It was narrated that Anas ibn Mālik (may Allāh be pleased with him) said:
A Bedouin man came to
Allāh’s Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam and said, “O Messenger of
Allāh! Teach me some goodness.”
He said, “Say: Subḥānallāh,
alḥamdu lillāh, lā ilāha illallāh, Allāhu akbar.”
He [Anas] said: He counted
them with his hand; then he left and said: “subḥānallāh, alḥamdu lillāh, lā
ilāha illallāh, Allāhu akbar.”
Later he came back, and when Allāh’s Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam saw him, he smiled and said, “The poor man pondered.”
He said, “O Messenger of
Allāḥ! Subḥānallāh, alḥamdu lillāh, lā ilāha illallāh, Allāhu akbar; This
is all for Allāh, so what is for me?”
Allāh’s Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said:
When you say, “subḥānallāh” Allāh says, “You are
right.”
When you say, “alḥamdu
lillāh” Allāh says, “You are right.”
When you say, “lā ilāha
illallāh” Allāh says, “You are right.”
When you say, “Allāhu
Akbar” Allāh says, “You are right.”
Then you say, “Allāhummā
ghfir lee,” and Allāh says, “I did indeed.”
Then you say, “Allāhummā
rḥamnee,” and Allāh says, “I did indeed.”
And you say, “Allāhummā
rzuqnee,” and Allāh says, “I did indeed.”
He [Anas] said, “The
Bedouin counted them with his hands.”
[Ḥasan li-ghayrih]
Compiled by Ibn Abul-Dunyā
and Al-Bayhaqy
