Tasbihat al-Zahra (Fatimah's Tasbih)
A special dhikr consisting of 34+33+33 repetitions, taught by the Prophet to his daughter Fatimah.
Tasbihat al-Zahra (Arabic: تسبيحات الزهراء), also known as Tasbih Fatimah al-Zahra, is one of the most important dhikr practices in Shia Islam. It consists of three sets of repetitions: 34 times "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is the Greatest), 33 times "Alhamdulillah" (All praise belongs to Allah), and 33 times "SubhanAllah" (Glory be to Allah) — a total of 100 glorifications.
This tasbih was taught by Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) to his beloved daughter Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon her), when she asked for a servant to help with household work. The Prophet said to her: "Shall I not teach you something that is better than a servant? Say Allahu Akbar 34 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times and SubhanAllah 33 times before you sleep." This narration is found in Al-Kafi by Shaykh al-Kulayni (vol. 3) and in Bihar al-Anwar by Allamah al-Majlisi (vol. 83).
In Shia tradition, it is strongly recommended (mustahab mu'akkad) to recite Tasbihat al-Zahra after every obligatory prayer. Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: "Tasbihat al-Zahra after every prayer is dearer to me than a thousand rak'ah of voluntary prayer per day" (Al-Kafi, vol. 3, Kitab al-Salah).
The order is important according to Shia scholars: one begins with takbir (Allahu Akbar), then tahmid (Alhamdulillah), and finally tasbih (SubhanAllah). Many Shia Muslims use a tasbih chain (misbaha) with 34 beads to keep count. This dhikr combines praise, gratitude and glorification of Allah and is considered a spiritual gift from the Prophet's household to the believer.
Related terms
Isnad (Chain of Narration)
The chain of narrators connecting a hadith back to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Salat al-Duha (Forenoon Prayer)
A voluntary prayer performed after sunrise and before noon, with great reward according to the narrations.
Tawaf (Circumambulation of the Kaaba)
The ritual of walking seven times around the Kaaba counterclockwise as part of Hajj and Umrah.
Salat al-Wahsha (The Prayer of Loneliness)
A prayer performed on the first night after burial for the soul of the deceased.
A'mal (Acts of Worship)
Specific acts of worship and rituals for particular days and occasions.
Hajj (Pilgrimage)
The annual pilgrimage to Mecca, one of the five pillars of Islam, obligatory for every Muslim with the ability.