69/6. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5361 — Bedtime Dhikr Better Than a Servant
The working of a lady in her husband's house.
Bedtime Dhikr Hadith: SubhanAllah 33, Alhamdulillah 33, Allahu Akbar 34
Sahih Bukhari : 5361
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5361
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي الْحَكَمُ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى، حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيٌّ، أَنَّ فَاطِمَةَ ـ عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلاَمُ ـ أَتَتِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم تَشْكُو إِلَيْهِ مَا تَلْقَى فِي يَدِهَا مِنَ الرَّحَى، وَبَلَغَهَا أَنَّهُ جَاءَهُ رَقِيقٌ فَلَمْ تُصَادِفْهُ، فَذَكَرَتْ ذَلِكَ لِعَائِشَةَ، فَلَمَّا جَاءَ أَخْبَرَتْهُ عَائِشَةُ ـ قَالَ ـ فَجَاءَنَا وَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا مَضَاجِعَنَا، فَذَهَبْنَا نَقُومُ فَقَالَ " عَلَى مَكَانِكُمَا ". فَجَاءَ فَقَعَدَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهَا حَتَّى وَجَدْتُ بَرْدَ قَدَمَيْهِ عَلَى بَطْنِي فَقَالَ " أَلاَ أَدُلُّكُمَا عَلَى خَيْرٍ مِمَّا سَأَلْتُمَا، إِذَا أَخَذْتُمَا مَضَاجِعَكُمَا ـ أَوْ أَوَيْتُمَا إِلَى فِرَاشِكُمَا ـ فَسَبِّحَا ثَلاَثًا وَثَلاَثِينَ، وَاحْمَدَا ثَلاَثًا وَثَلاَثِينَ، وَكَبِّرَا أَرْبَعًا وَثَلاَثِينَ، فَهْوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمَا مِنْ خَادِمٍ ".
'Ali Narrated from:
Fatima went to the Prophet (ﷺ) complaining about the bad effect of the stone hand-mill on her hand. She heard that the Prophet (ﷺ) had received a few slave girls. But (when she came there) she did not find him, so she mentioned her problem to `Aisha. When the Prophet (ﷺ) came, `Aisha informed him about that.`Ali added, "So the Prophet (ﷺ) came to us when we had gone to bed. We wanted to get up (on his arrival) but he said, 'Stay where you are." Then he came and sat between me and her and I felt the coldness of his feet on my `Abdomen. He said, "Shall I direct you to something better than what you have requested? When you go to bed say 'Subhan Allah' thirty-three times, 'Al hamduli l-lah' thirty three times, and Allahu Akbar' thirty four times, for that is better for you than a servant."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5361In-book reference : Book 69, Hadith 11USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 64, Hadith 274
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5361
This Hadith explains the famous bedtime dhikr taught by the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم to Fatima and Ali. Fatima came with a real hardship: the hand-mill had affected her hand, and she hoped for a servant. Instead of giving what they asked for, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم guided them to something better for them. Before sleeping, they should say SubhanAllah thirty-three times, Alhamdulillah thirty-three times, and Allahu Akbar thirty-four times. The Hadith about bedtime dhikr shows that remembering Allah before sleep is a strong source of support. It also teaches that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم cared for family pain while directing them to worship that could help them in their daily life.
What we learn from this hadith
- Remembering Allah before sleep is a Prophetic practice taught for daily life.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gave spiritual guidance when Fatima asked for practical help.
- SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, and Allahu Akbar are part of this bedtime routine.
- A person may be guided to something better than what they first requested.
