The digital tasbih and the virtue of remembering Allah
Remembrance (dhikr) of Allah the Exalted is among the easiest acts of worship and the greatest in reward. It needs no particular time or specific place, and the Muslim can do it standing, sitting or lying on his side, at home, at work or on the road. Allah commanded it explicitly, saying, glorified be He:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيرًا﴾“O you who have believed, remember Allah with much remembrance.”Surah Al-Ahzab: 41
And He made remembrance a cause of tranquillity and peace for hearts, at a time when worries and preoccupations abound:
﴿الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ﴾“Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured.”Surah Ar-Ra'd: 28
This digital tasbih was designed to help you keep up your adhkar regularly and keep track of the numbers reported in the Sunnah, especially when you are away from your prayer beads, or when you would like to follow the number of your daily adhkar. On this page we mention some of the established virtues of dhikr, the numbers reported for certain adhkar, and the ruling on counting with the fingers and with prayer beads.
Authentic hadiths on the virtue of tasbih
Two words light on the tongue
Among the most comprehensive and easiest adhkar is what is reported in the hadith with which Imam al-Bukhari concluded his Sahih:
"Two words are light on the tongue, heavy on the Scale, and beloved to the Most Merciful: Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi, Subhanallahil-'Azim (Glory be to Allah and praise be to Him, Glory be to Allah the Magnificent)."Agreed upon (al-Bukhari and Muslim)
The hadith shows that what matters is not the length or difficulty of the dhikr, but the meanings it carries of declaring Allah's perfection, praising Him and glorifying Him.
Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi a hundred times
"Whoever says 'Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi' (Glory be to Allah and praise be to Him) a hundred times in a day, his sins will be wiped away, even if they are like the foam of the sea."Agreed upon (al-Bukhari and Muslim)
This is one of the strongest encouragements to use a counter that helps you complete the hundred without forgetting; it can be said at different times during the day or consecutively in one sitting.
Tasbih after the prayers
Among the best-known adhkar with a specified number is the tasbih after the obligatory prayers, about which it is reported:
"Whoever glorifies Allah after every prayer thirty-three times, praises Allah thirty-three times and declares Allah's greatness thirty-three times, that is ninety-nine, and then says to complete the hundred: 'La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu 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 competent), his sins will be forgiven even if they are like the foam of the sea."Narrated by Muslim
So the total of this dhikr is one hundred: 33 tasbih, 33 tahmid and 33 takbir, then the tahlil to complete the hundred. This is why the digital tasbih has a ready-made setting for this dhikr that moves automatically from tasbih to tahmid and then takbir.
| Dhikr | Count | When |
|---|---|---|
| Subhanallah (Glory be to Allah) | 33 | After every obligatory prayer |
| Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah) | 33 | After every obligatory prayer |
| Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest) | 33 | After every obligatory prayer |
| La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu 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 competent) | 1 | Completing the hundred |
| Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi (Glory be to Allah and praise be to Him) | 100 | In the day, not tied to a specific time |
Counting with the fingers and with prayer beads
The basic practice in counting adhkar is to use the fingers, which was the guidance of the Prophet ﷺ. 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr (may Allah be pleased with them both) said:
"I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ counting the tasbih on his right hand."Narrated by Abu Dawud
The basis of the hadith is also in al-Tirmidhi with the wording: he counted the tasbih. The Prophet ﷺ guided some of the female Companions to count on their fingertips, explaining that they will testify for their owner on the Day of Resurrection:
"Hold to tasbih, tahlil and taqdis, and count on your fingertips, for they will be questioned and made to speak."Narrated by Abu Dawud and al-Tirmidhi
This is why scholars consider counting on the fingers better, preferably with the right hand. As for using prayer beads, pebbles, date stones or counters, the majority of scholars consider it permissible, because it is a means of keeping count and not an act of worship in itself, and counting with date stones and pebbles is reported from some of the early generations. Some scholars disliked it or considered leaving it better, for fear of showing off or imitation, or because it is contrary to what is best. The disagreement on this matter is minor, and what counts is presence of heart and sincerity in remembrance.
Etiquette of dhikr
- Presence of heart: reflecting on the meanings of what you say; tasbih declares Allah free of every imperfection, tahmid praises Him with attributes of perfection, and takbir exalts Him above everything.
- Moving the tongue: the prescribed dhikr is what the tongue pronounces, even in a low voice that only you can hear.
- Consistency: a little done constantly is better than a lot done intermittently.
- Choosing established adhkar: and adhering to their wording and numbers as reported.
How to use the digital tasbih
- Choose the dhikr: from the ready-made list, such as: Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illallah, Astaghfirullah, or add your own dhikr.
- Set the target: such as 33 or 100, or leave the count open without a limit.
- Start counting: by tapping the big button or anywhere in the counting circle; on a computer you can use the space bar.
- Alert on completion: the tool vibrates on supported phones or shows a notification when the target is reached.
- After-prayer adhkar mode: moves automatically between tasbih, tahmid and takbir, then reminds you of the tahlil to complete the hundred.
- Resetting: with the reset button; the count is saved in your browser so it is not lost if the page is closed.
To complete your worship, check the prayer times in your city, and follow upcoming Islamic events to make the most of the seasons of obedience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it permissible to make tasbih with a digital tasbih?
The majority of scholars consider it permissible to use counting aids such as prayer beads and counters to keep track of the number of dhikr, though counting on the fingers is better because it was the guidance of the Prophet ﷺ.
How many times is tasbih said after the prayer?
Thirty-three tasbih, thirty-three tahmid and thirty-three takbir, then completing the hundred with La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, as narrated by Muslim.
What is the virtue of saying Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi a hundred times?
It is established in the two Sahihs that whoever says it a hundred times in a day will have his sins wiped away, even if they are like the foam of the sea.
Is the count saved if I close the page?
Yes, the count is saved in your browser on the same device, and you can reset it whenever you like.
Is it enough to tap the counter without saying the dhikr?
No, the reward depends on remembrance with the tongue together with presence of heart; the counter is only a means of keeping count.
Why is counting with the right hand preferred?
Because Abu Dawud narrated that the Prophet ﷺ used to count the tasbih on his right hand, and because the fingertips will be questioned and made to speak, as in the hadith.