8/24. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1500 — Powerful Words of Dhikr
At-Tasbih (Glorifying Allah) Using Pebbles
Hadith About Dhikr Better or Easier Than Counting Pebbles
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1500
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1500
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي عَمْرٌو، أَنَّ سَعِيدَ بْنَ أَبِي هِلاَلٍ، حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ خُزَيْمَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ بِنْتِ سَعْدِ بْنِ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهَا، أَنَّهُ دَخَلَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى امْرَأَةٍ وَبَيْنَ يَدَيْهَا نَوًى أَوْ حَصًى تُسَبِّحُ بِهِ فَقَالَ " أُخْبِرُكِ بِمَا هُوَ أَيْسَرُ عَلَيْكِ مِنْ هَذَا أَوْ أَفْضَلُ " . فَقَالَ " سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ عَدَدَ مَا خَلَقَ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ عَدَدَ مَا خَلَقَ فِي الأَرْضِ وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ عَدَدَ مَا خَلَقَ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ عَدَدَ مَا هُوَ خَالِقٌ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ . وَلاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ . وَلاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ " .
Sa'd ibn AbuWaqqas Narrated from:
Once Sa'd, with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), visited a woman in front of whom were some date-stones or pebbles which she was using as a rosary to glorify Allah. He (the Prophet) said: I tell you something which would be easier (or more excellent) for you than that. He said (it consisted of saying): "Glory be to Allah" as many times as the number of that which He has created in Heaven; "Glory be to Allah" as many times as the number of that which He has created on Earth; "Glory be to Allah" as many times as the number of that which He has created between them; "Glory be to Allah" as many times as the number of that which He is creating; "Allah is most great" a similar number of times; "Praise (be to Allah)" a similar number of times; and "There is no god but Allah" a similar number of times; "There is no might and no power except in Allah" a similar number of times.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1500In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 85English translation : Book 8, Hadith 1495
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1500
This hadith describes a woman who had date-stones or pebbles in front of her and was using them as a rosary to glorify Allah. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said he would tell her something easier or more excellent than that. He then taught words of dhikr: “Glory be to Allah” as many times as what He created in the heaven, on the earth, between them, and what He is creating. He also mentioned saying “Allah is most great,” “Praise be to Allah,” “There is no god but Allah,” and “There is no might and no power except in Allah” in a similar number. The hadith teaches broad words of remembrance that connect praise to Allah’s creation and power.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) taught words of dhikr that were easier or more excellent for the woman.
- The dhikr includes glorifying Allah by the number of what He created.
- The narration includes tasbih, takbir, tahmid, tahlil, and hawqalah.
- The hadith shows that meaningful words of remembrance can carry broad meaning.
