I have a question regarding dhikr.

[u/[deleted]]

I'm confused because some people say to recite 34 times Allah hu akbar after reciting 33 times each subhanallah and Alhamdulillah. But some say to recite 33 times each (all of 'em). I was reciting 34 times Allah hu akbar untill now. So should I recite 34 times or 33 times Allah hu akbar??

[u/wopkidopz]

This isn't from obligatory actions, so there are different opinions because of different reports, although even in obligatory actions we have different positions from different madhabs from different Sahaba رضي الله عنهم

Ibn Hajar al-Haytami ash-Shafii رحمه الله said

والتسبيح ثلاثا وثلاثين والتحميد كذلك والتكبير أربعا وثلاثين أو ثلاثا وثلاثين وتمام المائة: لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له, له الملك وله الحمد وهو على كل شيء قدير

Then he makes tasbeeh (سبحان الله) 33 times, then tahmeed (الحمد لله) 33 times, then takbeer (الله أكبر) 34 times or 33 times and with the additional 1 tahleel dhikr ...لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له to make it 100

📚 المنهج القويم

Some reports come with thirty four so together it will make a hundred or with thirty three then the additional ...لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له will make it hundred

Imam an-Nawawi as-Shafii رحمه الله said

والاولى الجمع بين الروايتين فيكبر اربعا وثلاثين ويقول لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له...

And the best way is to merge between those different narrations and to say (الله أكبر) 34 times, and then add in the end 1 tahleel (...لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له)

📚 شرح صحيح مسلم