us of, and for what he increased, he is given reward from Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He).
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good, and benefit us with your knowledge.
Regarding the concept of the number in dhikr, is it obligatory, or is it not affected by increasing?
Answer:
The Sunnah is to perform the prescribed dhikr in its proper manner, and if one wishes to increase after that, there is no harm. For example, after the prayers, one recites the tasbih, tahmid, and takbir thirty-three times each, and concludes 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," or concludes it with the thirty-fourth takbir, or does neither of these and limits himself to ninety-nine, meaning: thirty-three tasbih, thirty-three tahmid, and thirty-three takbir. There is no harm in that. And if he wishes to increase, he may recite hundreds of tasbih; there is no blame on him for that. But he should first perform the matter prescribed by Allah, intending to follow the Sunnah, and if he wishes to increase after that, there is no harm.
The presenter : Some people, may the Shaykh be lenient with them, may be unable to keep track?
The Shaykh : He should act according to his best effort, meaning: he should base it on... the lesser is better for him.
The presenter : Base it on the lesser?
The Shaykh : On the lesser, which is what they call certainty, meaning: he should base it on certainty. This is better, and it is not obligatory. This is better. For example, if he doubts whether he recited ninety-nine or missed one, he adds one. Or if he doubts whether he recited eighty or ninety, he makes it eighty and completes it, and so on. Or if he said, "My Lord, forgive me," and doubts whether he recited it three times or two, it is better for him to recite it three times, and so on. "Subhan Rabbi al-Azim" in the bowing, and "Subhan Rabbi al-A'la" in the prostration, if he doubts whether he recited it two or three... three... he recites it two and adds a third, which is better. Otherwise, the obligatory is once. The obligatory is "Subhan Rabbi al-Azim" in the bowing once, and in the prostration "Subhan Rabbi al-A'la" once. But if he recites it three times, it is better, and if he recites it five times, it is better, and so on; the more he increases, the better. But the imam should consider not causing hardship for the ma'mum if he recites it five, seven, or ten times; he should suffice with that so as not to burden the ma'mum.
As for the ma'mum, he recites the dhikr and supplication until his imam raises his head. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good. So the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) specified thirty-three and thirty-three, and his specification (peace and blessings be upon him) of ninety-nine, and the conclusion with the hundred does not affect the matter if the servant increases beyond this, in the sense of ensuring that he has performed what is required?
The Shaykh : Yes, if he increases beyond it with the intention of desiring good, there is no harm. He is recorded the reward for what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed us of, and for what he increased, he is given reward from Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He).
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good, and benefit us with your knowledge.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.